How The Others Are Making So Much Money & Why You're Not One Of Them
What's the question you are dying to know but don't ask because you don't want to ask a question you are supposed to know the answer to. You want to feel confident in your business and you don't want to look stupid in front of your peers. What are you doing wrong?
What's the number #1 question I am asked all. the. time?
What am I doing wrong? Why are they making so much money and I am not? You do good work, people love you, and you have the credibility.
It's like those times when you go into your neighbor's Open House. You see how they have decorated, where they have put upgrades, that the coffee maker you use is just like yours. You see your house decorated that much nicer. You smile and tell them it's beautiful as you grit your teeth. You can't help but compare.
You can't help but compare.
What are they doing that you are not?
That's the question.
Here's the answer.
You're not thinking big enough. Those peers of yours that are "all over the place" making tons of money and are involved in so many different things... It's because they thought it up and then they took action to put themselves in their most optimal situations.
What in your life right now is a good natural extension for your business? Don't know, email me and I can tell you in a 5-minute conversation. I'll have no less than 10 options for you. But you probably don't need me to answer those questions for you. You already know what and where you can go.
The next question is HOW.
Dare I say that's the difference between the haves and the have-nots.
Taking action. Taking the right action. This is what "they" do. And that is what changes lives. Below are a few steps
1. Understand what you’re trying to accomplish.
I’m starting out broad, but not vague I promise! The answer to this is likely something different for each of you, because we all have different business ideas. We also have different reasons for starting those businesses. No matter what it is that motivates you, I’m not judging! Whether it’s pure, unadulterated passion for your industry or making a large profit, you need to be honest with yourself about your overall goal. Then, you need to make sure that “bigger picture” is always front and center in the decisions you make for your company. Narrow it down to one goal and work from there. Establish two goals (maximum) to complete in the next 90 days. These tasks should be rooted in your “bigger picture,” the central point that you’re working to accomplish.
2. And WHY you are trying to accomplish this
It’s not to be trite or cutesy. Self-reflect on the roots of your overall goal for your business so that you can then go about formulating your plan of attack. Your WHY will help answer future questions about priorities, company direction, and production– and will always drive you to the best choice.
If your ambitions are mostly monetary, you’re going to want to add a broader customer base so that you’re taking on as many new clients as possible. You will also have to get aggressive about your margins, meaning finding the best wholesalers and haggling them down to the lowest price, fastest production time, etc. A profit-driven goal should also be looking to expand into other markets and developing new versions of the original product.
If you realize that your goal for your business is more about satisfying a personal or emotional interest, then you will be headed off in a completely different direction. You want the niche. Your hard work is aimed at a specific market, and more time will have to be spent nurturing those customer relationships than in a more commercial setting.
No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, you still need to grow, but your path toward new revenue will be shaped by your goal and all answers will come from your WHY.
3. Write a list
Remember those two goals you set for the next 90 days? Put them in writing. Make a list of what needs to happen for you to check off those goals. Do a little at a time so that your progress remains steady in the face of school drop-off traffic, last-minute dinner obligations, and the mornings where you just need one more tap on the snooze button. Each list item or task item is less than 6 hours of time. By having this list in front of you, you can then focus and work step by step, action by action to reach your goal.
Forcing yourself to focus and produce for large, cumbersome blocks of time isn’t sustainable (or enjoyable.) Work on quick sprints of productivity and do. not. stray. from your list.
5. Audit your activities
It’s unbelievable how much time we inadvertently waste. We can very easily start the day by getting sucked into email, Facebook, then Twitter. Then we have a few meetings and there went the morning. Now you need a break, a snack and quick chat and there went the day. You’re sure you did some actual work but really, how productive were you?
Take a look at where and how you spend your day. Does it seem like you’re taking more steps than necessary to accomplish everyday tasks? How often are you leaving to go pick up coffee instead of sending someone else or making it in your home or office? These things add up!
A huge one is checking email! I would had never considered this to be a progress inhibitor before. In fact, I had figured that checking my email every few minutes translated to how committed I was to my customers and employees. Wrong! Every time you pick up your phone, read through emails, and then think of a well-worded response, press send… is all time that you’re distracted from what you need to do!
4. Break it down into a plan
Break your list down even further and sketch out your goals for the month, followed by your goals for the week. There is no rule against having too many lists! It’s important tobe able to see your pyramid of tasks and goals visually in front of you. Just the simple act of writing everything out forces you to mentally untangle and reorganize all of those little– and large– want-to-do’s and “ugh, need-to-do”… and “uh-oh, should’ve-done-last-week’s!”
A little bonus: when you really feel lost and unsure of your next move, no worries! Everything you need to do has already been written down and scheduled out so that you have a few less activities, timelines, and deadlines to keep track of. The mind is an amazing entity, but a hardcopy backup never hurts.
6. Delegate and outsource
You want to be hands-on and involved in your company, but your time is valuable and your expertise must be well-spent. If a task can be taken care of by another, then hand it off. Delegating more work out can be a little tricky. It doesn’t come naturally to all of us, but a request for help is just that, a request for help. No one will be offended when you step into that leadership role of your business. Whether they’re being paid or are just helping you out, that is what they are there for!
Don’t fear outsourcing either! For tasks that require a specific skill set– possibly one that you don’t have or don’t have time for– hire a freelancer on a per diem basis. You don’t need to worry about adding them to payroll or taking out taxes with an independent contractor, and websites like upwork.com and Freelancer.com take care of the annoying paperwork. They also ensure that neither party gets duped– either left unpaid or unsatisfied by the finished product.
Focus on your 90 day goal, and delegate or outsource the activities that don’t directly benefit that goal. Help is there, you just need to ask for it. An Online Business Manager can help get everything organized for you.
7. Host effective team meetings
Early and often! A few times a week, round up your entire crew for a quick 20 minute meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page. These are the perfect time to set your expectations for the week. Give each person a turn to update the group on what they have recently completed and what they’re working on. Besides keeping the group up to date, this can be a subtle tactic to keep your folks interested, on task and yes, motivated too!
Sometimes, when I tell people how I do what I do it seems too basic for them. But basic or simple is good. Simple processes with clear intentions is what makes sh*t happen. It's how they are making type of money you are not.
"There was so much work that needed to be done it was overwhelming. We had a hard time getting things done. Now, we have 2 courses that are selling, signed partnership agreements, will be doing a speaking tour and have a book coming out next year. It's unbelievably exciting!" - Beloved Reality Star
"We wanted to tap in to a new market and needed to know how the others were so successful. I don't understand how Ashleigh knows so much. Now we have hired designers and manufacturers, have 2 stores opening and have our website up and running. I carry Ashleigh's recommendations with me everyday." -International London-based Guru
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