FCB #010: Run Your Business, Don't Let It Run You - 3 Critical Founder Skills

When I work with founder-owners, here’s what I typically see:

• They're still working in their business as “technicians.” Often, they’re the highest “producers” in their company.
• They want to lead but get sucked back into production due to cash flow issues.
• They spend all their time putting out brush fires but have no time to build systems. They think they have “people” issues. In fact, they have “system” issues.
• Their HR is a revolving door and they wonder why they can’t keep good talent. (Hint: Most people don’t want to work in a poorly run, chaotic work environment.)
• Lack of documented business systems make effective training of new hires nearly impossible.

Every founder-owner needs to learn 3 critical skills:

1. Shift from a Technician mindset to a CEO mindset.

• A Technician works “in” the business, never documenting what they do.
• A CEO doesn’t work “in” their business, they work “on” their business.
• A CEO builds a systems-dependent, NOT an owner-dependent business.
• A Technician trades their time for money, which is linear, 1:1 thinking.
• A CEO constantly thinks about leverage: systems, people, technology.
• A CEO views their “business” as their product, not the service it produces.

2. Systemize all your tactical and managerial processes.

• Smart founder-owners focus on documenting key recurring processes.
• They know the only way they’ll ever get free is through training & delegating.
• To do that effectively, they need documented business processes.
• Their key job is to build systems. Their people’s job is to run those systems.
• They first document all of the tactical work they do.
• Then they focus on documenting all of the managerial work they do.

3. Delegate these systemized tasks to others & watch the magic happen.

• Gradually, brush fires go out on their own: no more playing “Whack-A-Mole.”
• They wake up one day with a management team and happy employees.
• They’re able to take off 3-4 weeks for the first time ever!
• They’re surprised no one called or needed them while they were gone.
• They don’t work nights or weekends anymore. Their families love them!
• Their revenue keeps increasing and they’re finally proud of their profit margin.

Most of the problems in small business are the direct result of the owner’s mindset. Once they’re able to make the paradigm shift from Technician to CEO, they start focusing on the right things. They start building effective business systems and, voila, their issues start going away.

Instead of them having to wear all the hats and do all the work in the business, they finally have an effective organization, with managers, that do all that work for them. Their business finally starts to serve them and their lives, rather than them being a servant or slave to their business.

They are finally running their business the way it should be run, rather than letting the business run them.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Founder Coaching Program- If you’re looking for individual coaching, I’d recommend my 1:1 Founder Coaching Program: ten 60- to 90-minute Zoom meetings to be used within 6 months of starting with me.
2. Strategic Planning Facilitation- If you’re looking for group coaching, I’d suggest you first bring me in to facilitate a 2-plus-day Strategic Planning Retreat, with post-retreat help for you and your Leadership Team on implementing our proven Founder Operating System (FOS) into your business.
3. Weekly Founder Coffee Break Newsletter- If you or your people want to learn how to optimize your business, consider subscribing to my weekly LinkedIn newsletter. I share practical guidance to help you improve and grow your business. => Join 350+ readers here: https://lnkd.in/eBqvHDtY.