As a professional speaker, I am attracted to the allure of the stage like bees to honey. A microphone is an extension of me. Interacting with an engaged audience is positively bliss-inducing.
You know what isn’t bliss inducing? Business operations. Blech. 🤢 Gross.
Yet, having our arms around ALL aspects of our businesses – not just the fun parts – is essential for long-term sustainability. And business ops have been my Achilles Hell, I mean Heel, for over a dozen years. Even though I used to lead a product team at a Fortune 100 enterprise where I was directly responsible for over $100 million of dollars in annual revenue, the idea of running MY little business never seemed to get the same dedication to detail.
No more. I’m ready to grow.
Last year I made a commitment to myself to transform my business into a well-oiled machine by overhauling it. I dove into the Entrepreneurial Operating System made famous in the book Traction by Gino Wickman with ample support from my business coach. I’ve been reading Get a Grip: How to Get Everything You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Business. It’s a great book that outlines how a business can transform itself by employing the proven tools used by thousands upon thousands of entrepreneurs.
Reading this book – and getting gentle but firm nudges from my coach – has made me take a closer look at where I’m at now and be intentional about where I want to go. My 10 year vision is clear (let’s just say it involves a beach house with a Crystallization Salon and a personal chef), my three-year milestones are identified (I’m going to hire an Integrator to manage the business), my one year goals are defined (create SOPs for all my processes), and my quarterly objectives have been prioritized and published (several new Crystallize Your Brilliance offers are kicking into high gear.) Heck, I even started using a weekly scorecard to keep me on track! Remember, what you focus on GROWS.
It’s scary to start getting a grip on one’s business. There are unknowns lurking around every corner. Numbers don’t lie. Expectations are hard to define and easy to miss. But it’s oh-so-worth it when you can rest at night knowing that your arms are finally around your organization, helping you deliver on what lights you up day in and day out.
If you are an entrepreneur – especially a thought leading entrepreneur – and you haven’t yet gone through the EOS exercise, you may want to consider it. It will help you Crystallize Your Business! I know first-hand how impactful it is for others to be crystal clear about their value and brand, and the same holds true for your business operations and long-term vision.
Getting clear will get you there.