Best Business Expert

Henry Ford’s real innovation was not the car. There were lots of people who were experimenting with the concept of "horseless carriages" at the time and inventors were trying to create small fuel-powered engines (compared to the large coal-powered ones that ran locomotives).

Henry Ford’s real innovation was a system. It was the ability to make a car quickly. Previously, wagons and carriages were made by a "carriage works" company where a team of builders would custom-construct a carriage for the owner. It was only natural when cars came along that carriage works companies would continue that same work on the horseless version.

But Ford created a system in which a few people, doing the same jobs over and over could mass produce high quality, inexpensive cars. It worked and Ford became the father of the American automotive industry.

There are other companies who have been successful by creating systems: McDonald’s Restaurant has turned everything into a system. You cook the fries for so many seconds. You flip the burgers so many times. You put the mustard and ketchup and onions on in a very specific pattern. It’s no surprise that we see McDonald’s Restaurants everywhere.

Wal-Mart, too, is all about systems. As consumers we don’t see it as much because we shop their at our own leisurely pace but, behind the scenes, a complex system of ordering and stocking shelves has turned the company into a supply chain system superstar.

If you look at any successful firm, whether it’s a corporate model or a franchise, has focused on developing systems. Your business will succeed when you focus on systems, too. Systems help to automate the things you do. Now, when I say "automate" it doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is done automatically for you. However, it does mean that you don’t have to think consciously about what to do next. Having a list pinned to your wall that is the step-by-step marketing system you use to find new leads, you’ve automated it because all you need to do is refer to the list, and do the next thing on it. (Eventually you can use software or employees to do some of those steps for you, but for now simply having the list will make a huge difference).

So, how do you create systems?

First, identify the various processes and procedures you use in your business: Marketing, sales, order fulfillment, customer follow-up, new product development, and more. Each one of these is a potential system.

Second, figure out what works. List the steps.

Third, create measurable goals around each step. (For example, if you create a system for your work on Twitter, you might include "Follow 10 people" as one step in your system).

Fourth, implement your system and succeed by doing the same thing over and over and over and over (and over and over, etc.).

You might not aspire to be the next Ford or McDonald’s or Wal-Mart, but even successful small businesses use systems and you’ll save money and time and run a more efficient company when you use systems.

Brought to by you by: Contemporary VA - Run your business instead of running in circles.

@ContemporaryVA on Twitter.  Follow the team to stay updated on business resources we deliver that cover strategies and tips, social media and more!

Related Articles:

• Surviving Your Business in Tough Economic Times
• Do You Work In Your Business or On Your Business?
• The Key To More Business
• Are Franchises Right for You?
• Successful Strategic Partnerships