It’s one thing to create an online course; it’s entirely another to build the “business” behind it.
Processes, team, finances, SOPs… all things I like to call “operational elegance”.
Because, the truth is whilst the gurus will tell you that an online course will give you freedom and flexibility, the REAL truth is that TRUE freedom comes from the systems, routine and operations that you build BEHIND it.
In today’s podcast episode, we cover what you need in place to build out the operational structure behind your business. Routine, system and structure will set you free.
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Learning how to create and sell an offer – marketing, sales, offer design – are the FIRST skills you need to master as a course creator. Without leads and sales, you ultimately don’t have a business. At some point though, once you have the core fundamentals in place and you are starting to make consistent sales, your focus must necessarily shift.
You’ll feel the pull.
Things will be growing, but they will be starting to feel chaotic. You’ll be making sales, but you’ll be feeling stressed and pulled in multiple different directions. You’ll start to wonder how you’re EVER going to scale and reach your big goals without sacrificing your sanity, your delivery and creating (even more) operational chaos.
When that time comes, it’s time to focus on the BACK END of your business. It can be a difficult juggle for a while – you’ll be navigating maintaining front-end growth, whilst also trying to set up system and structure on the back end of your business, too. But when you come out the other side, you’ll start to TRULY realise the freedom and flexibility you started your business for in the first place.
Here are the key systems and operational focuses you need:
✔️ Project Management and Planning
You will need to implement a Project Management portal for managing all projects, for managing clients and for keeping all of your processes.
✔️ SOPs and Back End Systems
You will need to focus heavily on systematising and streamlining everything you do more than once inside of your business.
✔️ Financial Forecasting
You’ll need to have a system in place for making projections, for reviewing your past performance and for for managing your money.
✔️ Team and Growth
You will need to start focusing on what you can let go of, bringing in team or contractors to start to implement the things outside of your zone of genius.
To sum it up…
Building the business BEHIND your digital course or program is the secret to moving towards the freedom and flexibility that many of us start our online businesses for in the first place.
In many ways, it requires an entirely different skill set to the one that gives us our first taste of success in business, which is a heavy focus on marketing and sales.
Achieving operational elegance requires moving your focus to four key things – project management, SOPs and back end systems, financial acumen and team – and learning a COMPLETELY different skill set.
It can feel messy and hard, but ultimately, that routine, organisation and order are the things that will set you free. And what a beautiful thing it is indeed.
Are you ready to create, launch and scale your flagship digital course? Head to thecoursecartel.com/launchpad to apply for our 12 month, high touch group coaching program.
Keep Listening!
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
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