Grab a pen and paper, because you’re going to want to take some notes today!
Have you ever read “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller? If not, I definitely recommend it.
Basically, you can sum it all up with this one sentence:
What’s the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?
To me, building systems definitely falls into this category.
I’m always focused on efficiency and ways to simplify and streamline your processes.
If you don’t have systems in place for things you do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis…
you’re wasting time and energy that you COULD be putting into things that “move the needle” – like getting new clients and making more sales.
That’s lost opportunity and money down the drain.
If you actually look at the tasks you spend time on, you’ll realize that pretty much NONE of them are done only once.
They are done REPEATEDLY.
So what do I even mean by “systems” anyway?
Simple. It’s just the step-by-step process that you use to do something.
I’m talking about client fulfillment systems, financials, marketing & lead generation, staff & team systems, conversions, and sales. Like I said…EVERYTHING.
If we’ve been connected for a while, you’ve likely discovered that I truly believe that SYSTEMS = FREEDOM. Financial, lifestyle, and most importantly time freedom!
All the money in the world doesn’t matter if you don’t have the time, energy or emotional bandwidth to spend quality time with your family and friends.
If you’re stressed out, scattered, and anxious all the time, what’s the point?
We end up wasting a ton of time working SO HARD… it can be like running on a treadmill that gradually keeps speeding up. We end up running wild but never making any real headway!
This is why it is incredibly important to:
- Take a hard look at the business systems you have in place, and
- Create or update your systems to reflect your business as it functions today
- Make sure the systems you have in place will support your growth and will not bottleneck you as you grow and scale!
Doing a ‘Systems Audit’ is where you take a look at your current systems, evaluate what’s working and maybe most importantly, what’s not.
If you don’t have any systems in place right now, start to figure out which ones are a priority, and needed RIGHT AWAY in your business.
These are the systems that’ll help you create the most amount of leverage in your business.
After many years in the fitness industry, I’ve found the following 5 Core Systems to be absolutely essential in keeping you organized and helping you turn a profit more quickly.
- Client Fulfillment Systems – onboarding, programming, retention, client management, proper follow-up, accountability, etc. (I just covered Client Onboarding in a 3-part series. Here’s a link to part 1.)
- Lead Generation & Marketing Systems – marketing calendars, launch plans, ads management, referral programs, etc.
- Sales Systems – WHAT do you really sell and HOW are you going to sell it?
- Team Systems – team responsibilities, proper delegation, evaluations, team meetings, accountability, etc.
- Financials – taxes, bookkeeping, scheduled financial reports, weekly reviews, etc.
Since your business begins and ends with your clients, setting up a solid Client Fulfillment System is an obvious jumping-off point to get you started on your audit.
Your current clients are the CORE of your business – be sure to take care of them first!
And… as we’re diving into tax season, financials (and all your other numbers) are another good place to focus to give you clarity about the health of your business. (Here’s a resource from the blog: Minimum KPIs You Need In Your Business.)
Wondering what else you might be missing, or looking for a way to get started?
I put together a list of over 50 different systems that I believe every fitness business needs to have in place in order to operate at maximum efficiency.
—> Download my FREE Fitness Business Systems Checklist Here <—
It’s a pretty in-depth checklist, but don’t be overwhelmed!
Just start with the basics – beginning with the areas that would bring you the MOST PEACE right now – and grow from there.
When I started using systems in my own fitness business, everything began to fall into place.
The upfront time I spent creating those systems was SO WORTH IT.
I was able to jump off that treadmill and enjoy time with family and friends without worrying I was forgetting something in my business. I want that for you, too!
Attack that audit today and let me know how you do!
Here’s to a productive day!
Alicia
P.S. If you’re struggling in your fitness business and can’t seem to get out of the day-to-day, you need SYSTEMS. You’re not alone, and I can help you speed up the process in a BIG way.
If you’re flying by the seat of your pants, you need a PLAN. Let me help you build out systems and develop your marketing plan. My coaching program is specifically designed for fitness business owners who have a brick and mortar facility or boot camp. If you’re interested in seeing if it’s a good fit, check out more at Fit Pro Accelerator and schedule a Breakthrough Call with me so I can fill you in on all of the details!
