Intentional Changes in Your Business
Even when you are chugging along in your business, “successful” however you measure success, your business will continue to evolve. Sometimes you make intentional changes in your business that will make your life better - a change in schedule, a change in the work you do, or the types of clients you serve. Sometimes it’s because you recognize that the clients you love to serve need something different to make THEIR lives better.
I have a client making several big changes in her business - she’s changing up her business model so that the way she works fits better with her growing family. She is shifting her target audience to one that feels more aligned. Someone she told about these changes wrongly assumed her business was in trouble, which is the opposite of what’s happening. She and her business are evolving because she has taken charge and is making intentional changes. The evolution is empowering.
I too have been intentionally making changes in my own business over the past year.
I’ve had some long-term client relationships come to an end. Their businesses evolved, we achieved the goals they wanted, and were ready to launch out on their own. But I develop relationships with people that grow deeper and more personal over time - and it’s bittersweet to move on from the frequent interactions necessary when we were working together.
Last summer after several years, I decided to stop offering a group program. Over time, I realized that most of my clients in those groups needed deeper 1:1 support, so I put the group on pause. Although I knew 100% that it was the right thing, it was still hard. For many people, a group program is the ultimate goal for them and they don’t understand why you would let it go. Initially, I felt like I had to keep explaining myself to ease their disappointment.
However, that choice left me offering solely 1:1 services. My clients face challenges on all levels, so 1:1 is how I help my clients best. But it’s not the best way to scale my own business and leverage my time.
This left me knowing I had made the right decision for my clients and for myself but I was still struggling, on an unclear path forward. I like knowing the road ahead so this was very uncomfortable for me.
The client projects I worked on were pretty custom. It was not lost on me that I spend a lot of time helping my clients package their services so that they can market, sell and operate more efficiently. But I was still creating custom proposals and packages for my own clients. Suddenly I wanted to roll my eyes at myself.
Two things happened.
I realized that there were other ways to share the strategies I shared in my group program with business owners that still allowed me to serve in the way I wanted. I invested in some expertise to help me develop that program. In my years of being in business for myself, I have not hesitated to invest in outside expertise - coaches, strategists, and other specialists. I’ve joined a couple of group coaching programs, and have worked with coaches and strategists 1:1. When I’m working with someone like that, I show up in a more empowered way, and I tell my clients that this will happen for them, too. So I had a solution for that AND I felt really good about the development process (More on that program to come soon!).
Then a favorite networking colleague invited me to a book club. In case you didn’t know, I’m ALWAYS down for a good book club. I bought the first book and dove in. Right away, in the first chapter, I had a huge aha which took care of the rest of my struggle. I wasn’t reading the book to find a solution, so it surprised me. But I was open. Things I think for sure are going to happen, often don’t. And things I don’t think are going to happen, sometimes do. So I try my best to stay open to all the ideas and inspiration swirling around me.
That aha from the book helped me “organize” and position a big chunk of my business. The pieces easily and naturally locked into place. Ahh….alignment. It’s incredibly empowering and feels good.
So now I’m in the middle of execution for my new offering, which tends to not be the most fun part of things for any entrepreneur. But it’s how you ultimately get to impact your clients, so I’m trying to stay on track (just as I help my clients with) and am excited to share some new things over the next few months.
After many years of working with small business owners in my own business, I’ve never seen any business that remained static. We’re all in a constant evolution. As your family changes, your business will need to change. As you evolve, your business will evolve. Most of the decisions you make and things you change are not “do or die”. They’re little shifts, but you have to get comfortable with the regularity of those changes. You have to understand that the time and effort is never wasted - it’s all part of the journey.
I’d love to hear about the changes in your journey, and how I can support you moving forward.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free resource Show Your Schedule Who's Boss - these tips and strategies will help you take control of your time. This is the first step in taking control of your business - kathleen-lawson.com/show-your-schedule-whos-boss
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - kathleen-lawson.com/ceo-power-planning
Schedule a Laser Consult Session. This is a one-time 90-minute session for the entrepreneur who needs expert strategic guidance. Use this time to work through an idea, develop an executable 12 week action plan, streamline or create a process or system, or improve routines around daily and weekly execution. kathleen-lawson.com/laser-consult