As an entrepreneur, it’s often very difficult to know what you should be focusing your time on. Especially when you’re just starting out, what should you be spending most of your time on? Today, I’d love to share a tool that will help you set priorities like a champ and it’s a tool you can fall back on whenever you need it. It’s something I’d like to call ‘the 7 C’s of entrepreneurship’.
Let’s dive into our C’s!
1. Core
You might’ve guessed it already, but this is about the core of your business because you should never forget about that. Why did you start your business and what’s the driving force behind the love you have for your business? Whenever you’re feeling off balance in your business, the first check you should do is if your core is okay.
Are you still aligned with that core? The second one is your cashflow and that’s immediately the second C.
2. Cashflow
Your core and your cashflow are intricately connected. Because when you’re working from your core, your cashflow is usually more aligned than whenever you’re spending your time on something you shouldn’t actually be.
As an entrepreneur, it’s important to remember that you’ll have up and down months when it comes to your revenue. Instead of letting that get you down, take a look at the bigger picture.
Don’t get lost in the month to month numbers, instead zoom out and take in your year’s revenue.
3. Customers
Having customers is an obvious part of running a business. Without customers, your business won’t survive. But what this 3rd C is about for me is the fact that you get to work with people you actually like. You probably started your business to experience more freedom and working with people that take up a lot of your energy isn’t really what I consider freedom.
So, make sure your focus is on customers instead of your competition because that will never be beneficial. Lastly, make sure you know your audience and what they’re in need of, otherwise your services/products will fall on deaf ears.
4. Confidence
Every entrepreneur will, at one point in their journey, listen to the wrong people and that might affect your confidence.
Stop looking at your competition.
Start working with people you love.
If you're currently not feeling super confident, it's probably a sign that either you need to call up one of your besties and have her tell you how amazing you are, or you need to go and do some mindset work.
A lack of confidence usually leads to fear and if there’s something you should always remember, it’s that confidence sells and fear doesn’t. So, if you're not feeling super confident, it's often because you are afraid of something. Don't let your emotions run the success of your business, but the confidence is always going to come and go, and you're gonna have to tap into it because confidence breeds enthusiasm.
And enthusiasm is a non-negotiable when it comes to sales — if you’re insecure about your offer, you won’t be able to sell it either.
5. Calendar
A lot of people, not only entrepreneurs, are a slave to their calendars. Instead of planning their calendar according to their wishes, it’s the other way around.
If your days are planned to the brim and you put too much on there, chances are you’ll feel like you failed and there’s no one in the world who likes feeling like that.
Take the time to reshuffle your calendar, let’s say every 3 months. Your routine and wishes change just like the seasons do, so make sure it aligns with what YOU need. Not your environment.
6. Communication
When it comes to communication in business, it’s important to be clear and concise. Set your boundaries and don’t be afraid to communicate them towards your team members or your clients.
And make sure that once someone crosses your boundaries, that you also communicate this toward them. There’s no need to be rude, obviously, but it’s important you redraw that line in the sand because otherwise they’ll keep crossing them.
7. Content
Content takes on a lot of formats: emails, banners, social media, etc. And the mistake that gets made a lot is that entrepreneurs put this C last on their list, but that’s a bit backward.
Why? Because your content is what gets people through the door and if you don’t put this out, you’ll also make less sales than you might want to.
Implement this tool to improve your success
You’ve reached the end of this blog and now here’s a small tip: take a piece of paper and go through the 7 C’s for your business. How well do you score on each one and which ones should be your focal point for the foreseeable future?
If you want an extra tool that will give you that push in the right direction, you can download my Business Bible for free through fastforwardamy.com/businessbible
It’s available in both English and Dutch and this bible will take you through the key principles for a successful business.
PS Do you want to level up your business but do you feel like you won’t be able to get where you want to go by yourself?
Let’s work on your business together in my Business Freedom Elevator™ Fast Track. It’s my 12 week business coaching program where we’ll tackle all different aspects of your business, such as marketing & sales, mindset, content, etc.
Depending on when you read this article, go to fastforwardamy.com/elevator to read through all the info and join, or get yourself on the waitlist for the next round.
Watch this episode on YouTube or listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and search for episode 201 of the Play To Win podcast.
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