Maximizing Success: How I Overcame Personal Bottlenecks in Business
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Identifying Bottlenecks in Solopreneurship
Running a business alone can be incredibly taxing. You put in endless effort to secure new clients and achieve stellar results, only to see those clients drift away a few months down the line. This experience is all too familiar for many solopreneurs, myself included. Despite achieving impressive revenue milestones with my lead generation agency last year, I faced the challenge of maintaining consistent service delivery.
As entrepreneurs, we often pride ourselves on being adept problem solvers. I spent countless hours working hard, testing new strategies, and utilizing advanced technology (which is pretty fascinating—feel free to ask me about AI, video, and lead generation!). However, I kept confronting the same issue: I was the limiting factor in my own business.
The truth is, regardless of how efficiently I tried to work, I could only accomplish so much in a day. I recognized that this was a good problem to have; when starting a business, the primary goal is survival. But as you progress, the focus shifts from merely staying afloat to truly delivering exceptional value to your clients and optimizing your processes.
Photo by Jason Strull on Unsplash
Deciding to Delegate for Growth
During the last holiday season, I reflected on my business and realized that 2023 needed to be the year I built a team. While I felt a bit apprehensive about delegating tasks, I understood that to enhance client service and focus on high-impact activities, I had to step aside.
Investing in three new team members was a game changer. Within just a month of collaborating, our appointment-setting efforts had tripled, and we were enjoying the process together!
If you’re a solopreneur aware that you might be hindering your own growth, I’d like to share my journey of assembling a stellar team—specifically, I sought to bring on appointment setters for my agency.
In the past, I had tried outsourcing similar tasks internationally, but I realized that to best serve my ideal clients—CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and those just below that level—I needed team members based in North America who understood the local culture and language nuances.
I was fortunate to have a friend in the copywriting community who helped me craft a post to attract applicants. We received a substantial response—nearly 20 interested candidates—prompting me to devise a systematic approach for evaluating them.
To streamline the selection process, I created a comprehensive application form using Airtable. This form included essential questions such as sales experience, location, and motivations for applying, as well as inquiries about their morning routines and Myers-Briggs personality types. I wanted to ensure that our team not only executed well but also fostered positive energy.
My Airtable Pipeline
Airtable proved to be an invaluable asset during the recruitment phase; it allowed me to visualize all applicants’ information, add personal notes, and rate candidates. After reviewing all the submissions, I conducted interviews and selected three fantastic new team members: Gloria (an INFJ), Sarai (ESFJ), and Emily (ENFP).
To set them up for success, I created almost seven hours of training videos covering my methodologies, the lead generation processes we employ, and the technology we utilize. Thanks to this thorough training, they all entered their onboarding day with a clear understanding of how our business operates.
After just a month of working together, they have really hit the ground running with lead generation.
Enhancing Team Dynamics and Client Relationships
Our internal team dynamic is incredibly positive. Each morning, we connect on Slack to motivate one another for the day ahead. On the client side, our service delivery has become more streamlined, and clients appreciate having dedicated team members rather than funneling all communication through me.
Moreover, having a diverse range of personalities on my team allows us to better connect with various clients. They are setting far more appointments than I ever could manage alone.
In previous roles before launching my current business, I enjoyed investing in my team and those around me. As I expand my current venture, I take immense satisfaction in nurturing a culture characterized by openness, accountability, and growth. I share all my insights with the team to empower them to make informed decisions and enhance client interactions.
We’re all learning and growing together, and I couldn’t be more excited about scaling my business. If you’re a solopreneur eager to expand, consider whether you might be holding yourself back. If so, I would advise you, as I would have advised myself a few months ago—it may be time to contemplate growing your team.
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