How to Overcome Three Common Business Pain Points When It Comes to Owning Your Own Business

Overcome Common Business Pain Points

As a business coach specializing in working with women business owners & entrepreneurs, I see a lot of gaps and pain points when it comes to business. While there are many, today I want to talk about three common business pain points that I’ve been seeing recently and that many of my clients have faced in owning their own business.

Over the years, I’ve helped many business owners overcome many pain points including the following three common pain points when it comes to owning their own business. If you see yourself here, fear not, I offer some suggestions for you to help you overcome them.

One of my main goals as a business coach is to help my clients and those in my world overcome pain points of all kinds, common and otherwise. For now, let’s take a look at these common pain points and some strategies to work through them. And you can get on with building and growing a business you love!

Feeling Confused

One of the most common struggles my clients and business owners face is feeling confused about the direction of their business. They often start with a clear vision, and as they got into running their business, doubts and uncertainties crept in. Clients come to me because they are questioning whether they’re on the right path or if their efforts will ever lead to success.

If this is you, it’s essential for you to revisit your initial why—the reason you started your businesses in the first place. By reconnecting with your passion and purpose, you can realign your goals and priorities. Additionally, breaking down long-term objectives into smaller, actionable steps can provide clarity and direction. Regularly revisiting and refining business plans can also help you to stay focused and adaptable in an ever-evolving market.

Dealing with Too Much Chaos

Running a business can often feel like juggling a dozen balls at once (and some you never even knew you had to juggle), and it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by the chaos. There is a lot to do when you own your own business. From managing day-to-day operations, handling client inquiries, marketing and staying on top of administrative tasks, the constant pull of demands can lead to stress and burnout. Overwhelm and wanting to give up often follow.

To regain control amidst the chaos, by implementing effective time management strategies this will help eliminate some chaos. This may involve setting boundaries around work hours, prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance, and delegating responsibilities where possible. Yes, I know this last one is challenging to every business owner. But it can be a game changer.

One of the key elements I use when I work with business owners is a deep dive into their business. So that they can see exactly what they have on the table they are spending their time on and what may be missing. Often it’s a core pillar they haven’t yet brought into their business in a way that works for them.

Embracing technology and automation tools can also streamline processes and free up valuable time. Additionally, incorporating regular self-care practices, such as mindfulness exercises or taking breaks, can help you recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Struggling to Make Ends Meet

This one is a big one. And sadly, a very common pain point. Financial insecurity is a significant source of stress for many business owners & entrepreneurs, particularly in the early stages of business development. You may struggle to generate consistent income streams, cover expenses, or make ends meet, leading to anxiety and uncertainty about the future of your businesses.

There have been many business owners that when I ask if they know how much it cost them to run their business, they look at me like I’ve just asked them to jump off a bridge. They just don’t know the answer to that question. In the years that I’ve run my Money Mindset for Business Owners Workshop I’ve only had two people be able to tell me off the top of their head how much it cost them to run their business. And almost every client I’ve worked with has been undercharging. Talk about creating the struggle.

To address financial challenges, conduct a thorough review of your business finances. This may involve analyzing revenue streams, identifying areas of unnecessary spending, and developing a realistic budget and financial plan. Exploring alternative revenue streams or diversifying product and service offerings can also help increase income potential and mitigate risk. Additionally, seeking support from financial advisors or mentors can provide valuable insights and guidance on managing finances effectively.

Build and Grow Your Business Your Way

Yes, it’s true, navigating all there is to do to build and grow a business can be full of challenges, but with the right strategies and support in place, you can overcome obstacles and thrive in your business. By addressing feelings of confusion, managing chaos effectively, and taking proactive steps to improve financial stability, you will unlock your full potential and build successful businesses that align with their values and aspirations. Now, doesn’t that sound nice?


So, maybe now you’ve realized that you have some (or all) of the common business pain points I’ve talked about. And you aren’t sure what exactly you need to address first. Well, that’s where I can offer support. Sign up for my complimentary Business Blindspot Session. Together we will take a deep dive into your business and look at your common business pain points, uncover what you aren’t seeing for yourself and figure out what needs to be addressed first so that you are set up to soar.

Create Clarity, Vision, and Goals to Finish the Year Strong

Create Clarity, Vision, and Goals to Finish the Year Strong

Unlocking Business Success: Create Clarity, Vision, and Goals to Finish the Year Strong

As we approach the final stretch of the year, it’s a perfect time to take a step back, reflect, and recalibrate your business goals. Building clarity, envisioning your path, and setting well-defined goals are crucial steps to finish the year strong. Let’s explore how you can achieve this and set your business up for success.

The Power of Crystal-Clear Vision for Unlocking Business Success

Clarity is the cornerstone of any successful endeavor. It’s about having a clear understanding of where your business stands and where you want it to go. To achieve clarity, let’s look at the following essential areas:

Current business status: Take stock of your accomplishments and challenges so far this year. This reflection will help you understand what’s working and what needs improvement.

Your strengths and weaknesses: Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Leverage your strengths and seek opportunities to improve in areas where you’re weaker.

Long-term and short-term objectives: Define both your long-term vision and short-term goals. Having a clear vision provides a direction, while short-term goals help you measure progress.

Your target audience’s (aka ideal client) perspective: Understand your customers’ needs, preferences, and pain points. This insight helps you align your products or services with their expectations.

Craft Your Vision

A well-defined vision serves as a guiding light for your business. It’s your North Star, a destination to strive towards. Crafting a compelling vision involves:

Being Specific: Your vision should be specific and easily understandable. It’s not just about making money; it’s about the impact you want to create.

Challenging the Status Quo: Your vision should challenge the status quo and inspire you and your team to think creatively and ambitiously.

Being Achievable: While your vision should be challenging, it must also be attainable. Setting unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and disappointment.

Communicating Clearly: Share your vision with your team, and make sure they understand their role in achieving it. And if you do not have a team, share it with an accountability partner, a trusted colleague or your business coach.

Set SMART Goals

Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). These attributes make your goals actionable and increase your chances of success.

Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish. Instead of saying “increase revenue,” specify, “increase monthly revenue by 20%.”

Measurable: Use quantifiable metrics to track progress. You should be able to determine when a goal is met.

Achievable: Ensure your goals are realistic given your available resources and constraints. Unrealistic goals can lead to burnout.

Relevant: Align your goals with your vision and the direction you’ve set for your business.

Time-bound: Set deadlines for achieving your goals. A timeframe creates a sense of urgency and accountability.

SMART Goals are popular, and they can work. That said, I’ve got some new ways of looking at how to goal plan that I’ll share with you in future articles. So stay tuned, they are goooood!

Plan and Take Action

With clarity, vision, and SMART goals in place, it’s time to create a plan of action. Break down your goals into manageable steps, and prioritize them based on importance and urgency. A well-structured plan allows you to track progress and make necessary adjustments.

Course Correction is Key

Understand that achieving your goals may not always follow a straight path. Just like a GPS recalculates when you take a different route or decide to change your mind, be prepared to course-correct when needed. Be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances.

You are Never Wrong…

Remember, you’re not wrong when you question your path or seek to improve. Doubts and second-guessing are part of the journey. One of my beloved clients used to say “hindsight doesn’t need glasses.” And it’s true. Know that you did what you did at the time with the information and knowledge you had at that time. It’s why we call it build and grow your business.

You are on a journey, you learn along the way. You try things, they work or they don’t and you go from there. Hence why we have the area of course correct.

What’s essential for you is having a vision, setting goals, and consistently taking steps in the right direction. Your willingness to learn, adapt, and evolve makes you always right in your pursuit of business success.

It’s Time to Finish Strong

There you have it, ways for you to go about unlocking business success. Create Clarity, Vision, and Goals to Finish the Year Strong.

In conclusion, finishing the year strong begins with creating business clarity, setting a clear vision, and defining SMART goals. Use these tools to guide your actions and decisions, and be ready to adapt as needed. Your commitment to growth and improvement will ensure that you’re always on the right track.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on unlocking your business success by creating clarity, visioning, and reaching your goals so that you finish the year strong. Comment below or send them to me privately at kim@kimravida.com. And consider signing up for your very own Success Planning Day!

Here is to you finishing the year strong AND setting yourself up for a strong start to your next year!


If you are seeking individual, private support to help you create your clear vision so that you have a clear plan rather than just an idea of where you are going, check out my Success Planning Day. It’s set up to have you look at where you are, where you are going and to design the roadmap and action steps to get you to where you want to go. As the saying goes a goal without a plan, is just a wish. By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail. And we do not want you to fail! We want you to achieve all you desire!

Money Mindset for Empowering Women in Business

The Power of Money Mindset

Success in the world of business is often attributed to numerous factors, including skills, determination, and innovation. Be that as it may, one critical element in achieving entrepreneurial success is having an effective, empowering money mindset. Money Mindset for Empowering Women in Business is an integral part of reaching the successes you desire.

For women in business, this mindset can be a game-changer in building and growing a thriving business. Let’s take a look at how adopting such a mindset can be instrumental to your journey as a businesswoman to success.

Embrace your empowering money mindset

1. Financial Empowerment:

An empowering money mindset allows you to take control of your financial lives. It instills a sense of empowerment, enabling you to make informed financial decisions and manage your business’s financial aspects with confidence. This sense of control can be a driving force in the success of any business.

2. A Focus on Abundance:

A positive money mindset encourages you to see financial abundance and opportunities even in the face of challenges. Accordingly, your positive money mindset allows you to view money not as a source of stress but also as a tool. One that can open doors to numerous possibilities, including expansion, innovation, and investment.

3. Financial Education and Continuous Learning:

Successful businesswomen with an empowering money mindset value financial education and lifelong learning. Recognizing that staying informed about personal finance, investment, and financial management is key to making informed decisions that benefit your business.

4. Goal-Oriented Approach:

Having an effective money mindset means setting clear financial goals and relentlessly pursuing them. With clear financial goals, you are more likely to succeed in reaching your outcomes.

5. Resilience and Risk Management:

Business is fraught with uncertainties and risks, and an empowering money mindset helps you become more resilient. By seeing financial setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow you are more able to have the courage to take calculated risks, knowing that challenges can lead to valuable lessons.

6. Investment in Growth:

An effective money mindset understands the importance of investing in business growth. Which means, be it capitalizing on new opportunities, expanding product lines, entering new markets or investing in support, this mindset embraces strategic investments that pave the way for long-term success.

7. Budgeting and Financial Planning:

Most importantly, by knowing the importance of financial planning and budgeting it ensures your income aligns with business goals and expenses, allowing for responsible financial management and sustainability.

8. Self-Confidence:

An empowering money mindset fosters self-confidence in financial decision-making. As a result, you trust your judgment and have faith in your ability to make sound financial choices. And you are significantly better equipped to lead your business to success.

Your time is now!

In conclusion, the power of an effective, empowering money mindset cannot be understated for you. It’s time for you to step into an empowering money mindset that lends to your financial confidence, resilience, and skills necessary to build and grow your business successfully.

Where can you embrace financial empowerment, set clear goals, and invest strategically?

An effective money mindset is a pivotal factor in the journey to entrepreneurial triumph, and its impact extends beyond the bottom line to encompass empowerment and fulfillment.

In the early days I needed self-confidence. Which one stands out to you? Which one do you know you need to embrace and step more fully into? I’d love to hear about it. Comment below.


If you are sitting there saying “I want a new money mindset that will empower me to step up on my business.” I’ve got just the thing! I call it Success Planning Day.

A new, empowering money mindset can be planned! On top of it, we’ll work together to create your specific plan to reach the goals you have for your business.

The best is yet to come

The best is yet to come

The best is yet to come. Yes it is! Today’s post gives you the final steps for you to put together an amazing plan to level yourself on up with your business.

This is the third in a 3-part series. In addition to this one, How to embody the next level version of yourself and The journey on your way to level up continues are all to support you to upleveling yourself and your business.

And the best is yet to come. Why do I say that? Well, in the blog, How to embody your next level version of yourself, we talked about how to get started. Your starting steps were to visualize your success story, develop a growth mindset and elevate your leadership presence. If you haven’t read it, be sure to do so click here to read. And the second blog in this series, Journey on your way to level up continues we talked about refining decision-making skills, a commitment to mastering relevant skills and delegating with precision as a way to level up for your future results.

Today’s blog will finish with the final four steps for you to embrace. Hence, why I say the best is yet to come because these four are what I like to call the icing on the cake.

“The one thing you learn is when you can step out of your comfort zone and
be uncomfortable, you see what you’re made of and who you are.”
Sue Bird

Next steps for you to level up

  1. Nurture a Network of Excellence: Surround yourself with individuals who elevate your mindset and challenge your perspectives. Create connections with mentors, peers, and experts. A supportive network accelerates your growth.
  2. Fearless Innovation: Break free from comfort zones and embrace innovation. Launch new services & products, explore fresh markets, and embrace calculated risks. True growth often emerges from venturing into the unknown.
  3. Embrace Resilience and Balance: The journey to the next level isn’t without obstacles. Develop resilience to navigate challenges, setbacks, and uncertainties. Additionally, prioritize work-life balance to sustain your energy and passion.
  4. Celebrate Milestones and Reflect: As you progress, celebrate milestones – both big and small. Reflect on how far you’ve come and realign your goals as you reach new pinnacles.

And as a reminder, when you embody your next-level version of yourself it isn’t a one-time achievement. It’s an ongoing commitment to growth. As a seasoned business owner, your journey is enriched by your experience, wisdom, and drive. By embracing this roadmap, you’ll unlock the potential to lead not only a successful business but a fulfilling and purpose-driven entrepreneurial life. Your evolution becomes an inspiration, guiding others to rise and create their own paths to greatness.

Isn’t that something worth striving for? I think it is!

So tell me, which one of these do you like best or which do you see yourself implementing? I’d love to hear about it. Comment below!


It’s not easy to level up on your own. If you are ready to make significant shifts in your thinking, choices and behavior, the Fit for Business 90-Day Group Program is for you. It’s one thing to know what to do, it’s quite entirely another to actually do it. This is a brand new program for amazing women business owners who want to level up their business and live a life they love. Are you that woman? The fun begins in September for a complete view of all you get, click here!

The Journey on your way to level up continues

The Journey on your way to level up continues

The Journey on your way to level up continues. Today we are going to be adding to your toolkit to level up in your business.

In my last blog, Embody your next level version of yourself, we talked about how to get started. Your starting steps were to visualize your success story, develop a growth mindset and elevate your leadership presence. If you haven’t read it, click here to read that first. Then come back and step into three more steps to leveling up.

In business, there are a lot of moving parts. Oh I feel like I say that a lot. And it’s so true. Sometimes each day brings something new and often, unexpected.

Let’s talk about the next three steps to take as you level up.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – Lao Tzu

Next steps for you to level up

  1. Refine Decision-Making Skills: When it comes to going to the next level in business, you need to be adept at making decisions. In order to grow in business, you need to have the ability to make well-informed choices under pressure. Analyze risks, trust your intuition, and remain adaptable. Each decision shapes your path toward success.
  2. Continuous Skill Mastery: Embodying your next level self involves a commitment to mastering relevant skills. Stay updated with your industry trends, embrace emerging technologies, and hone your craft. As you evolve, so should your skillset. That said, don’t play whack-a-mole and jump on board every new technology. Be sure you are using your decision-making skills to determine if that new technology or social platform is indeed for you.
  3. Delegate with Precision: Upleveling requires recognizing that you can’t do it all. Oh do my clients hate it when we get to this point. Whenever we have the conversation about delegation, they bristle. But here is the thing, you can’t do it all and you needn’t be doing it all. You need to be in your brilliance (or said another way, your zone of genius). Delegate tasks that aren’t your brilliance that only you can do, this allows you to focus on your high-impact activities. Effective delegation empowers both you and your team.

Knowing when it’s time to step into your next level

So many times clients will say to me or even colleagues, I feel stuck, I don’t really love what I’m doing or it’s not working anymore.

That is often the tell-tale signs of it’s time to step into your next level. And remember to do that you need to do something different. I’ll even say you need to BE someone different. What you did to get where you are now, may not get you to where you want to go.

And when that happens, go back to the first three steps and begin again.

If you already know you it’s time to go to the next level, here you go, you have a total of six ways for you to level up as they say. And more are coming.

In the next installment, I’ll be sharing four more amazing steps for you to incorporate into yourself and your business so be sure to come back for those.

In the meantime, let me ask you this, which one of today’s steps was most valuable to you or that you are most excited about embracing?


Ready to level up? The Fit for Business 90-Day Group Program is for you. It’s one thing to know what to do, it’s quite entirely another to actually do it. This is why it’s great to be part of a group of like-minded business owners all looking to take their businesses to the next level. This is a brand new program for amazing women business owners who want to level up their business and live a life they love. Are you that woman? The fun begins in September click here to join!

How to embody your next level version of yourself

Embody your next level version of yourself

As a business owner, you know you need to grow. The alternative is not very attractive. In the world of business, growth is a necessity. You need to grow to stay relevant. And not only that growth is inevitable, especially when it comes to business. It’s key that you embody your next level version of yourself.

That said, your path to sustained success often involves a pivotal step: embodying the next-level version of yourself. This transformation goes beyond strategies and metrics; it’s about aligning your mindset, behaviors, and vision with the future you envision for your business.

In this three-part blog series, we are going to look at steps you can take to embody your next level version of yourself.

Because if you are like any of my clients, you are an achiever (maybe even an over-achiever) or like to get the most bang for your buck so to speak, which means you’ll attempt to do all of them at once.

I am a former (and truth be told, sometimes I still do it) all or nothing action-taker. Why only do a little when I can do a lot!

This always leads to frustration, lots of procrastination and overwhelm at not moving forward. By the way, did you see that that spells out flop! I’m not kidding.

So, we don’t want you to be a flop. We want you to be a success. Which is why I’ve made this a three-part series. Today, you’ll look three ways for you to embody your next level version of yourself. And in the next several weeks, we’ll look at additional ways you can step into your new level of you!

“If you want the next level business, you must embody a next level version of yourself.” – Paul Xavier

3 Steps to begin to embody your next level version of yourself.

  1. Visualize Your Success Story: Your journey begins with a clear vision. Look into the future and envision the impact you’re making, the growth you’ve achieved, and the legacy you’re leaving behind. As in it’s already happened. This vision will help you move forward as you embody your next-level self.
  2. Develop a Growth Mindset: Mindset is one of the keys to your success. When you develop a growth mindset, you step into embracing change. Where can you step into welcoming challenges, feedback, and continuous learning? Do you need to work with a mentor/coach, take a course, seek outside help? This mindset fires your growth and empowers you to step forward with confidence even in unfamiliar and new areas.
  3. Elevate Your Leadership Presence: Being a leader in your life and your business means you take responsibility for your actions. Your business’s growth is intertwined with your leadership presence. Cultivate authenticity, resilience, and empathy. It may be time for you to elevate your communication skills to inspire your team, clients, and stakeholders. A strong leadership presence is magnetic and motivates others to join your journey. Like developing a growth mindset, it may be time for you to learn from others how to do this to get to the next level you desire.

So there you are. The first three to get started with. Which one feels the most exciting to you? Which one do you want to start with this week? You don’t have to begin at #1, you can pick which you most resonate with or are most excited and intrigued by.

Getting started

Once you choose which one you want to begin with, give yourself the gift of 30-60 minutes and draft out what it means to you and how you will incorporate it into your life now.

Bonus if you write it out on paper. When you type it out (which you can do once you have it clear), you lose the creative side of your brain. And it’s in that space you want to be. This is you creating your next level!

Are you ready?! Let’s go.

And once you have mastered those, here are the next three…


Ready to level up? The Fit for Business 90-Day Group Program is for you. It is a place for you to get answers to your questions and be with like-minded business owners all looking to take their businesses to the next level. This is a brand new program for amazing women business owners who want to level up their business and live a life they love. Are you that woman? The fun begins in September click here to join!

Looking to take your business to the next level?

Looking to take your business to the next level?

If you are a seasoned business owner, it may be time to take your business to the next level. But…what exactly does that mean?

When taking your business to the next level, you need to know exactly what you want. Do you want increased revenue, increased profit (money in your pocket), a new clientele, improved back-end processes, higher-level customer service?

You need to be very clear with what taking your business to the next level means so that you can start to put specific plans and actions into place to be able to implement them and get your business to the next level.

I’ll let you brainstorm what you mean by next level for your business and in the meantime below are five top strategies for taking a business to the next level for you to think about.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to personalize them as your business is unique. So be sure to tailor these to your business.

Five Top Strategies for Taking a Business to the Next Level

1. Develop a comprehensive growth plan: Create a clear and detailed growth plan that outlines your objectives, strategies, and action steps. Define measurable goals, identify key performance indicators, and establish timelines for implementation. Regularly review and adjust the plan as needed.

2. Focus on innovation and differentiation: Continuously seek opportunities to innovate and differentiate your products, services, or business processes. Stay ahead of market trends, invest in research and development, and explore new technologies or business models. Differentiation can help you stand out from competitors and attract new customers.

3. Expand your target market or customer base: Identify new market segments or customer demographics that align with your offerings. Conduct market research to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. Tailor your marketing messages and strategies to effectively reach and engage these new audiences.

4. Build a strong team and delegate effectively: Surround yourself with a talented and motivated team that shares your vision. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to capable individuals, empowering them to take ownership and contribute to the growth of the business. Focus on hiring, training, and retaining top talent.

5. Strengthen strategic partnerships and alliances: Collaborate with strategic partners or industry leaders who can complement your business and help you reach new heights. Seek partnerships that can provide access to new markets, distribution channels, technologies, or resources. Foster mutually beneficial relationships to leverage each other’s strengths.

“Make yourself fit for business.”

Kim Ravida

Remember to tailor your strategies to your business

My philosophy is your business, your way. So be sure to remember to tailor strategies to fit your business. Taking a business to the next level requires a combination of strategic thinking, adaptability, and continuous improvement. Regularly evaluate your progress, measure the outcomes of your strategies, and make adjustments accordingly. Stay open to new opportunities and be willing to take calculated risks to drive growth and success.


Ready to level up? The Fit for Business 90-Day Group Program is for you. It’s one thing to know what to do, it’s quite entirely another to actually do it. This is why it’s great to be part of a group of like-minded business owners all looking to take their businesses to the next level. This is a brand new program for amazing women business owners who want to level up their business and live a life they love. Are you that woman? The fun begins in September click here to join!

How to Streamline Your Business Operations

How to Streamline Your Business Operations

Running a small or solo service-based business comes with its own set of challenges. As a business owner, you wear many hats.

You not only have to focus on delivering exceptional services to your clients but also manage all the things when it comes to business operations.

My last blog talked about building your foundation for business success. Today, let’s talk about how to streamline your business operations. From client management to bookkeeping, these operational tasks can often feel overwhelming. Let’s talk about effective strategies to help you to streamline your business operations and pave the way for success.

  1. Embrace Technology: In today’s digital age, technology can be a game-changer for small and solo service-based business owners. Invest in user-friendly software and tools that can automate repetitive tasks such as appointment scheduling, invoicing, and client communication. This not only saves time but also improves efficiency, allowing you to focus on your core business activities.

  2. Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): This is one of my favorite things to do when working with my clients. Documenting your business processes through SOPs ensures consistency and helps streamline operations. Identify key tasks and document step-by-step procedures for each, including client onboarding, project management, and post-service follow-ups. SOPs enable smooth workflow, enhance productivity, and serve as a valuable resource when delegating tasks or training new team members. Short story here: I worked with a man who was former military and when I asked him what his SOPs (thinking he’d without a doubt have them) were for his business, he looked at me and said “I don’t have any”. To which he was dumbfounded. The military is founded on and operates solely on SOPs. He couldn’t believe he never thought to do that for his own business. 

  3. Outsource and Delegate: I often hear, I don’t have the money to outsource and I am not good at delegating. But here is the thing, you need to understand and admit that you cannot do everything on your own. And sometimes you can’t afford not to outsource/delegate. When you don’t what happens is that you become your own bottleneck and it’s then impossible for you to do all the things necessary to run your business.

  4. Prioritize Time Management: Oh boy, this is a loaded topic when it comes to my clients. And effective time management is crucial for you as a small and/or solo business owner. Be sure that you are setting aside dedicated blocks of time for specific tasks, establish priorities, and avoid multitasking. Yes, avoid multitasking. There really is no such thing. 
  5. Streamline Money Processes: Another piece of building and growing a successful business is your money management. Accurate and up-to-date money management is vital for the success of any business. This could be a place you outsource to an accountant or bookkeeper (hint, hint).

  6. Nurture Client Relationships: While this is number 6, it is by no means last. It’s a very important aspect to your business. Strong client relationships are the lifeblood of service-based businesses. Regularly engage with clients through personalized communication, such as newsletters or exclusive offers, personalized emails that foster loyalty and repeat business.

Yes you wear a lot of hats as a business owner, making sure you are optimizing your business operations is key to achieving sustainable growth and success.

Your efficient business operations makes for an effective business. You not only save time and resources that make your business a joy to run but you also get to enhance your client experience which will have them coming back for more and giving you many referrals! Which means you’ll be making money.

And I know you don’t need me to tell you that one key aspects of “business” is to be making money. Otherwise, it’s just an expensive hobby.  Business generally refers to organizations that seek profits by providing goods or services in exchange for payment.

What one are you most excited about? What one do you know you need to implement and when you do, your business will flourish? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Schedule

Are you thinking “this feels like a lot of work and it’s too hard”? I know I did! And now after many years of helping other business owners set up a business that works well for them and their lives, I still love to help business owners create a life and business that feels good to them. Let’s work together to create the results you desire. Sign up here for my Business Mastery Custom Session. You’ll create your business operations that feels good to you and that will serve you now and into the future! 

 

The Foundation of a Successful Solo Small Business

The Foundation of a Successful Solo Small Business

The foundation of a successful solo small business is…drumroll please: Business Planning and Operations.

I know, I know. It doesn’t sound jazzy does it? But stick with me. Starting and running a solo small business is an exciting and challenging journey. Whether you are starting out or looking to grow your business, having a solid foundation of business planning and operations is essential for success.

Today we are going to focus on the importance of business planning as it relates to creating business goals and objectives. Planning for your success really is the lifeblood of your business.

Setting clear business goals and objectives

It is important for you to set clear goals and objectives. If you have heard the saying “without a roadmap, any road will get you there”, but where exactly? That’s why you want to set your goals and objectives. It provides a roadmap for your business.

When you set clear goals and objectives you are better able to measure your progress and know whether your business is heading in the right direction.

Two keys for you to consider:

  1. Clear goals and objectives help you to stay focused and prioritize your efforts.
  2. You have a sense of purpose and direction to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your time, money, and resources. 

How to define your business goals and objectives

To get started defining your business goals and objectives, it’s important to think about what you want to achieve in both the short and long term. Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

For example, if you’re just starting out, your short-term goals might be focused on building your brand and acquiring your first clients. Your long-term goals might be focused on expanding your business, increasing your revenue, and building a team.

It’s vital that you take the time to define your goals and objectives, so you can create a clear roadmap for your business and measure your progress along the way.

When I work with my clients in my Fit for Business Programs, we focus on Business Vision (planning, operations, management – each include systems and processes that make your business a dream to build and grow), Profitability and Marketing. I call it the BPM system – like our hearts have beats per minute in order for us to live, our businesses have their own BPMs.

Strategies for creating SMART goals

Let’s create some SMART goals. They are an effective way to ensure that your goals and objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. All of which will lead to you generating the results your desire in your business.

To create SMART goals:

  • S = SPECIFIC. Be as specific as possible about what you want to achieve.
  • M = MEASURABLE. Use numbers (as in # of social media followers, or people on your email list), dates, and other quantifiable metrics to make your goals measurable.
  • A = ACHIEVABLE. Are your goals are achievable? Do you first need to learn, know or do something before you can achieve your goal. Example: you want to make videos for your website but you have no idea how to make and/or upload your video.
  • R = RELEVANT.  Are they relevant to your business objectives. Does it make sense for you to be doing a TikTok video or getting out in front of real people – your business purpose helps you to define this.
  • T = TIMELINE. Set a realistic timeline for achieving them. You want to grow your email list to 100 new subscribers in 30 days, yet you have no plan for doing so. Is that 30 day a realist timeline? Probably not. 

You want to be setting yourself up for success and by being clear on your goals and objectives, where you are currently and where you are going, you’ll achieve more and experience much success.

Periodically Review and Adjust As Needed

It’s also important to periodically review and adjust your goals as needed, to ensure that they remain relevant and achievable. By following these strategies, you can create SMART goals that will help you achieve success in your solo small business.

Business planning and operations are the foundation of any successful solo small business. By setting clear goals and objectives, developing a solid business plan, creating a budget and tracking expenses, setting up efficient systems and processes, and managing business risks, you can build a strong and sustainable business that can thrive over the long term.

Stay tuned, next, we will talk more specifically about business operations and setting your business up for success. Remember, your business plan is vital to the success of your business. Start thinking about how you want to create a business plan that fits you and your business. I like to say, your life, your business, your way! 


Schedule

Are you thinking “this feels like a lot of work and it’s too hard”? Well, I love to help people create a life and business that feels good to them. Let’s work together to create the results you desire. Sign up for my Business Mastery Custom Session.

You’ll create your roadmap to success, all in a way that feels good to you!

 

How to get ahead in business, it’s not what you think

How to get ahead in your business, it’s not what you think

What if I told you that in order to get ahead in your business, it’s time to start quitting.

Quitting as in doing all the things you have been doing that are not getting you to where you want to be.

To get ahead in your business, it’s imperitive that you are focusing on the right for you things. Those activities that work for your business.

I’m talking about working your business, marketing and profitability plan in a way that fits your goals, your aspirations and your desires.

Let me ask you, when you began your business did you sit down and map out a plan or did you jump in?

If you jumped in, you aren’t alone. I end up working with a lot of business owners who did that. Then they realized that they weren’t getting the results they desired. And it was taking a lot of time, money and effort.

Quit to get ahead

One of the best things I’ve done (and support my clients with) is to quit doing about 80% of what I had been doing. It’s a little scary at first. And yes, my clients often look at me like I’ve lost my head when I ask them to list out all they are doing and then cut 80% of it out.

They think (and maybe you do too) that they have to continue to do it or do it because they have always done it. Maybe yes, maybe no.

The best way to absolutely know is by having actual results as to what it is you actually got from doing what you are doing. Truly, you do not need to do all you are doing. And my guess is you struggle with it in the first place.

And what if you were to quit some of that to get ahead.

How to know what to quit

I’m not going to leave you hanging. I will show you how to know what to quit. That way, you can confidently quit. And while we are on the subject, quitting is not a bad thing. It can actually be a good thing.

First, what are the things you always seem to put off? You know those things like making phone calls, following up, writing a blog, doing your financials.

Second, what are the things you seem to “forget” to do? Things like forgetting you had an appointment, where you put a document, or forgetting to get back to someone.

Third, what is it you do, but don’t like or really hate to do and it seems to take you a long time to complete?

Fourth, what on your calendar is a “nice to have/do” that if you didn’t do it wouldn’t matter?

After you answer the above, you’ll have a list. This is where you begin. You simply quit doing them.

But…I can’t just quit doing them mindset

And that’s what it is, a mindset. Yes, you can. Here is an example from a client. She had a lot of meetings on her calendar and was constantly telling me she couldn’t get to what she really wanted to get done. We went through her calendar with a fine tooth comb and rated her meetings. 

She discovered (and I’m sure you won’t be surprised) that 80% of those meetings were nice to have meetings. They were not at all related to what she had said was her number one goal – to grow her business and take on more clients.

The meetings weren’t strategic nor were they with people who could help her reach her goals.

So before you say “I can’t” take a look at your mindset. Maybe you don’t want to and that’s a whole other story. And if you don’t want to, why? What are you afraid of missing by saying no.

If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten

You may have heard this saying. It is attributed to Henry Ford. If you want what you have, fantastic. Change nothing.

Yet, if you are frustrated, overwhelmed and working way harder than you think you need to, it’s time to take a long look at what you are doing.

And it’s time to quit. Quit settling for less, quit letting other unimportant things take over, quit whining that you don’t have what you want. You need to be willing to do things that you haven’t done in order to get what you want.

Are you ready? I hope so. I’d love to hear what you will quit so that you get what you want!


Schedule

It’s easy to create the results you desire once you know what to do and what order to do it in. If you struggle with this, I have something that will help. I call it my Business Mastery Custom Session.

You’ll be able to know what to quit and what to focus on to reach your goals easier and faster. I only have a few open in my schedule at a time and I’ve opened a few for you. So grab your session today!