How One of Our Clients Increased Profitability by 350% in One Year
If you want to build strength and resiliency in your business, you need sustainable systems. Learn how to thrive in a chaotic climate with the right systems.
We get a sense of achievement every time we help our clients get amazing results. But, it’s not every day that you can do it. Especially if you don’t know how to replicate your processes.
It’s something our client learned the hard way.
They were flying high with their work on their last client. That client loved their results and it made them confident about the next one.
But when they started working with another client in the same niche and a similar project, something wasn’t right. The same magic wasn’t there.
And the client wasn’t satisfied with the work – at all. It even got to the point where the client threatened to drop them from the project.
So, why was there such a disparity between the last client and the next?
It all came down to our client’s processes. They lacked consistency, which led to varying results.
Fortunately, there’s a happy ending.
It took a lot of restructuring, but we helped them create new processes and procedures step-by-step. And in the process, we also helped them increase their profitability by 350% in a year.
It’s especially important right now to implement strong systems for your business when there’s so much uncertainty in the air.
Strong systems can help ensure that your business is recession-proof and that it can survive the current situation. More importantly, it can help your business thrive in the future.
How to Build Sustainable Systems
Building sustainable systems aren’t as hard as you may think. Learn how you can not only get through the pandemic but also thrive on the other side of it with these helpful tips.
Tip #1 – Get Clear on Your Goals
If you’re not clear on your goals, you aren’t alone. It’s common for business owners to fall into this trap.
But if you don’t have a clear vision of your goals, you also won’t be able to map out how to achieve them.
For instance, let’s say that you have a goal of $500 minimum an hour for all the hours you work in the office. But if you’re only at $125 per hour, it means you need to bring up your average billing amount. Now, you need to figure out how you’re going to raise it.
When you have a set goal, you can reverse engineer the steps to get you there.
Tip #2 – Don’t Expect to Do It Overnight
Accomplishing goals takes time and work. You won’t see changes overnight, no matter how much you may want it.
Think of it as integrating new habits into your business. There are going to be some hiccups before it moves smoothly. And you may also need to make subtle shifts before you can take your hands off of it completely.
Tip #3 – Identify the Blocks in Your Processes (And Take Responsibility for Them)
In an ideal world, your business will function like a well-oiled machine with predictable results. But if you aren’t receiving the results that you expect, there may be some blockage in the way you do things.
I know what you’re thinking.
“Surely, if there are blockages in my processes, it isn’t because of me!”
But as much as you may want to tell yourself differently, it’s time to be the bigger person. As the owner, we need to be able to accept that maybe we are the problem in the process.
One major way that blockages can happen is when you set your business up so that everything runs through you first. Not only does this dismiss the value and expertise of your team, but it also hinders your overall operations.
Fortunately, there is something you can do about it. And it starts with analyzing your operation. Look for opportunities to make improvements and reduce your direct involvement. They can include changes like:
- Upgrading your technology
- Adjusting training time
- Giving your team access to information
- Remote workforce management
Another way that you may unintentionally create blockages is a lack of focus.
I see this with clients all the time, especially new business owners. They’re so busy doing things that they never really get anything accomplished.
Why?
Because they didn’t take the time to create the systems and processes needed for their business to run smoothly. So now, they feel like their business is out of control and they're constantly getting interrupted.
But the truth here is that they have no one to blame but themselves.
It’s their fault that they don’t have the right systems in place. They decided to forgo this important step in business.
If you can’t tell already, accountability is a big thing for me. And it’s a core component that I try to instill in all of our clients.
There are things that you can do to get your processes running smoothly. And also free up some of your time in the process. But if you’re the reason there’s a blockage, you first need to take ownership.
And it’s the hardest part.
Tip #4 – Build Your Conveyor Belt
What do Ford and McDonalds have in common?
Conveyor belts.
Sure, you may not run a manufacturing or fast food type of business, but you can still use their principle in your own business.
Both of these mega-companies have clearly defined processes and procedures. Every employee at every level knows what they need to do and when to do it. The person who puts the tires on a car in the Ford assembly line knows what they’re supposed to do each time they see a car.
You need to plan and refine your business the way that a manufacturer does. Whether it’s the ideation of the marketing campaign or marketing execution, you need to make sure everything happens smoothly.
This means that you need to take the time and go through each step systematically so that you can ensure there are no blockades.
It’s Time to Take a Systematic Approach
Nowadays, everybody is anxious about the pandemic and how it may affect their business. But you need to be in a place where you not only weather the storm in front of you but also come out on the other side thriving.
And that’s where systems come into play.
When you take the time to implement the right systems and processes into your business, everything runs smoothly. You get predictable results, and so do your clients.
And when, like now, you experience a reduction in work related to corona virus, this means that your team has available time. Utilize it to create a thriving business tomorrow.
Don’t wait until you run into a crisis to analyze the systems that you have in place. There’s no better time than today to find out if your business has what it takes to sustain and thrive in any weather.
If you want more information about how to create systems in your business, we can help. Click here to schedule a strategy session with Creative Agency Success today.
