Why You Feel Trapped in Your Tech or Trade Business!

Do you ever feel like there is so much going on in your business as you attempt to grow or just manage it, that your brain is likely to explode! There's a simple reason for the stress.

At the Tech and Tradie Coach, we're helping business owners break free from the grind every day. Comment or connect if you'd like to find out how.

Why You Feel Trapped

In his book, The E-Myth, Michael Gerber explains the false belief most small business owners have that just because they understand the technical work of the business, then it should be automatic that they can successfully run a business that does that technical work.

But it doesn't take long to realise that running a business requires far more than just doing the technical work. There's all the other things that have to be managed on a daily basis like sales, marketing, building a team, financials etc. That is precisely what makes running a business so challenging!

But that's just the start! At every point, the business owner has to solve problems. Now that might seem like a good thing. But as a result, they get really good at solving those problems. THIS IS THE BIG TRAP!

Creating Dependence

This highly developed skill of problem solving leads the business owner into unconsciously training their staff to become dependent on them. Instead of creating a team that is empowered to solve their own problems, the business owner becomes their "problem-solving hero" who always saves the day. In turn, this makes the business owner even better at solving problems and causes their staff to become even more dependent on them. It's a vicious cycle that becomes almost impossible to break!

Breaking Free

So how do you break free from this vicious cycle and stop your brain from exploding!

The secret is to create and implement simple systems to help manage your business. The key word here is simple. You have to simplify in order to multiply.

To break free from this critical error, the best starting point is to:

• Examine and map out simply the component parts of your business.?Create a visual map of the core parts, such as Sales, Operations, Finances, People and whatever else is relevant in your business. Use a Mind Map, a spreadsheet or just jot it down on a piece of paper. Keep it high level.

• Identify and add the 2 - 3 critical elements of each core part. Now that you have identified the core components, go the next step and identify the key elements of each area. Where are you spending the most time dealing with problems, fighting fires, or just having to repeat things on a daily basis. What processes or routines do you find yourself having to repeat constantly? Add these as sub elements to your core components.

• Pick an area that is demanding your constant attention and create a simple system. This is the priority area for creating your next system. Creating the system both simply and as a simple system is what's needed. Use the tools that are around you.... phone, laptop, ipad etc. The next time you have to "solve a problem" for yourself or anyone else make it a system. Get you phone out and video yourself completing the process or solving the problem. Or open a document and use the microphone to dictate a set of instruction. If it's a software system you're using, then use a tool like Loom to record your screen as you complete a task and add narrate the steps required.

• Now, rinse and repeat!??Every time you have to "problem solve", create a new "simple system" using the modes outlined above. Put these resources in a dropbox or google drive and share with your staff, contractors, external support.... whoever needs to know. Next time the issue or problem arises, refer to the system.

The key to escaping the trap and creating easier business growth

This is one of the key areas to start if you're feeling trapped in your business. It means that you are at the centre and need to create and leverage systems to help you do some of the heavy lifting or start to delegate problem solving and successful outcomes to those around you.

But I don't have any staff yet!

If you're running your business solo, don't think this isn't for you. One day you'll need to expand your team to be able to grow. Start creating simple systems now so that you can delegate routine tasks and processes from day one.

Need some help to get your systems sorted and relieve the brain strain? Drop in a comment or connect. This is just a small part of how we help technical and trade services owners grow and scale on a daily basis.?

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