In an earlier blog post, I spoke that the 7 things I do in my indoor playground sale playground business as I have grown and matured as a business owner.
I chased Michael Hyatt, who, in many of his books and programs continuously refers to designing your ideal days and weeks as"the appetite zone." Running inside your desire zone, as he describes it, simply means you're spending the majority of your time doing what you both love AND are good at.
When there are many jobs I cut completely and a few I delegate to better-suited team members, there are several duties that still lie inside my"desire zone," and that I believe are important for me to manage personally.


1) COMMUNICATE WITH BIRTHDAY CLIENTS



At Growing Vines Cafe and Play, we've picked our exceptional private birthday parties as the primary attention of our business.
Due to this attention, I have chosen to plan the primary aspects of each party we host. When someone books their occasion with us, they get a detailed confirmation that includes my own contact info and mentions that I will be in touch because their event draws near.
While I do not normally take care of the implementation of our parties, I really do act as the major touchpoint for parents and collect all their information and preferences. Ten days prior to each party, I send out a personalized party"questionnaire" which comprises all the details we have gathered up to this point, provides added day-of info, and inquires about last-minute particulars.
I answer all queries that the host might have in reaction to that email and-- following some back-and-forth communication-- I record all of their event info on what we call a"celebration prep sheet." Since we have around 6 comprehensive events in one weekend, this organization is essential!
The party-prep sheet is a very thorough document that makes it possible for any of our party hosts to do the occasion to the specific specifications of the parents, leaving no stone unturned. This has enabled me to have most weekends free nonetheless still feel confident we're providing an above-and-beyond birthday celebration experience.
After the celebration, we send a survey to every hosting household. If they have opinions, whether it be negative or positive, I always follow up personally. This closes the loop clients' expertise and makes sure they know I truly care for their child's special day. This process has resulted in a significant amount of repeat bookings and consistent referrals from previous parties.
Not only is planning these celebrations something I excel in, but I also take great joy in it. Event planning is how I got into the business in the first place, so I'm more than pleased to have this task. If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed with all the details, I understand I've amazing team members I will lean on.

2) OVERSEE HIRING AND FIRING


Speaking of our incredible team members, yet another job I choose to get a hand is our hiring and firing procedure. While I do leave the final conclusion to our cafe manager, I would rather write the job posts and filter and descriptions through resumes and applications before bringing anybody in for a meeting.
Having spent several years shooting and hiring my fair share of workers, it's easy for me to see red-flags on software and find"diamonds in the rough" Since we've got most of our normal operating procedures optimized and documented, I prefer to hire based on personality and excitement rather than experience.
In addition, I make sure I welcome every employee to our staff and touch base with them often to check in and gather feedback from them.

3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES



Since I spend some time doing these 7 items (and more!) , my energy and time are freed up to investigate what our perfect clients want and want and figure out a way to incorporate that in our business model.
For instance, I discovered that our birthday party bookings were slowing down at the summertime. When I requested a couple of clients, they said that they DID love our occasions and attention-to-detail but preferred a Summer party to be out at their home (since many have backyards and pools). We then began offering mobile events, where we would bring decorations, food, and activities for the children to their homes, and it was a hit!
Another illustration is our occasions . We are constantly adding fun new occasions that enable clients, particularly working parents with limited weekday accessibility, to see us outside of hours and receive an enhanced experience throughout the theme of the event, class, or activity.
If I had been I still doing EVERY job in my enterprise, I wouldn't have nearly enough time to do as much research or innovation.


When it comes to knowing how to innovate and the best way to offer, it starts with forging a real connection with clients.
It's for this reason that I really like interacting with our clients all time (when I can) and on social media. I choose to work celebrations, events, and even open-play when my family's schedule permits it so I could stay involved and aware of what is occurring during the day. It also gives me the opportunity to observe how customers are using our distance firsthand and listen to any concerns or questions they have. Although in this age of technology there are testimonials, types, and surveys, I have discovered that NOTHING can replace having a face-to-face dialog with clients who use your space (and probably visits competitors too!) on a daily basis.
It's for this reason you will also see billionaire CEOs seeing retail locations on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was famous for visiting hundreds of stores across the country each year, spending time with all the customers who had been spending their money on his products.
I love being a family owned and operated business, and that I love for my clients to understand that I'm completely invested in their happiness.


While I do one-on-one consulting for individuals hoping to start out indoor playgrounds, I do spend a substantial amount of time producing absolutely free content for them on my blog and above on YouTube. I also have an absolutely free, 44-page eBook for play-cafe-owning hopefuls they can download right on our website or by clicking here.
If someone consumes that free info and decides they would love to move forward with their programs, I also have an online program called Play Cafe Academy where I help entrepreneurs gain from daydream to opening-day in significantly less time and with less stress than they ever thought possible.
When I was studying this company model, there was not a lot of info out there. Current owners actually keep all their business secrets close to their vest, and now I don't blame them! Even in the event that you charge a consulting fee, you are still sort of giving away the secrets that you have worked so hard for and it's very easy as a business owner to acquire a little smug and protective of your own research and development.
As it came time to start my own company, I ended up making a ton of mistakes (and I mean a TON of mistakes) because I simply did not know any better. When I began getting emails and calls to consult for other potential play cafe owners, then I couldn't keep this info to myself. As soon as it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or there are other business owners more capable than me to share this information, I know that there's a 4-years-ago me sitting somewhere waiting for another idea to jump out in them.
And frankly, I do not need to see an additional company close because someone who's walked before them did not share any information! So why not discuss it myself?!
But my time is precious. I have two little children and also run another business... I do not have 12 hours to devote hand-holding each standpoint owner through the procedure. (And let me tell you, it is going to require at least 12 to 24 hours of paid one-on-one consulting to break the surface of everything you require, including documentation.)
Students can go through these modules in their own pace, and I do not need to spend some opportunity to walk my pupils through the program.
This enables me to help other entrepreneurs along their path while also reserving time and energy I need for my family and other commitments.
In general, this business model can actually be whatever the owner wants it to be. I understand many owners that choose to do ALL of the things inside their small business, and it works for them because most of us have different"desire zones"
I feel very lucky that I have learned through the years what my strengths (and weaknesses!) Are and may design my"ideal" weeks accordingly. If I was burning the candle on both ends trying to tackle everything myself, I'd be doing myself, my family, and my customers a significant disservice.