The holy grail of SMB operations is that of the self-running company...

... a company full of

1. meta systems

2. which build & execute tactical systems

3. which run the company.

Here are a few things to implement to bring you closer to this in your own small business

1. Issue Resolution

Have a way for issues to

• be documented

• be problem solved

• have preventative measures implemented

• be periodically reviewed, re-assessed, and modified

This compounds.

2. Documentation

Create a place where anyone, anywhere can look up / learn how to do anything, without bothering someone else.

Create methods to capture, update, and create new writeups, videos, instructions, and references. Build it into your operating cadence and roles

Build a business operation is built to work async without slowing down.

3. Process Review

Have a formal method where documents, forms, procedures, and risk mitigation methods are reviewed, modified, and if possible, eliminated.

The goal is to compound with as little friction as possible.

Remove bureaucracy and red-tape as often as possible

4. Bottleneck Discussions

Build bottleneck

• documentation

• review/discussion

• removal/investment

• post-mortem learning and documentation into your cadence...

... preferably weekly

5. Cadences

Have a set cadence for key

• pieces of information

• data points and metrics

• discussions that move the business forward

• employee discussions and reviews

Really, you want set times to capture any and all feedback from customers, employees, parts, processes, financials, etc.

6. Triggers

Make sure everything has a trigger.

Knowing what to do is what we usually write,

knowing when to do it is often more important.

If I know something has to be done, but am not sure how I'll figure it out.

If I don't know something has to be done, it won't happen at all.

7. Accountability Automation

Automate

accountability Create reports, metrics, screenshots, dashboards to feed to the appropriate places. Use emails, slack, digital signage... whatever it takes Keep people accountable Give them feedback Help them keep score ... automatically

8. Strategy Portfolio

Create a system which

• explores

• tests

• researches

• filters

• invests

Systematize new ideas

Systematize resource allocation

Document testing and validation

Build it into the cadence

Build a candid roundtable of diverse perspectives

9. Financial Review

Systematize your financial review and metric discussions.

Set them in the cadence.

• Where do you need to invest?

• Who needs more resources? Less?

• What are the next investments that will step change the business?

• Where are problems creeping in?

These are some ways you can create systems that will automatically build your company.

When needed, and if built correctly, they can

• build new systems

• remove bloated systems

• create new businesses

• understand the market shifts

• prevent financial problems

• and much more!