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.

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 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! 

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 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!

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!

Is the tale you spin weaving you to success?

Tales of the business owner! How they can help you succeed and how they can plummet you to ruins. In my last blog I talked about how having courage is key to having a successful business.

Is the tale you spin weaving you to success? Courage comes from within. No one can teach you courage. And that said, you can build your courage muscle. We create our own courage with the mindset we come to the table with. 

What kind of tale are you telling?

Just like a computer, you have your own operating system. Are you inputting a success system or are you inputting a failure system?

The tale (aka story) you tell yourself and others will turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s up to you whether you want that to be one of success or failure.

I worked with a woman who always (and yes, always) would say “I can tell you what is going to happen.” Then it would and she’d say “I knew it!” Of course she did, she predicted it.

Now this was before I ever learned about mindset (and why I now believe it’s the single most important piece of making our lives what we want them to be) and I used to say to her, “what if you thought about it another way?” 

She was skeptical. Of course she was, her pattern was to predict and experience the worst. So we practiced and wouldn’t you know it, she started getting different results!

How to predict amazing results for yourself

Your turn, think of your business. What is one thing you really want but feel like oooh, I don’t know… and have some uncertainty around it. 

An example may be in raising your prices. A recent client just said she couldn’t get $1,500.00 out of her mouth for her fees. And had a big story around it. So we brought that figure down a little to one she felt she could, provided she did some mindset work and drafted out a script for herself.

She agreed to tell herself and others a new story. One that felt empowering, energizing and true for her.

Back to you, what is that one thing you really want. And what might it look like for you to have it? Share what it is in the comments below!

And who doesn’t love Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman!? 

It’s time for you to write yourself and your business a new story. It really it is. Let’s take you from just merely getting by to thriving, loving your business and telling a fabulously successful story for yourself! Get your Business Success Blueprint session right here! Don’t delay these fill up fast.

The missing ingredient it takes to run a successful business

Running a business isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not for those who are afraid to make decisions and it especially isn’t for someone who is afraid to make mistakes. Running a business take courage. Do you have that courage? It’s the missing ingredient it takes to run a successful business.

Courage comes from within. No one can teach you courage. And that said, you can build your courage muscle. 

Why you need courage

When I first started my business I didn’t give much thought to it. Now, I do not recommend this. It lead to lots of confusion, indecision, and money spent (and not always in the right places or for the right things).

I started my business and went by the seat of my pants. It wasn’t until I realized I wasn’t getting anywhere (as in not making any money) that I decided to hire a business coach to help me.

Best-decision-ever! I cut the time it took me to know what to do by half. She helped me see where my profits would come from (my services), what to charge, and who my ideal clients were.

She helped me know all the things I needed to do in and for my business.

Let’s name them, shall we:

• Designing/Developing/Pricing Service Offerings (so people can work with you and pay you).
• Promotions/Marketing (so your ideal clients can find you and pay you).
• Sales/Enrolling Clients (so you can confidently sell your services and be paid).
• Financial Management (so you can manage your cash flow, pay your bills and operate your business).

While that is not an exhaustive list, it is the main components of any business. And if you don’t already know this, a business that does not make money, is just a hobby. An expensive one.

Great! Knowing what it is you need to be doing is one thing, but actually DOING is an entirely different thing. You may have no idea how to design, price, promote (market), sell. So being told “ok, so now you are ready to sell” does nothing to inspire confidence. 

I mean, have you ever sold a thing before? In the beginning, I’d never sold a thing and what exactly do I say? If you are picking up the “I’m afraid” energy, you are spot on!

More like crash and burn

It wasn’t until I began to implement the amazing plan I had to build and grow my business that I realized there were two big pieces missing.

Courage and Know-how. Do you need both to be a successful business owner? No. But one of those is an absolute MUST. Running a business takes courage.

Did you guess courage? If yes, yay! You get a gold star. Know-how we all can learn (and we can also hire for). Courage comes from within.

If you go back to the list above, we all can learn HOW to do each of the categories. And we can even hire out for those.  But let me ask you, do you have the courage to do them. Are you confident in your skills to design, market and sell your services?

Truly, I hear “but I don’t want to be salesy” from so many business owners. It’s probably the #1 fear I hear especially when I’m working with a new client that came to me because they aren’t making the money they want to be making. 

You can learn how to design, market and sell. I cannot teach you how to have courage and to be confident. I can show you areas I see where you have already proven you have courage and confidence. Yet, if you aren’t willing to see them or step into being courageous, a successful business may not be in the cards for you. It’s where you’ll find yourself crashing and burning time and again.

It’s time to courageously and confidently be a business owner

As you look at the future of your business, are you willing to step courageously into the shoes you need to fill in order to hit your business goals?

I hope so. The world needs what you have to offer. The people who need you, need you to be courageous so that they can find you. Courage is built one small step at a time (or sometimes one giant leap).

I bet there is something you have been wanting to do that if you did it, you’d say to yourself “that was courageous of me”. And that’s all you need to begin being courageous.

What might that look like for you? Share what it is in the comments below!

Because I know the value of having help, I have a special offer for you. It’s an opportunity for you to create the results you desire once you know what to do and what order to do it in. This will make it possible for you to get clear on what you need to do and when to do. From there you will build your courage one step at a time! Don’t delay click here and grab your spot!

Being heart-centered in business doesn’t meant giving it away

In my 20 years as an entrepreneur and business coach, the one thing I know for sure is that women business owners are heart-centered. This isn’t a bad thing at all, in fact, it is very much what makes the female business owner unique.

And that said, because you are a heart-centered services-based business owner doesn’t meant giving it away. 

Being heart-centered is being aware of what you desire in life, knowing your values, knowing how to take responsibility for yourself and your emotions. You are making choices that honor your needs, values and beliefs.  We, as women, do this very well in our personal lives. 

For example, if children are important in your life, then you make decisions (everyday) that match your values.  Such as:

• The school your kids go to  
• Foods they eat
• Charities you support 
• People you associate with
• Where you live

Every single answer ties back to your needs, values, and beliefs.  You get the picture, right? 

Now, and here’s the tricky part, let’s apply this to your business. A company’s main “business” is to make money. Otherwise, it’s just a very expensive hobby. I’m going to repeat that because this is the essence of having the open sign on the door. 

YOU ARE IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY!

So how do you create and maintain a business that reflects the heart-centered YOU, while still bringing home the bacon?  Simple answer is mindset, because how you “do” money is how you “do” everything.

The Business Mindset

Your mindset is paramount to creating a successful and thriving business.  For instance, you are the face of your business, the reason people buy from you and are embedded in every product and service!

Before diving into the money aspect of things, I want you to have a very clear picture of your self worth.  You need to feel confident in yourself as a business woman and in order to do that, you need to value your self worth.  Take a look at this list and fill in the blank.

• Skills and talents you developed over time ______________
• Positions you’ve held ______________
• Degrees, schooling, etc. ______________
• Awards ______________
• Trainings, areas of study ______________
• Life experiences or situations you’ve overcome (personal & professional) ______________
• Natural skills and talents that you take for granted or don’t even think about ______________
• Words others have said about you – any testimonials ______________
• What you value and appreciate about yourself ______________
• What you’ve created ______________
• Your accomplishments that you are proud of ______________
• What else! ______________

Now, pat yourself on the back because you are worth every penny!  Take this feeling and apply it to the financial aspect of your business.  This is Money Mindset!

Money Mindset

A money mindset is the overriding attitude about your finances. It drives how you make key financial decisions every day and impacts your ability to achieve goals.

If your money mindset is on the negative side, it’s most likely proving to be a hindrance. If you struggle to charge what you are worth AND what you need to make (i.e. covering your costs) in your business, there’s a good chance your business will not succeed.

Repeat after me:

“The More Comfortable I Get With Money, The More I Empower Myself” 

Repeat often!  Write it down and post it on your white board!  Make it your screensaver!  

You will be amazed what opportunities arise for you when you step into a positive money mindset!

It is time for you to step into who you really are, to shine in your life, if for no other reason than to feel good about yourself. Trust me, when you do, the rest will follow.

If you are challenged by money actions or need to consult with money before you make any decisions, a money mindset upgrade will do you and your business a world of good! I offer complimentary Business Blueprint Sessions to upgrade your money mindset and give you the platform for a successful and thriving business! Sign up for one now.