The Right Layers Make All The Difference
I used to dislike winter…a lot. The cold. The ice. The grayness. And throw in some bone-chilling wind.
Let’s not talk about a winter coat on a 5’1 "frame. Or when you get in your car, that’s blasting heat, and you need to shed all the layers at a stoplight before you start sweating.
A bit dramatic? I know, but stick with me!
Well, something changed when we had our first kid.
She wanted to play outside in the snow, and I wouldn’t skip that fun. Begrudgingly, I’d pack the layers on, throw a few snowballs, and build an award-winning snowman. The joy.
Then one, day I was shopping and found a really nice coat that was in the kids section. It wasn’t too small nor too big. Hello, Goldilocks of a coat!
Then Sean talked me into buying some Carhartt bibs. Bless that warmth. Then I found some wool leggings. And some wool socks. Add a beanie and gloves, and hot damn if I’m not taking 30-minute walks when it’s 19 degrees outside.
What can being adequately dressed in the right, solid layers do for you? A whole heck of a lot!
Just like that cozy winter coat, your business needs the right layers to be comfortable and thriving. But what does that mean for your business? Let's break it down.
Quick layers that help: a beanie, gloves, and a coat
List all those tasks so you can see what you’re doing and whether you need to do all of them or if some can be trashed, hired out, or automated
A project management tool like Asana or Trello can help you keep track of your tasks and projects without cluttering your mind, so you can close out the 34 tabs you have open in your head
Laying out your current schedule to see if it’s sucking you dry or if it actually works with your goals and vision of your life and business
Mapping out your customer journey can show where you're leaving opportunities on the table
Base Layers that can help: wool leggings, fleece undershirt, wool socks, insulated bibs
Knowing who you are, your values, who your customers are, and what your services are.
Having a brand that reflects all the above and leaves a client feeling so good when they’ve experienced it.
A customer experience that makes your client feel like a million dollars while also allowing you to not touch each and every part.
A website that showcases all the above is optimized for customers to find you, and offers a beautiful customer experience.
A social media strategy that you can rely on to connect with your potential clients and showcase exactly what your clients need to hear.
Financials that allow you to track all your numbers, show how much you’re truly making, and set goals to pay yourself or hire someone.
Now, imagine what your business would feel like with these layers in place.
And imagine those layers on top of what you already have so that your business is solid enough to weather the brutal winter. (So corny, you’re welcome!)
You can be proactive. You can take a breath. You can go on vacation and not feel like you have to check your email 👏🏻
If you think your business could use some extra layers of warmth and support, I’d love to help. My strategic intensives can help you fine-tune the Quick Layers, while our Small Business Cultivator team can guide you in building solid Base Layers.
Here's to building a warm, thriving business—ready for whatever comes your way!