EP 97 | How to Build a Business that Runs Without You with Alyson Caffrey

In this episode of "She's Busy AF", host Lauren Loreto interviews Alyson Caffrey, founder of the Operations Agency, the co-creator of the Operations Simplified™ Framework, and the author of The Sabbatical Method: Create a business that can function without you. They discuss the importance of work-life harmony for business owners and the mindset shift needed to effectively delegate tasks to a team. Alyson emphasizes the need for a solid foundation before delegating and the incremental process of building trust and increasing delegation over time. They also touch on The Sabbatical Method, data-driven decision-making, and the importance of taking breaks to avoid burnout. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of building a solid foundation for a business and prioritizing work-life harmony.

Find her on social: @alycaffrey
Buy her new book: https://amzn.to/3MJQsGC
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Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laurenloreto


Timestamps:
Title: Introduction of Alyson Caffrey [00:00:16] Lauren introduces Alyson Caffrey, founder of Operations Agency and co-creator of Operations Simplified Framework, and talks about her expertise in streamlining backend operations.

Title: Importance of Work-Life Harmony [00:01:54] Alyson and Lauren discuss the importance of work-life harmony for business owners and the need to have pockets of friends for different lifestyles.

Title: Mindset Shift for Effective Delegation [00:05:17] Alyson talks about the mindset shift needed to effectively delegate tasks to a team and the incremental process of building trust and increasing delegation over time.

Training Wheels for Delegation [00:07:02] Alyson discusses the importance of an iterative process when delegating tasks to a team, using training wheels to guide them.

Avoiding Quality Issues When Delegating [00:08:40] Alyson suggests starting with low-hanging fruit and creating a list of non-negotiables to avoid quality issues when delegating tasks to a team.

Challenges of Maintaining Quality in a Growing Agency [00:11:53] Lauren and Alyson discuss the challenges of maintaining quality in a growing agency and the importance of having a process in place and someone owning quality.

Pushing Buttons and Pulling Levers [00:13:37] Alyson discusses the challenges of delegating tasks to a team and the importance of having a solid foundation before doing so.

The Sabbatical Method [00:17:21] Alyson talks about her upcoming book on the sabbatical method and how it can help business owners build systems to function without them, whether for longevity or for exit.

Removing the Founder [00:19:44] Lauren raises a question about how to maintain a company's culture and values when the founder is removed, especially in the context of a potential acquisition.

Building for Longevity vs. Exit [00:20:43] Alison discusses the importance of determining whether a business is being built for longevity or for an exit strategy.

Corporate vs. Small Business Operations [00:21:29] Alison compares the differences between corporate and small business operations and how small businesses can leverage corporate strategies.

Simplicity in Decision Making [00:25:38] Alyson and Lauren discuss the importance of data-driven decision making and the power of making quick, informed decisions as a founder.

Importance of Simple Operations