From One Introverted Business Owner to Another
According to Facebook, our online friendship began in February of 2016. I can't exactly remember what prompted our connection, but Bec Robbie, a native Australian, was living in Thailand at the time running an e-commerce business with her husband, and I was getting ready to launch my digital marketing academy for service-based entrepreneurs. I was very curious about her life.
We were in different areas of online business, so working together wasn't really in the cards at the time, but I was fascinated that she was living abroad completely independent of having a regular job where you go to an office every day.
I was still working as an actuary (fancy word for insurance statistician), but I was banking on my May 2016 launch to be the catalyst for leaving my 25 year career (and that's exactly what happened).
Fast forward to 2019. Bec has since divulged of her e-commerce venture and is now teaching online business owners to transform their businesses from "frazzled mess to income success. She specializes in sales, marketing, mindset, and money. When she's not behind her laptop screen, you'll find her inhaling coffee with her husband, eating street food in Asia, or wandering the world in awe."
😜 Sounds like my kind of friend!
Gaining Control Over Our Businesses
I think Bec is spot on when she says that introverted women can have wildly successful businesses. One thing that I believe is that we tend to have so many skills (or have no problem digging in to learn new skills) that it's hard to figure out what to focus on at any one time, how to add leverage to what we are doing, what to delegate to others within our organizations, and how to outsource effectively without losing the integrity and quality we value so much.
At the end of the day, we have to step into the CEO role and get out of the day-to-day details, and this takes some careful planning.
Bec has generously shared with us 10 Success Skills that she uses to run her business, and here they are:
Success Skill # 1 Goal Setting
Your goals are your road map and compass. Without a goal, it’s hard to know what you need to be working on or when you’ve succeeded. Always start by setting a well-defined goal and put a deadline on it. Then, add important milestones at crucial times to keep you on track.
Success Skill # 2 Content Marketing
Content marketing is a huge part of being in business. When you do content marketing correctly, you can expect to benefit for a long time. With content marketing, you can bring a ton of people to your site without paying money for expensive ads! The key is having an effective and strategic system and doing it right.
Success Skill # 3 Time Management
Time is your most limited resource. To make the most of if we have to get good at prioritization. That’s really what time management is all about. It’s deciding what’s most important and what will have the biggest impact so you can reach your goals. Then you figure out how to make it happen in the most productive and time efficient way.
Success Skill # 4 Organization
If you’re disorganized, it’s hard to figure out what needs to happen next. It’s also a huge time waster to look around for bits and pieces. Make getting and staying organized a priority, and you’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done. If your files are a mess, set a timer for 15 minutes every day until they’re sorted out. You can do this while listening to a podcast or watching non-critical videos.
Success Skill # 5 Focus
Our world is full of distractions. Being able to tune everything else out and work on one task at a time is important. It’s what focus is all about. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s difficult to focus. So, take time out of your day to prioritize first before you sit down to focus on your first task. You’ll be far more efficient.
Success Skill # 6 Discipline
Discipline has become a bit of a bad word. What this skill is really about is persistence. You have to work towards your success goals on a regular basis. Do something to move you forward every day if possible. Along with focus, being disciplined to do the work when you don’t want to or if it’s out of your zone of genius, takes mastery. When you’re starting out, you’re often not in a position to outsource the tasks you’re not brilliant at. Its why discipline is a crucial of your success.
Success Skill # 7 Effective Communication
We work with other people every day whether we are solo entrepreneurs or not. We deal with co-workers, customers, friends and family members. We communicate with our marketing materials and we sell through communication. Being able to communicate effectively (both when speaking and in writing) helps you to work more efficiently. Clear communication also prevents misunderstandings, which can be a drain on time and energy.
Success Skill # 8 Networking
Success will come much faster if you’re able to leverage other people around you. Network so you have a group of people you can ask for feedback, advice, and support. They can help you avoid mistakes and get you in touch with others who can help you along the way. Networking can be done online and offline, so don’t be afraid to reach out to others beyond your computer screen. As an introvert, it’s quite OK to network in a way that suits your personality, so look for opportunities that are in alignment with your style.
Success Skill # 9 Flow
Getting into the flow is like any other skill – it takes practice. When you truly love what you do in your biz, getting into the flow state will be much easier. In fact, it may even become natural! We don’t always get the chance to do what we truly love in life, so if you do – make the most of it! Click to read more about how to tap into the flow state and skyrocket your biz.
Success Skill # 10 A Plan of Action!
Last but not least, you need a plan of action. This involves multiple things including learning strategies, creating a plan and taking action on your plan. It sounds deceptively simple, but getting the right knowledge that’s relevant and up to date can be challenging. Creating a plan that is effective can prove difficult without some sort of road map to ensure you’re on track. And finally, it’s up to you to take action. Action has two components, intuition and focus. It’s vital you listen to your own inner guidance about whether an action is truly right for you. Once you’ve made that decision, then take action with all your heart and soul.
Free Gift from Bec
Bec has generously offered her monthly business planning system to help you "plan your way from frazzled mess to business success" for free. Go grab it now!
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