Back to Basics

Apologies for skipping an edition.   The last week of April I was in sunny (and HOT) Phoenix Arizona where I attended ICON2017 – Infusionsoft’s Annual User Conference. This was my first ICON since becoming an Infusionsoft Certified Partner and I was so happy that it ended up being everything I had been told about… and more.

If you’re new to the Dossier, you may not have heard about Infusionsoft before, a company that makes the best automation marketing software for small business on the planet. Yes – I am a little biased, but I also have good reason to be. Those of you who now me well will not be surprised to hear this: I am a tech-head. I just love all things tech; but I especially love tech that saves you time, makes you money and takes over all the mundane and repetitive tasks (which, as a business owner, usually monopolises way too much of my time).

This passion has fuelled my mission to find new and innovative solutions to free small business owners from the shackles of admin and from having to do EVERYTHING themselves! Through technology (especially when applied well), I want to help people change the “I can’t” mentality (you know what I mean – “I can’t take a holiday!”, “I can’t spend my time with the kids or family!”) into “I can relax on the weekends” and “I can rest when I need to.”

ICON17 provided many technology advances (new apps, plugins, processes), great ideas and many wonderful keynote speakers who had their messages about success and getting you closer to your dreams.

Let me share with you some of my take-aways:

Go back to the Basics

It’s easy to over-complicate technology and processes. We start out with the best of intentions, but then lose sight of the goal somewhere along the way and end up with Magpie Syndrome (follow the shiny object).

To get back to the basics and grow your business, you need three key processes:

1. Consistent lead generation for the RIGHT type of leads
2. Consistent follow up
3. Consistent client onboarding

You’ll notice I repeat the word CONSISTENCY in all three. That isn’t an accident; in fact, I’d argue it’s the difference between a struggling business and one that thrives.

Struggling businesses don’t do Consistency well. In fact, just the opposite – they tend to do “random” really well and then wonder why they have to work so hard to get results. Just as routines helps you achieve great things in your personal life (fitness, nutrition, taking vitamins, sport, studying etc), they do the same in our business or work. And now, my case in point. Automation is the KEY to consistency in business. It lets you be at each touch point with your leads and clients even when you have employees, consultants and you are doing other things (developing new products and services for your clients).  Automation doesn’t remove you from your business processes, it allows you to scale so you can be in more places at once.

Put simply: automation helps bring you back to basics.

Remember your WHY

Just as Magpie Syndrome robs you of your ability to stay focused, it also makes it too easy to lose sight of your purpose. Running a business isn’t easy! In fact, it’s really tough work which requires a lot of sacrifice and dedication.  Even today, after decades running my own businesses, there are still days when I ask myself, “Why am I doing this?”

And it is in those times that you need to remember your own ‘why’. Start with asking yourself the following questions:

• Why am I in business?
• What am I trying to achieve?
• How am I making a difference?

If your answer was to make money, you’ll need to delve deeper. It’s just too hard to sustain effort through the tough times knowing you can make decent money with less stress working for someone else.

Your ‘why’, your vision, is bigger than money! Maybe it’s to better serve your clients, your community or even humanity with your products or services? Whatever you do, when you do it well and add value to the lives of your clients, money WILL come as a by-product.

Spend time meditating/thinking on your ‘why’. It can change your mindset in a powerful way and give you laser focus on where you are headed… And the best part is that it helps declutter your life based on what is important to you!

Have a great week!