On a productivity podcast a while back, I heard the host say that he likes to re-evaluate his app usage by asking, “What did I hire this tool do?”
That question got me thinking about all the tools and trainings and apps that make up my business. Why did I invest in them? Why do I spend time and energy on them? Most importantly, are they doing their jobs?
I look at it like an employee evaluation for my business systems. It’s a chance for all of those things I’m spending time and money on to defend their existence. Some will get a promotion. Some will…well, let’s just say their keycard might suddenly stop working.
Either way, my business improves when I intentionally review and re-evaluate my employees systems.
I’m asking this question about every piece of my business right now.
It’s a business-development framework
I have an opt-in form on my website home page for the CLEAR Framework. I “hired” that system to grow my mailing list, and it’s doing its job. Twenty-three new subscribers in the past few days is proof.
The home page opt-in gets to keep its job.
Those new subscribers move directly into a 35-email sequence that promotes Six-Figure Systems. I hired those emails to sell, and they are not living up to their end of the deal.
By asking “what did I hire this system to do?” and “is it doing its job?” I’ve identified an area in need of improvement, and I know exactly what to do about it.
Those 35 emails will definitely not be getting a raise.
It’s a decision-making framework
I ask this question before investing time and money, too.
This morning a last-chance offer from a creator I admire landed in my inbox. It’s a course I’ve been interested in for a while, and I almost clicked the buy button. Then I asked, “What am I hiring this course to do?”
It turns out, I already have another program I’m working through that I hired to do the same thing.
Do I need two? Nope. Decision made.
I take the same approach when I’m tempted to play around on TikTok, launch a new branch of the business, or create a new course.
“What am I hiring this to do, and is that a position that even needs to be filled right now?”
How to use this question in your business (and a word of caution)
1️⃣ Step 1: Take inventory. How many “employees” does your business have? Make a big list. If you get stuck, it can help to think in terms of the four primary systems:
- Visibility systems are things like content marketing, ads, social media, and interviews.
- Sales systems include everything that brings money in the door, like course development, sales pages and funnels, shopping carts, and abandoned cart sequences.
- Fulfillment systems are everything that helps your customers and clients gain access to what they purchased. These are your course platform, new client onboarding system, help desk, and membership community.
- Operations systems are the back end. This is your bookkeeping, SOPs, and even big picture strategy.
2️⃣ Step 2: Ask the question. For each system you’ve identified ask, “What did I hire this system to do, and is it doing its job?”
Your Instagram account is a system. You probably hired it to drive traffic to your opt-in form. Is it doing that? How do you know?
3️⃣ Step 3: Decide what to cut, and what to improve. If you don’t know what you hired a system for, or if it’s not doing its job, it’s time to make a decision. Will you work to improve the results? Or will you dump it and move on?
Only you can make this decision, but don’t cling to something out of a false sense of loyalty or wishful thinking. It’s business, not your grandma’s wedding dress.
⚠️ One extra word of caution: Don’t let the sunk cost fallacy trip you up here. Just because you’ve been paying for that expensive shopping cart for a year doesn’t mean you have to keep it. If it’s not doing the job you hired it for, let it go.
P.S. If you could use some support, here are a few ways I can help:
- Join my Six-Figure Systems community and get instant access to an entire library of system-focused resources to help build, grow, and scale your business. You’ll also get live Q & A calls, mindset coaching calls, and monthly Action Labs to build momentum.
- Work with me 1:1. If you’re ready to nail down the systems that support your business growth, let’s talk about how I can help you avoid the overwhelm and frustration so you can spend more time doing what matters: teaching and coaching.
- Schedule a one-time, “Get Unstuck” call. Bring me your biggest frustration about your existing business systems, and we’ll solve it together. You’ll walk away with an action plan to get you to the next step.
- Need something else? Email me at cindy@cindybidar.com. I read and respond to every one of your emails, and I genuinely would love to hear from you.
