Introduction
Welcome back to the Entrepreneur Mindset Podcast. Today, we’re taking a significant step forward in our journey of systemization. So far, we’ve spoken about the value of systems, how they can enhance creativity, and the necessary mindset shift.
Now it’s time to get hands-on and start creating our very first business system. We’ve laid the groundwork, now it’s time for action.
Create a System
I’m not one for beating around the bush, so let’s jump right in with our topic for today; creating a business system.
Identifying the Right Tasks for Systematization:
The process begins by identifying the tasks that are ripe for systemization. These are usually tasks that are repetitive and don’t necessarily require a unique, creative approach each time. Since Episode 131, you’ve been keeping a list of tasks you perform each week. Let’s dive into that list.
Maybe it’s responding to customer inquiries – if you find yourself sending similar emails to customers over and over again, that’s a task that can be systematized. Perhaps it’s scheduling social media posts – if you’re spending hours each week creating and scheduling posts, there’s definitely room for a system there. Or maybe it’s something like accounting or inventory management – these are tasks that can be greatly simplified with a well-designed system.
Remember, the goal here isn’t to automate your entire business. We’re looking for tasks where implementing a system would save you time and mental energy without sacrificing the quality of your work.
Documenting the Process:
Once you’ve picked a task, it’s time to document the process. This can seem daunting, but it’s simpler than you might think. The goal here is to get everything out of your head and onto paper.
Let’s say you’re systematizing your process for responding to customer inquiries. Start from the very beginning – perhaps it’s when you receive a notification of the inquiry. Then, map out each step you take, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. This includes the process of reading the inquiry, determining the appropriate response, drafting the email, proofreading it, and hitting send.
If you’re creating a system for scheduling social media posts, document the entire process, from brainstorming content ideas, to creating the posts, to scheduling them on different platforms.
By the end of this process, you should have a comprehensive step-by-step guide to completing the task.
Refining and Testing the System:
After documenting the process, it’s time to refine and test your new system. Try following the steps exactly as you’ve written them down. Are there any steps that are unclear or that you accidentally skipped during documentation? Is there a faster or more efficient way to perform any of the steps?
This is also a great time to start thinking about potential tools or resources that could automate parts of the system. Maybe there’s a tool that can automate your social media posts, or a template that could speed up your email drafting process.
Remember, this is an iterative process. It’s perfectly okay if the system isn’t perfect right out of the gate. The important thing is to start, and keep refining as you go along.
Action Item
Your action item this week is to choose one repetitive task from the list you’ve been working on since Episode 131. Spend 15-20 minutes documenting the process, following the steps we discussed in this episode. Then, over the next week, refine and test your new system. This is your first step into the world of systemization. Enjoy the journey!
Conclusions
TAnd that wraps up our episode on creating your first business system. Today, we dove into the practical steps of identifying the right tasks, documenting the process, and refining and testing your new system.
Remember, building systems is an iterative process; it won’t be perfect at first, but with consistent effort, you’ll soon start reaping the benefits.
If you’ve found today’s episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review.
I will see you back here next week for another episode of the Entrepreneur Mindset Podcast, where a focus on mentoring, community, and implementation removes the overwhelm of building your successful and profitable business and adds in a dose of momentum.
Until next time, have a healthy, safe, and happy week.
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