WĀ-HINE

Correct me if I’m wrong, but for every podcast I turn to, “goals” are the topic of the moment. The next thing? We get busy jotting down aspirations, milestones, dreams, and ideals. AND UNICORNS AND FAIRY TALES  🦄    🧝‍♀️ Let’s face it, without a vision and a plan, a goal is nothing more than a beautiful but lofty wish. Because nobody tells you HOW to define an ACHIEVABLE business goal that will...

DISTANCE OFTEN BRINGS THE CLARITY WE SEEK What I mean by that is this: We may feel like we’re busy doing nothing during the Christmas break, BUT in taking a break  from the day to day, we’re actually doing an awful lot!  😲 I, for one, try to make the most of this magical process. 👉   I feed my brain the insights it needs to come up with that clarity. You know, ... 🌱   I plant the seed ( Now) 🌱...

👉  What makes one business more successful than the other? The answer is not an easy one and there are many factors at play, but surely SERVICE DELIVERY scores high on the list. The thing is, in a small business, you’re juggling many things with a limited amount of hands. Things go wrong Demand fluctuates Challenges arise . . . And you and your team are expected to sail through it all with a smil...

Every business battles to survive “the busy season” at some point during the year. I’ve been in the thick of it in the last few months and it was the trigger to collate my 6 Tips For Managing The Busy Season (you can call them “tools” if you like). I’m sharing them with you, so neither of us gets consumed by the overwhelm. Because, personally, I can deal with being busy and working under pressure,...

This week I want to come to you Raw and Real: I’m struggling with CAPACITY ISSUES in my events business. See, the events industry is seasonal, and right now... it’s crazy time! I mean seriously crazy! To help my events business team, I’ve had my head down. Get on with the work to get us to the other end. But of course, that will resolve nothing in the longer term. BECAUSE NEXT YEAR....  😭 So .......

After giving the mic to Lynda, my editor, this week it’s Mattie Belsack from Bellbird Writing ’s turn to share her favourite BYW podcast episode.   Mattie is my content writer. Mattie's and my journey together started before Business Your Way existed. She started writing for Auaha (my business events company) in 2020, at the start of the pandemic. When I started the Business Your Way podcast...

Instead of Sandra introducing this week’s episode, you have myself on the mic and I’m talking about my favourite episode of Business Your Way. But before I get into that, let me introduce myself. I’m Lynda Stevenson of LJS Creative Services and a member of Sandra’s podcast team. My role is the podcast editor/manager which involves taking the raw audio, adding an intro, outro and music, along with...

WHAT IS THE #1 FACTOR IN BUSINESS SUCCESS? ❌   It’s not the products you offer ❌  It’s not the marketing ❌  It’s not the investments ❌  It’s not the hours you work   I’m making this sound very black and white, which we all know it isn’t. Because any of these are important. Very important. But without THE RIGHT MINDSET FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS ... it’s going to be a massive struggle. Which begs the...

It’s the number one question on your mind if the talks with my BYW clients are anything to go by. Of course, in all honesty, the answer is up to you. To me, it most definitely is. Although I’m not going to pretend it’s always smooth sailing. But what I do want to say is that you don’t have to remain stuck in the financial challenges of  a small business and the feeling that, despite your exhaustin...

Investing in your business can be a scary affair! BUT, I would argue that taking the leap in business investments is non-negotiable. Call it essential. And the alternative is even more frightening! EVEN when the financial road ahead seems bumpy. Of course, ...there are some things to consider. Because just forking out your hard earned cash on a whim is not what you would call smart or strategic. I...

WE’VE REACHED EPISODE 100 ON THE BUSINESS YOUR WAY PODCAST, which of course is reason to celebrate! I thought long and hard about how that celebration should look, and here’s what I settled on: If anything, my podcast is there to HELP MY LISTENERS WITH THEIR SMALL BUSINESS. So, I decided this should be at the very centre of our celebration. And I wanted it to help ALL OF YOU, no matter what your q...

Confession time! "Consistency Creates Efficiency" is one of the mantras that guided me towards the successful business I lead today. In my personal experience, consistency is the unsung hero, the secret ingredient in any well- running business. And while it’s equally important in so many other aspects of business, it’s THE EFFECT OF CONSISTENCY ON THE EFFICIENCY OF YOUR BUSINESS that’s o...

Company core values are non-negotiable. A MUST-HAVE. And a couple of nice sounding words featuring in your business plan won’t do! That’s because company core values are the backbone of your business . When you articulate them AND live by them, they will affect ... your goals your decisions company culture staff loyalty customer loyalty the bottom-line So HOW do you articulate your values? As simp...

Most new service providers set the prices of their services based on ... ✔️  the minimum viable product ✔️  the competition In layman’s terms, they basically cover their cost plus a tiny bit extra. Also, it’s below the competition’s price point. BUT... this pricing strategy for service business comes with A MASSIVE PROBLEM. Because the clients you will attract are the ones who chase the lowest pri...

Compared to a few decades ago, consumer trust is low. Very low. Customer loyalty is equally   up for grabs.  😭 For businesses ( like YOU! ) who genuinely want to distance themselves from the landscape of  tricksters, dodgers and mild manipulators of truth, it’s hard to differentiate yourself. BUT IT IS POSSIBLE! And the answer is AUTHENTICITY . See,... AUTHENTIC BUSINESSES INSPIRE AND PROSPER. It...

In the highly competitive landscape of service-based businesses, it's crucial to have a steady stream of meaningful sales conversations. Mastering the art of sales is not just about closing deals; It goes deeper than that. Much deeper. BECAUSE... People don’t say YES unless they ... ✔️  feel a connection ✔️ think you understand their needs ✔️ feel like they are in the hands of an expert who w...

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of building a reputation in business. Whether it’s a bunch of 5 star reviews on Google, or the hallway chat that happens between 2 colleagues, your reputation matters...A LOT. 👉 It can make or break your business. 👉 It can determine how fast or how much your business grows. 👉 When done well, it's a powerful tool that can help attract new customers w...

At some stage, EVERY entrepreneur will find themselves at a crossroad where they are no longer okay with sacrificing... lifestyle family time mental health physical health time with friends holidays sleep hobbies   ...for their business. Sure, they’re happy to put in the hard work, but too much of a good thing.... So does it mean work-life balance is an utopian quest for entrepreneurs?  🤔 No, it’...

The idea that offering a wide range of services will make your business more appealing to potential clients is a common misconception. When in fact ... the opposite is true. I’m not one to cause arguments, but ... TODAY I’M GOING TO CHALLENGE SOME OF YOUR BELIEFS AROUND SPECIALISATION VS GENERALISATION. Just think about it... You need help with the social media for your agency. Who will you turn t...

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR PRICING STRATEGY RIGHT? If you expect me to tell you I have the magical formula . . . you‘re wrong! BUT, I CAN GIVE YOU A ROADMAP TO FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELF. Because nobody has a business exactly the same as yours! And nobody knows your business like you do! Let’s keep it at this: 👉  There are several things to consider if you want the answer to the right price question (Hint:...

On today's podcast, I’m not the one to ask the questions. I’m the one to answer them! I speak to Rachel Reiter on her Brand Lover podcast. Apart from podcast host and business owner, Rachel is also a mum. And like many female business owners, she’s in the thick of it. Based on what I hear from business owners on the BYW podcast, you know what I’m talking about. Me, ... I’VE BEEN THERE, DONE T...

Going from doer to manager in your agency is not something you want to take lightly. As a matter of fact, it’s a big deal and something you better prepare for. Rachel Klaver and I know, because we have been there,... and went flat on our face! But we got up and NOW KNOW BETTER. And we're here to share our brutally honest advice with you! So let’s talk about the challenges AND how to work your...

Why does your service business need a sales funnel, when the leads flow in through word of mouth anyway?  🧐 Many would argue... you don’t. And I used to be in that camp. Now... I disagree! WHY? Because if any of these statements apply to you: ✔️   I want to be more intentional about my business. ✔️   I want to take on more clients, but I don’t have time. ✔️   I wish I could be the manager in my b...

We’ve done a good amount of covering on the topic of proposal writing . But what about its prequel   THE DREADED DISCOVERY CALL???  😳 Unlike most people, I DON’T DREAD MAKING THESE CALLS! How do I do that? For starters, I do NOT have a cleverly plotted script I strictly adhere to. Instead, the secret lies in... 👉  my focus 👉 my mindset 👉 my energy 👉 how I approach the conversation The best of...

Social media for service providers comes with its own challenges. But if you are a non-digital native like me, it becomes extra intimidating. 🤔 Where do you start?  🤔 Can you do it yourself?  🤔 When can you expect results?  🤔 Who do you hire to do your Social Media?  🤔 And what are some common mistakes small business owners make with social media?  You often hear me talk with confidence about...