Happy tax week to everyone! I know it is hard to get together all the details for taxes, but once it is done I always feel better about myself. I can check that task off my list!
Take a moment and relax this weekend. Enjoy our article and "Go With The Flow".
Enjoy!
Beth
Systemizing Your Business: Go With The Flow
By Sandye Linnetz, Process Prodigy
There I was in New York City, sitting down to a lox and bagel brunch when the conversation turned, as it frequently does when I'm around anyone who socializes.
"What do you do", inquired my hostess? Naturally, I told her about Process Prodigy and my role as the Systems Goddess. I went into my dissertation on the value of systemizing your business. Having effective systems in place - behind the scenes - helps a business operate smoothly and with predictable results; the same desired results each and every time. You remember the part about the "well-oiled machine", don't you? I even gave her that AND pointed out the wastefulness of reinventing the wheel over and over.
Rather than argue with my hostess, or make her look bad, I asked her to say more about her view of systems. I was determined to find out where this crazy talk was coming from--as she declared to the assemblage that systems were a waste of time, too dogmatic and likely to keep you from being creative, I began to notice her commitment to business being very creative and open ended. And then she went even further, silly lady, and told me that systems were actually a detriment to running a successful business because business isn't the "same" all the time and flexibility--not rigid sameness--was required!
Aha, now I understood where she was coming from on this. My hostess, in her commitment to creativity and handling every situation as a unique one, missed what an effective system includes! An effective system IS flexibility in action. In creating systems, we create flow charts and actually train ourselves to "go with the flow". The value of having effective systems in place is that by following them, we automatically go with the flow - in an organized, all-inclusive way. Nothing forgotten, left out or ignored; and no money falling through the cracks!
Over sweet rolls and coffee, I explained that when we create systems that work, we purposefully include all of the "what-ifs" that we can; that's what makes a system really effective. It's the whole idea that, "if this happens, then we do that" and "if that happens, then we do this". Not only is systemizing your business a truly creative process, it's also remarkably flexible.
Great meal- great conversation--my hostess ended up with OES (Outrageously Effective Systems - www.processprodigy.com/oes) and I got a second bear claw! It pays to go with the flow.
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© 2011 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 http://www.processprodigy.com/ezine and grab your FREE systems starter kit valued at $297.00.
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