92: Four Types of People Who Will Help You Grow Your Business

04/14/21 • 21 min

Who are the people who help you grow and flourish in your business?

Today, we’re talking about a topic that will hopefully be beneficial as you grow your service based business. Because we are service providers we tend to be the servant type, but today we are talking about the four people you need in your business as it grows.

Four Types of People You Need In Your Business

A common question I’m asked is “Who do you lean on for support” or “who is your coach?”

As I reflect back over my entire career, I always remember having mentors. I wouldn’t be at this point in my career if I did not have the influence of a variety of different people in my life. I've identified four different types of people who have influenced me in my journey. This is a framework that has served me both personally and professionally.

1. Your Biz Bestie

These are your business influences that have become real friends to you on your journey. They are typically some of the first people who influence your business and are similar to you or are in a similar stage of business. I met many of my biz besties through Facebook groups, and sometimes these people would even turn into clients.

A biz bestie is someone you have a real life connection with. Business may have been the thing that attracted you to them, but along the way you became good friends. They allow you to be open, candid, and unscripted.

2. Your Mastermind

The mastermind is a group of people you are drawn to, and who share your values. There is often a common thread amongst the entire group. I've had the best luck in masterminds when we all had a connection around our strongest values, even though the businesses we represented were very different. No one was in the same space, so there was no sense of competition.

I prefer to be in a mastermind of complementary businesses. When people come from different experiences, we tend to collaborate in groups which makes it easy for everyone to share. Over time those masterminds become stronger and stronger, and oftentimes end up being some of your business besties.

3. Mentor/Coach

This person is typically paid. They have gone before you so they are significantly ahead of you in business. This person has experience and success underneath their belt, they are doing something you aspire to do, and they have what you need.

I’ve had four different paid mentors at different times in my journey. I’ve reached out and became connected and mentored by someone who had something I needed. Sometimes it was in the operational field, sometimes I leveraged business model experience and knowledge, and currently I am mentored by someone with marketing knowledge.

“One of the richest things I've received from every coach that I've worked with are the strategies that helped them become effective.”

Don't have more than one mentor at a time! Do the internal work to figure out what you need support on, find who you need, and validate that this person aligns with you.

“When our environment becomes pervasive with thought leaders, ideas, and strategies, it can put us in a place of stagnation.”

4. Inspirational Figure

These people may not be in your field, but they are aspirational. You find yourself watching the way they run their business, and the way they show up and build their business. You don’t want to replicate their business but you are influenced by what they are doing.

It's important to find people who aren't in your space, but still give you an aspirational level to admire. Let it help you connect to what your business could be in the future. Let it help with strategy and innovation, and watch the way other women are thriving in their business. Let it fuel you!

Although the specific people may change over time, you need all four of these women in each stage of business growth!

Weekly Ops Activity

Who is your biz bestie (or besties)? Head on over to the Facebook community, and let us know!

Other Ways to Connect with Me:

Website

Private Facebook Community

Facebook Page

Instagram

This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/92.

Who are the people who help you grow and flourish in your business?

Four Types of People You Need In Your Business

A common question I’m asked is “Who do you lean on for support” or “who is your coach?”

1. Your Biz Bestie

2. Your Mastermind

3. Mentor/Coach

“One of the richest things I've received from every coach that I've worked with are the strategies that helped them become effective.”

Don't have more than one mentor at a time! Do the internal work to figure out what you need support on, find who you need, and validate that this person aligns with you.

“When our environment becomes pervasive with thought leaders, ideas, and strategies, it can put us in a place of stagnation.”

4. Inspirational Figure

Although the specific people may change over time, you need all four of these women in each stage of business growth!

Weekly Ops Activity

Who is your biz bestie (or besties)? Head on over to the Facebook community, and let us know!

Other Ways to Connect with Me:

Website

Private Facebook Community

Facebook Page

Instagram

This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/92.

Previous Episode

91: How Mindset & Limiting Beliefs Almost Stopped Her from Transforming Her Business with Alexia Bustios

Are you thinking about becoming a certified Director of Operations, but still having some doubts? Are you struggling with mindset issues?

Today we have a very special guest who has come through the Director of Operations (DOO) certification program. Alexia Bustios is joining us to talk about mindset and some of the doubts and fears you might be struggling with.

Meet Alexia

Alexia is the co-owner of Showtime Online Business Management and a certified DOO. She works mostly with retainer clients, but may be shifting to an agency model in the future.

Alexia started out in real estate, and landed in event planning as a project manager, traveling to put on large events for over 8 years. She was feeling burnt out on all of the travel and was looking to make a change. She slowly started to look into how she could pivot to online business when the pandemic hit and one of her big events was shut down. At that point, she had no choice but to pivot to the online business space.

What attracted you to the DOO certification?

She thought she would be back to work in 3 months, so she decided to take that time to work on her business model.
She hired a business coach and got to work.
After several months of not being able to work her main job, her bank account was dwindling and she was getting nervous.
Her business coach did an interview with Natalie, which was her introduction to the DOO certification program.
She joined the Scope Creep Solution and felt understood, like the program would help her address what she really wanted to do.
She couldn’t figure out where she fit, and this program would help her gain clarity.

Once you became aware of the program, what convinced you that this was right for you?

Really wanted to join the program, but felt stuck because money was tight.
Had several limiting beliefs:
- Didn’t quite believe that she could charge a lot of money since she was new to the online space.
- Since she was new to online business, she thought she had no place being a DOO for someone else's business.
- Some of her clients have been in business longer than she has been alive, and she thought “Who am I to come in and tell them how to run their business?”
- She thought she had to be a 6 figure company in order for her ideal client to want to hire her.

“Sometimes we feel like we have to suffer in order to be paid a certain amount of money, and we can’t just do what comes easy to us.” - Alexia Bustios

When you were coming through the program, what was the differentiator in the content?

The Strategic Mapping ModelTM allowed her to get an overall view of the company, and prove that she knows what she is talking about.
KPIs and metrics; how and what she needs to measure. She ended up feeling super confident providing a company with a picture of the health of their business.

Tell us about your successes. What does your business look like today?

A couple of months into the program she got her first and second retainer clients and felt like she made the right decision.
She felt validated that she could actually do the job.
Was able to pay off the program by the 3rd month.
Has doubled her annual income.

“The tools that the DOO program gave me set me on a trajectory of success that I have only dreamed of before.” - Alexia Bustios

Has the quality of your clients changed?

Has definitely seen a shift in mindset regarding needing to work with vs. wanting to work with someone.
Being able to walk away from a client that doesn't fit has been huge for her quality of life.

“If it doesn't bring me joy or it doesn't bring me peace, I want the option to say no.”- Alexia Bustios

What advice would you give someone on the fence?

Don't sit on the fence!
If you have a mindset block or fear, call it out. Reach out to the DOO community.
Everyone in the community is more than willing to share their experiences.

If you like what you heard today and think this program is for you, apply now!

Connect with Alexia

Facebook

Instagram

With more than 8 years of business experience, Alexia has managed projects for national brand name corporations for just about any industry you can think of , where her main focus was on client experience. After her success traveling the country to work with some of the biggest brand names known, Alexia has foll...

Next Episode

93: Five Tips to Finding the Right Mentor

With so many coaches and mentors to choose from, how do you choose one that is right for you?

Today, we are talking about how to find a mentor who is right for you in your stage of your business; one who will help you progress to the next level. Mentorship has had a profound effect on me, and has been a theme throughout my professional journey.

If you listen to episode 92, about the 4 different people you need in your life, it will demonstrate the structure that I have had that has led me to success. Having that structure is critical.

So how do you find the right mentor? Today I will be digging deep into what you should be looking for in a mentor/coach.

5 Tips To Finding The Right Mentor

The impact of a mentor has allowed me to take the biggest leaps in my business. At this level, the person you are looking for will be a little less personal and more professional. They have done what you want to do, and they have a path for you to follow.

When you go on a search for a mentor, you want to see the great heights you can reach because this person has done it. You also want to make sure you pay attention to how this person has overcome obstacles. Any person you admire or look up to has likely faced deep struggles. Make sure this person has the ability to be communicative, supportive, approachable, focuses on the whole human, and that they have achieved the things on your radar.

“A mentor is the best version of you and your business... they also have the experience to guide you through hardships and struggles.”

1. Take Time

You cannot be sold into a mentor, you will have to search for it. For instance, if you show up randomly to a webinar and are looking for a mentor, practice deep restraint. I want you to go searching for this person, just as if you were growing your team. Take your time. Don’t take quick action when it comes to selecting a mentor.

Selecting a mentor is not a box to be checked, it is a feeling of needing greater support. You need a partner to come in beside you and help you to get “there” quicker. It is a big commitment, as often you will be committing to at least a 12 month relationship.

2. Do A Strategic Review

Take the time to do a strategic mapping of your own business. Think about what is happening in the major pillars of your business, including marketing, operations and fulfillment. Write down the things you are confident in, and note where the gaps are.

When you look at the strengths and gaps, are the gaps in your wheelhouse? If not, use this information to help you determine who is the right mentor for you. You may need to identify a mentor who can help you fill in the gap for things that you aren’t able to figure out on your own.

Be honest with yourself and ask, “what size of business do I currently have and how big of a business do I want to have?” When you are looking for a mentor, if you want to go from $30,000 to $180,000, choose someone who has had a similar result rather than choosing an iconic mentor who is looking to scale a much larger business. Their mindset will be very different from yours based on your respective goals.

3. Character & Values

When you are looking for a mentor and a coach, that person will have a lot of influence on you, so you must make sure your character is represented in the person you choose. You also want to make sure you understand what this individuals values are. If it's not obvious, reach out to the person and ask them. You have to know that they have done this work in order to partner with them. Dig deep, and make sure they are attentive and are excited to answer your questions.

4. Proof of Experience, Expertise, and Results

This person absolutely needs to have results for the exact needs that you have. If you are seeking this person because of your gaps, make sure they have provided results for other people like you. In most cases mentors become mentors because they have mastered something and have thought leadership in an area that you are desiring.

Just because someone has learned to do something, doesn’t mean that they are suited to teach others that “something.” They may have had experience in something, but that doesn’t mean they have the expertise or results, so you need to do your homework. If a mentor is constantly pivoting, that is a red flag.

5. Connector + Community

Your mentor needs to be a connector and have a really strong community. The mentor's reputation matters, but who they are as a person is going to be indicative of the people that they surround themselves with. This is a win-win situation because you are gaining a lot of value and structure from this person, but you can also have a profitable relationship. If people come to them with needs and you are the right ...