Nov 5, 2018 | Business, Life
I’m guilty of zoning out when I don’t understand what’s being said.
I’m sure you’re guilty of it too.
You’ve likely sat through a class you were interested in, only to become so lost in the verbiage being used that it sounds as if the teacher was speaking another language.
I remember a conversation with my spiritual mentor, early into us meeting each other. We were talking about astrology, something I was eager to learn about, but was still a novice in. When she asked me which planet was in my 11th house in my birth chart, I was completely confused. My WHAT chart? Was that something my mom needed to get from the hospital? I have a planet in a house? Do WHAT?
I had no idea what she was talking about, so the entire conversation made me feel so lost. She was starting big on the spiritual scope, while I was still trying to grasp the overall concept. I knew that if I wanted to dive back into a conversation with her about astrology, I first needed to learn the language.
By “learning the language,” I mean the common terms and phrases that are used to discuss that subject.
Likewise, when teaching the language, you need to “dumb it down.” I don’t mean this as if the person you are talking to is dumb, but if you know more on the subject than they do, you need to teach the basics and break down the terms/phrases associated to that subject.
When studying “the language”, remember to be a student. This may mean you need to take initiative and do independent research to further advance your understanding. Research, connect, apply.
We all have a starting point in every area of life; be mindful that others may not be on your level yet.
Teach, inspire, learn, and grow. We’re all in this together!
Cheers to your growth,
Lauren
Oct 14, 2018 | Business
When you’re beginning your first business and dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial journey, jumping to the money making part and figuring everything else out along the way, is usually what happens. In your mind, sales is key and money is a big motivator.
Some could argue that not having the proper branding, an amazing website, a social media presence, or even virtually no money to start up will prevent you from making money. But I say, that’s a load of crap.
Hear me out.
I’ve witnessed businesses with NO online presence and terrible branding make 6 and 7 figures yearly. They hustle, they sell/provide, and they make bank.
Now, will a better branded company with a high converting website, and large social following increase your overall company value, recognition, and sales? Yes. Could lacking one of those aspects be one of the reasons your business isn’t thriving? Absolutely. But still, marketing and sales aren’t the only core parts of your business, nor the step that is typically overlooked.
When I began Socially Tangled, I had the logo, the branding, contracts, the website, the social media presence, and even the clients.
The first time business wasn’t working in my favor, it was strictly a pricing thing. I wasn’t pricing my services high enough, therefor was royally screwing up my income. This, was an easy fix. With new packages and a new clients, I was making more money than before and was feeling damn good about my business.
As business started taking off at a rapid pace, it didn’t take me long to realize my business structurally wasn’t prepared for the growth.
And that’s when the REAL “oh shit” moment came in.
I realized no one can do my job (nor could I delegate tasks properly) without my systems written out. I lacked training material, an operation/procedure manual, and best practice guides. There was no documented system or process for my business; so when I hired 5 new teammates I essentially set them (and my business) up for failure.
The new team members weren’t fulfilling the duties I had anticipated or expected plus there was just a lot of miscommunication; this was no ones fault other than my own. This ultimately took me from a 7 person payroll back down to a 2 person payroll.
When a business needs 7 people, but the burden is placed on 2, ultimate burnout is sure to occur…and it did. This caused me to not be able to take on any new business (slow growth) and I became overwhelmed to the point where I actually began hating the hustle.
And to think, this was all due to lack of systems and procedures.
Core Business Systems
There are 5 core business systems to that keep your business running, growing, and thriving. Procedures, training guides, and systematic ways for the behind-the-scenes business, are known as the Management System and is the keystone of all systems. Without this in place, other remaining 4 core systems such as Marketing, Sales, Fulfillment and Accounting, will crumble.
Build systems, processes, and procedures then delegate it out. Essentially, you want to get your business to a place where you’re solely in charge of the tactics and strategies that take your business to the next level!
Don’t get stuck in the continuous cycle of doing bitch work.
Been there, done that.
It’s for the birds.
Need help setting up systems and strategies in your business?
Schedule a consultation with me! I’ll help get you on the right track.
Committed to your growth,
Lauren
Jan 4, 2018 | Business
Start up and long time business owners alike, can often times neglect simple investments that can heighten their business without breaking the bank.
It’s easy to hear the term “investment” and automatically think of bonds, stocks, shares, etc. Sure, these are extremely valuable things for anyone to invest in but these 5 things will help you AND your business grow:
Social Media Marketing: New customers won’t come knocking if they don’t even know you exist. You have to get in front of your audience; being visible is one of the most simple ways to create buzz about your business. Develop a social media presence to connect with your target audience!
Professional Headshots: Sure you could grab a selfie stick and attempt to do it yourself; or you could invest in professional photos that align with your branding and demonstrate your professionalism. Your photos can be used on social media, your website, marketing collateral, and more. People study faces and you can’t take back a first impression; make sure your photos are of quality and represent you and your business in the truest form.
Mentorship / Certifications / Expert Learning: Learning doesn’t always have to come at a high price. Many times, you can connect with an experienced mentor to be your go-to for all things business related.. or you could also hire a coach to help grow your business and work directly with you.
If you hold a certification in a certain area, you can use it to leverage your expertise over competitors. Not all certifications are costly, in fact, some are free but do require 15+ hours of training plus an exam. Be sure to research certifications in your field!
Enhance your knowledge and learn from experts! Attending seminars and workshops are great, but you don’t even have to leave your home or office to keep up to date with industry experts. Read their books, listen to podcasts, read blogs, watch vlogs – it doesn’t matter how you learn as long as you continue to learn.
Technology: You need to keep your technology up to date. This year I invested over 3k in technology, and it has paid itself within 3 months. Don’t let the price tag of a piece of an expensive piece of technology or equipment detour you from purchasing it. Think about the value it could bring to your business; will it make your job easier? Will it help you produce better results for clients? If you answered yes to those questions, then it’s time you stop letting the price tag be your excuse.
R & R: Ahhh, rest and relaxation. If you’re not getting enough sleep or not taking personal time off to relax and devote to yourself,family,friends – you’re skimping on the BEST and EASIEST investment you can make for yourself and your business. Aim for a full night of sleep to optimize your performance and focus daily. Don’t think you have the time for a vacation or to take time off? Wrong. What you don’t have time for is a complete and utter burn out. Take care of yourself, it’ll pay off.
Painless and simple enough, right? Investing in both yourself and your business will be profitable; stop making excuses and just do it!
If you want to invest in something with minimal risk and guaranteed return, invest in yourself.
To your growth,
Lauren
