What You can Do in Your Business so You can Work on Your Business
We are better positioned (and probably like or want) to think high level about our brilliant work and making a difference in the world. Call this “on the business” work. But, it still leaves us “managing” a business—our business. Call it “in the business” work. So, what do we do?
For over a year now, I’ve been thinking about having more time for myself and my “retirement,” not that I want to retire because I love what I do. I call it my “succession plan process.” It does not matter what age you are, if you would like to spend more time doing something other than managing your business, then you need a plan.
My plan started with a high-level strategy “partner” and, of course, my coach. My strategy partner helped me create an overview of my business, mostly flow charts and processes, as well as helped me identify my core business channels and the processes for each. Then we dug down and looked at why am I doing the grunt work when I am better served being the face of my business by networking, delivering coaching and managing an amazing coaching publication.
I am a PCC Credential-holder, Business Coach and the publisher of choice, the magazine of professional coaching. These are what I love doing. I like doing the day-to-day “in the business” work because I’m good at it. But, that does not mean I should be doing it. What about you? What are you good at that you keep doing, while not being able to do the things you love to do?
Our clients want us to focus on our core strength, usually coaching but also things like speaking and writing. They don’t want our heads down in administrivia like bookkeeping, schedule management, and customer service issues.
So that brings me back to what to do. Having dissected my business, created and updated flow charts and processes, it was time to…wait for it…DELEGATE. This is truly the hardest part. Sometimes after I’ve delegated, I find myself wondering two things: Why did I wait so long? What’s next to give away?
The one thing I tell anyone who says “I wish I had someone to do this for me” is that you need to know exactly what you do and be able to translate that into a procedure, flow chart or something that can be trained.
Truly, I’m rethinking many of my processes as it gives me so much free time. Time to do what I want when I want. In fact, by the time you read this, I will be on a 10-day cruise of the Caribbean and the Panama Canal with my husband Patrick and a very dear couple of friends who are extremely excited that we are able to join them.
What would you do with your free time?
Garry Schleifer, PCC
Garry Schleifer, PCC, is a seasoned businessman bringing over 30 years of experience to his coaching. His “walk the talk” credentials draw from experience as the visionary behind several multimillion-dollar corporations. He is the owner and publisher of choice, the magazine of professional coaching (an ICF Media Partner); a past president of the ICF Toronto Chapter and a former ICF Global Board vice president. Garry has also served on several community-based boards. He lives with his husband Patrick in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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