I’ve always wanted to have an office full of happy, thriving plants. The kind that look really amazing on a Zoom call, when attendees or a potential client is first checking me out.

The only problem was that I didn’t have time.

Time to research which plants would thrive in my office space with medium natural light for 8 hours a day.

Time to learn how much to water each type of plant…and how often. I’ve accidentally killed two succulents and a cactus because of this exact conundrum – watering not enough and watering way too much.

Time to repot each plant, because they each have their own schedule.

That all changed when I found Planta, an app that automatically identifies your plants and schedules care reminders for those specific plants.

Two weeks into using this app, plant care has become a quick, simple part of my daily routine. I know exactly what to do to maintain the green office space of my dreams and when to do it, from watering to misting to feeding and beyond.

And they. Are. Thriving!

From plant queendom to building a business, any mission in life can be easily and sustainably grown when you’ve got the right tools and support in place. As a Virtual Assistant (VA) and Online Business Manager (OBM), I unfortunately see many businesses who don’t have those tools and foundations in place. Solopreneurs model what they learn from coaches and teachers without considering if it’ll ultimately serve their business.

That’s where scaling comes in.

Some people refer to scaling your business as building your team. Others use the word “scale” to mean “increasing revenue”. In reality, scaling your business starts before either of those things, which can often be a result of scaling. 

What does scaling your business mean?

Scaling your business means creating a foundation that enables and supports the growth of your company. It means having the ability to grow smoothly, without being terribly hampered by things like, oh say…a global pandemic. It allows you to act proactively and respond to unexpected hurdles instead of reacting. Scaling requires planning, some funding and choosing the right systems, team, processes, technology and partners for the type of growth you want to achieve.

For the soul-centered solopreneur, there are 4 key components to scaling your business.

1. Mission statement: What do you want to bloom?

There are many reasons to add plants into an office space: greenery to clean the air, herbs to eat, plants that flower. Knowing why I want greenery in my office directly informed my choice of plants. 

Similarly, a mission statement that hits your heart and centers around your customers will keep you on course as you continue to get to know your audience and develop your offers. You’ll know which “shiny objects” to avoid and which could possibly serve your business.

2. Standard operating procedures: Are you watering enough?

The reason why my Planta app works so well is that it not only already has all my plant care tasks programmed and ready to pop into my notifications. It also tells you how to do each task. I didn’t have to figure out the tasks or the timing myself, or how much water is enough… which saved a ton of time and effort. I get to concentrate on simply watering, misting, and feeding my plants.

Document your processes as soon as possible, hopefully before you need to delegate them, so you can easily trade in your your owner/operator hat for your CEO cape. Don’t worry about getting it 100% perfect; your processes will evolve as your knowledge grows and your team members contribute their genius.

3. A healthy funnel: Are you using the right soil?

Not all plants require the same amount of water or the same kind of soil. (Sounds like a given, but I’m sure you’ve killed a cactus by overwatering it, just like I have.)

And your unique business doesn’t have the exact same audience or offers as any other business in your industry. Make sure you’re feeding your business properly by finding and plugging any leaks in your lead generation. Automate where you can inside and outside of the office. Feed your roots for sustainable growth.

4. Delegate!

Just because my Planta app tells me what to do and when doesn’t mean I have to do everything alone. How many people with a big, beautiful garden do you think actually pull their own weeds or do their own fall cleanup? Definitely not all of them. I can easily ask the kid next door to take over when I need help. 

The key in delegating is to identify your business’s next phase of growth, what’s stopping you from getting there, and delegating those tasks and outcomes to the right people, whether they are subcontractors or employees. Bonus: delegating also multiplies your business’s human impact.

Join the Scale Society Waitlist for support in scaling your soul-centered business.

While it’s definitely possible to grow your business (and revenue) without first creating a solid scaling foundation, you’re far more likely to burn out along the way. And, it’s way easier for the wheels of your business to fall off.

I’ve seen it happen with solopreneurs who built multiple 6-figure businesses, only to get steam rollered by the momentum, abandon everything to recuperate, and start over from scratch.

Scaling not only allows you to grow your business sustainably, it allows you to test new ideas, pivot your offers, and expand how you serve your audience without constantly rebuilding it.

If that type of freedom and growth sounds right for your business, join the waitlist for Scale Society, my six-month, small group program that will help you create the unique foundation your business needs to scale from 5 to 6 to 7 figures.

Get on the waitlist for Scale Society here.