The best in class companies all have one thing in common – a Robust Training Program.

For our discussion today, that may be going too far too fast – how about we start with a Training Program.

Most businesses don’t have a training program – and the ones that don’t – stay small, or go out of business

This podcast is…Growing You, Growing Your Business.  You are listening because you want to grow your business.

The only way to Grow your business is to create a team.  Staff.  Employees.  Coworkers.  That team of people need clear expectations and know—how to do their work with excellence.  That only comes with training.

Standardization is a framework of agreements to which all relevant parties in an industry or organization must adhere to ensure that all processes associated with the creation of a good or performance of a service are performed within set guidelines.

Standardization requires some hard work of invention

This is perfect: a framework of agreements to which all relevant parties, in a Company, adhere to.

A healthy and prosperous company has a Framework of Agreements

Standardization must begin as a personal ethos – a personal agreement with yourself, that you will agree to the standards of your company.

“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking” – Henry Ford

The tragedy of most small business: finally inventing the Best Way – through years and years of trial and error, but then never documenting the Best Way

We say, “if it’s not documented, it’s not a system.”

Documenting your business is getting your business out of your head.  And even more important, getting your business out of your employee’s head.

The Best Way is Your Invention of your Business, or better said, your inventions of your business.

You have differentiated your business so that it is unique and in a class all by itself.

Invention is what happens when you work ON your business – and not just IN it

Your goal as the inventor of your business – Elegant and Simple Systems

Process creates Order!

Order is one of the most powerful words for life and business.

Order is what creates and sustains life.

Process Creates Order!

The opposite of process is one-off.

Process antonyms:

These are terrible words – words you don’t want to describe your business.

Process is such a beautiful word for business:

Elements of a Process:

You have a clear Vision – of the business and life you desire.

Quote from Heroic Leadership – Chris Lowney:

“The person who knows what he or she wants can pursue it energetically.  No one becomes a great teacher, parent, violinist, or corporate executive by accident”

“There is no news in those statements.  Yet as obvious as they are, few people make the personal investment to benefit from the”

You have to know what you want!

Check out Episode 3

Vision AND Systems HAVE to go together!  You need equal parts of both.

A vision without a task is but a dream.   A task without a vision is drudgery.  A vision and a task are the hope of the world.

“Write the Vision and make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” – Habakkuk 2:2

“Without a Vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18

…they cast off restraint

…they lose heart

The Top Five Benefits of Investing in Your Vision Work

What does that mean, Franchise Prototype Business – and Why should you want it?

It originates with Michael Gerber, “build your own business as if you were going to create a 100 more just like it, even if you only have one.”

What would have to happen in your business if you wanted it to be a Prototype?

Prototype:

1 : an original model on which something is patterned

Why Should you want to pursue the prototype model?

Because you can have a Business And a Life

The Opposite of a Franchise Prototype is

The 11 Key Elements of Your Franchise Operation:

Your prices are too high…and that’s a good thing.

Let me clarify by saying it a different way…

If your prospects are not saying:

Your prices are too high

Then, your prices are not high enough!

Being the lowest price in your market is a bad place to be

Many businesses only know how to compete on price

The best description of too much focus on low price is…

The Position you want is – Premier Provider with Premier Pricing.

This does not mean price Gouging – that is a bad business practice and lacks integrity.

Have you ever went to buy something and you could not believe how low the price was?

If you are never hearing that your price is too high – then your prices are too low.

Here’s how to fix that

First before I give it to you, what is the purpose of small business?

To serve people with your work, and make a profit.

Those two are intrinsically linked bc you cannot have one without the other.

You cannot make a profit it you are not serving people well

They are both important, but I think the making a profit one takes precedence.

Business is like Monopoly, when you run out of money – it’s game over.  All the pieces go back in the box

Here then is the lesson – and the Dumbest mistake…

Business owners don’t make getting paid a high priority

Ignoring Accounts Receivable

Not having an Accounts Receivable system…is the dumbest mistake…

How to make Accounts Receivable a priority:

Let’s start with the metaphor of a train – as in locomotive.

Training keeps the Train on the Tracks.  The train is your business – the tracks are the training and the narrow path to progress and prosperity.

If you veer off the tracks, you get stuck in the mud and make no progress.

The tracks are a Blessing to be celebrated!

The tracks are not a burden – the tracks are freedom!

TRAINING:

Why is the language of training a part of the language of the self-managed business?

Because it is through Training that you are able to get free of the work of the business.

There are some mental roadblocks you have to get over first –

THOSE are Limiting Beliefs – you cannot move forward in business with those beliefs

Here’s the truth:  You can create a system – think, Step By Step process for almost anything.

What does an Intentional Training program include?