January 6, 2022

Give It Up

What are you giving up as part of your New Year’s Resolutions?

I’m not talking about fatty food, smoking, alcohol, or any other health-related resolution.

I’m referring to what you, as a solopreneur or partner in your small professional services firm, need to quit doing that you don’t have any business spending one second on.

What’s the poundage you need to shed on your “to do” list that’s keeping you from getting to the next level in your practice?

If you haven’t come up with a plan on what you’re going to outsource in 2022, then those goals you’ve set for this year, whether it’s writing a book, hitting $X in revenue, spending more time networking, etc.—are MUCH less likely to be realized. In fact, I’d state it even more strongly: if outsourcing is not a part of your 2022 plan for your business, you may not have any shot whatsoever at achieving the goals or resolutions you’ve set for this year.

I don’t care that you’ve “put a stake in the ground” by announcing on social media (one suggestion I’d seen) that you’re going to do a better job following up with prospects, write that book, start a podcast, start a mastermind group, write a course, or some other major goal.  If you haven’t created the space in your schedule and in the daily routine of your business to execute that goal, it’s not going to happen.

Here’s a simple example: bookkeeping. Maybe when you started out, you needed to do your own books until you got your revenue going. Maybe you’re still doing it out of habit. Maybe you actually have the knowledge to be able to do it yourself. Maybe you’re one of those folks who uses a Nike shoebox and your CPA to pull it all together once a year to file your tax return. (If that’s the case, you’re not running a business. To run a business, you must know your up-to-date numbers.)

I have the technical expertise to do my own bookkeeping, but why? Every moment I spend on a task like my own bookkeeping is a waste of the finite and precious time I have which I could spend on something else much more impactful to my businesses. Doing my own bookkeeping (or a number of other tasks I’ve outsourced) would be an anchor around the ankle of my businesses which inhibits me from hitting my goals.

If you’ve come up with your goals for 2022 but haven’t figured out what you need to outsource, it’s never too late. Sit down and make a list of those things you’re doing in your practice you have no business doing personally. Be honest with yourself. For most of you, you don’t even have to spend much time on this: you already know what you need to do.

Now go make it happen. Clear the deck. Find those fellow professional services providers you can work with who’ll take those tasks off your desk and out of your mindshare.

What are you going to give up?

 

Image created using Craiyon (Formerly DALL-E Mini)

(This blog post was also posted on LinkedIn.)

©Ray Business Advisors, LLC and John Ray

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About me: I help solo or small professional services firm owners with the confidence and positioning necessary to improve their pricing and change the trajectory of not only their business but their life.

I have a podcast called The Price and Value Journey, which features interviews with industry leaders and audio versions of my blog posts. You can find the podcast on your favorite podcast app.

I also have a book coming out in 2023:  The Price and Value Journey: Raise Your Confidence, Your Value, and Your Prices to Grow Your Business Using The Generosity Mindset.

For more information, go to PriceValueJourney.com