Whats the One Thing you should be focusing on?

12 Apr

Description: In this week’s episode, I’m asking you what's the one thing that's going to make the biggest impact in your business.

What's the one thing, the most important thing you should be focusing on right now?

Listen to the full episode where I share some of the behind-the-scenes from my business, some of my clients’ stories and giving you some pointers to help you work out what to prioritise right now and where you should be putting your energy.

And we look at how to sense-check and challenge yourself and really work out what will have the most impact and help you move forward in the most efficient and quickest way.

Resource Links:

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Hello and welcome to the Future-Proof Your Business podcast with me Lucy Rennie.
I’m a massive champion for small business and I’m on a mission to help you to love what you do and to build and grow your business in a way that works for you and feels good.
I’m convinced that the best way to create a successful and sustainable business is to do it from the inside out, which means that it has to start with you, the business owner.
In fact, I believe that business really is all about people, and if you want to future-proof your business and make an impact then you need to get really clear on why you do what you do, create the best experience and then build relationships and trust.
In this podcast, I want to share with you as much of my knowledge, expertise and experience with you, as I can, as well as some behind the scenes stories and strategies from my business, and I’ll be having conversations with and learning from some amazing business owners and experts so I can give you everything you need to stay focused, on track and feel more in control on this rollercoaster ride that is building a sustainable business.
Lucy Rennie 01:16
Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of the future proof your business podcast and I'm Lucy Rennie And today I want to talk to you about a topic that has been coming up time and time again, with so many of my clients, in all industries, and in whichever programmes I think everybody struggles with this when you're running a business, and if I'm honest so do I. So I thought it'd be really useful just to have, a little bit of a chat about it. And just to share with you a couple of tips or pointers or things that I find useful for me. And that we share together with my clients to help them to really focus and move forward. So as you know, as a small business owner, you have got so many plates to spin. It's that rollercoaster ride isn't it of juggling, the thing you started the business for so your product or service, but then also all the other things that go on behind the scenes that you're expected to know about and to do and to think about. And then also, outside of business, you've also got fun, you should have hopefully a little bit of a life, whether that's, a partner, children, animals, dogs, cats, family, friends, hobbies, whatever that might be. And sometimes it can just get so overwhelming. And just kind of not knowing really where to start with all these things. And in some ways, sometimes we can sort of look at them and go, Well, you know, they're all of equal importance.
Lucy Rennie 02:49
So how do we balance it out? How do we know what to focus on? First? How do we know what to prioritise? And how do we know how to spend our time? So I think, really, I want to I'm gonna call this episode today, ‘what's the one thing’ and I've narrowed it down? Because normally, I say, what are the three things but today, I just want to keep it really short and sweet. And really help you to focus and get real clarity on what that focus should be. So the best way to think about this is to ask yourself, when you're sitting, I don't know how you do this, whether you have a plan, whether you have a strategy, whether you're super organised, and everything's time blocked, or you batch to or whether actually, you're kind of hanging on by the edge of your seat. However you manage your business, and however you manage the tasks that you need to do, whether you're a last minute deadline dancer, or whether you like to be super organised, it's really useful to master the skill of honing in on the things that are the most important at that time. And the reason why at that time is because this can change whether it's morning or night or day or week or whatever. Whenever you're asking that question. It might not be the same as it was the day before the last time you asked that question. So it's dynamic. It's constantly changing. And we know that because of the world we live in, and the ways that things are happening in today's life.
Lucy Rennie 04:29
But I want you to just think about it in terms of what's the one thing that's going to make the biggest impact or have the biggest impact on moving me forward in my business. Okay, and that's really, the only question that you should be asking yourself is what is going to have the biggest impact? Yeah, what's gonna make the biggest difference what's going to help me move forward in the most efficient way or in the smoothest way or the easiest way with the least resistance? Okay. The first thing we need to think about in order to be able to do this is, to be able to know what's going to make the biggest impact, then we need to know where we're going, don't we, we need to actually know what the goal is or what the objective is or what we need right now. So for some people, it can be overwhelming just to even set goals or to have those targets. So if that's you, then ask yourself, what do you need right now? What does your business need right now? What is it that really will make the biggest difference, and that might be simply i need cash in, I need more sales, and you need more leads, I need to get this product out, I need to deliver on a service, I need to make sure this event is a success. So we don't have to overthink this, this is about what do I need to happen? What's the most important thing that I'm working towards? Okay, so that's the goal, what's the target. And that could be long term, five years time. Or it might be quarterly, however, you want to do that. And there's a whole episode, which I will pop the links about how to set goals and how to think about the planning the year ahead, and all those things. But for this exercise, right now, when you're staring at that massive To Do List, you've got so many things spinning around in your head, and lots of people coming at you asking for lots of different things, and you're trying to work out what you should do next. This is where we've got to strip everything back, and almost be really selfish about it. And really think, okay, so in order to get there in order to get where I want to be in order to achieve that thing. What is it that's going to move me forward? Okay. And if you can learn to do that, if you can identify specific actions, then it's going to make your whole life and your whole way of managing your business a lot easier, managing your team a lot simpler, a lot more effective. But it's not as easy as it sounds.
Lucy Rennie 07:11
So some of the traps that we can fall into, I'm just thinking about an example, that came up last week, where one of my clients was talking about the fact that for her, it was really important to be marketing her business. So she needs to get more leads in. So okay, so she needs to get more leads in. Right, so what's the most important thing? Or what's the one thing she can do to do that? Well, first of all, I challenged her to identify and be more specific about what the goal was. So what does that look like in terms of a number? Is there a tangible number that we can apply to that? So? Is it two leads? Is it 10? Leads? Is it 200? Leads whatever that might be? And what do those leads look like? So being really specific, and drilling down to the most minut detail, really helps us to identify what that action should be? So for the sake of argument, let's say we need 10 new leads, and they're all creative agencies who are looking to organise events for their customers over the next six months. That's what she was looking for. So then we decided, right, okay, so if that's our goal is to get those leads in, what's going to make the biggest impact in terms of getting those leads in? And this is where she came up with SEO, she came up with social media, and she came up with email marketing. Okay, great. But again, what do those things look like? Because that's huge, you know, SEO, for example, could be one specific meta description, or it could be a vast years programme of tasks and continual updating, and blog writing, and all sorts of things that would go to work towards, improving SEO and getting the results you want.
Lucy Rennie 09:00
So, again, asking her to really strip that back and understand well, what is it? What's the one thing in the SEO that she could do? What would have the biggest impact right now, today, as we're speaking, that would improve things or help her to get those leads? Okay, and that might be going in and creating a blog, whatever it was that we came up with. She talks about social media, again, the same thing, how can we make that really specific and, in terms of social media marketing, is that the thing that's going to have the biggest impact, and the quickest result in terms of getting her those leads? And we could have a whole debate on that whether it is or it isn't and whether it's warm or cold weather, whether it's an ad or it's not or whether you've got a warm audience or not, this this will be contextual, whether depending on your audience and your community, but again, being really specific about it. So what's the type of post she's going to put?, where's it going to go? And what's the call to action on that? And how is that going to make sure that you're getting those 10 leads in. So again, stripping it right back and working out what that one thing is. And then finally, she talks about a newsletter, which is, again, there's pros and cons for all those things.
Lucy Rennie 10:18
But what will be the one thing that she could do with that to make sure that actually, it's really focusing on getting those 10 leads in? So who would that be going to? What's the quickest? Or the warmest audience for that? What's the most effective message that she could be doing? Or the offer? Or the call to action,etc? And really thinking it about, okay, so if we're going to do that, is that going to bring in those 10 leads? And what would be helpful make that mostly the most impactful? So can you see where I'm going with this? So each thing, it's really easy to kind of come up with this massive list of all these different things. But actually, we've got to hone in on what the one thing is deep down. And so once we've analysed those three things, she was able to go actually, out of those three things, whether that's social media, whether it's SEO, or whether it's a newsletter, what's going to have the biggest impact, if you had to choose one thing right now, what would that be? Okay. And actually, she came up with the fact that it was going to be in an email, sent out to her existing customers with a specific message on there. And it's a really clear call to action. That was the quickest thing from her point of view, but also the most effective based on previous data based on previous performance and knowledge that she already knew about the way that her business works, okay. And again, that also ties into that the more knowledge that we've got about what works for us, what has the biggest impact, what brings the most reward, for the least effort will help us to make these decisions and again, there's lots of different resources that can signpost you to help you to make sure you've got that kind of data in place.
Lucy Rennie 12:01
But really, what what I wanted to encourage you to do today was just think about in terms of your business, challenging yourself and sense check in as to whether you are doing, you're spending your time and energy on the right things, if you've got all these different things, how you can prioritise whether you should be doing A, B, or C, by asking you these questions yourself, these questions are really drilling down, it's really going to help you then to decide where you should be putting your energy, or maybe it's where you should be investing money, or people or time or whatever that might be, it's really, really important to get under the skin of your business and to be able to know what that is. And then finally, just before I go, I just wanted to also talk about two other things that are really related to this, especially at the moment with the world that's, again, topsy turvy and upside down, and we're not really sure what's happening from one day to another, there's two things that I'd really like to encourage you to think about and to, again, challenge yourself on.
Lucy Rennie 13:07
So the first thing is to really prioritise implementation. So, really prioritise, actually doing the thing and taking that action, and actually, moving forward and implementing the things that you've learned, or that you should be doing, and actually, I think there's kind of a big trend isn't there, and there has been for at least the last three or four years where we're continually doing these courses or new training, etc. Which is brilliant. And, I've literally just recorded a podcast all about the benefits of CPD and continually developing, but I also think there's something about actually implementing that knowledge and making sure that you're applying it to you and your business. So, that for me, it's going to have a bigger impact the fact that you're applying and improving something and making a difference right now, rather than sort of, if you're wondering where to go next, rather than going and signing up to another course or another training programme or another workshop, I would really encourage you to prioritise the implementation and the doing and work on that procrastination. And there's all sorts of things that I can help you with there. I'll share with you of how I come up with that. And, it might even just be coming from a place of a perfectionist like me, but we've got to kind of start to appreciate being able to be messy or trying things and just doing the thing first to move us forward, move us, in the right direction. And then the third thing that I really wanted to talk about today, and it's really in line with kind of what's going on in the world as well is not being the one that gives up.
Lucy Rennie 14:56
Okay, so if there's one thing that I really want you to to take onboard and keep going with it, be that business owner be that person who keeps going, be that one who goes the extra mile or does that extra thing, if times are hard, the last thing you want to be doing is getting fed up or being, getting tired or blaming it all on the world outside, the one thing you can be doing is showing up and bringing your passion in there and talking about the things that you're doing, and just doing that extra thing. So we were having this conversation last week in the future proof club, but we were talking about how difficult it is at the moment to get, new clients to get sales in to do the things and, everyone was telling me all the things that they've done, and they've contacted all the clients, and they've picked up the phone, and they've done all these different things. But we were still able to find new things to do, or extra things to do, or other ways of getting in touch or other ways of adding value of other ways of kind of standing out from the crowd or being that person that's there. That's, just doing it and going for it. And, just being determined to get there. And I think it's a nice way to end.
Lucy Rennie 16:27
But I think as a business owner, and you know this if you've read my book, but the one thing I think you do need in all of this to be able to stay on that roller coaster ride and to keep going, manage all those plates and do all those things. It's grit. And and that means determination. It means keeping going, even when things are tough, even when it's hard, even when you want to give up even when you're tired, I don't mean, completely burning out and all those things, but I just think keep going. If there's one thing you have to prioritise, it's your energy and showing up and thinking how, what else can I do? How else can I, what other ways are there? What other opportunities are there? What other things can I try to make sure that, we do survive that we do, create the sales that we want, or we do hit those goals, or we do make sure that we're sustainable, or we are in, adding value or doing the things we enjoy.
Lucy Rennie 17:21
So this episode was really about encouraging you to really focus and get under the skin of your business and work out what it is that needs to happen. That's going to have the biggest impact. And that is what is your priority? And interestingly, I will put this in the show notes, because I'm not sure I don't want to quote something that's wrong. But priority isn't or shouldn't be plural. It's kind of doesn't make sense, does it? It should be the one priority. Yeah. And originally, that's where it comes from, I think it's a Latin origin. And so being able to identify that is a real skill that's really going to help you move forward and make an impact in your business and get to where you want to be. And that might simply be looking after yourself and making sure that you're in a good place to be able to show up and keep going and motivate your teams or challenge everybody to find new ways of doing things will pick up that phone one more time or send that email out to potential clients. Being able to identify that is really important. So on that note, my challenge for you today is to get in touch and to tell me, what's the one thing that you're going to do in your business this week to move forward and make the biggest difference. And I'd love for you to tell me what that is. And you can tell me that by email lucy@lrcomms.co.uk or come over to my website. https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/ Or on socials and let me know. The one thing I'm going to ask you today is I would love for you to help me share the love for this podcast and get the word out there a bit more and do it organically and prove that we can do this through connections and that we can do this, through doing good. So if you would leave me a review or share it with people that you think might benefit from it, that would be amazing. It's just one thing for me, for you to do for me. That would be fabulous. I'd really appreciate it. And in the meantime, I will see you next week for another episode of the future proof your business podcast. Thanks for listening. See you later.
Thanks for listening to The Future-Proof your Business podcast. I have been your host Lucy Rennie.
I want to help as many business owners build a business that works and feels good, and the best way for me to do that is to get this podcast out to as many people as possible. You can help me do this by sharing it, clicking subscribe and especially leaving a review.
If you want to get more of my insights and resources then head over to my website IamLucyRennie.com, and come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group, Communicate with Purpose. All the links are in the show notes.
Thanks again and I’ll see you next week for another episode of The Future-Proof Your Business podcast.