This is the second post in the Four Breakthroughs series. Stay tuned for the full set!
I think we’re all wise enough to know that we won’t reach our business goals overnight.
But we don’t want to wait forever, either — especially when we’re putting a lot of work and passion in.
In order to reach our goals by the shortest path possible (without taking cheap shortcuts), we have to move efficiently from step to step.
And that means we need the Breakthrough of Process.
But first, I want to tell you a quick story. (It has a business lesson, I promise!)
Last week, my dog got stung by a bee
She’s allergic, so I scooped her up, swung by the house to grab my car keys, and in 20 minutes we were in the vet’s office. A shot of Benadryl and some fluids and she was just fine.
The first time she got stung, though, it was a lot more of a scramble. We took longer to spring into action, because we weren’t sure of the right thing to do. We didn’t know she was allergic — or even if dogs could be allergic.
That trip was a lot scarier (and more expensive) because we were winging it.
It turns out that knowing exactly what to do, and doing it without second-guessing or distractions, makes a big difference.
That goes for business, not just bee stings.
Process is simply a repeatable set of steps that leads you reliably to an outcome you want.
Maybe more important, it cuts out the clutter of activities you don’t need, or that don’t provide enough value.
Process makes your business more profitable and more efficient — without cutting corners or taking shady shortcuts.
But isn’t oversimplifying a bad thing?
You may be wondering if a process is the same thing as a cookie-cutter formula. And the answer is … it depends.
Sometimes, you want to let simple things be simple. That means resisting the temptation to re-invent the wheel.
You don’t have to write your own email software or code the website that houses your premium course. In fact, typically you really shouldn’t.
You also don’t have to start every client engagement from scratch — even if your clients are all very different.
A good process takes care of repeatable tasks or events, while leaving room for individual action when it’s needed.
A great process handles the simple things on auto-pilot, precisely so you can show up for the more complex parts without burning out on minor details.
Great processes also reduce stress for everyone — you, your team, and especially your clients and customers.
A real-world example
I want to give you an example by taking a peek inside the Offer Accelerator.
That’s the program that Pamela Wilson designed, and that I’m the lead coach for this year. It’s designed to take an experienced digital business owner through the process of developing a high-value offer — from designing the offer to launching, testing, and marketing it.
Every new client starts with a process that we call the Smart Start.
From day 1 to day 30, you always know exactly what to do next. Pamela’s process saves you time and stress by breaking this complex project into straightforward, manageable steps.
You still get to bring your creativity and individuality! In fact, you need to bring those, to create a solution that works perfectly for your needs.
But you don’t need to get sidetracked or confused by a million different hacks and tactics.
And we encourage clients to download the processes for their future use — so they can move just as quickly and smoothly every time they want to add a new offer to their business.
The Smart Start process also frees up my time and energy as the program leader. That’s allowed me to add individual coaching as part of the program — so we can work through individual needs and questions together.
The Breakthrough of Process doesn’t just let me run the business more efficiently. It lets me serve my clients at a much higher level.
And as a bonus, I get to focus on the tasks that I’m best at and that energize me (instead of exhausting me).
Food for thought
Do you have an issue that comes up over and over in your business that always feels like a scramble?
Or something that you suspect is taking you way longer than it needs to?
Or maybe it’s something you consistently put off, so that it doesn’t get done well (or at all).
It might be generating leads, gracefully starting a new client project, sending out invoices, or something else.
Take a few minutes to write down what that recurring issue is — and brainstorm some ways you might design a process to simplify and streamline it.
And if you missed the First Breakthrough in this series, you can find it here: The Breakthrough of Mindset.
Next time, we’ll look at an incredibly powerful breakthrough — the one that sets you apart from everyone else in your field.
If there’s a business superpower, this is it.
P.S. If you’re curious about the Accelerator, I’m delighted to answer any questions you might have. Just drop me a quick note on this form so we can get connected, and I’ll be in touch.
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