How do you make your business run without you?

“It’s a challenge I’ve had and seen my clients challenged by. Here’s what has worked: 1) invest in automation for things humans don’t need to do; 2) staff up and train for depth on your team; 3) if you don’t have a team, ensure that your business model and clients generate enough passive revenue that you can exit every now and then without having to start all over; 4) if your business model relies 100 per cent on you, budget to make the revenues stretch out; 5) rainy day fund.” — Angela Armstrong, president of Prime Capital Group (pcclease.com) “You need to give people the tools to do the job. When you give people the clarity to excel, they almost always do. Good metrics are also essential; you and everyone on your team need to know the score. That means knowing the actual numbers and comparing them against previously set targets.” — Rudy Madsen, owner of Alberta Business Improvement (about.me/rudyatlarge) “Before the plane takes off, I get up early and work late until every project within a threeweek due date is off my plate. Or I share the project deliverables with another business owner in Edmonton’s gracious and generous entrepreneurial community. Then I set my email holiday notification to let clients know I am still thinking about them and pack my airplane pillow.” — Carmen Morgan, business writer at Writing on the Wall (writingonthewallinc.com) “To begin working at this goal, it really depends on how quick the leader can get another team member doing the work, as well as having strong bookkeeping and administrative support set up to back things up.” — Brad Prince, owner of ActionCOACH Business Coaching (actioncoach.com/bradprince) “I invested the time into hiring great staff and teaching them my business. From there, I’ve empowered them to work on their own and make decisions that are in the best interest of our business and our clients.” — Jody Hrabiwchuk, principal and creative director of Urban Creative Co. (urbancreativeco.com)