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SYSTEM – Save YourSelf Time Energy & Money

Guest post by: Merra Lee Moffitt

Article Overview: How many yellow sticky notes can you juggle before they mysteriously start crawling away? In desperation, you start doing things the same way each time and voila you’ve developed a system! Let’s take it to the next level; actively search for routines you can systematize.

SYSTEM – Save YourSelf Time Energy & Money

How many yellow sticky notes can you juggle before they mysteriously start crawling away? In desperation, you start doing things the same way each time and voila you’ve developed a system! Let’s take it to the next level; actively search for routines you can systematize.

Save YourSelf. It’s your business so the benefits of more saved time, energy, and money will flow to you.

Time. By doing things the same way each time, you have the tools, forms, and answers closer to-hand saving you time. You’ll spend less time tweaking the tools, finding the forms, and searching for solutions. Systems can be trained into employees, so you’ll be able to delegate confidently, leaving you to spend that time elsewhere.

Energy. Let’s face it; it’s exhausting making dozens of decisions and creating new ideas every day. Systematizing may improve those numbers to a more energizing level.

Money. Also you’ll save money. When you’ve created systems, you can spend less money paying for customization, special skills, and training. Starbucks delivers high quality, high value, high priced products, yet delivers it with minimum wage employees. Using systems, you’ll be able to measure and fine tune your results. Only through repetition can you hone your skills to see where faster, cheaper, better results can be achieved.

Here’s an example. When I meet new people, I use a simple follow up system.

1) I send them a hand written note card so they’ll remember me. I have blank cards, stamps, and an assistant to help make this fast, easy, and meaningful.

2) My intern enters them immediately into my contact management system. So if I need to follow up by phone or email, they’re in my iphone quickly.

3) I add details about their interests next time we meet. Thus, I can learn what they’re interested in, so I can make suggestions or referrals and remember what’s important to them.,

4) I send them emails of my upcoming events, seminars, and socials; but only if I think they’d be interested.

5) About the 4th or 5th time I ‘chat’ with someone, I have an idea if any of my services or products would make sense to them so I can make a helpful offer rather than an intrusive sales pitch.

6) Once a week, I look for my ‘network’ of connected people using Internet social networking services LinkedIn and Facebook. I get notices of their profiles being updated (new job, new project, new interest). I compliment, congratulate, commiserate or contribute in a meaningful way depending on what’s happening in their lives.

7) I use referral groups like PRE (professional Referral Exchange, LEADS and WIN (Women in Networking) to meet, connect with, and find referrals for others.

This system steadily increases the ‘connectedness’ I have with ever larger number of people. It becomes easier to spend my time and energy thinking of ways to really help people since my system handles the mechanical part of deciding when and how to connect and keeps the tools near to hand.

If you are looking for better systems to connect to more entrepreneurs in a meaningful way to build your business, ask me about the new Greater Reading Chamber’s LEADS program or a group in your area. Drop me an email or give me a call.

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Article Tags: money, next level, self employment, time energy, yellow sticky notes



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