In a previous blog post, I spoke the 7 things I do in my indoor playground business as I have matured and grown as a business proprietor.
I chased Michael Hyatt, that, in most of his novels and programs continuously refers to designing your perfect weeks and days as"the desire zone" Operating within your desire zone, even as he describes it, only means you are spending the majority of your time doing what you both love AND are good at.
While this is continually shifting as my priorities (both professionally and personally) evolve, these are 5 of the jobs that I'm not giving up only yet for a company owner.



At Climbing Vines Cafe and Play, we've chosen our exceptional personal birthday parties as the primary focus of our business.
Due to this attention, I have chosen to personally plan the primary facets of each celebration we host. Whenever someone books their occasion with us, they receive a comprehensive confirmation which includes my contact information and mentions that I will be personally in touch as their event draws near.
While I don't typically handle the implementation of our celebrations, I do still act as the main touchpoint for parents and gather all their information and preferences. Ten days before each party, I send a personalized party"questionnaire" which includes all the details we have gathered up to this point, provides added day-of info, and inquires about last-minute particulars.
I answer all questions that the host may have in reaction to that email and-- following some back-and-forth communication-- I record all their event info on what we call a"celebration prep sheet" Because we have up to 6 comprehensive events in 1 weekend, this organization is indispensable!
The party-prep sheet is a very detailed document that allows any of our party hosts to do the occasion to the specific specifications of their parents, leaving no stone unturned. This has allowed me to have most weekends free yet still feel confident we're delivering an above-and-beyond birthday party experience.
After the party, we send a survey to each hosting household. If they have feedback, whether it be positive or negative, I follow up personally. This closes the loop on clients' expertise and makes certain they know I genuinely care for their child's special day. This process has resulted in a significant amount of repeat bookings and consistent referrals from previous parties.
Not only is planning these parties some thing I excel in, but additionally, I take great pleasure inside . Event planning is how I got into this business in the first place, therefore I am more than pleased to take on this endeavor. If I am ever feeling overwhelmed with the facts, I understand I've amazing team members that I can lean on.

2) OVERSEE HIRING AND FIRING


Speaking of our incredible team members, yet another task I choose to get a hand in is our hiring and firing process. While I really do leave the final conclusion to our cafe supervisor, I prefer to write the project posts and filter and descriptions through resumes and software before bringing anyone in for a meeting.
Having spent many years shooting and hiring my fair share of workers, it's easy for me to spot red-flags on applications and find"diamonds in the rough." Since we have the majority of our normal operating procedures optimized and documented, I prefer to hire based on personality and enthusiasm instead of experience.
I also make sure I personally welcome every worker to our staff and touch base with them frequently to check in and gather feedback from them.

3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES



Since I no longer spend some time doing those 7 items (and more!) , my energy and time have been freed up to investigate what our ideal clients want and want and find out a way to integrate that in our business model.
As an example, I noticed that our birthday party bookings were slowing down at the summertime. When I asked a couple of customers, they mentioned that they DID adore our events and attention-to-detail but preferred a Summer party to be outside at their residence (since many have backyards and pools). We then started offering mobile events, where we'd bring food, decorations, and activities for the kids to their homes, and it was a hit!
Another example is our events. We're constantly adding fun new events that enable customers, particularly working parents with limited weekday accessibility, to visit us out of hours and get an enhanced experience through the subject of the event, www.arcadeplayground.net class, or activity.
If I had been I doing EVERY task in my enterprise, I wouldn't have nearly enough time to do as much research or innovation.

4) CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS

If it comes to knowing how to innovate and the best way to provide, it all starts with forging a genuine connection with clients.
It's because of this that I really like interacting with our customers all time (when I could ) and on social networking. I opt to work parties, events, and even open-play when my family's schedule permits it so I can remain involved and aware of what is occurring during the day. It also gives me the opportunity to observe how clients are using our distance first-hand and listen to any concerns or questions they have. Even though in this age of technology there are reviews, types, and polls, I have found that NOTHING can replace having a face-to-face conversation with clients using your distance (and likely visits competitors too!)
It is for this reason you will also see billionaire CEOs seeing retail locations on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was famous for visiting hundreds of stores across the country every year, spending some time with all the customers who were spending their money on his merchandise.
I really like being a family owned and operated company, and that I love for my customers to understand that I'm fully invested in their own happiness.

5) HELP OTHER ENTREPRENEURS ALONG THE SAME PATH

While I do one-on-one consulting for individuals hoping to start out indoor playgrounds, I do spend a significant quantity of time creating absolutely free content for them here on my blog and above on YouTube. In addition, I have a totally free, 44-page eBook for play-cafe-owning hopefuls that they can download right on our website or by clicking here.
If someone consumes that free information and decides they would love to proceed with their plans, I have an online program called Play Cafe Academy where I assist entrepreneurs gain from daydream to opening-day in less time and less stress than they ever thought possible.
When I was studying this company model, there was not a great deal of information out there. Recent owners really keep all of their business secrets near their vest, and now that I don't blame them! Even if you charge a consulting fee, you're still kind of giving away the secrets that you've worked so hard for and it is quite easy as a company owner to get a little smug and protective of your own research and development.
When it came time to start my own company, I ended up making a ton of errors (and I suggest a TON of mistakes) because I simply didn't know any better. So when I started getting calls and emails to consult for additional possible play cafe owners, I could not keep all this information to myself. While it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or that there are other small business owners much more qualified than me to share this information, I understand that there's a 4-years-ago me sitting at work somewhere waiting for the next idea to leap out at them.
And honestly, I don't need to see an additional business close because somebody who is walked before them did not share any info! So why not share it myself?!
But my time is precious. I've got two little children and also run another business... I do not have 12 hours to spend hand-holding each standpoint owner through the procedure. (And allow me to tell you, it will require at least 12 to 24 hours of paid one-on-one consulting to break the surface of everything you need, including documentation)
Students can go through these modules at their own speed, and I don't need to take some time to walk my students throughout the program.
This enables me to assist other entrepreneurs in their course while at the same time reserving time and energy I want for my family and other commitments.
In general, this business model can actually be whatever the owner wants it to be. I understand many owners that choose to do ALL of the items inside their small business, and it works for them since we all have distinct"desire zones"
Are and can design my"perfect" weeks accordingly. If I was burning the candle on both ends trying to handle everything myself, I'd do myself, my loved ones, and my customers a major disservice.