How to grow and systemize your business to run without you

What does it take to truly grow your business? If you want to achieve real growth, you’ll need to learn the secret to designing a rock-solid business strategy – and that’s what this Track is all about.

In this introductory video, we're going to:

1. Introduce the idea of business strategy; and
2. Outline the core modules that make up this track

To begin, watch the introductory video and download your Strategic Growth Plan template via the link.

Welcome to Module 1 of the Growth System.

Your first step in developing your Strategic Growth Plan is to define the core, underlying purpose of your business – and that’s what this first Module is all about.

To help you do that, we'll explore:

1. What a business purpose is;
2. Why it’s necessary in the first place; and
3. A practical method to uncover your business purpose.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 1a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Start with a descriptive statement of the products or services you deliver (eg. We make X products or We deliver X services.)
• Ask yourself: “Why is that important?”
• Ask yourself: “Why is that important?”
• Repeat that question 3 more times, or until you arrive at a ‘core’ reason
• Capture it in a short sentence or phrase and write it into your Strategic Growth Plan template.

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Start with a descriptive statement of the products or services you deliver (eg. We make X products or We deliver X services.)
• Ask yourself: “Why is that important?”
• Ask yourself: “Why is that important?”
• Repeat that question 3 more times, or until you arrive at a ‘core’ reason
• Capture it in a short sentence or phrase and write it into your Strategic Growth Plan template.

Welcome to Module 2 of the Growth System.

Your next step is to define a guiding set of business values to help you navigate your way along your growth journey - much like a compass helps travellers to chart their course.

To help you do that, we'll explore:

1. What business values are;
2. Why they’re necessary; and
3. How to clarify and define your business values.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 2a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck! 

Tasks:

• Create a list of values that are necessary for you and your business to succeed
• Distill the list down to 5-8 core values, with brief, one-sentence explanations for each value
• Write them into your One-Page Strategic Plan template

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Create a list of values that are necessary for you and your business to succeed
• Distill the list down to 5-8 core values, with brief, one-sentence explanations for each value
• Write them into your One-Page Strategic Plan template

Hi and welcome to Module 3 of the Growth System.

Module 3 is about choosing your destination – and you do that through identifying your vision for your business.

To help you set your vision, we'll explore:

1. What a vision is;
2. Why it’s so critical to your growth;and
3. How to define it for your business.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 3a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Complete your Niche Matrix tab in your Strategic Growth Plan Template.
• Summarise your niche in a single sentence on page 1 of your Page Strategic Growth Plan Template.
• Think about and develop your stretch goal.
• Write your stretch goal into your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Add an end date to your stretch goal in your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Create and write your vision statement into your Strategic Growth Plan template

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Complete your Niche Matrix tab in your Strategic Growth Plan Template.
• Summarise your niche in a single sentence on page 1 of your Page Strategic Growth Plan Template.
• Think about and develop your stretch goal.
• Write your stretch goal into your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Add an end date to your stretch goal in your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Create and write your vision statement into your Strategic Growth Plan template

If you've watched the second video for this module, please watch the final video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Complete your Niche Matrix tab in your Strategic Growth Plan Template.
• Summarise your niche in a single sentence on page 1 of your Page Strategic Growth Plan Template.
• Think about and develop your stretch goal.
• Write your stretch goal into your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Add an end date to your stretch goal in your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Create and write your vision statement into your Strategic Growth Plan template

Hi and welcome to Module 4 of the Growth System.

To achieve your vision, you’ll need to influence your target market to engage with you and your products or services. That requires you to differentiate your business – and that’s what Module 4 is all about.

To help you create your differentiation strategy, we'll explore:

1. What differentiation is;
2. Why it’s essential to your growth; and
3. How to differentiate your business to stand out from the crowd.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 4a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Consider the needs of your target market customers and write them in your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Then underline the ‘driving’ needs – the ones that are most critical to their purchase decision.
• Decide which 1-2 ‘driving’ needs can you meet better than others to differentiate your business.
• Consider what tangible evidence you can provide to justify your claims.
• Write your differentiators (and evidence) into your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Review your 1-2 most critical differentiators and capture them in a short, catchy brand promise in your Strategic Growth Plan template.

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Consider the needs of your target market customers and write them in your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Then underline the ‘driving’ needs – the ones that are most critical to their purchase decision.
• Decide which 1-2 ‘driving’ needs can you meet better than others to differentiate your business.
• Consider what tangible evidence you can provide to justify your claims.
• Write your differentiators (and evidence) into your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Review your 1-2 most critical differentiators and capture them in a short, catchy brand promise in your Strategic Growth Plan template.

Welcome to Module 5 in the Growth System.

You’ve uncovered your business purpose, defined your values and set your vision. You’ve also devised your differentiation strategy.

But what do you do now? What should you focus on now to bring your vision and differentiation strategy to life? Your next step is to focus your energies by setting Strategic Objectives for your business – and that’s what Module 5 is all about.

To help you decide on your Strategic Objectives, we'll explore:

1. What strategic objectives are;
2. Why they’re important; and
3. How to set them for your business.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 5a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Identify your Key Result Areas for your business using your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Decide how you’ll measure progress for each KRA by identifying KPIs.
• For each KPI, set a target that you’d like to achieve in 5 years from now.
• For each KPI, set a target for the coming year – ideally, one that will set you on the path towards your 5 year targets.
• Create your data gathering system using the Data Gathering tab in your template.
• Decide which Track to take next based on your priorities.

If you've watched the the first video for this module, please watch this video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Identify your Key Result Areas for your business using your Strategic Growth Plan template.
• Decide how you’ll measure progress for each KRA by identifying KPIs.
• For each KPI, set a target that you’d like to achieve in 5 years from now.
• For each KPI, set a target for the coming year – ideally, one that will set you on the path towards your 5 year targets.
• Create your data gathering system using the Data Gathering tab in your template.
• Decide which Track to take next based on your priorities.

Hi and welcome to the Rapid Growth Track.

The Strategic Foundation track was about developing your business strategy to create a solid foundation for growth. This track is designed to help you apply the sales and marketing strategies necessary to achieve rapid, profitable growth for your business.

In this introductory video, I’m going to:

1. Introduce the Rapid Growth Track; and
2. Outline the core modules that make up this track

To begin, watch the introductory video and ensure you have your Strategic Growth Plan template handy.

Welcome to Module 6, which is the first Module of the Rapid Growth Track.

If you’re in this Track, it means that you’re aiming to create rapid growth for your business.

But to achieve growth, your first step is to understand the factors that drive business growth. And that’s exactly what this Module is about.

In particular, we’ll explore:

1. the 3 most critical growth drivers in every business;
2. the common missed growth opportunities in most businesses; and
3. where those growth opportunities lie for your business.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 6a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Using the Growth Drivers tab in your template, enter your figures from the previous year (if you’re not sure, just estimate for now).
• Play around with the numbers in the target column to see what it would take to reach your revenue target for next year.
• Outline your current Customer Journey by asking yourself the 6 Customer Journey questions– and write down your answers in the Customer Journey tab of your template
• Assess your current Customer Journey by noting down which areas you’re currently doing well and which areas represent opportunities for growth

If you've watched the second video for this module, please watch the final video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Using the Growth Drivers tab in your template, enter your figures from the previous year (if you’re not sure, just estimate for now).
• Play around with the numbers in the target column to see what it would take to reach your revenue target for next year.
• Outline your current Customer Journey by asking yourself the 6 Customer Journey questions– and write down your answers in the Customer Journey tab of your template
• Assess your current Customer Journey by noting down which areas you’re currently doing well and which areas represent opportunities for growth

Hi and welcome to module 7, which is the second module of the Rapid Growth track.

You now understand the core drivers of revenue growth: lead generation, lead conversion and customer value. And you’ve identified the holes in your current sales and marketing process (ie. your customer journey). But how do tap into those growth drivers and plug those holes?

In this module, we’ll be focussing on the first growth driver, which is lead generationIn particular, we'll explore two key strategies:

1. How to build awareness so prospects know about you; and
2. How to create the desire for prospects to become genuine leads.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 7a and complete the relevant tasks.

Good luck!

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Using the Customer Journey tab of your template, note down which channels you’ll use to build awareness.
• Decide on the top 1, 2 & 3 channels to focus on in the coming year (and highlight them).
• Gather as much objective data about your target market as possible and revise step 2 before you take action.
• Use the Customer Journey tab to note down which marketing materials you’ll need to create or enhance.
• Note down which kind of Lead Magnet you’ll use to capture leads, as well as where you’ll deploy it.

Hi and welcome to module 8, which is the third module of the Rapid Growth track.

Even if you generate leads for your business by creating awareness and building desire, that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically become customers. So how do you convert them into paying customers? This module will help you answer that question.

In particular, we’ll explore two critical strategies to help convert leads into customers:

1. How to build trust by enabling leads to evaluate your business; and
2. How to proactively inspire commitment.

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 8a and complete the relevant tasks

Tasks:

• Using the Customer Journey tab of your template, note down how you’ll enable prospects to evaluate your offering and built trust.
• Note down which low-risk offers you can make to customers who aren’t yet ready for your highest price offering
• Note down which other strategies you’ll use to encourage and inspire commitment

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Using the Customer Journey tab of your template, note down how you’ll enable prospects to evaluate your offering and built trust.
• Note down which low-risk offers you can make to customers who aren’t yet ready for your highest price offering
• Note down which other strategies you’ll use to encourage and inspire commitment

Hi and welcome to module 9, which is the fourth module of the Rapid Growth track.

You understand the 3 underlying drivers of business growth, and you’ve devised some strategies for plugging holes in the first two of those drivers: lead generation and lead conversion.

But what happens after you make the sale? How do you create high value customers for life?

We'll explore two possible strategies:

1. Proactively encourage customers return and buy more; and
2. Proactively encourage customers to refer others

To begin the process, please watch the video for Module 9a and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Using the Customer Journey tab, note down which retention and growth strategies you’ll adopt to retain and grow your customer base.
• Note down which strategies you’ll use to generate customer advocacy.
• Look over all your growth strategies, and write down the strategies you’ll use over the coming year into the first tab of your Strategic Growth Plan template.

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Using the Customer Journey tab, note down which retention and growth strategies you’ll adopt to retain and grow your customer base.
• Note down which strategies you’ll use to generate customer advocacy.
• Look over all your growth strategies, and write down the strategies you’ll use over the coming year into the first tab of your Strategic Growth Plan template.

Hi and welcome to module 10, which is the fifth module in the Rapid growth track.We’re almost there. You’ve now decided on a set of practical strategies to grow your business: strategies for lead generation, lead conversion and for increasing customer value. But how do you actually implement those strategies?

It helps to have set-by-step action plans to guide you – and that’s what this module is all about.

To help you devise your Action Plans, we’ll explore:

1. What actions plans are;

2. How to devise them for your business; and

3. We’ll introduce some of the sample actions plans we’ve already created for you

To begin the process, please watch the video and complete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Review your strategic projects for the year
• Choose which projects you’ll focus on for this quarter
• Review the action plan templates and customise them for your business (you can write your action plans into the Strategic Growth Plan template)
• Begin implementing your action plans

Hi and welcome to The Break Free track of the Growth System.

You’ve now developed your foundational business strategy, so you know where you’re headed. And you’ve either developed and begun implementing your marketing and sales strategy to grow your business… or you already have a solid customer base to work from.

So you’re now ready to create a business that runs smoothly and profitably... whether you're there or not - so you have less stress, more time and the infrastructure in place to support further growth. And that’s what this Track is all about.In this introductory video, I’m going to:

1. Explain what ‘breaking free’ really means for you and your business;
2. Outline the core modules that make up this track

To begin, watch the introductory video and download your Break Free workbook via the link below.

Hi and welcome to Module 11 of the Growth System, and the first Module of the ‘Break free’ track.

If you want a turn-key business that can run smoothly and profitably whether you’re there or not, you’ll need to take ownership. You do that by creating clarity.

The first step in that process is to create structural clarity. And that means designing an organisational structure that eliminates role confusion by outlining which jobs must be performed to achieve success and who’s responsible for each job. And that’s what this module is all about.

In particular, we’ll explore:

1. Why an organisational structure is important; and
2. How to create a clear organisational structure for your business to support your ongoing growth.

To begin, please watch the video for Module 11a and compete the relevant tasks. Good luck!

Tasks:

• Review your strategic projects for the year
• Choose which projects you’ll focus on for this quarter
• Review the action plan templates and customise them for your business (you can write your action plans into the Strategic Growth Plan template)
• Begin implementing your action plans

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Review your strategic projects for the year
• Choose which projects you’ll focus on for this quarter
• Review the action plan templates and customise them for your business (you can write your action plans into the Strategic Growth Plan template)
• Begin implementing your action plans

If you've watched the second video for this module, please watch the final video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Review your strategic projects for the year
• Choose which projects you’ll focus on for this quarter
• Review the action plan templates and customise them for your business (you can write your action plans into the Strategic Growth Plan template)
• Begin implementing your action plans

Hi and welcome to the 2nd module in the Breaking Free track.

You’ve now created your organisational structure, so you and your people are clear on which jobs need to get done and who’s responsible for those jobs. That’s the first level of clarity.

But you and your people also need clarity around what what’s expected in each job within that structure. To create that clarity, you’ll need to develop Job Descriptions. And that’s what this Module is all about.

In particular, we’ll explore:

1. Why clarifying job expectations is so important
2. The problems with most job descriptions
3. How to design Job Descriptions that create clear expectations for your people

To begin, please watch the video for Module 12a and compete the relevant tasks. Good Luck!

Tasks:

• Bring up the excel template of your org chart so you have it handy.
• Go to the Job Descriptions Tab of your workbook, where you’ll find blank Job Description templates ready to fill in.
• Select the first job from your org structure to work on. You can simply start from the top and work down (or choose another order if you prefer), and begin filling out the Job Objective and Performance Targets for that job. Note that we’ve provided a sample Job Descriptions, which you can customise to your business.
• Customise the sample ‘business-wide targets’ to ensure they reflect your business values and the kind of culture you want to create.
• When you get to the Job Tasks section, go back to the Core Task Areas tab to find the tasks specific to that job and copy them over to the relevant Job Description template.
• Repeat that process for each job in your org chart.
• Once you’re happy with each Job Description, create separate, individual Job Description documents, so you’re ready to hand them out to each staff member. (But don’t actually hand them out just yet; that will happen later)

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Bring up the excel template of your org chart so you have it handy.
• Go to the Job Descriptions Tab of your workbook, where you’ll find blank Job Description templates ready to fill in.
• Select the first job from your org structure to work on. You can simply start from the top and work down (or choose another order if you prefer), and begin filling out the Job Objective and Performance Targets for that job. Note that we’ve provided a sample Job Descriptions, which you can customise to your business.
• Customise the sample ‘business-wide targets’ to ensure they reflect your business values and the kind of culture you want to create.
• When you get to the Job Tasks section, go back to the Core Task Areas tab to find the tasks specific to that job and copy them over to the relevant Job Description template.
• Repeat that process for each job in your org chart.
• Once you’re happy with each Job Description, create separate, individual Job Description documents, so you’re ready to hand them out to each staff member. (But don’t actually hand them out just yet; that will happen later)

Hi and welcome to the 3rd Module in the Breaking Free Track.

You’re now well and truly on your way to creating a turn-key operation. You’ve defined your Organisational Structure and Job Descriptions.

But to achieve consistent and predictable results, with or without you, you’ll need to go one step further: you’ll need to clarify how your people should perform the key tasks in their jobs. And that requires systems, which what this Module is all about.

In particular, we’ll explore:

1. Why systems are critical
2. How to design effective, bullet-proof systems
3. How to apply the process to your business

To begin, please watch the video and compete the relevant tasks. Good Luck!

Tasks:

• Prioritise your systems (as high, medium, low priority) using the Core Task Areas template
• Look back at the “high” priority tasks and select the top 10 most important and urgent tasks and begin systemizing them using the template in the Systems Design tab.
• Allocate a time in your calendar – 6 to 12 months into the future – for your annual systems review.
• Decide on any systems improvement/innovation rewards.

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Prioritise your systems (as high, medium, low priority) using the Core Task Areas template
• Look back at the “high” priority tasks and select the top 10 most important and urgent tasks and begin systemizing them using the template in the Systems Design tab.
• Allocate a time in your calendar – 6 to 12 months into the future – for your annual systems review.
• Decide on any systems improvement/innovation rewards.

If you've watched the second video for this module, please watch the final video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Prioritise your systems (as high, medium, low priority) using the Core Task Areas template
• Look back at the “high” priority tasks and select the top 10 most important and urgent tasks and begin systemizing them using the template in the Systems Design tab.
• Allocate a time in your calendar – 6 to 12 months into the future – for your annual systems review.
• Decide on any systems improvement/innovation rewards.

Hi and welcome to the 4th module in the Breaking Free track.

You’ve started to create a number of levels of clarity in your business.

But there’s one more level of clarity that’s critical: performance clarity. Knowing how you and your team are performing is essential to building accountability – the kind of accountability that will give you confidence that things will run smoothly even when you’re not there. And that’s exactly what this module is all about.

In particular, we’ll explore:

1. The two kinds of accountability systems every business needs
2. How to apply those accountability system to your business

To begin, please watch the video for Module 14a and compete the relevant tasks. Good Luck!

Tasks:

• Use the table in the Accountability tab to create your data gathering system for the jobs in your business.
• Decide on which ‘team’ development meetings you’d like to set up
• Decide on a regular weekly (or fortnightly) time your team meetings (but don’t actually communicate this yet with staff; that comes in the next Module)
• Look back at your org chart to determine who reports directly to you and therefore who should be setting up regular weekly (or fortnightly) personal development meetings with.
• Consider possible time slots for those meetings (but again, don’t communicate this yet).

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Use the table in the Accountability tab to create your data gathering system for the jobs in your business.
• Decide on which ‘team’ development meetings you’d like to set up
• Decide on a regular weekly (or fortnightly) time your team meetings (but don’t actually communicate this yet with staff; that comes in the next Module)
• Look back at your org chart to determine who reports directly to you and therefore who should be setting up regular weekly (or fortnightly) personal development meetings with.
• Consider possible time slots for those meetings (but again, don’t communicate this yet).

If you've watched the second video for this module, please watch the final video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Use the table in the Accountability tab to create your data gathering system for the jobs in your business.
• Decide on which ‘team’ development meetings you’d like to set up
• Decide on a regular weekly (or fortnightly) time your team meetings (but don’t actually communicate this yet with staff; that comes in the next Module)
• Look back at your org chart to determine who reports directly to you and therefore who should be setting up regular weekly (or fortnightly) personal development meetings with.
• Consider possible time slots for those meetings (but again, don’t communicate this yet).

Hi and welcome to the fifth module in the Breaking Free track.

You’ve now begun to create four levels of clarity in your business: structural clarity, job clarity, task clarity and performance clarity.

But, the reality is that you can’t make it all happen by yourself. Unless you’re a one-person business, implementing your organisation and systems strategy relies on your ability to enrol your staff in the process. And this module is all about how to do that.

In particular, we’ll explore:

1. How to influence, engage and inspire staff to get behind your plans
2. The specific actions that you and your staff need to take now to make it all happen

To begin, please watch the video fro Module 15a and compete the relevant tasks. Good Luck!

Tasks:

• Set a time for meeting each member of your leadership team
• Prepare for the meeting by reviewing the sample agenda and script, and making any amendments
• Schedule a date for your meeting with all staff
• Prepare for the meeting by reviewing the sample agenda and script, and making any amendments
• Schedule dates for regular TDMs
• Set up dates for regular PDMs with your direct reports
• Follow up your managers to ensure they’ve scheduled regular PDMs with their direct reports
• Ask managers to commence regular performance reporting as per their reporting schedules
• Set a timeline for your senior managers to commence systemising the top 10 tasks in their jobs, using the systems template, and ask them to do likewise for their own direct reports
• Once the top 10 systems have been completed, review them to ensure they’re high quality, provide any necessary feedback via your regular PDMs, and ask staff to commence the next 10 systems for each job (and continue this process until all systems are completed).

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks:

• Set a time for meeting each member of your leadership team
• Prepare for the meeting by reviewing the sample agenda and script, and making any amendments
• Schedule a date for your meeting with all staff
• Prepare for the meeting by reviewing the sample agenda and script, and making any amendments
• Schedule dates for regular TDMs
• Set up dates for regular PDMs with your direct reports
• Follow up your managers to ensure they’ve scheduled regular PDMs with their direct reports
• Ask managers to commence regular performance reporting as per their reporting schedules
• Set a timeline for your senior managers to commence systemising the top 10 tasks in their jobs, using the systems template, and ask them to do likewise for their own direct reports
• Once the top 10 systems have been completed, review them to ensure they’re high quality, provide any necessary feedback via your regular PDMs, and ask staff to commence the next 10 systems for each job (and continue this process until all systems are completed)

Hi and welcome to The Focus and Fulfilment track of The Growth System.

Regardless of where you are in your growth journey, your ability to stay focused and fulfilled is critical to your business success and your personal wellbeing.

So how do you do it? That’s what this track is all about.In this introductory video, I’m going to:

1. Explain what focus and fulfillment means for business owners; and

2. Outline the core modules that make up this track

To begin, watch the introductory video and download your Focus & Fulfillment workbook via the link below

Hi and welcome to Module 16, which is the 1st Module of the Focus & Fulfillment Track.

This module is all about igniting your inspiration and motivation by clarifying what we call your ‘core purpose’. And I’ll be taking you through a practical, 7 step process to help you do that.

To begin, please watch the video for Module 16a and compete the relevant tasks. Good Luck!

Tasks:

• Consider and then answer a range of thought-provoking questions about what’s really important to you in the Inspiration tab of your Focus & Fulfilment workbook.
• Complete the eulogy exercise in your workbook.
• Identify the important words/phrases in what you’ve written and circle or underline them.
• Look for common ideas or threads in the circled words or phrases - and then group them into themes.
• Look for a central idea, word, phrase, or sentence that brings together each of your themes. Build a list of them. And then select the one that best reflects what’s important to you.

If you've watched the first video for this module, please watch the next video and complete the relevant tasks. 

Tasks: