How many of you attended the webinar this week?
I attended and I wanted to share some insights and my perspective on it.... hope you all don't mind!
First, I have to say THANK YOU to Square for hosting it and to Emily for sharing her success with us using Square. As I'm typing this, I cannot remember the names of our hosts or Emily's shop to tag them, so I'll have to see if I can find them and add a comment later.
I think it's always valuable when Square puts out videos or hosts an informational webinar. We have new members join Square and the Square Community every single day. I've been here for a couple of years and don't even feel like I know 1/32nd of what Square has to offer! In my defense though, our business is service based and we rarely get asked to take a card, so I don't get to use Square tools day in and day out like most of our sellers.
Even though I'm a Square Champion, I know that it's good for me to learn the basics of what is offered.... I may not always be able to answer questions, but I will try! Also, since we don't currently use a POS register or other type system, I need to learn it - we could potentially be opening a new business that will require me to know all of the ins and outs of what we have here. I also know that we have a lot of boards, posts and Champs who can help answer questions when I need them. Our resources within the Community are so vast!!
Second, as a seasoned business owner I was really paying attention to several things during the webinar and making mental notes. Some of them came from the hosts' comments and some came from how Emily does business. Let me say that I think there are few "wrong" ways to conduct business. For the most part, we need to conduct business as it suits us. There are seldom things that are truly done wrong that should be universal. All of this got me thinking about the Book Club we used to have here in the Community and one of the books we read called the E-Myth.
The book is about systems. How to create systems to make your business run as a well oiled machine so that you're not working yourself to the bone and you can actually focus on the things you need to do. Hearing how successful Emily has been by utilizing all of the available Square tools, got me thinking about her systems and how she made them work for her. I also felt like it was important to note that there are differences in all of our businesses and we may not do the same things and it is just as important.
- Every business is going to have different systems in place and what may work for one, may not work for another.
- Demographics MATTER!!! I cannot do the same things in Montana that happen in large cities or other states and I don't just mean with the use of Square. How we differ by state makes us differ in how we invoice, collect and get paid, just to name a few.
- Not all Square tools will work for every business - and that's OKAY!
I wish that every start up who uses Square was able to put systems in place from the very first day and see the success and growth that Emily has seen. It's utterly fantastic that she's been able to use email marketing, reminders for invoices due, ACH transfers and many other things to streamline her business so that she can focus on her clients. Although we wish every success for every business, we must stay in reality and know that what works for me or you may not work in every business and we can still be just as successful!
I hope that everyone enjoyed the session, got lots of information and will see continued success!
Owner/Business Manager
Arctic Heat
R&C Property Management
Event Planner/Business Trainer
Member - Women in HVACR
Member - NAWIC; Mentorship Chair for MT Chapter
Square Champions Expert
