Part 3: The Business Reinvention Project: Before I Reinvent My Business, I Need to Decide What I Actually Want

The Business Reinvention Project #3: Before I Reinvent My Business, I Need to Decide What I Actually Want

I have this analogy that a building a business is very much like building a house.

The first room in my “Business House” is Vision.

I have spent many years asking my clients: “If I could wave my magic wand and your business could look however you wanted it to look, what would you want?”

Fun fact, I did (as I was filling out my own workbook) and guess what? I didn’t have an answer.

I know exactly how to help someone else imagine what's possible for their business.

Apparently, when the client is me, my brain had left the building.

As I was going through my own workbook, I was very clear about what I don't want.

I don't want to be responsible for every website, click, automation and implementation detail.

I don't want to build a giant agency.

I don't want more clients just for the sake of more clients.

I don't want a business that eats all of my available time.

I don't want to be known only as “the GHL Girl.”

But removing what I DON’T want is not the same thing as designing what I DO want.

Next question I would ask my client (so I will ask myself): If I weren't trying to improve the business I already have, what business would I choose to build now? If I met Elaine today with her current experience, skills, priorities, family, wisdom, reputation, connections and desires, what business would I build for her?

One word answer: JOY.

I would help people build a business that brings them JOY.

What does JOY for myself look like?

Joy looks like freedom to have guilt-free Grandma Duty whenever I am needed.

Joy looks like less stress while I’m sitting at my computer.

Joy looks like honoring my calendar.

Joy looks like going out on lunch dates with my friends and dot sisters.

Often times when we look at business reinvention, formerly known as Business Makeovers, I would look at what needs fixing.

Now, I want to look at DESIGNING.

I get to design the business I’ve always wanted. And you can too!

"Fixing" would ask questions like:

• How do I improve this offer?

• How do I market this better?

• How do I make my website convert?

• How do I streamline this process?

"Designing" asks questions like:

• What do I want my days to feel like?

• What work do I want to personally own?

• What work do I never want to do again?

• Who do I want sitting across from me?

• What do I want people to come to me for?

• How much money does this business actually need to make?

• How much time am I willing to give it?

• What parts of my current business would I choose again?

• If I weren't worried about wasting what I've already built, what would I stop doing?

Here’s the scary part… I don't have all of the answers yet.

And I'm starting to realize that IS the point.

Reinvention is not deciding what color to paint the walls before you've decided whether you still want to live in the house.

So before I touch my offers, rebuild my website, restructure my services, or create another damn automation, I'm giving myself permission to stay here for a minute.

To imagine.

To question.

To notice what lights me up. To admit what doesn't anymore.

And to answer the question I've asked countless other business owners:

What do I actually want now?