I’ve spent the last few months completely transforming my business behind the scenes. Very soon we’ll be rolling out a new brand, a new flagship program, a new name, a bigger team and my role in the company has shifted significantly, and it all started with a conversation over cocktails alongside this lovely view.
That conversation with a group of powerhouse women entrepreneurs about the things we’re rubbish at has quite literally changed my life.
You may not enjoy discussing your shortcomings over drinks but it was one of the best conversations I’ve had in 2017. Hands down.
Here’s why: it was an open and honest conversation where we assessed and discussed each other’s strengths and acknowledge each other’s shortcomings. And then we masterminded strategies of how we could change our businesses to not only feel a lot more aligned but to maximize ROI by using our strengths. If you don’t know your strengths, there are any number of assessments out there that can give you insights into your personality and natural talents (my favorite is StrengthFinders and I’ve already begun incorporating it into all of my coaching). Once you know what your strengths are, you must stop doing ALL THE THINGS that are not within your wheelhouse.
Yes, you must stop doing them right now!
Here’s why: if you have a business model that is built around someone else’s idea of what your business should look like and is not built around your specific personality and talents, you are setting yourself up for failure.
If you are constantly exhausted by the tasks that need to get done in your business, if you are a bottleneck to the flow of work, if you have serious disdain for an essential part of the work you do for your clients or for the way you market the business and get clients, then you may have a business model that is not built around your strengths.
But you don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater!
If your business isn’t currently built on the solid bedrock of your strengths, you don’t have to stop doing the work that you do. There’s an alternative to quitting and starting over. Knowing my weaknesses (in a deeper way) was liberating because it showed me exactly who I need on my team in order to take my business to the next level. As I have been building my team, I have been specifically looking for folks who are strong where I am weak (in a scientific way and not based on feeling alone). Doing this has liberated me from the tasks that used to take me forever and hold up our growth and instead I am doubling down on what I am great at and sharpening my natural talents.
You can do the same.
Recognize your strengths and build a business model that puts those things that you are great at smack in the middle of the profit center of your business. Then hire a team that can handle everything you suck at. This is how you build a business that can get to seven-figures and beyond.
Does this advice seem obvious? It kind of feels like it should be, right? Well in my conversation with business owners of 6-, 7- and 8-figure businesses, it’s clear that many of us business owners (dare I say most) have not done this.
Incidentally, this is also how you can build a home life that is nurturing and low-stress. Your family is a team and teams work better when everyone is tasked with doing the things they are great at.
To using your strengths in business and beyond!
xo,
PS: This Thursday, August 3rd, I'll be sharing details about our new flagship program. Stay tuned.
