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A blog dedicated to helping female business owners design their dream job without spending hours online.

WELCOME TO

THE CRUSH THE RUSH BLOG

A blog dedicated to helping female business owners design their dream job without spending hours online.

The Power of Systems in Simplifying your Business

blog business systems productivity tips Apr 19, 2024
business strategist for female entrepreneurs Holly Haynes
Today, I want to share something we've been diving into during our weekly mastermind sessions: business non-negotiables. Now, don't let the fancy term scare you off. Think of them as your must-dos, the things you absolutely cannot skip, especially during those hectic times like holidays or when life gets extra busy.
  

So, picture this: every Monday, we gather for office hours in our mastermind group. It's like our weekly check-in where I teach a quick lesson, and then we all dive into setting our intentions for the week ahead. A few weeks ago, we delved into the topic of business non-negotiables, and let me tell you, it sparked some enlightening conversations.

You see, during seasonal shifts – like spring break, summer vacations, or the holiday hustle – I've noticed two types of business owners emerge: those who hit pause and those who keep on truckin'. And trust me, I get it. When exhaustion sets in or the boss takes off for a break, it's tempting to throw in the towel. But here's the thing: slowing down doesn't mean giving up entirely.

Business Non-Negotiables

That's where business non-negotiables come in. These are the bare essentials, the backbone of your weekly routine. Let me break down mine for you as a business strategist for female entrepreneurs:

  1. Pick ONE focus for the week: When chaos strikes, having a singular focus keeps me grounded and productive.
  2. Never miss a podcast episode: Consistency is key, folks. Our podcast is our content driver, so missing an episode is a no-go. It's been four years and we are still going strong! What is the main driver for all of your content? Don't skip it. 
  3. Always send one email a week: It's all about nurturing our audience, keeping them engaged and informed.
  4. 24-48 hours a week with no social: Taking time to unplug and recharge is crucial for maintaining sanity and creativity.
  5. Always follow-up: Whether it's responding to emails or engaging on social media, timely follow-ups build trust and connection. I rarely miss commenting, emailing, or responding in a 24-hour period.

Even when I'm lounging on a beach somewhere, these non-negotiables stay on track, thanks to some strategic scheduling. I never skip them. And let me tell you, when you combine non-negotiables with solid systems, your business becomes nearly bulletproof.

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Simple Systems 

Let's talk systems. I keep it simple with three main ones:

  1. Funnels: These automated systems do the heavy lifting, both nurturing potential clients and welcoming new ones with open arms. You can learn more about setting up funnels for your business here and here
  2. Weekly goal setting: Every Sunday, I set clear goals for the week ahead and communicate them to my team. Prioritizing tasks ensures we focus on what truly matters. In this post, I share the significance of setting standards and goals, how they complement each other, and practical steps to incorporate them into your daily routine.
  3. Click-up: This handy tool helps me organize my to-do list, highlighting those top-priority tasks that move the needle. My guess is My guess one or two things are high priority, the rest would be great to get done but might not move the needle as much. Am I right? 

Using Funnels in Your Business

A funnel, in the context of business and marketing, is a strategic process or system designed to guide potential customers through a series of steps with the ultimate goal of converting them into paying customers. The term "funnel" is used because, much like a physical funnel that channels liquid into a narrow opening, a marketing funnel directs leads through a structured path towards a specific action or outcome.

Typically, a marketing funnel consists of several stages, each representing a different level of engagement or interest from the potential customer. These stages often include:

  1. Awareness: At the top of the funnel, the goal is to attract the attention of potential customers and make them aware of your product, service, or brand. This can be done through various marketing channels such as social media, content marketing, advertising, and search engine optimization.

  2. Interest: Once potential customers are aware of your offering, the next stage is to pique their interest and encourage further engagement. This might involve providing valuable content, offering free resources or samples, or showcasing the benefits of your product or service.

  3. Consideration: As potential customers become more interested, they enter the consideration stage, where they evaluate their options and weigh the pros and cons of making a purchase. This is an opportunity to provide additional information, address any concerns or objections, and demonstrate the value proposition of your offering.

  4. Decision: In the decision stage, potential customers are ready to make a purchase decision. This is where you present compelling offers, incentives, or promotions to encourage them to take action and become paying customers.

  5. Action: The final stage of the funnel involves the potential customer taking the desired action, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a subscription, or completing a form. This is the ultimate goal of the funnel and represents a successful conversion.

Throughout the funnel, businesses use various tactics and strategies to nurture leads, build trust, and guide potential customers towards the desired outcome. This might include email marketing, retargeting ads, personalized messaging, and other techniques to keep prospects engaged and moving through the funnel. Ultimately, the goal of a marketing funnel is to efficiently and effectively convert leads into customers while maximizing the return on investment for the business.

By simplifying my business down to these essential elements, everything just clicks into place. It's all about setting non-negotiables, implementing systems, and finding that sweet spot of flexibility and efficiency.

So, what are your business non-negotiables? If you haven't set them yet, consider this your friendly reminder to do so. Trust me, it's the easiest to-do list you'll ever create.

Let's keep the conversation going. Drop a comment below and share your non-negotiables – I'd love to hear from you!

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About the author

Holly Haynes is a business strategist who loves a good plan and flow chart. She is crazy passionate about teaching women like you how to build your dream job and scale to 6-figures without sacrificing your weekends or priorities.

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Holly Marie Haynes is a business strategy coach, podcaster, mom of twins, and founder of the Crush the Rush brand. She helps women create simple scaleable offers and systems to grow to multiple 6-figures.

Holly Marie Haynes is a business strategy coach, podcaster, mom of twins, and founder of the Crush the Rush brand. She helps women create simple scaleable offers and systems to grow to multiple 6-figures.