It’s Time to Get Fit: Workout Plan For Your Business
Storytime ladies! Let me know if you can relate.
So I set up a beautiful free-motion treadmill in my home, conveniently located across the hall from my bedroom. I didn’t want any excuse not to work out.
(You might be thinking where is Kendra going with this? But trust! I’ve got a point that directly relates to your business.)
Let me tell you what I did once it was all set up.
I decided I didn’t really like the treadmill that much. And instead, I needed a fancier one to get fit. Meanwhile, I’m giving the treadmill I have the silent treatment.
The fancy one arrives and guess what?
I still didn’t work out. Because I decided (again) I needed something else for my fitness journey.
Are you spinning your wheels instead of killing the small business game?
Have you had a similar experience in your business? You say that if you had this one thing, then everything would be perfect. You could finally take a big step forward. Then the moment you get that one thing, you decide you need something else, AND then you’d be ready. And on and on, the cycle goes. In truth, you were spinning your wheels.
A lot of us struggle with this type of stagnation. I’ve seen it in myself and my clients. I’d say, “Here’s a strategy. And here are a few things you need to do, including learning how to do some basic things.”
But instead of trying to master the basics, they’ll want to chase after a shiny, more sexy object like running a webinar first. “The basics are so basic; I want to do that instead.” It’s the equivalent of trying to lift 250 lbs without proper form or training.
Let me tell you. The result is never good!
Get your business in shape with a workout plan
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It’s not realistic to think that you’re good at everything as soon as you start a business. In the same way, I know I’m not going to be a marathon runner after one training run on my treadmill. That’s just silly.
So how do you get good at anything? You train. You surround yourself with experts and resources who are more knowledgeable than you to help you get to the level you want to be. You create a plan that will teach you the foundation, and you build on that.
It’s the same with turning your side hustle into an empire. You’ve got a vision of where you want to be. You’re just missing the map to get there.
So let me ask you these three questions.
- How would you rate your business fitness level?
- What type of training are you doing to become a powerhouse business?
- Who is helping you create a plan to transform your small business?
Don’t worry. There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s an honest assessment of where you are right now.
The two things you MUST know first before you start training
Anyone can start a fitness plan. In the same way, anyone can say they want to be an entrepreneur. But to be the multi-hyphenate Queen, the financial powerhouse, the fierce Boss with a capital B I know you want to be . . . you’ve got to know two essential things.
1. Know what you want.
What’s your goal or vision? The trainers I’ve hired in the past have always asked what I wanted to accomplish with a new fitness plan. My answer? I want to be fine!
I want my business to be fine too. But, unfortunately, I’ve worked with many business owners who don’t even know what their goals are and don’t know what they want.
Now, only you can answer what you want for your business. So don’t paint with broad strokes, be as detailed as you wish. You’re painting YOUR vision!
2. Know what you offer!
The second thing is knowing what you’re offering. Your offer influences what type of conditioning you need. That conditioning will then get you in proper form to put together and pitch an offer that authentically attracts the people you want to reach organically.
Conditioning your business muscles for longevity and resilience
Have you ever tried to do a Navy Seals-style burpee? Or try to swing a 25 lb kettlebell? They’re not the type of exercise you jump into without learning proper form or warming up.
This leads me to my next question — are you conditioned to take the next step in your business? Are you training the right muscles to pull entrepreneurial weight?
Some of you are transitioning from Corporate America to business owners as I did.
Let me tell you, that’s a whole new type of muscle. Even if you were a rising star in the F500 scene, running a successful business requires a different workout. You need to build new muscles — resilience, fearlessness, and fierceness (to name a few) — to overcome the hurdles black female entrepreneurs looking to scale their business to 7-figures often face.
And if you’re a newbie, you’ve got to master the basics first before conquering more significant obstacles. Because without the basics and proper conditioning, you might be setting yourself up for failure.
Expect to fail. (But don’t give up)
Speaking of failure, I want to be real with you. You’re going to fail. There’ll be many times when doors will close, opportunities will be missed, and you’ll be tempted to pack up and give up.
Don’t.
Failure is inevitable for business owners, the same way it is for people trying to get fit. So don’t waste time trying to place blame. Own it. Just take that failure as feedback and dust yourself off, and try again. You’ve got this!
Own your entrepreneurial path
You want the world to take you and your business seriously. But you’ve got to take the lead and celebrate your new identity first.
I signed up to be my own boss and run a successful business just like you did. And I’m learning every day that this lifestyle is multifaceted. There are so many things to learn and understand. So I’m constantly flexing my doing and delegating muscle to get things done.
And not only are there many layers, this boss lifestyle only works with brutal honesty about yourself and your capabilities. Because when something fails, you don’t have anyone to blame but yourself. That’s how you’ve got to own this new role you’re pursuing. You’ve got to be the first to call yourself out.
This type of honesty also requires knowing yourself really well! So if you don’t think you’re there yet, book some “Me” time and take an honest inventory of who you are and your capabilities. I promise you. You’ve got lots to work with— they just need a little exercise!
That’s where I hope I can help.
Join us in the F500 Fierce: Fortune 500 Business Launch Strategies for Corporate Women Facebook Community, where you’ll step in as a small business owner and learn to step out as the CEO I know you can be!
