Avoiding expensive and complicated systems

We have someone in our Learning Community who is starting out a new practice, and is just trying to get her first clients. She was working through our Sacred Selling learning module, about how to hold successful enrollment conversations with integrity and heart, when she got stuck with something I call “the details.”

The details are what happens after someone says “Yes, I want to work with you.” They are ready to pay, and you want to have all the next steps clear, which a lot of business owners are unclear about. It’s important because a lack of clarity about how to actually enroll with you can be perceived as a lack of confidence in your abilities, and you can literally “unsell” a client who has said yes, before they’ve paid you.

Because she is a member of the community, she could bring this question to the weekly coaching call, and get some real-time help sorting it all out.

The real challenge up for her that a few other members were struggling with as well, was feeling paralyzed about all the systems she thought needed to be put in place. Things like an online scheduler, a payment processor, project management system, and who knows what all else?

Clearly we needed to slow down, and check in about systems in general. Because of this:

Systems are to serve you and your business, not for you to serve them.

There are lots of sophisticated, complicated systems for sale for business owners. Project management, online schedulers, etc.

Yet, for someone who is just starting out, do you really need all of that, including the monthly expense? If you’re only scheduling a handful of clients, you can, you know, just schedule with them directly.

While it’s true that it takes more time, often what newer business owners have is more time and less money.

It can be so tempting to build up the infrastructure of a business in momentum ahead of time. It’s tempting because systems *can* make things easier.

It can also be tempting because other people are using them, and you feel like you’re missing out or doing it wrong if you don’t have them.

Finally, it can be tempting because it’s something concrete to do! You may be unsure how to carry your marketing forward, but by gum you can learn how to set up an online scheduling app! 🙂

I’m not against systems. In fact, I’m all for’em. But I don’t want you bogged down trying to create something your business doesn’t need yet. You can always implement them later. But implementing too early will distract you from what your business is really needing.

Time to slow down and return to the heart. What is it your business is really needing? The hours you might spend researching systems, learning them, putting them in place, and maintaining them would be better spent, for instance, learning how to and following through with basic marketing and networking for new clients.

You can set a reminder to do a systems assessment of your business every six or 12 months. Has the business gotten busy enough to require an upgrade to your systems? Do you spend too much time doing things manually that could be systematized?

Until then, keep your manual calendar, and spreadsheet to-do-lists. Keep it simple, inexpensive, and stay focused on what really matters

With love,

Mark Silver, M.Div.
Heart of Business, Inc.
Every act of business can be an act of love.

P.S. Would you like the kind of support our member received?

Gosh, wouldn’t it be great to have a place to bring your questions about the nitty-gritty things in your business?

Wouldn’t it also be great if you could trust that the coaching and information was in alignment with your spiritual values, with a priority on love’s role in this world, while also having a strong commitment to being effective?

And, finally, wouldn’t it also be fantastic if it was affordable, at a price that you yourself could set?

Let me invite you into the Heart of Business Learning Community. We’re temporarily open to new members, either until we get to about 60 or so new members, or late August, whichever comes first.

Take a look: The Heart of Business Learning Community

Questions? Just ask. We’re here.