Growing your expertise-based business is tricky. There, I said it. It may not be what you want to hear, but if you’re running a business that makes money as a result of you selling your unique skills and knowledge, it’s something you have to know … and you probably already do.
I’ve seen many talented entrepreneurs get stuck. They get stuck on a plateau and don’t know how to climb to the next level. (I see this a lot with coaches. If you’re a coach, you are your business, and there’s only so much of you to go around, right?). It’s a discouraging and lonely place to be, but you can break through and achieve your greatest-ever levels of success and revenue. I’m sharing 4 keys to business growth that will help get you there.
Document Your Processes
The next chance you get, begin the process of documenting each and every step that goes into completing any task or process that you manage on a regular basis. Some examples include:
- Weekly newsletter creation
- Invoicing clients
- Creating and uploading blog posts and YouTube videos
Create a document for each task that details every single action that must be taken to complete the work. For example, your newsletter creation document might include how you come up with subject lines, the ideal day/time to send, how to create the newsletter in MailChimp (or whichever software you use), etc. It should be so detailed that another person could complete the work simply by following your instructions.
Yes, creating these documents can be tedious and time consuming. However, the benefits make the effort well worth it! Once you have these documented procedures in place, you can assign any team member to quickly take over any task for you – without having to spend time training. Onboarding becomes so much easier, as new team members can read the documents without your involvement and quickly get up to speed. You’ll also ensure consistency (newsletters will have the same look/tone, etc.) which is essential to staying true to your brand.
Dedicate Time to Work “On” Your Business
Do you spend so much time working “in” your business that you never have the time to work “on” it? This is a common roadblock that bottlenecks progress and halts business growth. Dedicate a standing time each and every week to think through your choices and decisions, create action plans, work on systems documentation and do anything else you need to do to promote business growth. Do NOT backburner this! This should be your first priority each week – even higher on the list than email and marketing. Get this on your calendar!
If you want to achieve super swift progress in your business, I highly recommend attending my strategic partner Danny Iny’s LIFT event – an intensive, in-person training experience that maps out exactly where you are … and what you need to do next to reach the next level and beyond.
Hire a Coach
Hire a coach who has actually been where you want to go. Do your due diligence and hire the right person the first time. This will save you months – or years! – of trial-and-error. The right person will help you stay on track, effectively prioritize, expertly navigate you through challenges and guide you into the right mindset.
Invest in Your Education
Every entrepreneur should invest in ongoing education. Never stop actively learning. Whether reading amazing books like Built To Sell, The Obstacle Is The Way and The ONE Thing, hiring the perfect coach, listening to podcasts or buying into a Mastermind … continue to expand your knowledge and hone your skills. Staying on top of your education allows you to keep excelling. Relying only on what you already know won’t take you to the place you want to be.
I’ll let you in on a secret: You can’t keep growing by just doing the same things you’ve always done. You have to evolve and do the RIGHT things at each level of growth. What makes your journey easier is having a map to guide you. That LIFT event I mentioned above? Danny has created this map. He calls it the Expert Business Roadmap, and I want you to have it!
Growing your expert business is tricky, but you’re not alone in the challenges you’re facing. So many people are struggling to build a business that provides the impact, freedom and wealth they want to achieve. Implement these 4 keys to business growth, and you’ll start seeing immediate change. No matter what level you’re at now, you CAN get off that plateau and LIFT your business to new heights.
