| |
| |
|
Entrepreneurialism Information |
|
|
|
Will Your Business Survive Without You?
I had a health scare in December. As it turns out, everything's perfectly okay. But the possibility of things not being okay really knocked me for a loop. For the first time ... ever ... I thought about what would happen to my business if I suddenly weren't around to take care of it. What an eye-opener! Fact is, I'm the only person who really knows how things work in my business. Several people - from my attorney to my coach to my book printer - know 'bits' of it. But there's really no one who knows enough about my business to step in, figure things out, and keep things moving without me. And that was pretty scary to me. (Fortunately, it was scary enough to actually do something about it.) Thought it would be helpful to share with you what's working for me.... 1 - Put your business systems in writing The good news: I know exactly how things work in my business. The not-so-good news: I'm the only person who knows exactly how things work in my business. Why is this a problem? For starters, I'm heading out on vacation tomorrow. And I don't want to bring work with me! If I'm the only person who knows how to keep things moving, how is this possible? It's clear I need some systems. So what needs to be in writing? Ideally, practically everything. But you might want to start with something fairly easy. Say, how you 'process' new customers, or clients. When someone decides to work with me as an Art Coach, here's what happens: ? We make our first coaching appointment ? I get credit or debit card authorization for payment of coaching fees ? I send out a Welcome Pack, which includes: pocket folder/label, cover letter, business card, Policies & Procedures, Client Data Form, Client Checklist, Coaching Prep Form, and additional information about coaching ? I use my 'KG Checklist' to check off the exact forms I send out; note date mailed/delivered ? I prepare a client folder for my office: insert checklist, cover letter and all info/notes to date, write phone number on tab, write date of first coaching appointment (and all subsequent appointments) on the folder cover ? I follow up and note when the signed Policies & Procedures form is returned, and add it to the client folder ? I staple the completed Client Data Form to the inside cover of the client folder ? As we work together, I add all relevant materials (correspondence, artwork samples, etc.) to the folder What's your 'system' or 'process' for prospects and new customers? Do you: ? Capture all their contact information (name, address, phone, email, snail mail)? ? Send them a thank you note? ? Give/send them an Artist Pack (folder with you Bio, Artist Statement, Resume, and other information about you and your work)? ? Add them to your database? How? When? ? Follow up with them regularly? How often? In what way(s)? ? Invite them to your events? ? Send event announcements? ? Send holiday cards? ? Ask them for referrals? Chances are, if you have a 'system' for doing things, you'll be more consistent. And that's likely to make your business stronger. 2 - Let people know where you keep things Okay, I actually do need to be around for some things - for example, my 1:1 telephone coaching sessions. But other processes don't need me at all. Take, for example, my book, "187 Tips for Artists." ? It's already written, already published ? Website's up ? Advertising (googleAdwords) is in place ? Orders are moving smoothly through online booksellers, my website/shopping cart, retail outlets ? Revenue is automatically deposited in my business account So what's the problem? Once again, I'm the only person right now who knows how this works. Unless I write down my 'book-selling' system - and let someone know where to find it - if I'm not around, my book sales come to a screeching halt. I've put way too much work into the book to allow that to happen. So I'm writing - and will soon be sharing - exactly how my 'book-selling' system works, and how to keep it working without me. So that's the point of this section: Writing your systems is just the first step. You also have to let a trusted colleague (or assistant, or family member, or friend) know where they are - and how to use them. 3 - Automate and delegate One of the coolest benefits of writing out your systems and procedures is that you'll see places that you can automate ... or delegate. Yep. That means less work for you! Looking back at my procedures for new clients, for example, it's pretty clear that I don't need to do everything myself. For starters, I could ask someone else to put together and mail the Welcome Packs for me. That could be a half hour or so every time I add a client. And where does automation come in? Wherever possible, I say. Case in point, I used my automated broadcasting system to send out this month's newsletter. I couldn't do it myself, because I was on vacation..... Ahhhhhhhh. Automation.............. Best-selling author Kathy Gulrich helps clients get from idea, to action, to results - more quickly, and more easily - whether they're looking to write a book, develop a new product, or market their product or business. Clients love her direct, no-nonsense approach - and her gentle insistence on great results. Find out for yourself: Check out one of Kathy's teleclasses, or pick up a free worksheet, at http://www.smARTbusinessCoaching.com
MORE RESOURCES:
entrepreneurialism - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Start a Franchise Franchising InformationFranchise oppotunities are all around us today. You may pop into Starbucks for coffee and then head for lunch at MacDonalds before returning home and ordering your dinner from another local franchise, Pizza Hut. Enterprising Route is to Go Your Own Way DON'T talk to me about education for entrepreneurs. They're pouring far too much public money into it already - not counting the millions some well-known Scottish entrepreneurs are prepared to waste on it. Vendor Relations Communication is the key to vendor relations. In your small business, you will be in need of many products and services. Franchises - Success and You Many people believe owning a franchise will make them rich, financially secure, and provide the life of their dreams. True, franchises have an extremely high success rate, and a very high satisfaction rate among their owners. Entrepreneurs Just Get Better With Age Q: I'm thinking about starting a business after I retire next month. I'll be 65. Answering Why You, Why Now Critical in a Winning Business Plan Business plans continue to be an essential element of the capital-raising process. They must convince investors to take notice - investors that are shrewder today due to the ups-and-downs they have experienced over the past few years. Defining a R&D Framework for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Information Product Generation IntroductionKnowledge is the key resource that forms the institutional basis of the post-industrial economy and society. It should be empasized that it is institutions of higher education that give tangible expression to this argument by acting as catalysts for knowledge and research-driven economic growth as well as well-being enhancement. Starting Your Business: It All Boils Down To Making Money and Saving Money Bootstrapping in the context of business start-ups refers to the use of creative financing approaches such as leveraging personal savings, credit-card debt, loans from friends and family, bartering, and other means to launch a business. Some business founders use bootstrapping because they have no other choice. Four Steps to Entrepreneurship As more and more people start or consider starting their own business, it is important that they understand the core steps that are required to launch successful ventures. These steps include spotting, assessing, selecting and executing upon opportunities. Increase Profits with No Pain, No Change Approach Implementing changes, even when they're good for your business, can be tough. As the old adage goes, old habits die hard and it's just as true in business as it is in our personal lives. The Entrepreneurial Difference Who would ever have imagined that going door-to-door in my neighborhood selling figs from a bright orange shopping cart would have been my entrepreneurial beginnings?I surely did not. But, now that I look back and also look around me at other business owners, I see clearly that so many of the traits common to entrepreneurs are present at a very early age. Street Smarts Vs Book Smarts, What Does It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur The latest series in "The Apprentice" features 2 distinct group of candidates. One group, who are only high school graduates are termed as "Street Smarts" by Donald Trump whereas, the other group are all college educated with some having MBAs and advanced degrees. Become a Recognized Authority in Your Field - in 60 Days or Less! You don't have to be rock-star famous before you are recognized as an authority in your field. You just have to begin to get the word out. The Business Leader as Ultramarathoner Have you ever heard of an ultramarathon? A standard marathon is just over 26 miles. An ultramarathon is usually on the order of 50 or 100 miles, though there are some that span one thousand! Imagine the endurance required to run such a race. 5 TIPS for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs Have you ever heard that only a small part (5%) of 'all' Home-Based Business entrepreneurs achieve success?Do an online research on your favorite Search Engine and you will understand what I mean.In this article I'm going to show you the KEY to Home-Based Business entrepreneurs success; you'll find out what makes an entrepreneur succesful in the home-based business field. Financial Issues in Business Startup A primary inhibitor of business start-up is that few people have the financial cushion to give up a job for the uncertain income of a start-up venture. In a recent survey, about 30% of new business founders identified inadequate funding as their biggest hurdle, and a similar amount said lenders were too conservative. An Entrepreneur and a Life To Be Remembered I was reminded of my own mortality today. I guess you can say I had a near death experience, though the death I experienced was not my own. From Employee to Entrepreneur: Taking the Plunge Before you decide whether or not running your own business is right for you, start by pinpointing your area of expertise and assessing your aptitude for business.Starter Questions Ask yourself the following questions:- In what areas do people approach me for advice and assistance? From what parts of my job do I get the most satisfaction?- What do I like doing so much that I would do it even with no pay?- What hobbies or interests could I "spin off"into a small business?- Do I enjoy budgeting and financial planning?- Do I enjoy making cold calls, tele-marketing and selling?- Do I have enough self-discipline to work on my own?- How easy is it for me to bounce back from rejection & setbacks?Proceed with CautionBefore you take the plunge, it's important to "wade in gradually" or you may just find yourself swamped. The Business and Life You Want to Build In the early days of my first consulting business, I knew I needed some sort of plan to give me the greatest chance at success. I took many a wrong step, yet in the end I managed to put a solid business together. Starting Your Business: 3 Tips for Bootstrapping Your Way to the Top Bootstrapping a business startup does not necessarily mean that you are unable to find traditional sources of capital. It may mean that you are clever, or that you know a bargain when you see it, or that you are the type of person who derives a certain satisfaction from crafting something using your own hands and vision, from scratch.
|
| Article List | Index | Site Map |
|
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved. |
