Are you a small business owner, party-of-one, thinking about taking your business to the next level? Have you been wondering what it would take to make that happen? Wondering whom to add next, to do what?
The next step is easier than you think.
Here's how!
The Enterprising Entrepreneur Team
Enterprising women entrepreneurs think in terms of building teams. That's because women are natural collaborators, easily gravitating toward the richness of relationships that result from working as a team toward a common goal.
If you are solo entrepreneur wanting to take your business to the next level, start thinking in terms of building a team to manage the day-to-day activities of your business and also building partnerships with professional advisers to help make the most of your business potential.
Make sure your enterprising entrepreneur team includes the following people:
Your team starts with you at the top. You are the Chief Executive Officer of your business. Yes, the CEO. If you're thinking about taking your solo business to the next level, the first thing you'll need to do is start thinking like the CEO of your enterprise.
You don't have to be running a big business to think like a CEO. Just reframe the term CEO so that it works for the enterprising entrepreneur. When you do, then the CEO becomes the top-level woman responsible for the operations of her business. For the operations of her business. Not for operating her business. Instead of doing it all, you'll be putting a team together who will manage the operations of your business for you.
Are you clear on that difference?
2. Virtual Assistants
Virtual assistants now become your management team. I recommend placing two of them on your team. One to manage the administrative aspects of your business and the other to manage the technical.
How many hours they work each month and what they manage is entirely up to you. Consider starting with 10 hours per week and increase it from there as you become more comfortable having them on your team. Soon, you will see how freeing and necessary it is to have them, not you, manage the thousands of details that come across your desk each month. That's what I did.
3. Professional Strategists
You probably already have a working relationship with the three main people who will make up your professional advisory team: your tax adviser, insurance adviser, and legal adviser. Most women entrepreneurs have a CPA in place to do their personal and business taxes, an insurance agent in place for their car, home, life, and business insurance, and an attorney in place for their personal and business legalities.
The next step to becoming an enterprising entrepreneur is to turn these business advisers into your business strategists. Instead of meeting with them once a year to get your taxes done, to review your policies, or when questions come up, meet with them more often.
Begin this week. Make an appointment with each of them to talk about your business. Share your vision and plan for your business and inform them that they are now on your team. Let them know that you'll be meeting with them quarterly to discuss your business and strategize about its growing needs.
See . . . the next step was easier than you thought, wasn't it?
All it takes is a little re-positioning and gathering the right people around you to support your success.
Are you ready to get started? Good. Begin this week to transform your party-of-one into the powerful business owner you know you are. Keep us informed. Let us know how it's going.
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
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