EPISODE 46

Creating Ninja Systems with Crista Grasso

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Today on the podcast we have the very special guest, Crista Grasso, who we get to geek out on systems with!

Crista is known as the business optimiser - she helps businesses gain clarity on the most important things to focus on, and what to lean out and eliminate for great alignments. Crista is also the creator of the Lean Out Method, as well as the amazing lean out planner and is the host of her very own podcast. Crista is the go-to strategic planning expert for online entrepreneurs when they want to scale their business simply and sustainably

Systems will save you time, provide momentum and give you freedom and flexibility. Perhaps you’ve thought of systemising elements of your business but you’re just not sure where to start. This conversation will help clarify how to take that first step towards efficiency and leverage. Crista and I discuss the two different kinds of systems that can be applied in business - macro and micro - and which one to start with.

Crista gives an example of a really powerful and meaningful strategic system related to your core offer. She also provides advice on how to approach the setup and creation of systems and processes in your business (hint: not all at once!).

Helpfully, we also talk about the hurdles and pitfalls you might encounter when you first start setting up systems, as well as how to tackle these.

Crista shares details about her own strategic planning system that brings so much success, and how this streamlines vision and removes noise.

I’m aiming for frictionless life in 2023 and am looking forward to implementing much of Crista’s wisdom to get there. I absolutely know this conversation will be just as helpful for you, so dive in and get systemising!

Topics discussed:

[00:53]: Today we have the special guest Crista Grasso who is the go-to strategic planning expert for online entrepreneurs when they want to scale their business simply and sustainably. 

[2:04]: Crista gives us some background on how she got into systemising and eliminating stress and pain for busy business owners.
[3:22]: Early on, Crista realised she was naturally good at seeing where systems weren’t working, where systems could be created and where better results could be gained, faster.
[4:43]: When Crista first started her creative jewellery business, she almost failed, despite her success consulting with Top 50 companies. There was a disconnect for her between concepts for large organisations and those for small product based businesses.
[6:00]: Over time, Crista was able to help more and more businesses apply the principles she learnt to product, and now service, based businesses.

[7:16]: Crista explains what goes wrong when it comes to putting their systems in place. She uses a lean strategic planning system that is implemented using Monday and how the initial implementation stage feels time consuming, painful and frustrating.

[8:05]: If you are able to move beyond the initial week and month, the systems will save you time, provide momentum and will give you freedom and flexibility.

[8:50]: The other stumbling block is that people approach systems as a project, ultimately creating digital documents that collect dust.

[10:30]: Where’s the best place to start? There are two levels of systems: 1) Macro (strategic) systems and 2) Micro systems. Ultimately you need a combo of both, but generally it’s best to start with the strategic level.

[11:07]: Crista gives an example of a really powerful and meaningful strategic system related to your core offer.

[12:15]: You need to think of all the critical ways you deliver value and document those - those are your strategic systems. Then move onto microsystems from there.

[12:44]: Think about the most valuable thing you can document, and then document that as you go.

[13:33]: Crista shares her lean strategic planning system that allows her to leverage her business and is streamlined to her vision, without letting all the noise and entrepreneurial idea generation get in the way.

[14:44]: Crista’s system encroaches into her personal life (in a very positive way!). She shares how she planned her wedding and how her husband is also hugely systemised.

[16:14]: Tools and software - what are the tools that Crista can’t live without? Monday, Miro and Mural are her top three.

[17:30]: Crista’s 10:10:10 challenge looks at the top ten areas of waste that cost time, energy and money. The solution is a combination of strategy planning, systems and team.

[18:25]: Frictionless life is the aim for 2023.

[18:38]: Where you can find Crista.

Links & Resources.

Connect with Crista Grasso: 

• Lean Out Method
• Lean Out Planner
• Monday platform
• Miro digital whiteboard
• Mural digital whiteboard
• Website: https://cristagrasso.com/
• Podcast: The Lean Out Your Business Podcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristagrasso/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleanoutmethod/

Connect with Rebecca: 

Download my 5 Step Checklist to Choosing the Right Video Supplier here.

Sign up to the waitlist for my signature program The Video Accelerator here. 

Instagram: @therebeccasaunders

Thank you for listening!

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