These are the top 5 struggles small biz CEOs and solopreneurs share with me:
They're too in the weeds of their business
Difficulties with goal-setting
Inability to focus
Need to hire
Desire to increase revenue
My recommendations for tackling these issues depend on the business (type, stage, revenue, team, vision, etc.), but here are a few thought starters:
Spend the early stages in the weeds to save money and learn your business's ins and outs. Once you hit a certain amount in consistent monthly revenue, start outsourcing.
Establish one strategic goal for the year. Early on, this will probably be tied to your biz revenue. Then, outline 1 Objective and 2-3 Key Results per function to keep it manageable and achievable. (E.g. Sales Objective: Close 3 new clients by EOY; Key Results: Schedule 15 discovery calls, Update business capabilities deck for outreach; Respond to 5 RFPs)
Make use of software tools to keep you organized. Use Asana or Notion to brain dump all of your to-dos, use Superhuman to manage your emails better, and structure your calendar to make you more effective and improve your productivity (e.g. time blocking, themed days, stacking meetings, adding all personal appointments) until you're ready to hire an EA or Chief of Staff.
Make a list of all of your tasks and responsibilities over a 1-2 week period. Categorize these tasks by business function (i.e. admin, ops, BD, marketing, financials, customer service, etc.) to get a clear picture of where you currently spend most of your time and what specific tasks could be outsourced and delegated.
As a service provider, you are your business and your clients are coming to you (first and foremost) for you. Your messaging will be your biggest lead generator and together with your service offerings, pricing, and packaging, you can significantly increase your biz revenue. Take inventory of your most booked services and be strategic when identifying potential clients and developing new products/offers. Secondly, always keep a close eye on your overhead and expenses.
If you're a small biz CEO or solopreneur who's struggling with being too in the weeds of your business, goal-setting, focusing on the right things, hiring, or scaling your operations to increase your revenue, book some time on my calendar.
Comments