{This is a Be Wealthy Post}
We are creative geniuses. We know how to get it all done, in light speed, with the meticulous taste we have grown to cultivate.
AND, we work too much.
Miss yoga on Sunday afternoon, or skimp on one-on-one family time with our daughter who desperately needs us.
We care about our business, our clients, and the delivery of our products,AND our sense of balance is lost. Not the scenario we painted when we chose the entrepreneurship and self employment path.
We work for ourselves to feel Fulfillment, Balance & Profit.
Right?
I started working for myself in 2008 because I was tired of following someone else’s messed up rules; rules instituted for the masses, rules that crushed my creativity and squandered at my free spirit. My mission in life could not fit into those rules. Not for one more day.
I have grown three businesses. Some might call me a control freak. When you grow businesses, you gotta be some form of freak.
Although I have a big heart, I know what I want and how I want it.
Delegating has been an art form learned. At first, I thought I could do it myself, then I thought I could ONLY do it myself, following by thinking that I had to micro-manage in order for it to get done. Now, I trust.
Of course, when I am first adjusting to new support team, or the new support team is adjusting to me, there’s a learning curve. I have to get to know their REAL strengths, they have to get to know what is important to me, and then we work out our synergy. It is a transitional time. Patience is required big time.
In the countless transitions, I have hold onto the following…
Five principles to double profits year after year:
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Focus on my genius.
Getting clarity on what my strengths are, and what allows my business to always evolve from a service & revenue stand points is crucial.
I need to know what my genius is. I need to own it and live it. I don’t have to be the jack of all traits in my business, I deserve to be the master of a few key components.
When I focus on what I excel in, everyone wins. My heart, my family, my clients, my bottom line.
homework: step 1. make a list of your genius. yes, you have more than one. step 2. have confidence in #1. own it. step 3. make a list of what you are not so good at. step 4. hire people who kick butt with what you stink at.2. Be honest with my pain points in the business.
Sometimes I hide. My job is to call people out when they are hiding from their genius and what needs solving. Yet, I hide. It is human I suppose. Thanks to my coaches & mentors, hiding is not my modus operandi (MO).
My MO is face the pain, be honest with myself about cutting the fat. Even writing the words makes me cringe, but it’s true. Sometimes you gotta slice and dice, and make tough decisions that hurt people in the moment. And sometimes the slicing is really more about looking within, taking ownership of the mess, and growing some more.
Want to fix a problem? Take a look in the mirror. Works everytime. Adopt this practice, and life & business gets much easier.
homework: name the biggest problem you have in your business. Ask yourself the question… how am I responsible for creating this? This is NOT about beating yourself up, but about adopting a practice to gain more self awareness & living a life of accountability. A leader who is accountable is a great role model & inspiration.3. Find team members with strengths different than mine.
Know my goods. Know the goods of others. Mix ‘em up. End of story.
homework: do it.4. Know what motivates each team member & give them what they want.
Each person on this planet is motivated by something specific. Everyone may say their motivation is money. But, I call baloney on that. Yes, finding this motivator takes time to uncover. Takes conversations. Takes great listening.
Once I find it…I…
give the person what they value, and they will value me. win win fo’ sure.
homework: have at least one conversation with one of your support people and find out what their dreams are. If money where no object, what would they be doing right now. Make it a safe place for them to dream with you. They may surprise you, and you may uncover a hidden gem as they share their inner genius.
5. Trust that all that I teach & give, will come back to me 10 fold.
I remember the days when I feared that people would leave after I spend all the time training them, giving them my nuggets of wisdom. That belief kept me small, so I got courageous and stopped. It creeks in every once in a while, but I choose trust instead of fear. I like life that way a ton more.
I trust, therefore I give. And somehow I get back.
I don’t keep track of how much back I get, I just give because I find that when I’m fulfilled, giving is a natural response. When I am balanced, giving is a no brainer. When I am profitable, I have the ease & power to give.
Love,
ASHA
Soul + Business. Perfectly together.