I’m sure you can relate.
A lot of my close friends and family REALLY can’t put into words what I do for a living. All they know is that I have my own business, I work from home, and I travel for a few weeks at a time.
According to my some… I spend most of my day staring at my laptop and talking on the phone.
They think that whatever-my-business-is’takes less effort, hours and stress than a ‘Real Job’.
#truthtalk. being an online CEO isn’t as care-free or sexy as it looks on the outside.
#truthtalk. I am super-productive and probably get more done in one morning than I ever did in a corporate job. But, I also spend most of my days alone, plugging away at my laptop, not stopping for lunch, barely making it to the bathroom in between calls, or running late to a networking meeting at the end of the day.
This is the secret most of us have learned the hard way: it takes more than passion and a few sleepless nights to become a successful online CEO. It takes incredible grit, dedication, and HARD WORK!
I have learned how to function on fewer bathroom breaks and no midday meal. Along the way, I’ve also figured out four absolute essentials to making online entrepreneurship that little bit easier.
Absolute Essential #1: Hire a High Performance Team
Success isn’t that you have more time, it’s that you are not doing everything yourself. If you take nothing else away from this post, please absorb this.
Eventually, you will need to expand your business to be more than just you. In order to grow, you will need to start working on your business instead of in your business.
A high performance team is one that runs your business – without you.
I know this might strike fear into your heart! You might believe that you can’t spare the time to even think about who you need, and where to find them. If you’ve never had a team before, you may feel like you can’t trust anyone to do the work as well or as fast as you.
When you bring new team members on you may begin to feel like you’re losing control of your business.
You may even experience a decrease in your profits as you will need to shift your attention to training your new team and your eyes are not solely on sales or service delivery.
But as an online business owner, you can hire service providers that are independent contractors. This will provide lower start-up costs and overhead for the business.
And once your team learns how to effectively execute some of the daily tasks that have been sucking up all your time – WOW! You will see that you are truly able to put your foot on the accelerator and drive your business forward with extra power.
Absolute Essential #2: Create Streamlined Business Systems
Definition: A system is a collection of processes that, together, reliably produce an intended result.
Systems are the answer to your never-ending question, “I’m constantly stressed and anxious. How can I run my business without going crazy?”
Believe me. The solution is always the same: learn how to work the system.
The more you focus on improving your business systems, the better results you will produce.
When most business owners hear the word “system,” their eyes glaze over. They believe that standard operating procedures, checklists, documentation, and the like are boring and inflexible. think that
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Systems = POWER.
Here’s what happens when you begin improving your systems:
- You make more money, but you do less work.
- You have more focus and energy to do your best.
- You make far fewer errors and mistakes.
- You fix the mistakes you make quickly and permanently.
- You feel more calm, collected, and under control.
*Borrowed from Sam Carpenter’s book “Work The System.”
Absolute Essential #3: Connect with a Community
So, you finally manage to look up from your computer, but all of sudden it’s time to collect your child from school or start making dinner.
Or, maybe you get excited because your partner came in from work. Now all you want to do is talk (because you’ve been alone all day), while all they want to do is take a moment to relax, (because they’ve been talking all day)
Sound familiar?
In the corporate world, you’re surrounded by team members and in-person meetings. As an Online CEO, it’s you, your laptop, and your phone.
#Truthtalk That can be hard. And lonely. And honestly? times, uninspiring.
That’s why it is so important to connect with people who are in the same boat as you, facing the same challenges you face.
When you are able to plug into a community that understands the difficulties that are pulling you down, as well as the desires that motivate you, it can be a game-changer.
You’re suddenly challenged to meet your goals. You have people who’ll listen to you when your launch doesn’t turn out to be what you expected. Somewhere to go to ask questions, to get feedback and constructive criticism. We don’t work in isolation when we have a community. We have a place to go where we can talk about what’s happening about life but also the newest digital marketing strategy or software platform we are testing.
Because, such a relief to realize that, no, you’re not crazy to do what you’re doing, and, no, you’re not alone either.
Absolute Essential #4: Profits + Patience
#TruthTalk Empire building is hard work!
It doesn’t happen overnight.
Yeah… I’ve heard all the stories of people having multi six-figure launches, landing TEDx talks, speaking to large groups of people, or breaking 1 million in revenue.
Enough! Stop looking at yourself and saying… Why not me?
It takes time to build your tribe, refine your message, or even test out your signature product.
Your time is coming. Don’t give up. Keep working the system and building your business your way.
I don’t focus on what I’m up against.
I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest.
~ Venus Williams