Business growth is so much easier when you have the right systems and processes in place. Similar to your Spring cleaning routine, there is a way that you can be systematic when it comes to identifying and eliminating the things that no longer serve your business. In this episode, Crista Grasso introduces her CHuCK technique, which stands for Cut, Hold, Change, Keep. Crista explains how using this simple process can help you keep your systems and processes aligned with your long-term and short-term goals. The CHuCK technique can help you build momentum and get a head start in your plans to grow and scale. Listen in to learn how you can start using it to grow your business.
In this episode, I share:
- Introducing the CHuCK technique
- How to leverage CHuCk in your business
- Real examples of Cut, Hold, Change, and Keep
- The 4 different facets of your business you'll want to consider when leveraging CHuCK
- How to incorporate this technique in your 30 and 90-day planning
- How to get started using the CHuCK technique today
Tune into Episode 12 of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast or keep reading below.
The CHuCK Technique: How To Eliminate What Doesn't Help You Grow Your Business
I don't know about you, but I am beyond excited that Spring is finally here in the Northeast. It doesn't always feel like spring at this time of the year but it's starting. Days are getting longer, and the weather is getting nicer. This is my happy time. I hope that you are equally as excited.
Spring is one of those seasons where everyone tends to focus on cleaning, or as we call it, Spring cleaning. The desire to get rid of things to create space for the new season is perfectly aligned with this show because the Lean Out Method is all about eliminating anything that’s no longer serving value to you or your customers so you can focus on what matters most right now. Now that we just officially entered Spring, we have the opportunity to clean or ‘Lean out’ our businesses in addition to our homes and personal life.
The most effective Spring-cleaning technique for your business
There's one effective technique that I infuse in all of my work – whether it’s with my clients or in my businesses – to tidy up my business. It is a technique I developed called CHuCK (Cut, Hold, Change, Keep). Growing your business requires letting go of the things, projects, and tasks that no longer serve you or your business. This could look like eliminating something that is no longer in alignment with where you are now, or no longer in alignment with whatever is that next level for you and your business. The goal is to create space in order to achieve those big, bold goals that you have coming up for Q2 and throughout the rest of the year. CHuCK is a simple way to help you get focused and gain some momentum for the next several months.
How to leverage CHuCK in your business
You can use CHuCK (Cut, Hold, Change, Keep) with your business offers, as well as the activities you do on a daily basis. The idea is to sit down with your calendar and make sure that the things you’re currently spending your time on are aligned with your goals. Once you’re sitting down with your calendar (and team if you have one), write down Cut, Hold, Change, Keep on paper or on your computer and walk through the following:
Cut
Place anything in the Cut category that you want to completely eliminate from your business. Example - Which of these things should I be cutting? Which things are no longer adding value? Where do I need to lean out and cut some of this stuff out entirely?
Hold
Place anything in the Hold category that you want to put a pause or eliminate in the short-term to give you some space back so you can focus on the things that matter most and are going to move the needle towards your goals. Example - Where do I need to put things on hold?”
Change
Place anything in the Change category that are important for you, your customers and the business, but could be improved. Remember, change can be small continuous improvements over time, which is Kaizen. Example – Where am I not getting optimal results? Where can I be more productive? What can be even better? “Where can I re-imagine?”
Keep
This one is self-explanatory, but place anything in this category that is working and adding value to you, your customers and your business. Remember, this doesn’t mean you won’t throw it in the Change category next time to be optimized, but it does mean you are keeping it for now.
The 4 lenses to look through when using the CHuCk technique
There are four particular lenses that I recommend looking through when using the CHuCK technique in your business.
The first is the return on investment. If we take activities as an example, are the things that you're doing - the things that you are investing your time, money, and mental energy into - seeing a return on investment? Is it worth it?
The second one is alignment. It's essential that you have a next level of vision in your business. When you think about the vision you have for your business - whether it's your long-term vision, several years out, or a short-term vision – it’s important to consider how aligned your vision and goals are when combined. I often see a lot of people completely unaligned in their business. They’re working hard and doing all the things, but they’re doing them because they feel like they should or it’s how they’ve done things forever, not because they’re in alignment. It’s natural to be fearful of calling quits on those tasks you’ve done forever, but this is an area where you can really reap the rewards if you’re willing to get honest with yourself. A few questions to ask yourself are - is what I’m doing directionally aligned with where I want to take my business? Is it aligned with the next 90 days? Is this something I need to put on hold?
The third is fulfillment. Is this something you enjoy doing? Is this something that you want to have in your business? There are so many ways you can achieve success in your business, so remember no to get stuck on what everyone else is doing. If you’ve been doing something over and over again, and it’s no longer fulfilling, then ask yourself why you are doing that task or project. If the answer is because it’s necessary, then find a way to automate or delegate it to get it off your plate so you can be more in your zone of genius.
The fourth is investment. I don’t mean financials; I mean something that’s going to pay-off and benefit your business in the future. An example of this is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – let’s say you’re in a space as a thought leader and you’re putting out SEO-rich content. You may not see a return on that in the near-term, but fast forward six months, a year, or a couple of years, and all of a sudden you might start seeing a return. Sometimes patience is required, and it’s important to know which of your activities will most likely yield those long-term results.
Ready to use the CHuCk technique in your business?
To get started using this technique, go to my private Facebook group community and print out my free CHuCK template, plus several other free resources in the group. I have a free template that you can print out to help you get started using CHuCk in my private Facebook community- LeanOutMethod.com/group. I recommend using CHuCK every 30 days and doing it more deeply every 90 days. Start by looking at your offers and then you can look more holistically across your business. It may also be helpful to have your team join you during quarterly planning. The more granular you can get, the more powerful the results.
With that, I hope you have an amazing early Spring, and I look forward to sharing more valuable content with you.
Important Links:
- Lean Out Circle - Facebook Group
- Kaizen - Previous Episode
- LeanOutMethod.com/group
- Criscara
- Lean Out Planner
by Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the go-to strategic planning expert for leading global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale. Known as the "Business Optimizer", Crista has the ability to quickly cut through noise and focus on optimizing the core things that will make the biggest impact to scale a business simply and sustainably. She specializes in helping businesses gain clarity on the most important things that will drive maximum value for their clients and maximum profits for their business. She is the creator of the Lean Out Method, 90 Day Lean Out Planner, and host of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast.
