Kathy Ennis

Thinking small means staying small. Discover how to harness your business mindset and increase your business success.

Have you ever wondered how some business owners leap effortlessly from working out of a small room in their house, to running a large, profit-generating company that employs teams of people? 

Meanwhile, you’ve been working all the hours under the sun, yet you’re still barely covering the monthly bills.

But those big, hotshot business owners aren’t necessarily any more talented than you.

They’ve just developed a focused, business mindset for success, that’s all.

Business Success? It’s All in Your Head

Though their businesses are different, there’s one thing all successful business owners have in common.

They focus on three key principles, which are:

Money: they understand exactly how their business makes money (and how much their business costs), so they can implement the right financial management systems.

Marketing: they create compelling and engaging marketing strategies, regularly analysing their results so they lead directly to more sales.

Mindset: they develop a resilient mental attitude that allows them to make decisions, solve problems, bounce back from obstacles, and manage their success.

Business mindset is the most powerful principle of all, because it underpins everything else you do in business.

So, here’s how to start developing a business success mindset that will help pave your way from micro to macro.

Your Business Mindset will Bring You Your Own Version of Success

What does “success” mean to you?

It could be endless wealth, with your own private island, celebrity friends, and a collection of vintage cars, or it could be simple security and comfort.

Defining your own version of success is important, because it’s only then that you can start planning towards it in a purposeful and measurable way.

For example, visualising the wealthy scenario may mean starting work on an ultimate goal of making millions, whereas security may mean earning enough for you to be mortgage-free.

Understand the Power of Your Brand

Many people immediately think “logo” when they think brand. 

But your logo is only a small outcome of your brand development.

Your brand is your unique personality – it’s everything people think, hear, see, and feel about your business. 

Essentially, you are operating in a crowded marketplace, your brand is the thing separates you from all the other businesses offering similar products and services. 

Build Trusted Business Relationships

Connections are not relationships. 

As an example, look at the number of followers your business has on each social media platform. How many of them do you know personally?

Developing deeper, more long-term relationships based on trust will help you succeed in business, because we are all naturally geared to help those people we know and like.

Which leads on to…

Give Without Expecting to Get

One of the most important tools in your business mindset kit is to offer your connections something of value first.

For example, instead of starting conversations by telling people what you do, ask what they need help with. 

Listen, share ideas, offer introductions… anything that you can see helps others out. You’ll develop a reputation based on trust and helpfulness, which is something everybody values in business.

(Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you won’t receive so much as a response in return, but when you do, the experience can be truly magical!)

Invest in Others’ Expertise

Whenever I am asked what is the missing link between a promising businessperson and a successful one, mentoring comes to mind

Sir Richard Branson

Investing in your future business success is essential. 

As a micro business owner, ask yourself why others should buy from you, if you’re not prepared to invest in support and expertise that elevates you above your competition.

No one person knows everything about business (and nor should they) which is why drawing upon others’ professional skills – just as they will draw upon yours – will help you on your way from micro to macro.

I may be biased, but mentoring, as Richard Branson mentions, is a great start! 

Someone who has been there, done that, and got the T-shirt to prove it will help you focus on your personal version of success, helping you develop the right business mindset while sidestepping all those classic business mistakes. 

You’ll also have the benefit of a brain to pick and an ear to listen when the going gets tough.

If you’d like to discuss what the power of mentoring could do for your business, why not book a complimentary, half-hour Breakthrough Session now?

Kathy Ennis

If you’re stuck in a job you hate or one you no longer enjoy and dream of the transition from employee to business owner, swapping it for the life of an entrepreneur can seem incredibly tempting.

Freedom. Control. Money! 

Not to mention the word “entrepreneur” itself, which sounds so independent and thrilling. 

It’s a word that tells others you’re not a corporate drone. You’re a go-getter who had the courage to leave a job or someone who has grasped redundancy by the collar, so you could make your business dreams come true.

But as someone who’s experienced life on both sides of the fence, I can tell you this: the grass isn’t always greener!

For one thing, becoming an entrepreneur means losing the security that comes with your regular salary, swapping it for all the risk that comes with going it alone.

Suddenly, there are no colleagues around to help you out when things get tough. You’re responsible for EVERYTHING, which can feel as though a rug has been swiftly pulled out from under you. 

That learning curve can feel incredibly steep (and it never seems to straighten out!)

Don’t get me wrong. Making the transition from employee to business owner – via a side-hustle – counts among the best, most exciting experiences of my life. 

But there have been some extremely rough times too, and I’d be lying if I said it was a journey everybody should take.

I’ve worked with lots of start-up founders over the years, which means I’ve seen the same mistakes (some of which I made myself) happen over and over again. 

So, here are six fatal flaws to avoid when transitioning from employee to business owner.

1. Lack of Knowledge and Focus on ‘Business’

You can be amazing at whatever you make or do.

But you’ll also need to have some understanding of the mechanics of business, if you’re going to make the transition from employee to business owner and become a successful entrepreneur.

That’s because running a business involves so much more than designing a logo, setting up a website, and opening a bank account. 

It’s a skillset that involves everything from planning and forecasting, to market research, selling, and ensuring you can attract (and keep!) customers.

RELATED POST: Business Skills: Time to Arm Yourself with the Skills for Success

2. Not Understanding How Long It Takes to Be Profitable

This might come as a surprise, but business isn’t just about making money, it’s also about spending it.

There will be costs associated with things like website design, hosting, and maintenance, marketing, memberships, admin assistance, and so on. 

And that’s before we move on to things like getting customers, which is not guaranteed. And, I hate to say it but it’s an unhappy fact, some people just won’t pay when they say they will (or at all).

Try not to be disheartened if the money doesn’t flow in immediately. Seth Godin once said:

It takes about six years of hard work to become an overnight success

And I can report that he’s right!

3. A Belief That Start-Up Life is More Fun than Challenging

Oh my goodness, I don’t want to sound like a prophet of doom – honestly. But, remember I said that the grass isn’t always greener?

So you think you’re frustrated and challenged at work now, just wait until you’re an entrepreneur!

The transition from employee to business owner can be compared to a rollercoaster ride, with the same exhilarating highs, and the same plummeting lows.

As for free time, what’s that? In the beginning, you’ll be so consumed with business tasks so things like binge-watching on Netflix and (paid) holidays will feel like dusty relics from the past.

Also bear in mind that no-one will pay you for being sick anymore, and you’ll only receive professional development if you can make time (and pay!) for it yourself.

But, would I ever go back to the 9 to 5, even with all these challenges (they never go away, just become easier to manage). No I would not!

4. Thinking “It’s All About Me”

It may not seem this way from the articles and stories you read about popular entrepreneurs, but there’s no room for ego in business.

Your customers must ALWAYS come first. 

That means dedicating yourself to providing the very best service or products possible – and that dedication has to override everything else.

You have one, very simple job as a business owner. It’s to make your customers love your products and services as much as you do. In order for that to happen they need to know, like and trust you. For that to happen, you need to be there for them.

The customer isn’t king (or queen); they aren’t always right. They do need to be nurtured and to feel the love.

5. Being Unprepared for Loneliness

When I started out on my own, I missed the office banter and ‘water cooler’ moments I’d taken for granted in my job.

It took me a while to get used to being on my own for a large part of each day (though not completely alone… my cats now know everything there is to know about running a business!)

You can combat loneliness by getting out and networking, joining a supportive group to chat with, and finding an experienced mentor to business bounce ideas off.

REALTED POST: Don’t Just Sit There! Start Getting More Business (Hint, You Need a Business Mentor)

6. Your Job vs. Your Life

The important thing to remember about having a job is, if you don’t like it, you can always swap it for another one. 

You can also take a holiday, a sabbatical, or a break whenever you choose.

But when you own a business, your life and your work become intertwined, and that’s not always the picture of sunshine and roses some people try to paint!

You could say that being an entrepreneur is like Marmite, in that some people try it and hate it, while others love it so much that they’d never go back to a 9-5.

And, you know what? There is nothing wrong with that. If you give business ‘a go’ and find it’s not for you, going back to work is absolutely OK. The most awful thing would be to feel trapped, or worse, a failure if it doesn’t work for you. You are no such thing. Like Marmite, it’s for some, but not for others.

Here’s An Important Question to Help You Transition from Employee to Business Owner

Has this list of flaws put you off becoming a business owner?

If it has, the lifestyle might not be for you… and that’s OK! There’s no shame in admitting that you’d rather be employed than self-employed.

But if you’re still raring to go for it, it’s time to think hard. 

Don’t view entrepreneurship as an escape from an unhappy job. It can be that, it is also much more. You will need to make some serious adjustment (as we’ve seen.) 

Why not start a side-hustle first, to test your ideas and give yourself a taste of start-up life before jumping in?

Make use of your corporate connections, and don’t burn your bridges by sticking two fingers up to the boss and walking out! 

You never know whose help you’ll end up needing along the way… and one day you may even want to go back.

In the meantime, get some more advice from someone who’s been there and done that. Book a half-hour, complimentary Breakthrough Session with me will help clarify your next – exciting! – steps.

Kathy Ennis

What happens when you fail at something? Do you brush yourself off and start over, or slink away in embarrassment, vowing never to try anything new again? If it’s the latter, you’re missing out on a valuable learning experience that every successful businessperson understands well – failure will teach you so much more then success ever will.

You never learn from success, but you do learn from failure

James Dyson

James Dyson is well-placed to talk about failure, since it took him over 5,000 attempts to create his famous Dual Cyclone vacuum cleaner!

Other ‘famous failures’ include WD-40 (40 indicates the number of failed formulas that came before the one that worked).

Even the humble Post-It note took 12 years of development – and constant rejection – before it became the office essential it is now.

Did you know there’s even a Museum of Failure, that exhibits failed products and services from around the world? 

“Innovation needs failure” is the museum’s motto, and among its big-brand exhibits are Google Glass, what was intended to be an ‘improved taste’ Coke, and fat-free Pringles (a terrible idea if I ever heard one!)

Why Don’t We Talk About Failure More Often?

It’s a good question. 

We see, hear, and read so much about successful people and their brilliant businesses, that it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who ever gets things wrong.

But many people are so scared of failure, that they don’t get started – so we never get to hear about their eventual success!

As someone who has failed many times in the past, my advice is that it’s always better to throw yourself in, and give your ideas a good go.  

OK, so you may not get a ‘perfect’ result. But while it’s hard to get things 100% right, it’s just as hard to get things 100% wrong. 

That means there will ALWAYS be something you can take away and learn from… and maybe even get right the next time.

And, of course, there are people like me – Business Mentors – whose role it is to help, support and nurture you. This means you can make those failures with the assurance that there will be someone there to catch you when you fall and put you back on your feet again.

RELATED POST: Give Me 10-Minutes and I’ll Give You the Truth About Business Mentoring

Why Failure Is the Best Teacher of Success

Failure gives us a reality check

When we fail, we’re reminded that nothing stays the same, and that we can never be in complete control. 

So, we have to be as open and responsive as we can, adjusting our plans when the unexpected happens (we all have recent experience of this!) and trusting that others – such as those we’ve outsourced work to – will do what they say.

Our greatest glory is not in falling, but in rising every time we fall

Rocky Balboa

Failure makes us value what we work for

If we have to work hard for something, we naturally value it more. 

That means when we try again in business, we know exactly why it’s so important to do things like attracting customers, developing strong relationships, or even getting to grips with podcasting. 

We understand more about what we’re striving for.

Failure teaches us how to survive and grow

I can clearly remember all my lowest points, in my life and in my business.

While they were horrendous at the time, they also helped me realise that nothing was more important than getting myself back on track. 

To do that, I had to face everything that had gone wrong, so I could learn from it all.

I call this realisation ‘finding your imperative’. It’s the ‘thing’ that makes you do whatever you have to do, almost instinctively.

And in my experience, nothing is more effective at helping you find your imperative than failure!

We don’t start learning until we have failed

People telling us that “the sky’s the limit”, and “anything’s possible”, and “follow these tips for success” is all well and good.

But no advice really takes form until the stuff hits the fan!

That’s when we tend to realise the difference between knowing and owning… because unless we ‘own’ whatever we need to do, we probably won’t do it!

Failure brings a world of opportunity

Failure means we’ve been given the chance to take stock, pause, then take a deep breath and start again.

Nine times out of ten, if we’ve honestly learned from failure, we’ll come back bigger, better, and bolder than we were before.

Failure has taught me to question my assumptions, do different, more successful things, and meet amazing people who have brought so much to my business, and to me personally.

Failure translates into courage

One of my core values is ‘courageous’.

Everyone who starts a business has to have courage, because as we know, there are no guarantees of success! 

I was no different, starting a business aged 40, armed with nothing but enthusiasm and what I hoped was a good idea.

Interestingly, failure can even give us a courageous boost at times, since it teaches us how powerful and resilient we can be, both as people and as business owners.

Failure encourages inner strength

Failure teaches a positive mental attitude, as we realise that we can look at things with a ‘glass half empty’ or a ‘glass half full’ approach! 

(One approach is much more appealing to customers than the other… can you guess which?)

It helps to remember things like this when you feel like giving up – and we all have days like that.

Remember that it’s a positive step to admit you need help, too, so don’t suffer in silence if that feeling of not wanting to get out of bed persists.

Failure reveals your true support network

Surrounding yourself with positive people is much better for you than spending time with people who are always complaining, or talking about themselves.

Think pipes versus drains! People fall into two categories: pipes or drains.

Water pipes bring us fresh water and allow us to feel refreshed; there are people like that. On the other hand, drains carry waste and effluent; there are people like that. So, question. Which type of people do you think you should surround yourself with – especially if failure is something you fear.

With ‘pipe’ people around you, when you need help, you can feel confident that you’ll receive it… so there’s no need to keep putting a brave face on.

Please Don’t Be Afraid to Fail!

As we’ve seen, the biggest, brightest, and best cite failure as the very thing that propelled them towards the success they enjoy now.

So why not join their ranks, by shouting, “come on failure, do your worst!”

If you could do with some help turning failure into success, or you want to understand how you can learn from your experiences, why not get in touch? 

As a business mentor who’s seen it, done it, and worn the T-shirt, I can help motivate you to become even better than you think you can be.

Mark Williams Action Coach

Client retention is one of THE most important parts of your business, especially in a time when anxiety is high and spending power may be slightly decreased due to uncertainty in the marketplace.

Focusing on your customers, building the trust, loyalty and their confidence in you is hugely important to your bottom line. After all, it could be your most loyal customers who are seeing you through these slightly rougher seas.

Right now customers are acutely aware of how businesses are handling the current crisis, with those showing care, empathy and compassion emerging as leaders in their industry. Never has there been a better time to focus on your brand values, ethics (for both your customers and your staff) and your purpose.

Turning customers into loyal and raving fans is a process which we call ‘Ladder of Loyalty’ and it goes like this:

1. Initially you have Suspects. Suspects are clients/customers who you feel could potentially be interested in your products/services. To get them hooked think of ways to grab their attention. That could be great social media content, a blog, collaborating with another business, an event, an invitation to an event (the invitation itself could be just what they need, even if they can’t attend).

2. Suspects then turn to Prospects. Prospects are essentially Suspects who have shown interest in what you sell. They have taken the first step of engagement and seem warm to the idea of what they could buy from you. According to the book Never Lose A Customer Again by Joey Coleman a Prospect is in the ‘Assess’ phase at this point. “The customer is hopeful that you’ll be able to help, but it’s cautious optimism at best. If you don’t position yourself as fulfilling your needs while wrapping them in a great customer experience, they won’t choose to work with you. If you can convince them that you are the best choice, they will move forward with the purchase. This dance between customer and the organisation is what most people would refer to as “sales and marketing.” The potential customer is assessing their options.” – Joey Coleman.

3. Shoppers are not like a Customer. Shoppers are those who have invested once in your product or service. They have seen the value of what you do and handed over their cash. Here is when you can start the process of keeping your shoppers loyal to turn them into a client/customer. Let them know how much their custom means to you – if you are a relatively small business you could perhaps tell them how their custom affects you/your staff/your family. Bring your shoppers into the fold and make them feel valued and appreciated. This phase is usually where a customer can begin to doubt their decision to work with you – commonly known as ‘buyers remorse’. This is where your communication skills play a huge part and can re-affirm the initial feelings of euphoria and excitement which your customer felt at the start of their buying journey with you.

4. Next up is moving your Shoppers into Customers. Customers are those who have made multiple transactions with you. They have purchased your goods or services 2 or 3 times and they’re beginning to feel some form of loyalty to you. Often this will be because of a mixture of a few key elements such as pricing, communication, brand values and ethics, customer experience and locality. These Customers need nurturing. Could you offer them exclusive deals? Boden do this in the form of a £10 discount offer to those who regularly buy from them online. If you offer a service are there any critical non-essentials you can send them as a thank you for their custom – everyone loves an unexpected card and box of chocolates. If your business is a one time purchase (like weddings) then perhaps there are special offers or bundled packages you can offer for future milestones like birthdays/babies/special occasions. I’m sure there are many ways you can reward your local customers to turn them into…. (go to point 5.)

5. A member. Your Customers reach Member level once they are fully engaged with your business. Now they are more than a Customer. They are a friend of your business who actively believes in what you do/sell and has some deeper connection with you. Members feel a part of what you’re doing. At this stage you want to build this connection. Can you take them out for ‘member meals’, invite them to join you at events, give them a relationship manager so they can always deal with the same individual, who in turn will get to know and understand their needs to further build the relationship. Ask them when their birthday is and make sure you send them a postcard or little gift to make them feel special.

6. Nxt up is an Advocate. Once you start moving beyond the Member level you should be able to rely on your Advocates to help YOU market YOUR business. See what’s happened here – your clients/customers/members have turned into a marketing resource for your business as a result of all the time your have spent building your relationship with them. An Advocate is someone who will respond very positively when asked about their experience with your business. They will say things like ‘I would highly recommend them’, ‘You must work with them/buy their products’. ‘I wouldn’t know what I’d do without xxx, they have really helped me’. Word of mouth is THE most powerful form of marketing and it’s your Advocates that will do this for you. Advocates appreciate your level of customer service and they feel a strong connection to your business/your staff/you. The key to building Advocates is to stay connected with them. Keep in touch with them to see how they are doing and send regular exclusive offers/invitations. Maintain this level of service to keep them feeling loyal.

7. Finally we move to Raving Fans. Raving Fans are simply the best type of customer for any business. They have bought into what you do with such emotion and understanding that they want to spread the word about what they have found. They feel proud to buy from you/use your services and you have made their life so much better that they want to shout about you. If you have Raving Fans then you know how to keep your customers loyal! Just keep doing what you’re doing and MAINTAIN the level of service you offer them!

One final note – if you are serious about client retention and working out how you can best navigate your way to gaining more and more advocates then we’d highly recommend you to read ‘Never Lose A Customer’ by Joey Coleman. Read his first 3 chapters here – we’re pretty sure you’ll get hooked pretty quickly!

To find out more about how I may be able to help your Norfolk business thrive then please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01603 559590 or email [email protected] – you can also get in touch through my contact form here. If you’d like to know a little more about my experience, expertise and accolades then click here. 

9 lessons business leaders can learn from sports coaches

Leon Davies, Sustainability Consultant

There is arguably no more pure form of leadership than coaching a sports team, and business leaders can take many lessons from the world of sports team management.

I had a manager at work a few years ago who had rowed for Australia. He had a phrase he often used that has stuck with me: “Don’t say anything unless it makes the boat go faster.” In its literal application, it made sure team members only opened their mouth in competition if it helped correct a fault or offer encouragement. In the five and a half minutes it takes an eight-man team to complete a race, there is no time for negativity or personal agendas. Every second literally counts.

Of course, the use of sports phrases in business is nothing new. Whether you have a ‘game plan’, are ‘pitching’ to a client, or have just ‘dropped the ball’, the lingo crops up every day.

And more useful than these simple idioms has been the motivational wisdom shared by the great sports coaches over the years. Scan YouTube for motivational speeches and it is a mixture of sports stars and business leaders sharing their advice. 

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary,” – Vince Lombardi 

Perhaps you’ll just find them as memes on your social media feeds, but maybe you have the odd one printed or framed as an inspirational trigger. Lombardi was the first truly great sports coach to be thought of in this way. The hugely successful Green Bay Packers coach of 1960s American Football revolutionised what it was to coach a sports team. He was capable of gems such as: “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work.”

And…

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”

Teamwork and self-discipline were the pillars of his philosophy. He was very much about the greater good of a team; it was almost a form of sports socialism. Without that, he felt that you just have a group of people doing their own thing.

The challenge in business, as in sport, is to get them working together smoothly. And that often needs a whole range of skills.

Great sports teams are often led by an inspirational character with powerful motivational skills – most often someone who has played the sport themselves and walked in their shoes. They can understand the challenges the team faces, because they faced them in the past.

There is invariably plenty of communication happening on the sports field – much of it robust and direct. Shouting, gestures, instructing each other. And an acceptance that it is all in the name of the team’s greater good. There is an implicit trust that it’s not just about the individual’s need to be heard.

This trust comes from training and preparation. And unlike the business world in some respects, the majority of what a sports team does is preparation. Almost 90% of time is spent getting ready to do the job of competing. While this isn’t possible for the business world, you do sometimes get a sense that people at work are always busy. Flat out ‘doing stuff’ to justify their existence. Perhaps not enough time is spent thinking and planning. 

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal,” – Lombardi 

And of that thinking time, the vast majority will be spent analysing what went wrong, rather than focusing on success and what you’re good at. Sport is always about looking at the positives and becoming even better.

Of all the modern sports, Premier League soccer in England is perhaps where sports coaches are most tested. 

The parallels with commerce are strong – the Premier League is big business. A manager needs to recruit a diverse bunch of individuals with the budget at their disposal, get a strategy in place, manage and motivate large egos and achieve results almost immediately. Change management at an acute level.

The average tenure of a football manager in the EPL is just over a year. And the resilience they have to display in the face of incredible scrutiny can be soul destroying. Nearly three years, Bob Bradley took over at Swansea City, having previously managed the American national soccer team. He lasted 11 games in around 85 days and was sacked. 

Imagine the CEO of Telstra or Optus sacked after less than three months, while simultaneously being booed by a stadium full of customers and their results picked apart right the way across the media as a form of entertainment.

Accept what you cannot control, and focus on what you can affect is one of the lessons business leaders can learn from sports coaches.

To survive 27 years as a Premier League manager then, takes a special individual. Step forward Sir Alex Ferguson.

In over 38 years in management, the working-class Scotsman won an astonishing 49 trophies. He helped grow Manchester United into one of the biggest brands in the world. And interestingly often credits the workers at the shipyards in Glasgow where he grew up, as an inspiration for the teamwork he strived for. 

Obviously his management credentials are respected in the sporting world, but they have also been recognised elsewhere. Professor Anita Elberse of Harvard Business School called him “one of the world’s all-time great leaders”.

Ferguson has had a book published called Leading, co-written with his friend and long-time collaborator Sir Michael Moritz, a successful venture capitalist. It is about the lessons he learned in football that can be applied to business and everyday life.

Ferguson was the manager who showed David Beckham the door when he felt Becks had become bigger than the team. His book focuses on the qualities he identifies for team success: hiring and firing the right personnel, mastering boardroom politics, coming back from failure and adversity, discipline, control. But also perhaps unexpected skills such as data analysis and delegation. 

And famous for trusting young players such as the Class of ‘92, Ferguson believes youth has a strong part to play in business. “If I were running a company, I would always want to listen to the thoughts of its most talented youngsters, because they are the people most in touch with the realities of today and the prospects for tomorrow.” 

In researching this piece, a number of threads came to the fore from various sports and coaches; here are nine recurring themes about what business leaders can learn from sports coaches:

1. Teamwork, communication and self-discipline are the cornerstones of team success
2. Perfection never happens – so don’t let its pursuit slow you down
3. Failure usually comes before success – you win or you learn
4. Be obsessed with improving
5. Accept what you cannot control, and focus on what you can affect
6. Simplify your game plan into manageable components for the individuals
7. Visualise success and understand what success looks like
8. Encourage diverse personalities – everyone has a different skill and role to play
9. And perhaps most importantly of all, especially for micro managers, remember that: Coaches can’t get out on the pitch and play. Set the game plan, communicate, motivate and then let your team go to work

The final word goes to John Calipari, an incredible university basketball coach in the US:

“Leadership is about serving everyone under you, asking yourself, ‘How do I give you the tools you need to succeed and proceed?’”

It’s a great lesson to take into business. But there are plenty of others…

Source: www.theceomagazine.com

Kathy Ennis, LittlePiggy

If you’re a Solopreneur, then the chances are you enjoy all the thrills and spills that come from going it alone in business. (The clue’s in the name… ‘solo’-preneur!) But there comes a time when you want more … time, money, clients, recognition. What do you do then? How do you scale a Solopreneur business – when your business is just you?!

Solopreneur

/ˌsəʊləʊprəˈnəː/

noun

a person who sets up and runs a business on their own

As a Business Mentor who is a Solopreneur, and someone who’s been there, done that, and wears the T-shirt to prove it, I understand how exciting it feels when you take charge of your business destiny.

But I also know how it feels when you hit a plateau.

So, let’s go back in time for a moment. 

You bravely turned your back on the 9-5 and launched your business in a blaze of glory. Armed with a brilliant idea and a bucketload of passion, you weren’t sure if you’d be a success or a failure… but you were determined to give it a good go!

Now, after a LOT of hard work, late nights, and missed catch ups with friends, you’re the successful Solopreneur you always dreamed about being.

As such, everything is ticking along just fine – but that’s not good enough anymore!

It’s time to take your business to the next level. 

But if you’re anything like I was at this point, you’ll have identified three issues.

One: you’re not exactly rolling in cash

Two: you don’t want to give up that precious freedom you’ve worked so hard for

Three: you never want to hire and manage staff

Here’s why scaling your Solopreneur business for growth doesn’t have to mean investing piles of money you haven’t got… or building a world-dominating empire that means recruiting vast teams of people.

So, want to know how you can grow and scale your Solopreneur business? Here are eight proven ways that keep you solo and firmly in the driver’s seat.

1. Outsource

You know those jobs you hate, but you keep on doing because it’s YOUR business?

Things like writing and scheduling endless blog and social media posts, managing your business accounts, and making sure your website is up to date.

Outsourcing to professionals who love the jobs you hate will give you time to work on a plan that focuses on growing your business, rather than dealing with distracting day-to-day tasks.

(Let’s be honest, it’s also likely those pesky jobs will be completed to a higher standard than if you’d completed them yourself!)

2. Invest in a CRM

Growing and scaling a business effectively means getting organised.

Investing in a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system will help you manage your customer data in a way those paper lists and Excel spreadsheets just aren’t capable of.

With a CRM you will be able to store messes of data such as, user behaviour, how long a customer has been with your business, purchase records, and notes on sales interactions, which you can use to optimize your sales and marketing processes and improve customer service across your organization.

• customer behaviour
• how long a customer has been with you
• how often a customer contacts you, engages with you or buys from you
• purchase records
• notes on sales and interactions

With all this information you will be able to make informed decisions which means you which you will be able to optimise, automate and streamline your sales and marketing processes. This will help to improve your customer service and increase your sales.

Both essential if you are looking to grow and scale your Solopreneur business.

There are lots of CRM options available. Two of my favourites are the freebie from Hubspot’s and the really cost-effective one from Capsule.

Make sure you do some research into the best CRM for your business.

3. Productise Your Business

Don’t worry if you don’t know what ‘productise’ means!

It’s a word I made up to describe how you can make tangible ‘products’ to sell when your business usually involves exchanging time for money.

The problem many service-based Solopreneurs face is how to grow and scale their business when – essentially – they sell time for money.

If you’re a Coach, a Consultant, a Personal Trainer, a Therapist, a Copywriter, an Accountant etc it may seem that the only way you can scale up is to work more hours, charge more per hour / per project or to bring in a partner or staff.

Any one of those things will change the nature of the business you have built and love.

But there is the option to ‘productise’.

An example of the introduction of physical products could be that of one of my clients, She is a massage therapist; a hands-on, treatment-based business. Because she can only physically work with around six people every day, her turnover is limited. Limited by the number of hours per day and the number of days in the week she works.

However, if she ‘productises’; selling sleep masks, scented candles, or pillow sprays at the consultation or via her website, she can increase her income.

[BTW: I think she should increase her prices too]

But what about if you don’t have the kind of business that would work easily alongside additional products like these?

You could:

• Create a course
• Write a book
• Have a subscription-based Group on Facebook
• Work with a group of people rather then one-to-one (one hour x 10 people is more cost-effective than 10 people x 1 hour each!)

If you want ideas about how you could Productise your business, let’s talk

4. Automate Tasks

The less you have to do of the daily grind, the more time you will have to spend with the customers who pay you – and more customers means business growth and scale.

This is why automation is a godsend for any business. It takes repetitive tasks off your hands, seamlessly running them in the background for you!

Do some research into the tasks that could benefit from automation in your business. For example, you could set up an automated email series for people who sign up to your mailing list, invest in an accounting software package, automate your customer appointment bookings or pre-schedule social media posts for certain days of the week.

Every five minutes you don’t have to spend on these tasks is five minutes you can spend with someone who pays you.

5. Maximise Your Email List

If you haven’t built an email list yet, why not?

Here’s a guide to getting going with building your list

YES PELASE, I WANT A COPY

The return on investment for email marketing is estimated at £42 for every £1 you spend – and since some platforms (like Mailerlite) are free to start with, you may not even have to spend that!

Entice people to sign up to your list by creating an enticing lead magnet (check out the ones I have included on my Business Toolkit page), then use your subscriber data to send targeted messages with information and offers they’ll appreciate.

6. Build Your Personal Brand

Far more than just your logo, your personal brand encapsulates everything people see, hear, think, and feel about you and your business.

Your personal brand is built around your values – so make sure you understand what these are, and how best to explain them to your customers.

If you struggle to define your values, you could start by thinking of five words that best describe your approach to business (fun, confident, reliable, etc.!)

7. Spend, Spend, Spend

OK, I might have got a little carried away.

But there’s no escaping the fact that a successful business costs – as well as makes – money.

The secret is to spend wisely, on the tools, tech, and expertise you’ll need to facilitate successful business growth. 

This includes outsourcing and automation, plus marketing, memberships, and training to keep your skills fresh (and your business competitive.)

8. Review and Reflect (With a Helpful Mentor!)

It’s no secret that planning is an essential ingredient for success (I call it the link between passion and profit!)

But there’s no use coming up with a brilliant business plan… that you never look at again.

You’ll only know if things are going according to plan – and how you can adjust your goals for future growth, if you review and reflect on your results.

As a highly experience Business Mentor who specialises in working with one-person businesses, I will help you get to grips with what really matters, so you can roll up your sleeves and get stuck into those plans for the growth and scale your Solopreneur business deserves.

To find out more book a half-hour, complimentary Breakthrough Session now.