Turn Your Business Model Upside Down

I never thought much about my business model until almost twenty years into being an entrepreneur. I know: crazy, huh? My model was to get an idea, implement it, and keep doing it… if it was fun. But I didn't have criteria to gauge what was working and what wasn't. Who cares if I'm constantly reinventing the wheel, as long as I could put food on the table? Are you doing something similar? Maybe you have a well-thought-out model, but you're unhappy and not producing as much profit as you'd like. Your model might feel confining or boring. Does your model support freedom and fun? How about chucking your current model for something better? And what if you created a model that worked in harmony with your behavioral style, values and lifestyle? What if you kicked it up another notch and created a business model so cool that it put your creativity at an all-time high? Turn your business model upside down, shake it out and put it together in a way that 100% turns you on. You might be cringing right now at the thought of figuring out a business model. It might sound complicated. Nah! It can be a simple, easy and creative process. In fact, the end product can fit on an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. For this exercise, get your fantasy hat on and ditch the voices of every business expert you've ever heard. Answer the following, not worrying about how each question relates to the next. You're connecting with your Inner Business Expert to speak your heartfelt truth. * What do you love doing or offering? (You're so energized by it that you could do/offer it all day long and be ready for more.) * How involved do you want to be in the process? * Do you want to sell to a few or to many? (You're not worrying about monetizing yet, so be honest about your preference.) * Who do you freakin' love serving? * Do you enjoy offering a few things or many? * If your business were a party, what would be the theme? Is it intimate and mellow? Is it high energy with fun food, drinks, and dancing? Are you playing poker and giving awesome prizes? Are people showing up in costumes, tuxes or jeans? Get all the components on paper. And if you weren't worried about how all the pieces fit together, what would you be thrilled to offer and in what way? If you weren't worried about offering products and services in the low, mid and high price points what would you offer? Next, weed out any ideas that seem fun, but won't sustain your passion. The last step to creating your model is to piece the components together in a way that flows for you and your ideal customers. And your pricing needs to feel good in your heart, yet support the profits you claim as your desired outcome (you might need some coaching on that, right?). Your business model needs to support you emotionally and financially. There are many models out there; there is no rule that they have to be based solely on what business strategists say.