In an earlier blog post, I spoke that the 7 things I no longer do in my indoor playground company as I have matured and grown as a company owner.
I chased Michael Hyatt, that, in many of his books and programs continuously describes designing your ideal days and weeks as"the desire zone" Operating within your dream zone, even as he explains it, only means you are spending the majority of your time doing what you both love AND are great at.
When there are many tasks I cut completely and a few I delegate to better-suited team members, there are several responsibilities that still lie inside my"desire zone," and that I feel are important for me to manage personally. Even though this is constantly shifting as my priorities (both professionally and personally) evolve, these are just 5 of those tasks that I'm not giving up just yet as a company owner.



At Climbing Vines Cafe and Play, we have picked our unique private birthday parties as the main focus of our small business .
Due to this focus, I've chosen to personally plan the primary facets of each party we host. When someone publications their occasion with us, they get a detailed confirmation which includes my contact information and mentions that I will be in touch because their event draws near.
While I don't typically take care of the implementation of our celebrations, I do act as the main touchpoint for parents and gather all of their information and preferences. Ten days before each celebration, I send a personalized party"questionnaire" that comprises all of the details we have gathered up to that point, provides added day-of info, and asks about last-minute particulars.
I answer all questions the host may have in reaction to this email and-- after a few back-and-forth communication-- I record all of their event info on what we call a"party prep sheet" Based on customers' choices, I make a listing for all of our sellers (catering, party supplies, balloons, paper goods, etc.) and will ordinarily have a team member complete the purchasing and arrange all the supplies so that they are grouped by party. Because we have around 6 all-inclusive events in one weekend, this organization is indispensable!
The party-prep sheet is an extremely detailed document that allows our party hosts to execute the occasion to the specific specifications of their parents, leaving no rock unturned. This has enabled me to have most weekends free nonetheless still feel convinced we're delivering an above-and-beyond birthday party experience.
After the party, we send a survey to every hosting household. Should they have feedback, whether it be negative or positive, I always follow up . This closes the loop clients' expertise and makes certain they know I genuinely care for their child's special day. This method has resulted in a substantial number of repeat bookings and consistent testimonials from past parties.
Not merely is planning these celebrations some thing that I excel in, but I also take great pleasure in it. Event planning is the way I got into the business in the first place, therefore I am more than pleased to take on this task. If I am ever feeling overwhelmed with all the facts, I know I've amazing team members that I will lean on.



Speaking of our amazing team members, another job I choose to get a hand is our hiring and firing process. While I really do leave the final decision up to our cafe manager, I prefer to write the project posts and descriptions and filter through resumes and applications before bringing anybody in for an interview.
Having spent several years shooting and hiring my fair share of workers, it is easy for me to see red-flags on software and find"diamonds in the rough" Since we've got most of our standard operating procedures documented and optimized, I prefer to hire based on personality and excitement instead of experience.
In addition, I make sure I welcome every employee to our team and touch base with them frequently to check in and gather feedback from them.

3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES



Since I no longer spend time doing these 7 things (and more!) , my time and energy have been freed up to research what our ideal clients want and want and figure out a way to incorporate that into our business model.
As an example, I noticed that our birthday party bookings were slowing down at the Summer. When I requested a couple of customers, they mentioned that they DID love our events and attention-to-detail but chosen a Summer party to be out at their home (since most have backyards and pools). We then started offering mobile events, where we would bring decorations, food, and activities for the kids to their homes, and it was a hit!
Another example is our occasions . We are constantly adding fun new events that allow clients, especially working parents with limited weekday accessibility, to visit us out of hours and receive an enhanced experience throughout the subject of the event, course, or activity.
If I were I still doing EVERY job in my enterprise, I wouldn't have nearly enough time to perform as much innovation or research.


If it comes to understanding how to innovate and what to offer, it starts with forging a genuine connection with clients.
It is for this reason that I love interacting with our clients in-person (when I can) and on social media. I choose to work celebrations, events, as well as open-play when my family's schedule allows it so that I could stay active and aware of what is happening during the day. Additionally, it gives me the chance to observe how clients are using our space first-hand and listen to any concerns or queries they have. Although in this age of technology you can find testimonials, types, and polls, I have discovered that NOTHING can replace using a face-to-face conversation with customers using your distance (and likely visits competitors too!) on a daily basis.
It is because of this you will even see billionaire CEOs seeing retail places on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was renowned for visiting hundreds of stores around the nation every year, spending time with the customers who were spending their cash on his products.
I love being a family owned and operated company, and that I love for my clients to understand that I'm fully invested in their happiness.

5) HELP OTHER ENTREPRENEURS ALONG THE SAME PATH

While I do one-on-one consulting for individuals hoping to start out indoor playground equipment (www.recreationreview.net) playgrounds, I do spend a significant quantity of time producing absolutely free articles for them on my blog and over on YouTube. I also have an absolutely free, 44-page eBook to get play-cafe-owning hopefuls they can download right on our website or by clicking here.
If a person consumes that free information and decides they would like to move forward with their plans, I have an internet program called Play Cafe Academy in which I help entrepreneurs get from daydream to opening-day in significantly less time and less stress than they ever thought possible.
When I was studying this business model, there was not a great deal of info out there. Recent owners actually keep all their business secrets near their vest, and I do not blame them! Even if you charge a consulting fee, you're still kind of giving away the secrets that you have worked so difficult for and it is very easy as a business owner to get a little smug and protective of your own research and development.
As it came time to open my own company, I wound up making a ton of errors (and I mean a TON of errors ) because I simply did not know any better. When I began getting emails and calls to consult for other possible play cafe owners, I couldn't keep all this information to myself. While it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or there are other small business owners more qualified than me to discuss this advice, I know that there is a 4-years-ago me sitting somewhere waiting for the next concept to leap out in them.
And frankly, I do not need to see an additional company close because someone who's walked before them did not share any info! So why don't you share it myself?!
However, my time is precious. I have two little children and also run another company... I do not have 12 hours to spend hand-holding each standpoint owner through the process. (And let me tell you, it will require at least 12 to 24 hours of compensated one-on-one consulting to even break the surface of what you require, such as documentation) At the average rate of $100 to $200 an hour to actually consultwith imagine what you could end up paying for only a hint of education!
Students can go through these modules in their own pace, and I do not have to take the time to walk my students through the program.
This allows me to help other entrepreneurs in their path while at the same time reserving the time and energy I need for my family and other commitments.
I understand many owners that choose to do all the items inside their business, and it works for them since we all have distinct"desire zones"
I feel really lucky I have learned through the years what my strengths (and weaknesses!) Are and may design my"perfect" weeks so. When I was burning the candle on both ends trying to tackle everything myself, I'd do myself, my family, and my customers a major disservice.