116 | How to know if you're ready for an Integrator with Kristin Kaplan
Proof to Product
The Role of an Integrator in Business
Having run a business of your own for 10 years, you do have a very unique perspective in terms of seeing the holistic side of running a business. It's been interesting over the last couple of years because I feel like this new term integrator has come up in the last year. So they kind of handle all of those pieces a bit, but the key thing about an integrator is they're not really doing the executing, not doing the doing in the business.
As entrepreneurs and product-based business owners, there comes a time for all of us when we have to make the decision to pivot. The pivot period can be a tough and turbulent time, but today on Proof to Product, my friend Kristin Kaplan is here to tell us how she managed to gracefully pivot away from her successful wedding planning business after 10 years to begin working as an integrator for online entrepreneurs. Kristin now creates strategic plans, action steps and manages profitable, sustainable businesses. She is also the host of the Planning for Profit Podcast, the creator of The Pricing Workbook and the founder of Plan to Profit, a monthly program to help visionary business owners reach their goals. On top of all that, Kristin also balances life as a wife, mother to three kiddos, organization addict, beauty & skincare lover, marathoner, and wine drinker (she needs at least one vice to manage all of the above).
On today’s episode, Kristin and I are talking about what it means to be an Integrator - what they do and how to know if you’re ready for one. We also talk about pivoting in business - the fears surrounding it but also how it shows growth as a CEO and money mindset, particularly how to positively frame your thoughts around money. If you’re looking for advice on how to manage it all, or how to make your pivot period easier, this episode is 100% for you!
ON TODAY’S EPISODE:
- Kristin’s entrepreneurial path
- The difference between Project Managers and Integrators
- Why Integrators are often born out of Virtual Assistant roles
- Her areas of expertise and how she helps clients
- The importance of focusing on revenue-generating tasks
- Tips to improve your goal setting
- How to know if you’re ready for an Integrator
- The pricing range for hiring an Integrator
- Why it’s natural to pivot in your business
- How little nudges can lead you in a whole new direction
- The exciting parts of closing one business to open another
- Strategies for resolving your money hangups
- Advice for first-time entrepreneurs
- What’s up next for Kristin
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
“My job is to come into someone's business, help plan out all the processes and systems and everything. My job is to make everything happen.” - Kristin Kaplan
“Money is just a tool. It's not the scary evil thing that we all have to be afraid of. It's okay to build a profitable business that makes you some.” - Kristin Kaplan
“My biggest strength is being able to take a really big goal or vision and then break it down into pieces so that it actually gets done.” - Kristin Kaplan
“It's so helpful to get an outside perspective on what your goals are, what your financial goals are, what you're trying to accomplish, what kind of impact do you want to make in your business.” - Katie Hunt
“Sometimes as creatives, everyone wants to chase the new shiny object that's right in front of them.” - Kristin Kaplan
“I wish people would play a little more and set bigger and bigger goals because once you start setting huge goals, even if you don’t meet most of them, you play at a different level, take bigger risks and invest more.” - Kristin Kaplan
“It's super fun to do the vision board, but then, how exactly are you going to make that happen...like specifically?” - Kristin Kaplan
“A piece that a lot of creative entrepreneurs just struggle with is how to create the stepping stones they need to get to the final product or end goal that they want.” - Katie Hunt
“Once you hit that point of like, all right, I'm looking to bring on my second or third team member, I’m ready to operate as the CEO, that's the time to think about hiring an integrator or project manager.” - Kristin Kaplan
“It is hard to stay in the exact same place for decades on end. It gets old for most of us. I feel like we're all in this natural journey.” - Kristin Kaplan
“It's natural to pivot. We have to continue to stay relevant in our businesses and that's what pivoting is. It's just continuing to evolve as a person, as a CEO, as an entrepreneur, and how we interact with our customers.” - Katie Hunt
“Pivoting is evolving.” - Kristin Kaplan
“Just focus your attention on being positive, being grateful, feeling abundant, and try to move away from any feelings of negativity and scarcity.” - Kristin Kaplan
LINKS
Website: https://www.kristinkaplan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinckaplan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinkaplanLLC/
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ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:
Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!
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