Thinking In Systems

Good morning. Systems are extremely important in your business. After working with 41 clients in multiple industries, I’ve noticed the most systematic companies all make the most profit. Systems = Profit. ⚙️ 

What Should You Systematize?

Many great entrepreneurs talk about the importance of systems, but what should you actually build? You need to build systems based on your own processes and your own unique models. You can do this by breaking down each of the pillars of your business.

For example, you need a system for sales. Remember, this doesn’t just mean setting up a CRM. You need to have a standard operating procedure — with clear directions, video walkthroughs, and FAQs — assembled in a Notion or Google document.

Make it so easy to follow that you can effortlessly onboard a team member in under one week. I’ve found that over-the-shoulder content works the best. Film a screen-share doing the task so they can watch you go through the process. This is how you create a legit system. Keep in mind, systems do not always mean automation. You can still systematize manual work.

In addition to sales, you’ll need systems for marketing, prospecting, operations, accounting, team management, and more as you grow.

Systems Thinking

Whenever I need to do a new task in my business or a client’s business, I think in terms of systems. I don’t want to do the task myself, have no documentation of how I did it, then go on my way. Instead, I would rather take the extra 5 minutes to film a video on how I did it, write a quick description, and throw it in my Notion SOPs.

This gets me into the habit of Systems Thinking. Even if I don’t need to train someone with the SOP now, I probably will in the future. And it’s easier to adapt it later than to go back and try to remember what exactly I did.

To develop this framework, read the books Thinking In Systems and Built To Sell. Warning: These are pretty dry reads, but they are extremely useful. 📕 

Why Build Systems?

It’s easy to take the easy way out and not build systems. Well, it seems easier until you wake up one day and you are working IN your business instead of ON it. Then, you go to sell your company one day and nobody meets your asking price because you have zero SOPs or effective systems in place.

This is why Systems Thinking is a long game. It doesn’t mean you aren’t a crucial part of your business, or that you have to delegate everything until you’re barely working. Or even that you have to sell the company! It’s just smart to systematize everything so that someone could do your job — and everyone else’s — if need be.

If You Need Help With Systems 👇️ 

For installing systems into a business, you need someone to pick out what to optimize first and give you a protocol to do so. You likely need a growth consultant to guide you. If this sounds useful to you, book a session with me.

Thanks for reading,

Austin Weatherhead | Founder @ Zunesty