Diamond Effect - Success Strategies for Service Businesses

In today's episode, Maggie talks about the critical role of planning in fostering business growth. She distinguishes between project planning and weekly planning, outlining their respective benefits in saving time, maintaining focus, and enhancing client satisfaction. Project planning is vital for service-based businesses, ensuring timely and successful project completions through realistic deadlines and risk management. Meanwhile, weekly planning allows you to streamline routine tasks and prevent scheduling conflicts. Key Moments: Benefits of Project and Weekly Planning (00:01:42) Maggie discusses the benefits of project planning and weekly planning, emphasizing time-saving and stress reduction. Project Planning and Its Importance (00:02:55) Maggie explains the significance of project planning, using examples of service-based businesses and the need for strategic planning. Key Considerations in Project Planning (00:05:19) Maggie delves into the essential elements of project planning, including deadlines, milestones, and risk assessment. Weekly Planning for Business Effectiveness (00:16:38) Maggie highlights the significance of weekly planning, emphasizing proactive time management and effectiveness. Implementing Planning for Business Growth (00:21:33) Maggie discusses the integration of strategic, project, and weekly planning in business growth and offers coaching services. Ready to double your business without adding more work to your schedule? Book a sales call with Maggie here. https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

In today's difficult economy, everyone seems to be a bit more anxious, and on the edge. And that can lead to unnecessary deterioration of service provider-client relationships when unexpected challenges arise. In this episode, we dive into the three essential strategies for mastering client relationships. 1) A robust sales process 2) Contracts, policies, and procedures that establish clear rules of engagement and service delivery. 3) Effective, excellent, and frequent communication If you are a service business owner looking to double your business, even in today's economy, I can help you. With my coaching, you will achieve it without adding more work to your schedule and rather by reducing stress, overwhelm, and a lot of frustration. Book a sales call with me here https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

In my latest podcast episode, I dive into the world of data analytics for CEOs and business owners. It's not just about having the information; it's about understanding financial, marketing, and operational data to make informed decisions. For example, did you know that tracking your conversion rates, profitability, sales cycle length, etc. can lead to catching opportunities you might otherwise miss? Through real-world examples, I illustrate the transformative impact of data analysis on business improvement. Let's discuss the power of numbers and growth! Ready to double your business without adding more work to your schedule? Book a sales call with me here. https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call The importance of tracking financial numbers (00:01:22) Maggie emphasizes the significance of tracking financial data for business growth and decision-making. Types of data to track in your business (00:02:27) Maggie discusses three types of data that CEOs and business owners should track and the importance of being informed for better decision-making. Using data to improve business performance (00:03:33) Maggie explains the necessity of understanding and learning from tracked data to improve business performance and make informed decisions. Using data to address business challenges (00:04:38) Maggie provides a specific example of using data to address a client's sales process challenges and the importance of having visibility into business operations. The significance of current and past data (00:07:48) Maggie explains the importance of having access to both current and past data for understanding trends and addressing potential issues. Tracking financial numbers for business success (00:10:03) Maggie highlights the importance of tracking financial data, including income, expenses, and profit, for business success and growth. Utilizing marketing and sales data for business control (00:13:33) Maggie discusses the importance of tracking marketing and sales data for better control, confidence, and independence in business operations. Operational data for business complexity (00:17:10) Maggie explains the significance of operational data, such as client complaints and project timelines, as businesses grow in complexity.

Let's be real, we are in the 21st century with 99.9999% of your ideal clients using technology, and especially e-mails. Embracing email marketing in your service business to the fullest can save you lots of time, generate many more sales on auto-pilot, make it easy for clients to refer, and help you strengthen the relationship you have with them without spending hours and thousands of dollars on writing cards, taking them out for lunches or texting them and trying to track all of it. Today's Maggie's Moment shares three must-known tips when using emails as part of your marketing strategy.

Have you ever clung to a business dream with the same tenacity you'd hold onto the last cookie in the jar—only to worry it might crumble? That's where my entrepreneurial journey began, and it's the heart of the latest Diamond Effect Podcast episode. Snuggle into the behind-the-scenes tales of my transformation from a hopeful dreamer to a six-figure CEO. It's been a rollercoaster ride, balancing a corporate job, an executive MBA, and family life. And when the COVID-19 curveball was thrown into the mix, it tested us all like never before. But through strategic planning and high-performance habits, I was able to create progress. These little victories became the building blocks of momentum, steering my coaching business to the point where I moved it from a side hustle to a full-time gig. In this episode, I take you through my personal playbook of doubling business revenue—over and over. It's not just about the numbers; it's about the mindset shift from employee to CEO, the resilience built from setbacks, and the support systems that are the scaffolding of any success. So, if you're itching to catapult your business to the next level, this episode is your beacon. Join me, and let's double your service business (and more) together. To get my 1 on 1 help in getting there, book a sales call with me here - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

As I look back on how I started my business and what allowed me to keep doubling it since then. And how I work with my clients to ensure they get similar results. We always start with the basics. A solid business foundation. One that supports your CEO decisions and guides your actions. In today's Maggaie's Moment, I walk you through what that foundation is and why it is so critical to create it. Ready to scale your service business without overwork or overwhelm? Book a sales call with me here - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

Two weeks ago I attended a coaching conference in Washington, DC. Such conferences allow me to keep growing as a coach. Staying on top of the newest coaching techniques and better ways to help my clients is a priority for me. The better I am as a coach, the faster my clients get results, and the bigger their return on investment is. At the same time, during such conferences, I always learn or am reminded of critical business lessons for entrepreneurs. And in today's podcast, I'm sharing 5 of them with you. Tune is and if you're ready to double your business faster and easier than on your own, without adding more work to your schedule, book a sales call with me here https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call.

Did you know your business coach doesn't need to specialize in your specific industry? To scale your business in a way that allows you to stand out, you need to grow your industry expertise and your business acumen. In today's Maggie's Moment, I share 3 reasons why having a wider perspective, outside of your industry, will help you grow your service business. Being a high-performing CEO is all about your business expertise. And that's what I'm here to assist you with. Book a sales call with me here, https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call, and let's talk about doubling your small service business without adding more work to your schedule.

From my experience, having worked with hundreds of small business owners through my coaching, training, and workshops, there are three main causes of entrepreneurial overwork. And they have to do with 3 S's - Strategy, Skillset, and Systems. In today's episode, I explain why that's the case in each S, give you examples to illustrate, and share tangible strategies of how you can start working less in your business while creating better and bigger results today. And if you're ready to double your business without adding more work to your schedule, book a sale call with me here https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call, and let's talk about it.

You know there is a huge potential for you to reach more clients and organically grow your service business through social media. You also feel overwhelmed by all the demands that you need social media requires for you to be successful there. So most of the time you either aren't using social media for your business at all or are very on and off, which is not the result you'd like. In today's Maggie's Moment, I share with you tips on how to make social media one of your organic marketing arms, and gain more visibility and clients on your terms. It all starts by understanding these three C's: Create Connect Consume Tune in to this bonus episode to gain that understanding. If you'd like to have social media as part of your overall business growth strategy in a way that puts you in charge of signing more clients without adding work to your schedule or burning out, I can help. Book a sales call with me here - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

As a service business owner, hiring a contractor or an agency to remove marketing and sales responsibilities off your plate because you don't like them isn't a good reason to do it. It actually will lead you to lost money, minimal results, and a lot of frustration. This podcast episode will help you do it at the right time and get the maximum return on your investment. Today I want to help you to: And if you're ready to double your business without adding more work by becoming a high-performing CEO, book an initial consultation with me - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

If you have ever told yourself "This doesn't or won't work for me." when considering a marketing tactic for your business, today's Maggie's Moment is for you. Especially if that specific tactic works for other businesses in your industry. Tune in to learn the 5-step process of making any marketing acting you want to adopt work for you. And if you're ready to double your business without adding more time to your schedule, book a sales call with me here - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call.

In this episode, I give you practical tips to help you master time blocking as a crucial tool for business owners to manage time, prioritize tasks, and reduce stress. I address common issues entrepreneurs have with time blocking, such as distractions and unrealistic expectations. I also outline a three-step process for effective time blocking aligned with your business growth strategies. This episode will help you enhance your time management skills and achieve sustainable business growth without added stress. And if you're ready to double your business without adding more work to your schedule, let's talk. Book a free consultation with me here.

"Easy money" projects, clients, and income in your business can be a good thing when you need to pay an unexpected bill or earn a few extra bucks. However, that can put you in a trap of working lower-paying work and not having time to sign clients paying your full price. And, therefore working hard and underearning. In Today's Maggie's Moment, I share with you tips on how to avoid it.

How do you double your service-based business without adding more work? By embracing the concept of strategic constraint and the Pareto Principle. Instead of spreading yourself too thin trying to do it all, you want to make it strategic and take a few actions that will create most of your results. Such decisions are based on positive emotions rather than fear. By focusing on the 20% of efforts that yield 80% of results your business will scale more effectively. And if you're ready to work with me to help you double your business without overhwlem or adding hours to your schedule, book a sales call with me here - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

What if the thing you’ve been avoiding doing so far in your service business is the exact thing preventing you from growing it? No matter how much you want to believe that it’s not. No matter how much you’re trying to do without it by finding other solutions. That thing could be you presenting in front of people. Or hiring your first employee. Or holding your team members accountable. You’ve been avoiding doing it because it’s hard. And with a busy schedule like yours, there’s always something else you can do. Something easier or more urgent. Social media. A client project. A call from a supplier. However, no matter which direction you move, you always come back to and get stuck on the thing you’re avoiding. It's because you cannot outwork your skill gap. And your business cannot outgrow you. So instead of spinning in circles, now it’s the time to get it done. To face the bull head-on and just do it. Today's Maggie's Moment has a challenge for you. Tune in to learn more. Ready to double your business without adding more work to your schedule? Doing the hard thing can achieve that. Because you'll master the skill that right now you're compensating for with extra hours of work and hustle. I can make mastering those skills easy for you. How? Let’s talk HERE.

Your current happy clients that stay or keep coming back (depending on the services model you have), and also refer anyone they know to you, should be the bread and butter of your business. Yes, bringing on new clients consistently is key, but if you cannot retain a core clientele you'll always be hustling. It's always harder, more expensive, and takes longer to convert someone who doesn't know you into a paying client. In today's episode, I'm sharing 3 key practical strategies that will help you book out your service business with returning clients and referrals. Plus the CEO mindset you need to adopt to implement them successfully in your business. Ready to double your business without adding more work to your schedule? My T.O.P. CEO framework will help you achieve that. Book a sales call with me here and let's talk about it - https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call

The prices of everything have gone up, and so are your business expenses. Rent. Fuel. Lunches. Vendors are raising prices. You’re worried about not making enough income or even going bankrupt. You can’t shake that off, which is making you feel panicky and hopeless. But being stuck in panic isn’t going to solve the problem. As a business owner, the CEO, you have two levers to use to solve this. In today's Maggie's Moment, I tell you what those levers are and how you can use them. Ready to double your business without adding more work and ditch the worry about rising costs and going bankrupt? Scheduling a free initial consultation with me HERE.

In today's episode, I'm talking with one of my clients, Paola Di Fonzo, owner of BallooniqueTO, an event decorator, and a balloon stylist. We delve deep into the world of entrepreneurship and success exploring a topic that's often glamorized but rarely understood: the difference between hustle and hard work in business. 1. Defining the Terms: First things first. We clarify what we mean by "hustle" and "hard work." While they're often used interchangeably, there's a subtle yet significant distinction between the two. Hard work entails dedication, perseverance, and putting in the necessary effort to achieve your goals. On the other hand, hustle is characterized by relentless busyness, often at the expense of balance and well-being. 2. The Downside of Hustle: Contrary to popular belief, hustle isn't always a recipe for success. In fact, it can be detrimental, both in the short and long term. Paola and I discuss how the hustle mentality can lead to burnout, and poor decision-making, and ultimately hinder your chances of sustainable success. 3. Finding Balance: But fear not, there's a better way to approach business and entrepreneurship. By prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries, you can create a healthier, more sustainable approach to achieving your goals. We explore practical strategies for finding balance and maintaining your well-being while pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams. 4. Redefining Success: Ultimately, success shouldn't come at the expense of your health and happiness. On the contrary, you experience more of it when you're at your best. We want to challenge the traditional notion of "hustle at all costs" and offer a new perspective on what it truly means to succeed in business and life. Join us as we dive deep into this thought-provoking discussion and uncover the secrets to achieving success without sacrificing your sanity. So sit back, relax, and let's go beyond the grind. To connect with Paola, visit her website www.balloonique.ca And connect with her on Instagram: @ballooniqueto Also, tune in to the first interview with Paola and another client of mine on creativity in business. We refer to it in this episode. Episode 104 - The Power of Creativity when Growing a Service Business with Paola Di Fonzo (Event Decorator) and Stefanie Carroll (Excel and Data Management Expert)

39-41% of businesses in the US are women-owned Canada is lacking at 17-18% but that number is growing More and more women enter the entrepreneurship and business world. And with that more and more valuable perspectives and ideas. Today I highlight what women value as they run their businesses. And encourage all of us #womenentreprenurs to use our voices and confidently share our perspectives. They are valuable and important. And I ask everyone else to listen. And with that consider how those perspectives can be right without making yours wrong. That's one of the key ways #businessworld can greatly benefit. Happy #IWD2024 !