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Small Business Articles from Make-it-Fly®
 Systems:
the Price, the Payback and a Plan
to Get You There
By Victoria Munro
Printable version
As a business grows, it’s exciting. It’s
tempting to work longer and harder to keep up with demand,
but this will limit growth and lead to burnout. Having
proven systems in place and following them allows for
healthy growth, lessens stress
and makes life easier for you, your employees and your
clients.
Without well-designed systems in place, a business
becomes owner-dependent. You
risk becoming a 24/7 slave to the company you’ve
created. If you leave, even for a short time,
business slows down, grinds to a halt or is thrown into
chaos. With systems in place, someone else can step
in and take over day-to-day operations. This allows
you to spend time planning for future growth, leave
for a while when necessary, even take a vacation.
The Price: Creating
a system takes time—it means stepping off the
gerbil wheel for a while to look at your business from
the outside in. It’s easier to stay with the status
quo—continue doing things the way you’ve
always done them, but this is a short-term approach
at best.
The Payback:
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Training
is easier and new hires get up to speed quickly.
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If
you want to sell your business in the future, having
good systems in place will add much to its value.
A new owner will be able to walk in and take over
with a minimum of hassle. |
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Systems
will free you to focus on what is really important
and avoid time- and money-wasting distractions. |
The Plan to Get You There:
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Step
back and look at the big picture—assess where
your business is now, what you want it to become
and what changes must take place to achieve that.
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Identify
the different systems needed to make your business
run well. |
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Define
the ideal end result for each one. |
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Break
each part down into logical, manageable steps. |
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Document
each step—make it as simple as possible. |
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Ask
someone outside your company to read it. Is it easy
to understand? |
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Test
and refine to achieve optimal results. |
Systems are at the heart of
successful, smooth-running companies. The time
and energy you spend setting up systems will position
your business for healthy growth, and make your life
easier and running your business more fun.
(387 words)
© 2005-2007 Victoria Munro.
Click here
for printable version.
About the Author: Victoria Munro is
co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly®
LLC, a company dedicated to creating success for
small-business owners through creatively designed programs
and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different
businesses. To receive FREE business success articles
with tips to help you with your business, sign up for
their award-winning ezine, “In-Flight Refueling,”
at: www.Make-it-Fly.com,
and receive a free copy of the eBook, Get
More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics
& Tips.
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