Part 2 of 2

Welcome back! And now for the rest of our list of seven gifts you’ll receive when you systemize your small business:

4. Systems Allow You Time for Reflection. This is a hurdle for many of my coaching clients at first – but once they realize the benefits, they find that starting each day with a morning reflection time helps them get really focused. They can clear the clutter and the “mind chatter,” and really connect to spirit and their inspiration. They get clear on what’s most important that day, and identify the three little steps they’ll take that day toward their vision for their business. Without this system in place, most of us just barrel into our day, heads down, and start tackling whatever comes up first – most of which won’t get you any closer to your goals and intentions.

5. Systems Let You Learn and Grow. I always say that expansion is a law of nature. You simply aren’t designed to stay in one place, never changing. And as a small business owner, you accept that change is a constant. You’re always striving to learn new things and stay on that leading edge – but you just don’t have time to do it if systems aren’t in place. But when you do, look out – you’ll find new learning opportunities everywhere you look. And you won’t feel guilty when you take advantage of them, because you’ll have the peace of mind that everything is getting done.

6. Systems Create More Fun! One of the biggest reasons you may have started your business was to have more time with your family and friends, and more time for you. When you have systems in place that help to automate some of the mundane tasks that need doing on a regular basis, you have the satisfaction of knowing that things are being handled without your direct involvement. You can then open yourself up to the joy of being a small business owner – and you can take that Tuesday afternoon off to take your son and his buddies to the movies (I did recently!). Not only that, but you can enjoy it and have some fun.

7. And Finally, the Biggest Gift of All: Your Positive Energy! When it comes right down to it, your business success depends mightily on your energy. You can have all the rest of the puzzle pieces in place – your purpose, your marketing, your products and services, your spirituality – but if your energy is getting drained by all the little everyday tasks that take you away from your “great” work, your business just won’t thrive. Systems help to ensure this won’t happen!

Is it time to find ways to systemize part of your business? Can you think of the tasks you do all the time that might be better performed by someone else? How many hours per day are you spending on those tasks? What would you do with an extra 15 hours per week? What could you accomplish?

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