What are key strategies for every level of your business?

I had the opportunity to speak on a panel with some amazing business owners yesterday to talk about key strategies for every level of your business. I wanted to highlight some of the key takeaways on how to structure, plan, implement, and elevate your business.

Welcome back to the After the Pitch podcast, I’m you’re host Adrian T. Marable. It’s important to have structure in your business. The best way to do this is by first understanding your business, where you are if you’re currently in business, and where you want to go. Common mistakes business owners make is trying to focusing on only doing the tasks needed to deliver a product or service, and not holistically thinking in detail about the end-to-end processes of marketing, selling, and delivering their product or service.

Plan

Be realistic in your plans. The best way is to lay out the work that needs to be done, prioritize it, then create a reasonable (key word reasonable) time to complete it. It’s okay if it’s going to take you a few years to implement a new product, service, or technology. Don’t bite of more than you can chew.

Be Productive

Productivity hack!!! I start my week on Thursdays. Like most people start their week on Monday, Thursday is my Monday so when I get into the weekend, I’m at hump day and I’m running full speed. I use Wednesdays to wind down, spend time with family, plan, and then start my week on Thursday which is dedicated to meetings. Then I go full force into executing my strategies for the rest of the week!

Next, you need to be able to maximize your productivity. Utilize partners and contractors where you can if you do not have a team. This will take the load off you and allow you opportunities to grow. Here’s another productivity hack. Go online and purchase a 6 – 7 inch 60 minute timer. Block off 30 – 60 minutes at a time to do your work. I know what you’re thinking, “I can use me phone for that.” DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE! Your phone has too many other distractions that’s going to hinder your progress. Before you know it, you’ll look at your phone, see a text message of an Instagram video, next thing you know, you’re spent your productive time scrolling through reels on your phone.

Best bet is to put your phone in another room just to be safe! Remember, technology is meant for productivity, not hindering in your business.

Level Up

Finally, I suggest you find ways to level up through mentorship or knowledge. Tim Ferris has this great book called “Tribe of Mentors” where he tells the best way to utilize mentors for your growth. Also obtaining certificates or certifications allow you to build credibility and knowledge to help you in your business. Finally, joining industry associations and being active in them will not only help you gain knowledge in your industry, it will help you find partners and gain the insights to make decisions that will help you grow your business. You can also build a tribe of mentors and peers within associations!

These are three areas every business can work on. Keep learning about your business, your resources (like technology), and the people who are directly touched by your business because in today’s world, any and every aspect of your business can change. I’m Adrian Marable, your host for today.

Until next time and remember, “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory”