It can be done!
There is this myth that operations (and in particular financial operations) are all about facts, figures, reports and spreadsheets. That everything has to be “right” (formatting, numbers, the methods) or there is just no point.
I speak from experience – making sure all the things are right can be very helpful.
But: it is absolutely NOT essential.
It can be easy to think that the right system, the “right” tool and the right solution is going to make the difference. For your operations and for the corresponding anxiety level. And it is true, it can make a difference.
But: it can only make a difference IF you actually know what and why that tool is such a perfect fit.
We have a plethora upon plethora of options. It does make sense for us to look at them every once in a while. We need to make sure we are getting and using what exactly we need.
But: sometimes we can get lost in all the bells and whistles.
What comes first, the intention or the system?
I argue that what gives you more direction, more peace, more foundation, more “North Star” is just that, the intention.
So while you are looking for (or being pitched on) all the latest and greatest systems let’s keep intention in mind.
You need to know what you want. And even if you don’t know exactly what you want, you need to know what you need, what you would love to have and what maybe are the extra bells and whistles that could come in handy. And from that, you might get closer to what you want and your intention.
Because you have to know what you are doing. With money and software. And where do you want to go? Do you want a business that needs all complicated software that talks to each other and syncs (or mostly doesn’t sync) up to each other? That is still a reality as much as we would like to pretend we have solved that problem.
This all sounds like “motivational influencer speak.” Still there is some truth in it. What do you want to be doing? And how do you want to be doing, being, planning, managing it all in 1-5 years?
The answer to that question matters much more than the software and system you use.
Again: How do you want to be living your business and your life in 1-5 years?
There are many good reasons to hire help to do all that for you. Still you never want to be beholden or stuck because you gave too much power away. You need to know not just how things work but why. Because you are ultimately responsible and it is your business to know what those you hire are doing and how.
If all business owners would really do this, really understand it, it would save so much heartache and stress on both sides of the equation.
You don’t have to know the system down to the finest detail but you do need to know the intention and the basis behind it. It clarifies so many problems you can run into with systems, processes and job description.
So instead of “look up 3 types of software” or “look at others X process” there is really one question you need to answer.
How do you want your business and life to be in 1-5 years? What do you want to prioritize and what do you want to spend your time and money on? And what do you not want to be doing?
Yes, look at systems. But make sure you are clear but in the end, that the best way to run your operations is to ensure your dreams and desires are the foundation, front and center of everything you do. Then the “boring financial/process part” is no longer something you relegate to someone else. You see it for what it really is – the action that gets you to those dreams and desires and maybe even…*gasp* enjoyable.
