The 5 Essential Ingredients to Build a Business That Runs Without You!

Make sure you've grabbed your spot

==> http://www.processprodigy.com/essentials/

It's right around the corner, on June 21 at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern.

This LIVE and INTERACTIVE training call is for ambitious entrepreneurs-like you-who want to reclaim the passion in running their business, but can't because they're too busy working the day-to-day details.

By chance, does this sound just a tad familiar?

I know you're at least smirking now. If you're anything like me, you love your business-it's your baby-so of course those day-to-day details can take over. No one can do it like you . right?

Well, think again. Head on over and get more details on my FREE training call! http://www.processprodigy.com/essentials/

I truly think you'll like what you see.

See you there?

Beth

P.P.S. I suggest reserving your seat even if you're not sure you can make the live call. I'll send you the playback because I know this is a training you'll want to have on hand when you're ready to step into your bigger game. (And don't forget to let your friends and associates know about this call!) http://www.processprodigy.com/essentials/

As I sat sipping my pint and eating a very tasty pretzel, they started the show. A young funny guy from the Guinness marketing department started telling us the many reasons Guinness is awesome.

And then it happened. In 15 minutes he had completely impressed me. Likely, not for the reasons he was going for, but hey, impressed is impressed, right?

Here are 5 business lessons I learned from drinking beer.

1. Be Committed
Arthur Guinness founded the company in the mid 1700s. He signed a 9000 (no that's not a typo) year lease on the brewery. 9000 years! He was so committed and devoted to his idea he backed it with a 9000 year time frame. How committed are you?

2. Have a Process
How long does it take to pour the perfect pint? 119.5 seconds. And yes, they said that extra half second is very important. Not only can they tell you how long it should take to pour a pint, but they can tell you what angle to hold the glass, what kind of glass to use, how far to fill up the glass and how long to wait before toping it off. They have taken the time to create and document the specific system needed to create the perfect product - which just so happens to be what we are doing in my upcoming "Double Your Profits, Double Your Time Off Intensive." What kind of systems and processes do you have in place to make sure you produce the perfect pint...er product every time?

3. Create a Special Language
So, cute Guinness marketing guy had a little contest. He showed us pictures of a few of their brands. Apparently it's popular to mix the beers together. Now remember I'm a one drink wonder so I didn't know this, but some common mixes have special names. The black & tan, the half & half, etc. They've created their own internal language so that clients and team members alike know exactly what they mean. Communication is crystal clear. How clear is communication in your organization?

4. Squash the Rumors
Guinness is a dark, heavy, fattening beer right? Eeeerrrr - WRONG. In fact it's 125 calories and one of the lowest calorie beer options. Because it's so dark, most people think it's going to be overly filling and as calorie laden as a meal. What assumptions do people have about your company? Do they assume you are too expensive? Or too inexpensive and therefore you don't have the advanced knowledge they are looking for? Or that you don't have the right programs for them? Or that they have to be at a specific level to work with you? Figure out what people are saying about you and correct any misconceptions.

5. Protect Your Ideas
The harp is the symbol that appears on Guinness products. Apparently, the Irish government thought the harp was a good idea and was planning to make it their symbol. But, Arthur protected his idea by trade marking his harp before the Irish government could get their hands on it. Are you protecting your ideas? Just because you're a small business doesn't mean big business can kick you around. Educate yourself and use the tools that are available to protect what's yours.

Who knew beer was so smart?

So where are you on the beer scale? Got it all together? Or are you secretly wasting time (and time is money) putting out fires, fixing miscommunications, checking and re-checking with team members to make sure everyone's on the same page?

If that's the case then here's a 6th bonus lesson.

6. Engage in Your Business
Arthur Guinness engaged and invested in his business. He tightened up the ship with strong systems, created unique products (they use nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide like most beers) and made a decision to take action and be successful.

If, like Arthur, you are ready to engage then I'd like to introduce you to the "Double Your Profits, Double Your Time Off Intensive," happening this February 27-29 in Los Angeles. Click here for more information.

This is your chance to go from secretly scrambling to getting it all together. During this live, 3-day workshop, my team members and I will help you buckle down and create systems that are based on your unique business that allow you to ... you guessed it: double your profits and double your time off.

So head over to http://www.processprodigy.com/double-your-profits-intensive/, see what our clients have to say and grab a seat while tickets are still half priced. Oh and be sure to tell us that Arthur sent you.

See you there,
Beth

Go get at: http://www.processprodigy.com/opscompliments/

I've personally used this money making, client getting technique to close $53,313 in new business, so I figured it would be something you'd like to get your hands on http://www.processprodigy.com/opscompliments/ .

It's good to be generous (which is why I've decided to give this away) and I want to reward those people who act fast and make quick decisions - so there are only 248 copies available.

Hurry and go get your system at http://www.processprodigy.com/opscompliments/.

Feel free to share with your friends, but be sure to get your copy first so they aren't all gone!

Take care,

Beth

It was really a remarkable experience and not just because we were around the corner from the most amazing gelato shop (the gelato is a story all its own). We all bonded really quickly and shared information based on our experience and knowledge. On a scale from 1-10 (10 being the highest) the level of generosity in the room was a 12. 

I went in expecting to make some new business connections and walked out with several new strategies. So I got to thinking, how do you collaborate to solve your business issues?

And I got inspired. I’ve always felt like the information we provide in our articles and videos is top notch, but I started thinking about how I could really take it up a notch to support you. It’s amazing how often one little teeny tiny thing can make a huge difference in the success of your business, but the problem with videos and articles is that they might not be addressing that one thing that you need - right this second.

So here’s what I want you to do.

Email us and answer the following question: What’s the biggest challenge you are having in your business? (Enter answers here http://www.processprodigy.com/contact.html)

I’ll personally read and reply to your challenge with a tip, resource, system, etc that is right for you. I just want to help… and yes it’s me who will be actually reading and replying to you. No strings. Nothing to buy, I just want to help you make your business better.Looking forward to hearing from you!

Talk soon,

Beth

To enter comments, go here http://www.processprodigy.com/contact.html

]]> http://www.processprodigy.com/success-secret-3%e2%80%a6generosity/feed/ 0 http://www.processprodigy.com/systemizing-your-business-youre-the-boss-whos-in-charge/ http://www.processprodigy.com/systemizing-your-business-youre-the-boss-whos-in-charge/#comments Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:55:35 +0000 Sandye http://www.processprodigy.com/blog/?p=229 [display_podcast]

Thoughts from your Systems Goddess, Sandye Linnetz, Process Prodigy

So, my fellow bosses, what can be done to make sure that, as the boss, you are in charge of your own destiny… i.e., the success of your company? It's one thing to be THE BOSS... another to be in control. Here are some simple ideas that will help to keep you on track.

Probably most important of all is: Don’t assume that because it is your company that you have all of the answers. Never be embarrassed or afraid to consult with an expert… or ask your team for suggestions. Remember that old adage about "two heads are better than one"? Brainstorming is so effective to see ALL the sides of any given situation. You have a point of view. That's not a bad thing, but it can be limiting. Often, just being open to seeing things from another - different - point of view, allows for new ideas and possibilities.

What are your areas of expertise? Where are you ineffective? What are your creative and management strong points? Weaknesses? It’s important that you recognize the limits of your expertise and know in which areas you would benefit most from outside help. Got a problem? A question? The Internet is often your most valuable source for answers. Go to google or yahoo and type in a question (leave out the “extraneous” words) and you will be amazed at the plethora of help that is available at NO COST! If you are a member of OES – Outrageously Effective Systems – Process Prodigy’s Monthly Subscription Program for creating the – dare I say it? – OUTRAGEOUSLY EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS for operating your company, take advantage of the Q & A’s, podcasts and monthly materials. If you are not a member… check it out and sign up!

Think reverse Golden Rule: Do Unto Yourself as You Would Do Unto Others. Be as understanding and patient with yourself as possible. Take the time to assess your skills and acknowledge your strong points. Then, and only then, is it time to work on your weaknesses and fill the gaps that you need to fill. Just as your employees NEED recognition and praise… so do you. If you can’t afford to give yourself a raise… give your self an occasional bonus or, at the very least, a healthy pat on the back, when it is merited. You are not just the boss… you are your own employee, too!

Hopefully, you do not expect your employees to read your mind – you actually tell them what you want and expect of them. With good communication and effective systems in place, your team knows what to do and when and how to do it. Give yourself the same consideration. Don’t continuously recreate the wheel. Create systems instead and follow them. Don't rely on your memory... write it out.

Take breaks… don’t skip meals, don’t work until you drop or give up your valuable and precious vacation time. Seriously, everyone will benefit from your peace, balance and the sense of calm you will exude if you are well rested and less stressed. Taking that short break, nap or vacation could actually end up being a gift to your team and clients! The boss shouldn’t be suffering from exhaustion. That generally translates to a fatigued business operation and a stressed-out staff. Don’t think your clients won’t pick up on that. Tired, cranky people let things fall through the cracks. Rest and an occasional “get out of Dodge” engender a happier, healthier work environment, positive attitudes and atmosphere of success.

Find balance in your management style. There is a very happy space between micromanaging and being out of touch and disorganized. The key is communication. For some of us, this is the easy part… the rest of us could probably use some work on our communication skills and a dose of good management training. A visit to the business section of your local book store may be in order…

With effective systems written out and accessible to all, you have created the foundation for a business that will run itself… one that you can simply “oversee”.  Add to that clear communication skills, a little personal pampering, a dose of R & R (rest and relaxation) and a smooth management style and you will find that YOU are actually running your business. It will then be abundantly clear Who Is The Boss and Who's in Charge!

© 2008 Beth Schneider, Process Prodigy, Inc. Want to reprint this article? Feel free as long as you include the following: Beth Schneider, President of Process Prodigy Inc., www.processprodigy.com, along with her team of highly sought after operations consultants, reveal the insider secrets billion-dollar corporations pay thousands of dollars for. Specializing in process creation, Process Prodigy tools and techniques have helped entrepreneurs increase productivity by as much as 600%, and revenues by as much as 250%. Visit www.processprodigy.com/ezine and grab your FREE systems starter kit valued at $297.00.

Thoughts from Sandye Linnetz, Systems Goddess, Process Prodigy

Life is filled with wonderful “peak experiences”, isn’t it? Take a minute to recall the joyful events and ahah moments of YOUR life. Pretty great, huh? What happens after the peak experience? Not so great… Generally, shortly after something goes “right” – or we have a “miracle” in our life – things go “back to normal” and we put that peak experience away in a memory file called “things that once went remarkably right”. Sometimes that experience felt so good… was so remarkable… that we make a grand gesture to recreate that time. Doesn’t often work, does it?

Let’s look at a few very practical examples of the grand gestures we make in the course of life:

Really cleaning up our desk or workspace

Sending out one MASSIVE EMAIL to your clients

A 24-hour fast

A really long, hard physical workout

So we make the GRAND GESTURE… and for a few hours or days or weeks, all is right with the world. Then CRASH! Back to “normal”. SO WHAT’S MISSING???? WHY THE BACK TRACK? You guessed it. When you see what’s missing – what doesn’t work – it’s time to put SYSTEMS into place. If you want to keep having the consistent, positive results in your business (read that as “in your life”) you have to create and follow a results designed system!

Want a clean desk? One shot clean-up won’t do it. Ask yourself what you would need to do on a REGULAR basis to keep the desk clean. It may be as simple as defining where everything goes and then… putting them there! Determine what gets filed and what gets trashed. You may have to clean up at the end of every day.

A 24-hour fast won’t make you slimmer any more than a really long, hard workout will make you physically fit. You need a system for eating smarter and a regular exercise regime.Yes, you may have to begin with a GRAND GESTURE, but all grand gestures have to be followed with a system to guarantee results.

Be grand and put systems into place! Need help with creating systems? That’s why we’re here. Browse through the Process Prodigy website, check out the blog archive AND check out the newest Process Prodigy Program: Outrageously Effective Systems (with a GREAT introductory deal) at www.processprodigy.com/oes…!

© 2008 Beth Schneider, Process Prodigy, Inc. Want to reprint this article? Feel free as long as you include the following: Beth Schneider, President of Process Prodigy Inc., www.processprodigy.com, along with her team of highly sought after operations consultants, reveal the insider secrets billion-dollar corporations pay thousands of dollars for. Specializing in process creation, Process Prodigy tools and techniques have helped entrepreneurs increase productivity by as much as 600%, and revenues by as much as 250%. Visit www.processprodigy.com/ezine and grab your FREE systems starter kit valued at $297.00.

[display_podcast]

Thoughts from Sandye Linnetz, Systems Goddess, Process Prodigy

Contact... and staying in it, that's what works in all relationships. Whether it's a vendor, a client or your mother, keeping up the communication and being fully expressed can make the difference between living in the past or being in the NOW.

Rather than "wondering" what people are up to, or just thinking about them, consider making the contact... now and in person, instead of just in your thoughts. Recently a friend shared this with me: When a thought about someone pops into your head, stop and contact them. You never know what the result will be... And, making that connection could produce a miracle! It may be that your vendor is just about to have an amazing sale. Your client may need something. Your mother may want to share a memory. That old friend may be thinking about you, too. How often have you commented that, "Wow, I really made that call at the right time?"

Just recently I had a thought about a friend in Texas. There had been no contact for quite a while; both of us guilty of ignoring the "urge" to find out how the other was doing. So, I picked up the phone and called. As it turned out, he was as happy to hear my voice as I was to hear his and he was actually going to be in California (where I am) two days later! We marveled at the "timeliness" of my call. End result???? We actually got to spend time a great together and I reconnected with his family who included me in an amazing New Years Eve celebration after he left. At the party I made a dozen new acquaintances who will, undoubtedly either become new friends or business associates.

"I was just thinking about you!" "You called at the perfect time! I was just dialing you!" "This is perfect, I need some ____ and I can get it from you." "I was just talking to ____ about you. Do you want to do some work for him?" No conversation is without value, and neither is a connection. You know that, don't you? Pick up that phone and make the call or type up that email. When you are on the playing field of life and actually PLAY, amazing things happen. So, consider this an invitation to get out and PLAY. Make that connection and do it NOW.

Make a list of people you haven't spoken to in a while and start re-connecting. Get out on the playing field. Who can you call? Who's been on your mind? Who have you put off contacting because of time, fear or stubbornness? Yep, those people... You can't win if you don't play and staying in contact is a contact sport!

© 2007 Beth Schneider, Process Prodigy, Inc. Want to reprint this article? Feel free as long as you include the following: Beth Schneider, President of Process Prodigy Inc., www.processprodigy.com, along with her team of highly sought after operations consultants, reveals the insider secrets billion-dollar corporations pay thousands of dollars for. Specializing in process creation, the Process Prodigy tools and techniques have helped entrepreneurs increase productivity by as much as 600% and revenues by as much as 250%. Visit www.processprodigy.com and sign up to receive the Process Prodigy Ezine, “Your Tips” and the FREE Report “How to Save Yourself Time Energy and Money”.

Thoughts from Sandye Linnetz, Systems Goddess, Process Prodigy

Those were the rules, remember? When you got to the corner your assignment was to STOP. LOOK – both ways – and then LISTEN for any unforeseen danger before attempting to cross the treacherous divide of an auto infested street. That pretty much worked, didn’t it? As advice goes, that was a good piece for all of us. We heard it so often –as children- that it became ingrained in all of us and, as adults we still cross the street with that tidbit in the back of our heads.

So, how can we use that wise counsel in other areas of life? When is it vital that we STOP, LOOK and LISTEN? Consider that we can use that coaching in all areas of our lives.

Life is about crossing streets… making decisions, changes and moving ahead.

Before we do any of those things it behooves us to STOP and examine where we are. LOOK to see where we are going. LISTEN for the ideas, advice and clues to get there; safely and efficiently. Oddly enough… or perhaps you’ve been reading these blogs long enough to expect it, this childhood triad would also be an excellent model for designing the systems and processes for your business. Just as your process for crossing the street is simple and has become ingrained through repetition, the systems and processes you create and implement for your business, when practiced over and over, become simply “the way it works” in your company. It doesn’t have to he tough to operate smoothly. Given that you are headed somewhere... and that you want to get there efficiently, effectively and safely... try this:

STOP and examine what is happening around you. Where are you? What are you are doing that works… and what doesn’t?

LOOK around at coworkers, clients and vendors… What is going on? Where are you heading? Where do you want to end up?

LISTEN for the safest, most effective way to get there.

Crossing Guards, UNITE! Systems are being created...

© 2007 Beth Schneider, Process Prodigy, Inc. Want to reprint this article? Feel free as long as you include the following: Beth Schneider, President of Process Prodigy Inc., www.processprodigy.com, along with her team of highly sought after operations consultants, reveals the insider secrets billion-dollar corporations pay thousands of dollars for. Specializing in process creation, the Process Prodigy tools and techniques have helped entrepreneurs increase productivity by as much as 600% and revenues by as much as 250%. Visit www.processprodigy.com and sign up to receive the Process Prodigy Ezine, "Your Tips" and the FREE Report “How to Save Yourself Time Energy and Money”.