December 5, 2024 • 19 mins
What if waiting for January to plan your goals is setting you up for failure?
In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about ditching the tired “new year, new start” narrative and talk about taking charge right now. I’ll share how I used my POWER in Motion Framework to leave my part-time job and build a business that supports my life, not the other way around.
This isn’t just theory—it’s the exact process that helped me create a business aligned with my values. Now, it’s your turn to take control.
You’ve got what it takes, but you have to start now. Download the Biz Ops Checklist from the show notes to kick off your progress, and let’s make next year your best one yet.
Tune in now, and stop waiting for the “perfect time.”
6:40 - Why focusing on one clear, strategic goal is a game-changer
11:19 - How to organize and streamline your operations for maximum efficiency
12:39 - How a clear, actionable plan keeps you moving forward
13:24 - The power of consistent action and how it builds unstoppable momentum
13:56 - Why reviewing and refining your systems is the key to sustainable growth
References Mentioned In This Episode:
Episode 185 - How Making September Your January Can Transform Your Business
Grab a copy of the Biz Ops Checklist
Join the MY-T Society membership
Let me know your thoughts! Click here to send me a text.
Tired of feeling stuck behind the scenes?
Book a POWER In Motion Jumpstart Session! A 60-minute call where we’ll pinpoint what’s holding you back and build a 30-day action plan you can use right away.
It’s the perfect first step before joining the Founders Circle. Book your session here.
Leave a Rating and Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/mindyourtime
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I can't believe it's been a year since I said goodbye
to working my businesspart-time.
When this episode goes live,I'll be celebrating one year of
fully stepping into the businessthat I've been building for
years, a business that works forme, not the other way around.
So today I'm sharing exactlyhow I made that happen by
(00:20):
focusing on goals, streamliningmy systems and taking consistent
action.
So if you're ready to takecharge of your business and your
time, grab your favorite drinkand let's dive in.
Welcome to the Mind your Timepodcast.
I'm Shannon Baker, yourcoffee-loving host and business
strategist.
Each week, I will sharepractical insights and bold
strategies for six-figureentrepreneurs looking to clean
(00:42):
up their back office and createstreamlined systems.
The weekly episodes will helpyou take control of your time,
scale your business and createsuccess on your own terms.
So grab your cup of coffee oryour favorite beverage and let's
dive into today's topic.
As we all gear up for a brandnew year, it's time for you to
shift gears, my friend.
(01:03):
I want you to start by leavingbehind anything that did not
work this year, double down oneverything that did and start
preparing for the opportunitiesand possibilities that lie ahead
.
I mean, I can't believe it'sbeen a year since I said goodbye
to working my businesspart-time by leaving my day job
(01:25):
and going all in.
So when this episode actuallygoes live, it's almost one year
that I'm celebrating of fullystepping into this business a
business that works for me, notthe other way around and you can
make that happen too.
But let me be clear I don'twant you to wait until January
to start planning.
(01:46):
That's a missed opportunitywaiting to happen.
So back in the episode howmaking September your January
can transform your business, Italked about why waiting until
January to plan is a mistake andhow starting sooner can change
everything.
So it's not too late, no matterwhen you're listening to this
episode.
But today we're going to buildon that conversation and really
(02:10):
dive into the exact process thatI use to make this happen.
That's focusing on goals,streamlining my systems and
taking consistent action.
So let's start by talking aboutwhat no one tells you about
planning for success.
It is not about waiting for theperfect time or having all the
(02:31):
answers, because that's nevergoing to happen.
It's about taking action evenwhen things are scary and messy.
And all of us have heard thephrase if you fail to plan, you
plan to fail.
It's simple and true, and todayI'm going to share the process
again that helped me build abusiness that works for me, but
(02:51):
without the overwhelm.
And here's the big question Well, when exactly should you start
planning?
Well, the short answer is itdepends.
Again, I start my year inJanuary because it's my business
, so it's my choice.
So the work that I did inSeptember, october and November
is the equivalent of my firstquarter.
(03:12):
So I was planting seeds thatwill start to bloom over the
next several months.
And guess what?
You have the same freedom tochoose what is best for you in
your business.
Don't buy into the myth thatyou need to have everything
figured out before you takeaction because, honestly, we're
trailblazers and most of us arebuilding the parachute after we
(03:32):
jump off the cliff.
And that's fine for some things, but it will not work all the
time.
And when it comes to runningyour business, winging it will
not cut it if you want yourbusiness to thrive and grow.
So if you keep putting offstreamlining your back office,
it's not a question of if youwere going to hit a roadblock,
it's a matter of when.
(03:52):
And, trust me, it's a lotharder to fix those problems
when you're already in the thickof it.
I mean, I get it.
Overwhelm is real and it is anugly monster.
But staying in that too much todo and I say that in air quotes
mindset is definitely a fasttrack to burnout.
The key is to take the firststep and break the cycle Now.
(04:17):
This isn't just advice that I'mthrowing your way, because I've
been where you are.
Back in 2019, I made the bolddecision to close my virtual
assistant business because itwasn't aligned with my values or
my goals.
I was overwhelmed, I wasdissatisfied with my workload
and I was struggling to maintaina good work-life integration,
(04:37):
and that was a really hardchoice.
But I made it and I steppedback and I went back to work
part-time.
But I made it and I steppedback and I went back to work
part time.
That decision gave me the spacethat I needed to reevaluate
what I wanted, get clear on myvision and design a business
that actually supported thelifestyle I wanted.
One of the things that helpedme get that clarity was
(04:59):
investing in paid strategy calls, while I listened to podcasts
during the entire processbecause they were free.
I refused to download any morefreebies or buy any online
courses, or even if they werefree, I did not grab them.
And those paid strategysessions they helped me get
really clear on my mission,vision and purpose, which shaped
(05:23):
the way that I updated myservices and definitely shaped
the way I handled and plannedfor this podcast.
I didn't just want a business.
I wanted a business thataligned with my values and gave
me the freedom I wanted, whichwas to prioritize my faith and
my family, and that claritybecame the foundation for
(05:43):
everything that I built.
Moving forward so fast forwardto 2021, I had created a very
detailed strategy to grow mybusiness revenue and replace the
income from my part-time joband be fully focused on my
business.
The first lesson that I learnedbe patient with the process.
I had to take very intentional,small steps and it paid off.
(06:08):
Last December, I left that jobfor good and let me tell you, it
felt amazing to step in abusiness that I had built, one
that had purpose, strategy andthe systems required to support
it.
But the process that got me tothat point, so that I could
leave my job and fully embracebeing an entrepreneur full time,
(06:28):
is now what I call the power inmotion framework, and it's
designed to help you align yourgoals, systems and actions so
that you can grow your businesswithout overwhelm.
So let's break this down letterby letter.
The first step is P pick onegoal.
The number one mistake I seeentrepreneurs make is trying to
(06:50):
tackle too much at once.
So black coffee chat time.
Stop trying to multitask.
It's not working.
Focus is power.
It's actually a secret weaponthat I learned to love years ago
.
So this is what I want you todo Start by identifying one
clear, measurable goal for thenext 90 days.
(07:11):
That's all I want you to focuson.
When I was working towardleaving my job, my goal wasn't
to grow my business, one that'sgeneric.
It was to build the six coresystems and integrate automation
to save me time.
That made all the difference,especially because I was working
part-time.
(07:32):
Now I know it's been drilledinto our heads that we need to
set big, lofty goals, and I'mnot saying that you need to stop
doing that, but I am sayingthat you need to narrow your
focus.
It will allow you to make realprogress.
One of my clients struggled withthis.
They wanted to improve theirmarketing, streamline their
operations and onboard new teammembers all at the same time.
(07:53):
That sounds great in theory,but it's too much to do at once,
so we broke it all down andfocused on streamlining their
operations first.
You need the systems before youintegrate people.
So in the first 90 days, wedocumented a number of basic
processes that were missing andthat was based on the goal that
(08:14):
they had, which is growing ateam.
So this was done in the nick oftime because the virtual
assistant that was working withthem at that time resigned on
short notice I mean like lessthan a week.
The best part, because we hadstarted streamlining those
processes and integratingautomations, including using the
(08:35):
online scheduler that wasalready in place, more
effectively.
This saved them $700 a month.
They didn't have to pay aperson to manually do a lot of
tasks.
That focus created momentum foreverything else that we did
moving forward.
So let's talk about how you canset meaningful goals.
We all know the acronym setsmart goals, but my smart goals
(09:00):
framework has a little bit of atwist.
The S is for specific.
Define exactly what successlooks like for you, and I don't
want you to say something likemake more money.
We all want to make money.
Money makes the world go round,but what does more mean for you
?
Be clear More for me is moremoney to pay off some credit
(09:24):
card debt, that I have Moremoney to take care of vacation
expenses without having to tapinto the normal household income
.
So what is your more?
And then the M stands for mindyour business.
Ignore what everybody else isdoing.
Social media is full ofhighlight reels and trust and
(09:47):
believe they're not reality.
So focus on your journey.
That's it.
The A is for appropriate.
Make sure your goal fits thecurrent season your life is in.
Timing is everything.
If right now, you're focused onfamily time, it's not a good
time for you to start a hugeproject that also is going to
(10:07):
require your time.
So that leads to the R.
Be realistic.
I want you to push yourself,but don't set a goal that's so
big that you end up in decisionparalysis.
Progress is way better thanperfection, and when you create
a 90-day plan to reach your goal, you can work that plan for
(10:28):
more than 90 days if needed.
And when you reach a milestonethat brings us to the T, treat
yourself.
Celebrate your wins, whetherthey're big or small.
Progress deserves recognition.
When you celebrate, you releasethose happy hormones in your
brain that they love and youwill want more.
(10:49):
So go for it Now if you'reready to get started setting
your SMART goals for yourbusiness.
I have made it simple.
Inside of the Mighty Societymembership, there is a goal
setting worksheet workbook thatis designed to help you break
down your big dreams andidentify those clear, actionable
steps.
Full disclosure.
(11:09):
I created these worksheetsmyself as I was working my plan,
and I know they can make adifference for you.
Next, you need to organize youroperations Now.
This is where you have to behonest about the way your
systems are set up, or your lackof systems.
When I audited my back office,I realized I was wasting hours
(11:33):
because there were some kinks inthe system.
So I was still tracking leadsmanually on some levels.
I was creating some of the samemessages over and over again
and I was wasting time lookingfor certain documents because my
files weren't properlyorganized.
Yes, me not totally organized.
But once I organized my filesthe correct way, documented the
(11:57):
processes the way they needed tobe, and integrated tech tools
the right way, that freed up atleast 10 hours every week, which
gave me the space that I neededto focus on what mattered most,
and it wasn't always mybusiness.
Now, if you're not sure whereto start with auditing your
systems.
Don't worry, you need to grab acopy of my BizOps checklist.
(12:18):
It is a quick, fillable PDFthat you can complete in less
than two minutes, but it walksyou through the processes which
are the key areas of your backoffice, so that way you can
identify what you have and whatyou're missing very quickly.
I'll put a link to that againin the show notes so you can
download it and start thisprocess right away.
(12:39):
Now, once you have more insightinto your operations and you
know where you need to start andwhere you need to give some
attention, it's time to W workon the plan.
We all know a goal without aplan is just a wish, so I
suggest breaking your goal intoactionable steps and setting
realistic timelines.
That's why the goal settingworksheets in the Mighty Society
(13:00):
are just for 90-day planning.
Small windows make it mucheasier.
Whenever I work on streamlininga process, I have three
milestones that I focus on Mapout the process, choose the
right tool or tools and build asmooth workflow that is
client-focused.
That clarity keeps me on trackand moving forward.
(13:24):
Then we get to the hard part Eexecute consistently.
This is where most people falloff the tracks.
Consistency isn't pretty or fun, and creating systems it's not
pretty or fun either, but it'swhat moves the needle forward
and leads to the transformationthat you want.
Small, intentional actionsevery day are how I grew my
(13:47):
business while working a job,building a business and raising
a family.
That's how you'll createlasting results, too.
And then, finally, the R is forremember.
That's how you'll createlasting results too.
And then, finally, the R is forremember, refine and review.
Growth is not linear.
When you're an entrepreneur,some strategies are going to
work, some won't, but the key isto evaluate regularly, refine
(14:13):
what is working and then whatisn't.
Either stop and adjust or moveon.
For example, I discovered earlyon that my scheduling process
needed a little bit of tweaking,so I had to make some
adjustments, and then I keptmoving forward.
The key is to remember your whyand let it guide you,
especially when things get tough.
Why are you doing this?
(14:35):
Why are you implementing thisnew system?
That's why picking the rightgoal is so important.
What is the end result you want?
Focus on that and keep that asyour guide, your North Star.
Now let's talk about why thismatters right now.
Well, the year is winding down,the calendar year, that is,
(14:55):
there's a natural slowdown inbusiness this time of the year,
and this is kind of like whathappens during the summer.
This quiet time is a goldenopportunity for you to reflect,
reorganize and prepare forgrowth.
By starting now, you'repositioning yourself to hit the
ground running in January,instead of you scrambling to
(15:16):
catch up Now.
Before we wrap up today, I wantto address two common challenges
that I've seen, that's,integrating your work and
personal life.
My suggestion is to use timeblocking so that you can
dedicate focused time forplanning, and you need to
communicate boundaries to yourfamily and your team if you have
one.
Time blocking really helps youstay focused and limit the
(15:40):
number of things that you'reworking on.
And when it comes to creatingyour systems.
The Mighty Society membershipis designed for you to make
progress, even if you only giveit your back office attention 30
minutes a week.
The next thing stop overcommitting.
No is a complete sentence andit doesn't require an
(16:02):
explanation, but there are otherways for you to say no, and it
doesn't require an explanation,but there are other ways for you
to say no.
So practice saying no toanything, that's tasks or
opportunities that do not alignwith your goals, focus on
quality over quantity.
So let's do a quick recap,because we covered the power and
(16:23):
motion framework, which helpsyou pick one goal organize your
operations, work on the plan,execute consistently, remember,
refine and review Again.
This is the process that I'veused to grow my business and
leave my job a year ago, and Iknow it can help you too.
It's also the process that Iuse with my clients and it's the
(16:45):
framework that my services arebuilt on, because I know it
works.
So what's going to be your nextstep?
Will you download the BizOpschecklist from the show notes
and identify the inefficienciesin your back office so you can
fill in the gaps?
Or are you ready to give this ago on your own?
If you are, go check out themembership.
(17:07):
Theshannonbakercom forwardslash membership.
Join us inside the MightySociety membership because
you'll get access to resourceslike the goal setting worksheets
, process templates, messagetemplates.
You get access to me and acommunity of like-minded women
that will support you on thisjourney, and so much more.
(17:28):
This will help you create thebusiness that works for you.
So don't wait.
Take action now.
Let's make next year your bestyear yet.
Thank you for tuning in thisweek.
Remember just listening to thisepisode will not get you better
results, so I challenge you tobreak the mold and take action
(17:50):
today.
If you're unsure where to start, book a call with me to get
your questions answered aboutthe Mighty Society, membership
or anything else that Imentioned.
A link to my calendar is in theshow notes.
Not ready to take that step yet?
No problem.
Be sure to connect with me onInstagram at the underscore
Shannon Baker.
(18:10):
You can ask me your questionsthere, or let me know that you
enjoyed the episode by taking ascreenshot, sharing it and
tagging me Now.
If you haven't already grabbedmy free audio masterclass, why
don't you just start there?
It's a great first step toassess your back office on your
(18:30):
own, and this masterclassprovides valuable insights and
practical steps to help youorganize your processes, reduce
chaos and improve efficiency.
Go to theshannonbakercomforward.
Slash audio masterclass Now.
If you haven't left a reviewfor the podcast yet, please do
(18:50):
so.
I would love to hear from you,and it's an easy way to show
some love to the podcast andhelp me reach more small
business owners who are ready todefy the status quo.
I can't wait to hear from you.
So until next time, keep calmand streamline.
I can't believe it's been a year since I said goodbye
to working my businesspart-time.
When this episode goes live,I'll be celebrating one year of
fully stepping into the businessthat I've been building for
years, a business that works forme, not the other way around.
So today I'm sharing exactlyhow I made that happen by
(00:20):
focusing on goals, streamliningmy systems and taking consistent
action.
So if you're ready to takecharge of your business and your
time, grab your favorite drinkand let's dive in.
Welcome to the Mind your Timepodcast.
I'm Shannon Baker, yourcoffee-loving host and business
strategist.
Each week, I will sharepractical insights and bold
strategies for six-figureentrepreneurs looking to clean
(00:42):
up their back office and createstreamlined systems.
The weekly episodes will helpyou take control of your time,
scale your business and createsuccess on your own terms.
So grab your cup of coffee oryour favorite beverage and let's
dive into today's topic.
As we all gear up for a brandnew year, it's time for you to
shift gears, my friend.
(01:03):
I want you to start by leavingbehind anything that did not
work this year, double down oneverything that did and start
preparing for the opportunitiesand possibilities that lie ahead
.
I mean, I can't believe it'sbeen a year since I said goodbye
to working my businesspart-time by leaving my day job
(01:25):
and going all in.
So when this episode actuallygoes live, it's almost one year
that I'm celebrating of fullystepping into this business a
business that works for me, notthe other way around and you can
make that happen too.
But let me be clear I don'twant you to wait until January
to start planning.
(01:46):
That's a missed opportunitywaiting to happen.
So back in the episode howmaking September your January
can transform your business, Italked about why waiting until
January to plan is a mistake andhow starting sooner can change
everything.
So it's not too late, no matterwhen you're listening to this
episode.
But today we're going to buildon that conversation and really
(02:10):
dive into the exact process thatI use to make this happen.
That's focusing on goals,streamlining my systems and
taking consistent action.
So let's start by talking aboutwhat no one tells you about
planning for success.
It is not about waiting for theperfect time or having all the
(02:31):
answers, because that's nevergoing to happen.
It's about taking action evenwhen things are scary and messy.
And all of us have heard thephrase if you fail to plan, you
plan to fail.
It's simple and true, and todayI'm going to share the process
again that helped me build abusiness that works for me, but
(02:51):
without the overwhelm.
And here's the big question Well, when exactly should you start
planning?
Well, the short answer is itdepends.
Again, I start my year inJanuary because it's my business
, so it's my choice.
So the work that I did inSeptember, october and November
is the equivalent of my firstquarter.
(03:12):
So I was planting seeds thatwill start to bloom over the
next several months.
And guess what?
You have the same freedom tochoose what is best for you in
your business.
Don't buy into the myth thatyou need to have everything
figured out before you takeaction because, honestly, we're
trailblazers and most of us arebuilding the parachute after we
(03:32):
jump off the cliff.
And that's fine for some things, but it will not work all the
time.
And when it comes to runningyour business, winging it will
not cut it if you want yourbusiness to thrive and grow.
So if you keep putting offstreamlining your back office,
it's not a question of if youwere going to hit a roadblock,
it's a matter of when.
(03:52):
And, trust me, it's a lotharder to fix those problems
when you're already in the thickof it.
I mean, I get it.
Overwhelm is real and it is anugly monster.
But staying in that too much todo and I say that in air quotes
mindset is definitely a fasttrack to burnout.
The key is to take the firststep and break the cycle Now.
(04:17):
This isn't just advice that I'mthrowing your way, because I've
been where you are.
Back in 2019, I made the bolddecision to close my virtual
assistant business because itwasn't aligned with my values or
my goals.
I was overwhelmed, I wasdissatisfied with my workload
and I was struggling to maintaina good work-life integration,
(04:37):
and that was a really hardchoice.
But I made it and I steppedback and I went back to work
part-time.
But I made it and I steppedback and I went back to work
part time.
That decision gave me the spacethat I needed to reevaluate
what I wanted, get clear on myvision and design a business
that actually supported thelifestyle I wanted.
One of the things that helpedme get that clarity was
(04:59):
investing in paid strategy calls, while I listened to podcasts
during the entire processbecause they were free.
I refused to download any morefreebies or buy any online
courses, or even if they werefree, I did not grab them.
And those paid strategysessions they helped me get
really clear on my mission,vision and purpose, which shaped
(05:23):
the way that I updated myservices and definitely shaped
the way I handled and plannedfor this podcast.
I didn't just want a business.
I wanted a business thataligned with my values and gave
me the freedom I wanted, whichwas to prioritize my faith and
my family, and that claritybecame the foundation for
(05:43):
everything that I built.
Moving forward so fast forwardto 2021, I had created a very
detailed strategy to grow mybusiness revenue and replace the
income from my part-time joband be fully focused on my
business.
The first lesson that I learnedbe patient with the process.
I had to take very intentional,small steps and it paid off.
(06:08):
Last December, I left that jobfor good and let me tell you, it
felt amazing to step in abusiness that I had built, one
that had purpose, strategy andthe systems required to support
it.
But the process that got me tothat point, so that I could
leave my job and fully embracebeing an entrepreneur full time,
(06:28):
is now what I call the power inmotion framework, and it's
designed to help you align yourgoals, systems and actions so
that you can grow your businesswithout overwhelm.
So let's break this down letterby letter.
The first step is P pick onegoal.
The number one mistake I seeentrepreneurs make is trying to
(06:50):
tackle too much at once.
So black coffee chat time.
Stop trying to multitask.
It's not working.
Focus is power.
It's actually a secret weaponthat I learned to love years ago
.
So this is what I want you todo Start by identifying one
clear, measurable goal for thenext 90 days.
(07:11):
That's all I want you to focuson.
When I was working towardleaving my job, my goal wasn't
to grow my business, one that'sgeneric.
It was to build the six coresystems and integrate automation
to save me time.
That made all the difference,especially because I was working
part-time.
(07:32):
Now I know it's been drilledinto our heads that we need to
set big, lofty goals, and I'mnot saying that you need to stop
doing that, but I am sayingthat you need to narrow your
focus.
It will allow you to make realprogress.
One of my clients struggled withthis.
They wanted to improve theirmarketing, streamline their
operations and onboard new teammembers all at the same time.
(07:53):
That sounds great in theory,but it's too much to do at once,
so we broke it all down andfocused on streamlining their
operations first.
You need the systems before youintegrate people.
So in the first 90 days, wedocumented a number of basic
processes that were missing andthat was based on the goal that
(08:14):
they had, which is growing ateam.
So this was done in the nick oftime because the virtual
assistant that was working withthem at that time resigned on
short notice I mean like lessthan a week.
The best part, because we hadstarted streamlining those
processes and integratingautomations, including using the
(08:35):
online scheduler that wasalready in place, more
effectively.
This saved them $700 a month.
They didn't have to pay aperson to manually do a lot of
tasks.
That focus created momentum foreverything else that we did
moving forward.
So let's talk about how you canset meaningful goals.
We all know the acronym setsmart goals, but my smart goals
(09:00):
framework has a little bit of atwist.
The S is for specific.
Define exactly what successlooks like for you, and I don't
want you to say something likemake more money.
We all want to make money.
Money makes the world go round,but what does more mean for you
?
Be clear More for me is moremoney to pay off some credit
(09:24):
card debt, that I have Moremoney to take care of vacation
expenses without having to tapinto the normal household income
.
So what is your more?
And then the M stands for mindyour business.
Ignore what everybody else isdoing.
Social media is full ofhighlight reels and trust and
(09:47):
believe they're not reality.
So focus on your journey.
That's it.
The A is for appropriate.
Make sure your goal fits thecurrent season your life is in.
Timing is everything.
If right now, you're focused onfamily time, it's not a good
time for you to start a hugeproject that also is going to
(10:07):
require your time.
So that leads to the R.
Be realistic.
I want you to push yourself,but don't set a goal that's so
big that you end up in decisionparalysis.
Progress is way better thanperfection, and when you create
a 90-day plan to reach your goal, you can work that plan for
(10:28):
more than 90 days if needed.
And when you reach a milestonethat brings us to the T, treat
yourself.
Celebrate your wins, whetherthey're big or small.
Progress deserves recognition.
When you celebrate, you releasethose happy hormones in your
brain that they love and youwill want more.
(10:49):
So go for it Now if you'reready to get started setting
your SMART goals for yourbusiness.
I have made it simple.
Inside of the Mighty Societymembership, there is a goal
setting worksheet workbook thatis designed to help you break
down your big dreams andidentify those clear, actionable
steps.
Full disclosure.
(11:09):
I created these worksheetsmyself as I was working my plan,
and I know they can make adifference for you.
Next, you need to organize youroperations Now.
This is where you have to behonest about the way your
systems are set up, or your lackof systems.
When I audited my back office,I realized I was wasting hours
(11:33):
because there were some kinks inthe system.
So I was still tracking leadsmanually on some levels.
I was creating some of the samemessages over and over again
and I was wasting time lookingfor certain documents because my
files weren't properlyorganized.
Yes, me not totally organized.
But once I organized my filesthe correct way, documented the
(11:57):
processes the way they needed tobe, and integrated tech tools
the right way, that freed up atleast 10 hours every week, which
gave me the space that I neededto focus on what mattered most,
and it wasn't always mybusiness.
Now, if you're not sure whereto start with auditing your
systems.
Don't worry, you need to grab acopy of my BizOps checklist.
(12:18):
It is a quick, fillable PDFthat you can complete in less
than two minutes, but it walksyou through the processes which
are the key areas of your backoffice, so that way you can
identify what you have and whatyou're missing very quickly.
I'll put a link to that againin the show notes so you can
download it and start thisprocess right away.
(12:39):
Now, once you have more insightinto your operations and you
know where you need to start andwhere you need to give some
attention, it's time to W workon the plan.
We all know a goal without aplan is just a wish, so I
suggest breaking your goal intoactionable steps and setting
realistic timelines.
That's why the goal settingworksheets in the Mighty Society
(13:00):
are just for 90-day planning.
Small windows make it mucheasier.
Whenever I work on streamlininga process, I have three
milestones that I focus on Mapout the process, choose the
right tool or tools and build asmooth workflow that is
client-focused.
That clarity keeps me on trackand moving forward.
(13:24):
Then we get to the hard part Eexecute consistently.
This is where most people falloff the tracks.
Consistency isn't pretty or fun, and creating systems it's not
pretty or fun either, but it'swhat moves the needle forward
and leads to the transformationthat you want.
Small, intentional actionsevery day are how I grew my
(13:47):
business while working a job,building a business and raising
a family.
That's how you'll createlasting results, too.
And then, finally, the R is forremember.
That's how you'll createlasting results too.
And then, finally, the R is forremember, refine and review.
Growth is not linear.
When you're an entrepreneur,some strategies are going to
work, some won't, but the key isto evaluate regularly, refine
(14:13):
what is working and then whatisn't.
Either stop and adjust or moveon.
For example, I discovered earlyon that my scheduling process
needed a little bit of tweaking,so I had to make some
adjustments, and then I keptmoving forward.
The key is to remember your whyand let it guide you,
especially when things get tough.
Why are you doing this?
(14:35):
Why are you implementing thisnew system?
That's why picking the rightgoal is so important.
What is the end result you want?
Focus on that and keep that asyour guide, your North Star.
Now let's talk about why thismatters right now.
Well, the year is winding down,the calendar year, that is,
(14:55):
there's a natural slowdown inbusiness this time of the year,
and this is kind of like whathappens during the summer.
This quiet time is a goldenopportunity for you to reflect,
reorganize and prepare forgrowth.
By starting now, you'repositioning yourself to hit the
ground running in January,instead of you scrambling to
(15:16):
catch up Now.
Before we wrap up today, I wantto address two common challenges
that I've seen, that's,integrating your work and
personal life.
My suggestion is to use timeblocking so that you can
dedicate focused time forplanning, and you need to
communicate boundaries to yourfamily and your team if you have
one.
Time blocking really helps youstay focused and limit the
(15:40):
number of things that you'reworking on.
And when it comes to creatingyour systems.
The Mighty Society membershipis designed for you to make
progress, even if you only giveit your back office attention 30
minutes a week.
The next thing stop overcommitting.
No is a complete sentence andit doesn't require an
(16:02):
explanation, but there are otherways for you to say no, and it
doesn't require an explanation,but there are other ways for you
to say no.
So practice saying no toanything, that's tasks or
opportunities that do not alignwith your goals, focus on
quality over quantity.
So let's do a quick recap,because we covered the power and
(16:23):
motion framework, which helpsyou pick one goal organize your
operations, work on the plan,execute consistently, remember,
refine and review Again.
This is the process that I'veused to grow my business and
leave my job a year ago, and Iknow it can help you too.
It's also the process that Iuse with my clients and it's the
(16:45):
framework that my services arebuilt on, because I know it
works.
So what's going to be your nextstep?
Will you download the BizOpschecklist from the show notes
and identify the inefficienciesin your back office so you can
fill in the gaps?
Or are you ready to give this ago on your own?
If you are, go check out themembership.
(17:07):
Theshannonbakercom forwardslash membership.
Join us inside the MightySociety membership because
you'll get access to resourceslike the goal setting worksheets
, process templates, messagetemplates.
You get access to me and acommunity of like-minded women
that will support you on thisjourney, and so much more.
(17:28):
This will help you create thebusiness that works for you.
So don't wait.
Take action now.
Let's make next year your bestyear yet.
Thank you for tuning in thisweek.
Remember just listening to thisepisode will not get you better
results, so I challenge you tobreak the mold and take action
(17:50):
today.
If you're unsure where to start, book a call with me to get
your questions answered aboutthe Mighty Society, membership
or anything else that Imentioned.
A link to my calendar is in theshow notes.
Not ready to take that step yet?
No problem.
Be sure to connect with me onInstagram at the underscore
Shannon Baker.
(18:10):
You can ask me your questionsthere, or let me know that you
enjoyed the episode by taking ascreenshot, sharing it and
tagging me Now.
If you haven't already grabbedmy free audio masterclass, why
don't you just start there?
It's a great first step toassess your back office on your
(18:30):
own, and this masterclassprovides valuable insights and
practical steps to help youorganize your processes, reduce
chaos and improve efficiency.
Go to theshannonbakercomforward.
Slash audio masterclass Now.
If you haven't left a reviewfor the podcast yet, please do
(18:50):
so.
I would love to hear from you,and it's an easy way to show
some love to the podcast andhelp me reach more small
business owners who are ready todefy the status quo.
I can't wait to hear from you.
So until next time, keep calmand streamline.
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