I had a conversation with a podcast host recently about being a guest on their show, and one of the things they shared was they loved having me on because I don’t gatekeep and truly just want to share what I know. It got me thinking…Where did gatekeeping come from and why do people feel the need to do it? Even though it can feel like a form of protection, it’s usually done out of fear, control or a scarcity mindset.

Both options provide business owners key support. Delegation optimizes workflow and empowers staff to grow professionally. Outsourcing provides access to specialized skill sets and employee cost reductions.

When Nancy first reached out, she was a solo bookkeeper managing MANY clients and struggling to keep up. Her days were chaotic, each client had unique requirements, and there were no consistent processes in place. Onboarding new clients was inefficient, communication felt scattered, and time felt wasted searching for information or answering the same client questions repeatedly. Her true goal was to simplify, streamline and grow her business sustainably.

I’m sure this comes as no surprise, but if you’re a service-based business in particular, your clients are your greatest asset. Their experience with your business is what keeps them coming back, spreading the word, and staying loyal. So therefore, it makes sense that the client experience you offer - every step from initial contact to post-service follow-up - must be exceptional.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned in business so far is this: patience and consistency are just as important as creativity and strategy.

I think we've forgotten that business growth takes time. I think we've forgotten that business growth can be slow. I think we've forgotten that consistency, time, your foundation and strategy are really the true keys for progress.

By the end of our work together, Rachel had complete clarity about the soul of her business. She felt empowered to make decisions that honored her mission and values, which allowed her to simplify her workflows and eliminate the overwhelm she’d been carrying. With a clear plan for growth, Rachel described feeling more connected to her work than ever before. Her renewed sense of purpose and excitement for the future was tangible.

Before we get into more detail on breaking this down, I want to take a step back, because essentially, you won’t be able to thrive unless you have a few other items in place first. Most importantly, you need to have a solid Business Foundation. There are two prongs necessary to get this in place: your Business Identity and your Business Operations. When talking about your Business Identity, we’re talking about who you are, what you’re about, and where you’re going. When talking about your Business Operations, we’re talking about how you do things, your daily procedures. 

Welcome to Part 2 of the Business Foundation Formula. The second prong of this formula is your Business Operations. Business Operations focus on the actual running of your business. One key starting place is your organizational strategy. You MUST be organized. And you must be organized from the get-go. The key to a thriving business is being able to find information quickly and easily. Quickly and easily! I would start with your filing system. How are you storing information?

Now that we’ve established what’s needed to set up your Business Foundation Formula, we can move into the next phase, which is all about planning for growth. This is where we’ll talk about the things, and by things I mean handbooks and manuals, that you’ll want in place as you begin to get bigger and bring on a team - even if it’s just a small team.