Scale Your Small Business

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. Today, we're diving into the fifth pillar of the Scale Your Small Business Process: Teams. We're breaking down how to build a team, establish workflows, and communicate effectively and efficiently.

The best analogy for building a team is building a home. It's not all shiny faucets and new paint–it's about the foundation and the blueprint. From there, you set the framing and hire your contractors, and build up the walls. It's the same organizational symphony that happens when you create a team.

The first step is getting clear on an organizational chart. Create descriptions of positions you want to fill in the future, so when the right person comes along, you're ready to bring them on. Think about what you'd like to delegate and go from there.

Think of it as a funnel. As tasks go down the funnel, we're going to eliminate, delegate, and automate. If you procrastinate a task, it goes back to the top of the funnel until it falls into one of those categories, or is focused on.

Finding out what team member is right for what task is as easy as asking them. Consider asking "What do you love to do? Is there something that you're not doing that you would love to be in charge of?"

Sometimes when going through the funnel process you'll realize something would be more effective or cheaper if it were automated. Things like training and project reminders can be laid out ahead of time, minimizing distractions and maximizing communication and flexibility.

Key Takeaways

1. Building a team is like building a house. It takes a blueprint, a foundation, and a frame before the walls go up.
2. Get a clear organizational chart so you know what positions you want to fill when you find the right person.
3. Create a task funnel that allows you to eliminate, delegate, automate, or focus on.

Thanks for tuning into the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. Joining us this week is Caroline Schaefer, a woman who is on a mission to inspire change and growth for both mental and physical prosperity. She's a firm believer in self-education and is constantly improving.

Caroline is no stranger to adversity--but she's no stranger to overcoming it as well. Facing sexual assault, a dysfunctional home life riddled with conditional love and yelling, Caroline found strength. She needed that to overcome a traumatic and difficult pregnancy where she battled sickness, paralyzation, and depression. With her "light off" she went to Tony Robbins' Unleash the Power Within and it lit a fire beneath her. She began asking herself "Why? What's my motive? What's my reasoning? Why do I think that?" and it shifted her perspective. Now, her foot is on the gas and it's not coming off. She won't fail because she simply won't quit.

Caroline is all about change. She believes change equals growth. When you're not growing, you're stagnant. The only way for fulfillment is constant growth. That mentality has carried into her podcast, The Vitality Feed, where she inspires others to continue to change. Caroline's focus is now working 1:1 coaching people to build that mentality and learn that it's okay to pivot, it's okay to change things. It's okay to continually learn and adjust.

Key Takeaways

1. Adversity happens--you can overcome it with your mindset
2. You can't fail if you don't quit.
3. Change is necessary for growth and success. Don't be afraid to pivot.

LINKS

https://fitframeworks.com/

The Vitality Podcast

caroline.schaefer on Instagram

Thanks for tuning into the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. Today, we're diving into your questions and feedback from last week's episode on operational systems. We'll break down which systems to focus on, what categories to start with, and more.

A primary question that was received was what systems to focus on. This entirely depends on you. The first thing you want to create an operational system for is the one you know you shouldn't be doing.

Next, storage is a crucial aspect of your operational systems. Consider managing your projects in a platform like Asana and saving all your materials in Dropbox or G Suite. That way, when you're trying to delegate training or allow your team to learn for themselves, they can find everything they need.

It's certainly a lot in the beginning, getting everything up and running.

Categories can be an incredibly useful strategy for staying organized as a new business owner. Some umbrella categories that fit into just about any business are these: Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Sales, Services and Products, and Delivery and Team. Think of these as an outline with subcategories to specify where to save your work.

Key Takeaways

• The first thing you want to create an operational system for is the one you know you shouldn't be doing.

• Storage is a crucial aspect of your operational systems. Consider managing your projects in a platform like Asana and saving all your materials in Dropbox or G Suite.

• Categories can be an incredibly useful strategy for staying organized as a new business owner.

Welcome back to the Scale your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. This week's guest is known as "the man who can" and he lives up to it. Steve Sims is the best-selling author of "Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen", a sought-after coaching speaker, and has worked with the likes of Sir Elton John and Elon Musk, to name a few. He's breaking down his mentality and how he gets it done.

Steve rolls with some of the most important people out there. Starting with just 93 clients, more than two thirds were and are billionaires. Because of his massively connected network, he was features in Forbes and became known as the guy who can get things done when no isn't an answer and money isn't a problem.

As entrepreneurs, Steve says, we have a tendency to become our own biggest critics. But even though we are resilient, sometimes outside influences can get to us. When that happens, sometimes it makes sense to ignore it and move on, but for Steve, he addresses those problems directly and with intention. The message that you are putting out there is irrelevant. It's how it's being received that is the truth. You may think what you are saying is positive and uplifting, may be alienating to somebody else.

There's been many times in our life where we, as entrepreneurs, have paid that bill late. We've trusted someone that screwed us over, we've listened to someone that never had the authority or education or credibility to have our attention and then it's led us down the wrong path. In those moments, we are creating our ability to rise above it and learn lessons of empowerment.how empowered do you become when you actually get out of that dumpster? How much stronger are you when you get over those dark times? Why would you remove that education from someone? Why would you remove that empowerment? That's your kryptonite, that's your shield, that's your cape. Wear it with honor.

There is a distinct difference between entrepreneurs and want-treprenuers. If you haven't been ripped off, lied to, spat on, laughed at, gone broke, got sued, then you are not an entrepreneur. Be not the person that wants all the limelight without doing the hard work. That's the want-trepreneur's badge of honor. When COVID hit, want-treprenuers looked for the best show to binge. Entrepreneurs got better at what they do.

Steve's superpower is ignorance--which isn't as harsh as it may seem. It's because while others are planning it and forecasting it and getting out the trigonometry charts to see how this can possibly be done, Steve is out there trying it.

Steve's book "Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen" is built around a core philosophy--be impossible to misunderstand. Identify a problem, and focus on creating a message and a solution that's impossible to misunderstand. Make sure when you amplify your message it is so clear that it's impossible to manipulate. Because when someone has a problem, no one cares about the logo--they want something that will find them their solution the fastest.

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Busines Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. This week, we're tackling another pillar in the Scale Your Small Business Process. Today is all about organization--we're diving into operational procedures. Keeping your team on track and on the same page is key, so let's talk about project management.

It's crucial that you have software that can help you manage the work your team is doing. Consider tools like Asana to break down the steps of each of your business's projects. Do your research and find which one works best for your needs.

Dropbox or G Suite are other great tools that can work in conjunction with your project manager. The key here is making sure you're clear and consistent with how you're labeling your files. The objective is to make everything as easy to find as possible. Use this technique for your client files as well, so if you need to search for anything, there is a convention that you know you can navigate.

Be sure to share your story and feedback about your operational procedures! Let's keep the dialogue going next week when we dive into any questions you may have.

Key Takeaways

1. Find a project management tool that works best for you and your work. Do your research and make a choice that makes sense.
2. Dropbox and G Suite are great tools to help manage your files.
3. Have a consistent naming convention for all your files for easy searching.

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. This week, we're having a discussion with a true survivalist and business owner, Wes Harper. Wes has appeared three times on Discovery Channel's hit show, Naked and Afraid, and is the President of a successful IT solutions operation, LightWire, Inc.

The show Wes appeared on, Naked and Afraid, is an exercise in true survivalism. Dropped in a remote area with little resources (and no clothes) to survive with a partner for upwards of 40 days. This test of physical strength is only surpassed by the mental fortitude required to thrive under such harsh conditions. The mental attitude you have, Wes says, can be applied to both survival and business ownership. Being stubborn and being positive are two of the most important traits you can have in both situations. The truth is, you're going to fail constantly. Business ownership, especially small businesses, requires a certain amount of grit and persistence to be successful. In the same way a survival mentality can help with businesses success, it can go the other way as well. Being in small business ownership for nearly 20 years allowed Wes to build up the mental toughness he needed to succeed.

Specifically, this experience forces one to consider what is and what isn't truly important. Much like survival, it's about prioritization. As you grow, you may find yourself in a situation where you've outgrown people you've had as clients in the past. Some clients are not worth the energy and effort you're putting forth. Once you make the mental prioritization, understanding it's costing more than you're getting, everything improves. Once you know your target audience, you know not to answer the door when it's not them knocking.

LightWire, Inc is one of the fastest-growing IT companies in North Carolina. For a flat fee, they provide IT services, including wireless systems, email, servers, and cloud services. Founded in 1996, technology has evolved, and it's evolved quickly--LightWire has evolved alongside it. Change is the only constant--it's about changing as tech changes.

Cyber attacks are getting worse. In just North Carolina, millions--sometimes billions of dollars are lost in blackouts caused by cybersecurity attacks alone. And it doesn't matter the size of your business--if you store data, you're a target. There are a few simple things you can do to make sure you're safe. First, go to your box store and purchase a reliable firewall. Make sure you're amply supported with updates and management. Secondly, back your data up often. If you're hacked and your data is backed up, you're set. Finally, we are our own worst enemies with cybersecurity. Have antivirus and antimalware installed, and educate yourself on what to watch out for. Phishing and hacking attacks are getting smarter, and so should you. If you get an email you're unsure of, call them. Just call them and say, "Did you send me this email?" That will save you more hassle than you could ever imagine. On top of that, consider self-evaluating every 6 months to find any holes that may have appeared in your security.

Key Takeaways

1. Operating a small business is all about a survival mentality. Adapt and evolve!
2. Prioritize what is going to serve you and your business best. If it's not your ideal client knocking at the door, don't answer.
3. Take your cybersecurity seriously. Back up your data and make sure you have antimalware and antivirus software installed.

LINKS

https://lightwireinc.com/

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. Today, we're diving into questions and feedback from our last episode about filling in the gaps. This is an important pillar of the Scale Your Small Business Process, so it's crucial that we're clear on how to do it best.

The most frequently asked question from the last episode was "where do I get started?" The best place to start is with a system you use most frequently. Even the smallest tweak to a system you use daily can help a world of headaches. It can be overwhelming to realize how many gaps that appear as you're auditing your systems--but you're not alone. Take it step by step and methodically close those gaps.

Another question that came up was how to know when all the gaps are filled? The truth is, they may never be--and that's okay. Create a list as things come up--they will always be in flux. As time goes on, return to that list and revisit gaps that you now have the ability to close. Taking on one gap at a time is totally fine, but so is handling multiple (if you feel like you can). If you do, it helps to keep an ongoing notepad of what you're working on so you don't lose track.

Key Takeaways

1. The best place to start is with a system you use most frequently.
2. Even the smallest tweak to a system you use daily can help a world of headaches.
3. Create a list as things come up--they will always be in flux. As time goes on, return to that list and revisit gaps that you now have the ability to close.

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. Today's guest is Alec Watson, best known for his advertising work, Alec Watson is a multi-disciplinary digital media artist. As a photographer, his work has graced magazine covers, movies posters, album covers, and a multitude of advertising from Britney Spears, to Coca-Cola and Starbucks.

Alec is no stranger to working with big companies. His key to success isn't what you may think. Being interesting and engaging at lunch can be one of the most powerful tools you have. In small businesses, it's all about relationships. If you're conversational, you can become friends with your clients and those who you work with, which can help you understand their stories.

When you're a small business trying to scale, it's about setting yourself apart by being adaptable. In Alec's case, being able to understand the brand's story and communicate that back through film. When you can capture the passion of the client through their story, you create an enticing product. Because story is the most important aspect of the branding, film is more effective than still imagery, in that you can demonstrate values more clearly. From there, you can cater the experience to what they are all about.

When you're on a big stage, especially when you're trying to scale, imposter syndrome can set in. You don't have to be bigger than you are. You just have to be enthusiastic, hardworking, and honest.

Alec has a course on visual branding that can be found at yourvisualbrand.com and now includes a Zoom to help you define what your story is.

Key Takeaways

1. Being interesting and engaging at lunch can be one of the most powerful tools you have. In small businesses, it's all about relationships.
2. When you're a small business trying to scale, it's about setting yourself apart by being adaptable.
3. You don't have to be bigger than you are. You just have to be enthusiastic, hardworking, and honest.

LINKS

Yourvisualbrand.com

https://www.alecwatson.com/

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. This week, we're diving back into the Scale Your Small Business Process with another pillar of success. Today, we're taking a look at how we can close the gaps that are preventing us from reaching that next level. What does that look like?

Once you've developed a list of systems that you're using in your process, it's time to identify where the gaps are. This pillar is all about finding the weaknesses in your systems and creating some actionable steps that can make it better or help you find a replacement. The first step is going through and looking into each system and saying, "what are the other possibilities?" Do your research--go to YouTube and educate yourself on the systems you're considering. If you do decide to replace a system, make sure you're saving all your data that was being used in it. As you refine each one of these systems, it's just going to get easier and faster, and most importantly, save you some money.

Key Takeaways

• Once you've developed a list of systems that you're using in your process, it's time to identify where the gaps are.

1. go to YouTube and educate yourself on the systems you're considering.
2. As you refine each one of these systems, it's just going to get easier and faster, and most importantly, save you some money.

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom. Today, we're chatting with David Neagle, best-selling author of The Millions Within and known as one of the architects of the coaching and personal growth industry itself, having worked alongside other well-known mentors like Bob Proctor, Marianne Morrisey, Tony Robbins, and the like for decades.

David's journey to success started with a near-death experience he had in his early 20's. Working as a forklift driver, David realized soon after his accident, that there had to be something more. When he sought help from people older than him, they all gave him an answer he couldn't accept. The conclusion he came to was this: it was an attitude thing. By shifting his attitude, David was able to more than double his income just a month later. To get there, David chose someone he believed had the attitude necessary for success, then emulated it.

For David, a business is a reflection of what's going on in an entrepreneur's mind. It's about how we are raised and conditioned to think. For many, they are in a constant state of survival. There is an understanding that everything could collapse at any moment. This mindset is rooted in fear and limits your ability to grow. By making the shift from fear to gratitude, you are able to see opportunity and scale incredibly quickly.

Know that everything is cause and effect. If you are struggling with something now, it isn't a cause, it's an effect of something deeper. Once you recognize the source you can begin to make massive strides.

Key Takeaways

• Shift your mindset from fear to gratitude

• Everything is cause and effect

• Find someone with the right attitude and emulate them

LINKS

https://successfulmindpodcast.com/