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What does an operations expert actually do? How about a business manager? I get these questions often. 

In short, a strategic partner like me helps you move things forward in your business. A strategic partner is not a virtual assistant, project manager, or online business manager. They may take on these tasks sometimes, but strategic partners look at the bigger picture of your business. They answer the question, “How can we help your biz grow?”

But all that information is a bit abstract, right? You don’t get a clear picture of what it’s like to truly work with one on the daily.

That’s why I talked to one of my longest-running clients for their perspective on working with a strategic partner! Christina Scalera, the founder of The Contract Shop®, has been working with me since 2016. It’s been quite a journey.

Bringing an idea to life

What does a strategic partner do, according to Christina? Simply put, they’re given an idea and they make it happen.

As a strategic partner, it’s my job to vet your business idea and figure out an appropriate timeline. Can it be done today? Tomorrow? Or a distant point in the future? Once we know when you can make it happen, we’ll build a strategy for bringing it to life.

I’ve noticed that many business owners out there are amazing at what they do. They’re fantastic creatives, service providers, or shop owners. They have brainstorming business ideas down pat — but the backend of things? Operations, processes, finances, or systems? There’s room for improvement.

That’s where I come in.

Providing clarity and focus to your decision-making

To give you an idea of how a business can grow with a strategic partner on board, let’s talk a little bit about The Contract Shop’s history.

I came on board in 2016 as a content writer. At the time, the strategy was to be visible and write as much blog content as possible. The Contract Shop® sold just under $40k that year, with 350 products sold.

As for Christina, she spent most of her time trying to figure out the next best move for The Contract Shop®. Which social media platforms should take precedence? What new products do we need? What content do people want?

Every decision felt heavy, meaningful, and difficult to make. The Contract Shop® was starting to take off in name recognition and sales. Christina wasn’t sure where to take the business and how. She was experiencing Shiny Object Syndrome. (And if that sounds familiar to you, I have a free workbook that can help you kick it to the curb.)

Eventually, I moved on to managing the content team in general. I took content creation, review, and scheduling off of Christina’s plate. This is where I started to see The Contract Shop’s other processes and where they could be improved. 

In late 2017, we moved the brand to Shopify. We simplified products and relaunched with a successful Black Friday sale. The following year, we started seeing results from our improvements to systems and content strategy. 

And in 2021? The Contract Shop® hit over half a million in sales, with 2,500 products sold. 

Creating a sustainable, thriving business (that you’re not afraid to walk away from)

You’ve now learned what a strategic partner can do for a business, but are there any perks outside of the business?

Yes! When you know what you’re doing and have a plan to achieve your goals, as well as a partner and/or team at your side, you can relax. 

If you feel overwhelmed, or that your entire business could collapse without you leading the charge 24/7, you need support. You need processes and systems that will keep running no matter what. Content that gets published, tech that keeps working, customers being served. 

As a strategic partner, I want that for you, too! I want you to be able to build better habits, take a vacation, and put down your phone. Explore other business ventures. Spend time doing what you love, without worrying about the next step for your business.

Is a strategic partner right for you?

You don’t have to be a rising star or big-name business like The Contract Shop® to benefit from having a strategic partner. You don’t have to make half a million a year or have three different offers in the works. 

If you need help filtering your ideas and focusing on your overall strategy, a strategic partner can do that for you. No matter how large or small your business is. Sound familiar? Let’s work together.

As Christina put it, bringing on a strategic partner is an investment, but it’s a fast track for growth. A strategic partner will take tasks off your plate, easing your stress, but also giving you valuable insight into how your business works. And how it can work better.

Schedule a call with me and let’s get you started!

Want to see how AlphaMamas benefited from working with a strategic partner? Click here.