DESIGNING THE BUSINESS YOU LOVE : 12 Steps
In designing your business be daring be bold be creative - use more colour.
STEP 1 – IMAGINE PERFECTION
Because if you do not know where you are going, how will you ever know when you have got there?
You gotta have a dream!
STEP 2 – THE POWER OF LESS
Most of us start out as Sole Traders with Big Dreams, but there is only one of us. We have to make choices about where we place our energies and how we use our strengths and our power. As we grow, we can add all the new services we envisaged when we imagined success but for now make choices.
What can you out source, automate or eliminate?
STEP 3 - CHOOSE YOUR BUSINESS ROCKS
Imagine your business is a jar and there are only room for 5 rocks. We will still fit in pebbles and sand but The first rock is your core service. Other rocks include: Marketing, Sales, Admin, Accounting, Legal, HR and Logistics. Choose the four elements that will get you to your dream.
What are your rocks?
STEP 4 - KNOW YOUR PURPOSE AND YOUR CORE VALUES
It is your business, you decide what you want your business to represent but know your purpose and your core values.
What are your values?
STEP 5 - DE-CLUTTER
If there is anything in your business, your diary, your emails, or your office that doesn’t relate to your business rocks let it go! Drop it!
Focus is your friend!
STEP 6 - THINK BIG - THINK WELL
Thought is everything and it’s what determines everything we bring into our business – have some good ones consistently.
Think well!
STEP 7 - CREATE A PLAN
Like any other business venture, there needs to be:
a vision
a strategic plan
goals and
targets.
Write it down.
STEP 8 – LIVE YOUR BUSINESS DREAM TODAY
This may sound contradictory but if your dream is to have a beautiful office, and to work 10 hours a week do it now. Dedicate time today to your space, your systems and your processes. If your dream is to have a million pound turnover, dedicate time today to building your business wealth. If your dream is to have happy customers, dedicate time today to good customer service.
Live your Business Dream.
STEP 9 - SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE who are also designing the businesses they love. That is why Shakti exists. We envelope ourselves with people who inspire, energise and excite us. Look for exciting examples of amazing businesses which are operating in a way you value.
Loose the people that drain you or sabotage your vision.
STEP 10 – DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
As you go through life make one thing your goal – keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole! Look always at what is present and not at what is missing and this daily practice will enable the next step which is....
Gratitude is the mother of all personal growth.
STEP 11– LEARN THE "N" WORD
As we say yes to our vision we have to constantly say no to others – there just isn’t time to build your business and play Mother Theresa whilst doing so.
Sat NO often
STEP 12 - BE HAPPY
Happiness is not a get to it’s a got to – embrace your new business with joy. Find the joy in your business and continue to do what you love.
Design the business you love – now step in....
Finally, I have three myths as women we need to bust.
Myth ONE – We are not circus attractions – so Do not JUGGLE. If you are juggling, you missed steps 1, 2 and 5!
Myth TWO - You are not SUPERWOMAN. The myth of the superwoman keeps us all trying to do too much, remember Step 2, 3 and 5!
You are a goddess and she does not run around, flapping about missed meetings and agendas. She is serene and in control. Remember steps 2,3, & 5!
Myth THREE – We can MULTI- TASK, but why bother?
FOCUS IS OUR FRIEND and as any successful woman knows, to move one thing forward by a mile is infinitely more satisfying than to move 10 things forward by an inch.
Transformation will not happen overnight but I think creating the Business we love that suits our lives and our values is a worthwhile mission for Shakti Women, indeed for all women.
IN CONCLUSION:
Live each and every single day with joy, with purpose, with your values and as a woman immersed in the things that are most important to you and surrounded by the people who inspire.
When designing your business be your authentic self and have fun.
Siobhan Harper-Nunes is the Founder of Shakti Women. She is a business consultant and mentor to many business start-ups and leaders.
