Part 1 of 2

“I’m a solo entrepreneur,” you say. “Why would I set up systems that might squelch the creative energy in my small business?” After all, you started your business because you wanted freedom, right?

This is a great question, and I hear it all the time from my coaching clients. I’m so glad you asked!

The truth is that while you may have left a more corporate environment with dreams of doing things your own way (having flexibility and freedom), there are some very good reasons for putting systems in place. In fact, I can name at least seven gifts you’ll receive when you systemize your small business:

1. Systems = Freedom - When I was first starting out, I, too, wanted to do things differently and so I resisted any sort of system whatsoever. For example, I would write my ezine only when I felt I had something to say, which felt at first like I was really doing it with integrity. But I found that I never quite wrote the ezine frequently enough to gain momentum, and it was hard to grow my list.

Once I put that system into place, I discovered that it actually made it easier for me to write and create. As a result, inspirational ideas struck me more frequently. I realized I actually had more to say – putting me even more into integrity with my readers. Even better, I learned that having a system in place gave me the freedom to grow and enjoy my business – rather than spending my energy worrying about whether I was going to get an ezine written!

2. Systems Grow Your Capacity - So You Can Grow Your Business. As a small business owner, you’ll find that you quickly hit a point where you can only do so much. (Perhaps you’ve already hit and passed that point!) There are only a certain number of hours in the day, and as a joyful business owner you certainly don’t want to sacrifice time with family and friends (and yourself). Putting systems into place will help you get more done in less time. In fact, it will give you the confidence in yourself you need to handle more clients, a really big opportunity or the results of a bigger program launch.

3. Systems Give You Creative Time - Building creative time into your day is an invaluable practice. As a small business owner, you need that time for inventing new ways of serving your clients better, new products and new marketing methods. And if you’re running at full capacity because you haven’t put systems into place, you’ll never get to that new idea that’s been rattling around in your head. You’ll never design that new program or write that free report for your website. Putting systems to work for you gives your schedule the breathing room it needs for a little creative time.

More “Gifts of Systems” coming…

En-JOY!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http:/www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit