When you start a business, you’re a ball of energy, ready to rock.

But then, reality sets in.

“You get stuck in the “administrivia” and end up not helping clients as well as you could,” says business coach John Bulman, who helps solopreneurs find clarity and build a business they actually want to work in.

When the busy work of running a business piles up, “anxiety shows up, money is short, you have no idea where you are financially, except it’s not good, and your team isn’t performing.”

Instead, John says, “stop fighting your business. Be in harmony with it and have plans and structures for it.”

John joins us on the Making It Real Podcast to tell us how to take those first few steps toward running a successful business that runs like a well-oiled machine.

“Nobody is born with this,” John says, “But you need to learn it.”

So let’s dive in.

Take These Steps to Find Clarity in Your Business

Sick of feeling steamrolled by your business? John gets it. Here’s how to start getting your head above water.

On one piece of paper, write down your business plan.

What’s your realistic income goal for this year? How many leads do you need to make that happen? How many conversations do you need to have each week? How many sales do you need to make to achieve this financial goal?

Secondly, know your market. Who is it?  What is their pain point? What is it about your business that makes them say, “I want that?”

Raise your prices.

If you’re prices are low right now, it means you’re operating out of fear.

“A unique selling proposition makes it easier to have confidence in your prices,” says John, “I know a coach who went from making $100k to $500k per year. How? In part, by raising her prices.”

Get serious about sales.

Schedule sales efforts into every week, so you’re always having conversations with potential clients.

And according to John, the sales conversation itself is an art. Ask questions:

• How long has this been going on?
• Have you tried to solve it?
• Did it work?
• How much is that costing you?

Get yourself a virtual assistant.

“Get the garbage off your desk so that you're doing what you're good at doing,” John says, “Otherwise, the stuff backs up and you get anxiety.”

When something comes across your desk, ask, “Am I the only one who can do this, or can I give this to someone else?”

Get a bookkeeper.

“ No entrepreneur I’ve ever met loved looking at their financials,” says John. If this sounds like you, it’s time to get a bookkeeper.

“Know your numbers,” Says John, “Profitable companies can go out of business if they run out of cash. And that's what I would call a growing broke. You need to know where your cash is going to be, you know, 12 weeks ahead of time.”

A “pep talk” for wellpreneurs

“Invest in your business,” he says, “Invest just like you would in a stock or bond or real estate or anything else with a return.”

And finally, “Invest in a business coach who can help you gain clarity, get your trains running on time. You don’t want to be struggling. You want a business that works for you.”

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inspiration, Getting Started, growing your business, lists, checklist

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