So… what had happened was I’ve had quite a few jobs over the years and most of them fell under the Operations umbrella. I had to list some out for an exercise in a coaching program I was in, and it was very eye opening. I’ll update this post with the list over time.
After graduating from broadcasting school, I interned at a major radio station in Atlanta, I bogarted the jock whose show I was producing into being my first client. We agreed on a monthly retainer and duties, he paid me, et voila, I was a Virtual Assistant.
Through working with him and the station, I came into contact with all sorts of people in different industries. Even bumped into folks from 20 years prior when I was working in concert promo who still fuqqed with me. One notable event was connecting the dots that led to Delta sponsoring the inaugural graduating class of KIPP WAYS Academy’s expedition to Ghana. Relationships are your Systems Super Power Boost.
Anyhoo, before long I had 2 VA clients on retainer and started building websites. I ended up leaving the station because I was too old and tired to be playing radio games… IYKYK
So yeah…
It took me way too long to get right about my rates as a web designer. And having Atlanta clients is… spechul. Always wanting a meeting, but if I’m meeting, when am I actually doing the work you’re talking about hiring me for?
Again, IYKYK.
My Inner reminded me that I had a lot of experience putting processes and systems in place to cut the bullshit out of my day, so I got super, ummm, organized with my calendar.
I scheduled everything, including food and potty breaks. Set alarms for each thing. Batched days by type of work, i.e. admin, graphics, web.
Got rid of offering a lot of options – you either wanted an info page, brochure site that included certain pages, or you would find someone else. I required all content to be in before I took a deposit, cuz what you not gonna do is stall my schedule and my money.
If you wanted to meet for a consultation, there was a fee for that and it had to be done right after I dropped my daughter off for school, or before I was going to pick her up… i.e. no lunch or dinner meetings.
I kept refining my process, offerings and rates. One thing that kept coming up was that these business owners had little to no plans about making money (Sun… HOW? WHY?)
I’d ask, “What message are you trying to convey about your service or product?”, “Do you have a marketing plan?” Crickets. For days.
Side Note: if you can’t answer those two questions you are not ready for brand visuals or a systems overhaul.
It got to be that I’d spend a considerable amount of time coaching prospects through their brand messaging and coming up with some sort of systems to get clients and make money. Although I did not officially offer that service, it did become a line item when I was preparing quotes.
Turned out I started doing more of the consulting part than the brand and web development part… and I loved it. It was around this time that I started getting requests for Dubsado setup help, and that was like the icing on the cake of my “what will I do next” question.
In September 2019 I closed my design biz, and created a business operations planner based on how I structured Operations for my clients and myself – mostly online service-based businesses. Those that took advantage of the pre-order received a 15-min complimentary consultation. That lit me up on the inside so much. Folk loved the planner and those 1:1 consults, too.
I also opened up my books for 90 day coaching and secured my first coaching client… loved the client, didn’t like the coaching business model so much.If you’re into Human Design, I’m a 5/1 Sacral Generator – if I am around longer than I am needed, it is not beneficial for either party. At times it can be detrimental. This is why consulting works for me best – you can come back as many times as needed but we’re not going to draw things out.
And that’s how I got here… your resident Business Operations + Systems Strategist Auntee… aka the BOSS with the SOSS, aka The Systems Fixer aka Your Fairy Gawdmother of Hustle.
