How to start automating your business

We all know there’s a big opportunity to automate operations.

But I know that starting can feel overwhelming.

So, where do you start?

You need a map that can make sense of your current operations and provide clarity on where to start.

This is often referred to as a process map.

The good news: It’s not difficult to create one. I’ll show you how to make one in less than 60 minutes.

Spoiler Alert: You don’t need to create one for your whole business in one go. In fact, you shouldn’t.

Start by breaking down your business into 3 areas:

- Lead generation

- Sales/Conversations

- Delivery

Then list out 3-5 high-level steps of the processes taking place in each such as “content creation, outreach system, client onboarding, etc.”

The goal is to have a bird’s eye view of operations so you can diagnose and prioritize.

You can use a tool like Whimsical or simply list out the steps in bullets. Rough is good.

Once you’ve listed these, label each as red, yellow, or green.

Red = Many annoying manual steps

Yellow = Somewhat streamlined

Green = Very streamlined

The key is to dig into the processes that require the most attention. Don’t spend hours mapping out areas you know aren’t bottlenecks.

Start with the reds and go deep. List out every step within that process. The more specific, the better.

Then again, label each step with red, yellow, or green. The ones you label in red are the ones you want to eliminate, optimize, and/or automate.

You can explore using automation tools like Zapier or you can work with an ops consultant to help you implement. But at least you now have clarity on where to start.

I see too many founders waste time trying to automate the wrong areas or they never start because they feel overwhelmed by the endless possibilities.

If you try this exercise, feel free to send me a copy of your process map. I’ll provide some feedback, or at the very least point you in the right direction.

See you all next Thursday 👋

PS. Whenever you're ready... Here are three ways I can help you become more replaceable:

1. Get actionable tips on systems & productivity weekly → Join
2. Learn how to use ChatGPT to create SOPs in minutes → Free Access
3. Find out how I can help you automate & delegate operations → Get My Help

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