One of the most frustrating things about running a business is knowing there are things that you could be doing better, if only you have the time to address them. You’ve probably researched the platforms, thought through how you’d like for things to work, and have a pretty good idea of what would make your life easier. But actually sitting down to implement those things? That’s a whooole different story when you have clients to take care of, marketing to keep up with, a business to run, and a life to live.

I’ve seen this happen with everything from client onboarding to project management. A business owner will recognize that something could be working better, come up with a plan to improve it, and then spends the next several months continuing to work around the very thing that they intended to fix.

Trust me, I get it. When you’re responsible for running an entire business (like, seriously, do we even give ourselves enough credit for that?), it’s pretty easy for the things that need your attention today to take priority over the things that would make your business run better tomorrow.

But I also think that there comes a point where it’s worth asking whether continuing to put off something is actually serving you…especially when you’re preparing to enter a new season of business.

If you’re getting ready to hire your first team member, having clear processes and a reliable project management system becomes a lot more important. If you’re raising your prices or repositioning your brand, you likely want your client experience to reflect the level of service you’re communicating. And if you’re hoping to take on more clients, it might be finally be time to address the administrative work that’s already consuming your day.

These aren’t necessarily projects that require you to rethink your entire business, but they do deserve dedicated attention — and that’s exactly what my Business Intensives are designed to provide.

What Is a Business Intensive?

A business intensive is a dedicated, done-for-you service designed to help you finally tackle a specific project or improve an area of your business that’s been needing some attention. Whether that’s setting up a CRM, creating more efficient workflows, or elevating your client experience, the idea is to get a ripple-effect task off your to-do list and actually put it into place.

The way an intensive is structured can vary depending on who you’re working with and what you’re hoping to accomplish. Most often, they’re offered as VIP Days. At Magnolia Creative Co., our Business Intensives are about getting things DONE, not just blocking off 8-hours of our time for you.

We’ll talk through what you’re hoping to accomplish, I’ll get a better understanding of how your business operates and what you’re trying to create, and then I’ll handle the actual implementation. Because while I think having a clear strategy is important, I also know that another list of things you should be doing isn’t that helpful when you’re already struggling to find the time to do them. Which is one of the reasons I love this kind of work!

There’s something SO satisfying about taking a project that’s been sitting on someone’s to-do list for who knows how long and turning it into something tangible they can actually use in their business. The goal with a Business Intensive is to create something that makes your business easier to run, supports the experience you want to provide, and gives you a stronger foundation for whatever comes next.

What Can You Actually Accomplish During a Business Intensive?

One of the things I really enjoy about working with different businesses is that no two operate exactly the same way. Even when two businesses offer similar services, the way they work, communicate with clients, manage projects, and make decisions can look drastically different. Which is important to consider when we’re talking about improving systems and operations.

I’m not particularly interested in creating complicated processes just because they’re considered “best practice,” and I don’t believe that every business needs to use the same platforms or automations. What works well for one founder and their business might feel frustrating or unnecessary for another.

So before building anything, I want to understand what you’re trying to accomplish, how you naturally like to work, and how whatever we’re creating needs to support the business you’re building. Here are a few examples of projects that could make sense for a Business Intensive:

Setting Up a CRM and Creating a Better Client Experience

Client experience is one of those areas of business that tends to develop fairly organically. When you’re first starting out, you learn how to respond to inquiries, send proposals, collect payments, onboard new clients, send a little welcome gift, remember when it’s their birthday or when they’re going through a big milestone. And because you’re working with a relatively small number of people, managing (and remembering) everything manually doesn’t feel like that big of a deal.

But as your business grows, the process you created when you were working with your first few clients might not be the one that makes sense anymore. Especially when you’re increasing your prices, refining your positioning, or wanting to create a more elevated experience for the people who work with you.

Your client experience doesn’t begin when you start delivering the service someone pays for. It begins the moment they first interact with your business — the way you respond to an inquiry, communicate next steps, send your proposal, collect information, and welcome someone into your world all contribute to how they experience working with you.And while your clients might never see the systems and processes happening behind the scenes, they sure as heck will experience the results of them.

During a Business Intensive, we could set up a CRM like HoneyBook or Dubsado, map out your client journey, create inquiry and onboarding workflows, build email templates, and implement automations to make everything run more smoothly.

But I also want to emphasize that implementing a CRM doesn’t automatically create a great client experience. You can have the most sophisticated software in the world, but if the process itself doesn’t make sense or the communication feels disconnected from your brand, you’re not necessarily making things better. That’s why I like to start by understanding the experience you’re trying to create and then build the systems to support it.

And for anyone who worries that automating parts of their client journey will make their business feel less personal, I actually think the opposite can be true! I’ve always been a HUGE people person and building relationships has been a key part of how I’ve approached business throughout my career. But I’ve also learned that manually managing every tiny detail isn’t what makes someone feel cared for. Sometimes having thoughtful systems in place is what actually gives you the time and energy to be more present for the parts of the relationship that really matter.

Creating a Project Management System That Makes Your Life Easier

I’ve worked with enough businesses to know that people can get pretty creative when it comes to keeping track of everything they need to do. Between spreadsheets, Google Docs, email threads, planners, and the Notes app, it’s possible to develop a “system” that technically works without ever having a formal project management process. And when you’re the only person who needs to understand how everything operates, that might be manageable for a while.

The challenge is that these informal systems tend to rely pretty heavily on you remembering what’s currently happening, what needs to happen next, and where everything lives. Just because you’ve been successfully managing your workload doesn’t necessarily mean the way you’re managing it is particularly efficient or “best” for your business. And it becomes even more important when you’re preparing to hire or delegate responsibilities.

If everything exists mainly in your head, then bringing someone else into the business can create a whole new set of challenges. Instead of having over work, you’re spending your time explaining processes, answering questions, and making sure everything’s getting done.

A Business Intensive could involve setting up a project management platform like Asana or ClickUp, organizing your workflows, creating reusable project templates, and establishing a more intentional way of managing tasks and responsibilites.

I’m also a big believer in keeping these systems as simple as they can reasonably be (because why do you need a super elaborate dashboard with a bunch of different views just because someone on the internet told you that’s how “successful” businesses operate 🙃). I want you to have something that makes it easier to understand what’s happening in your business, see what needs your attention, and manage your work without having to mentally keep track of every last little thing.

Creating Workflows, Automations, and SOPs

One of the things I think business owners tend to underestimate is how much time gets spent on the “little” repeatable tasks. Individually, they don’t seem like a huge deal. Sending an onboarding email takes a few minutes. Creating a new project checklist doesn’t take that long. Following up with a client about something is pretty straightforward. But when you’re doing those things repeatedly, they start taking up a decent amount of your time. Not to mention the mental energy involved, which is just as important as the time itself.

Every task you have to remember, every process to have to manually initiate, and every detail you have to keep track of is another ting competing for your attention throughout the day. This is where creating more intentional workflows, automations, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) can be incredibly valuable.

During a Business Intensive, we can look at a particular process, map out how it currently works, identify opportunities to improve it, and create the systems needed to make it more efficient. This can mean automating repetitive tasks, creating templates, documenting processes, or simplifying steps involved so you’re not doing more work than necessary.

But I also don’t believe that every process needs to be automated or that every task needs its own SOP. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is to eliminate a step (or three) altogether. Because automating an inefficient process doesn’t necessarily make it a good process. It just means you’ve found a faster way to repeat the same inefficiencies. I’d much rather take the time to understand what’s happening first and then build something that makes your business easier to run.

Building a Lead Acquisition and Follow-Up System

Having spent a significant portion of my career in marketing, one of the things I’ve come to appreciate is how closely your marketing efforts and operational systems are connected. And I think this is something business owners don’t always consider when they’re focused on increasing their visibility or attracting more clients.

You can spend a ton of time creating content, building relationships, and getting your business in front of the right people, but what happens once someone actually expresses interest in working with you? If inquiries are coming through multiple channels, follow-ups are being managed manually, and there isn’t a consistent process for moving someone from interested to booked, there’s a good chance you’re creating unnecessary work for yourself. And potentially missing opportunities along the way.

During a Business Intensive, we could create a more intentional lead acquisition process, set up an inquiry form, connect your marketing platforms to your CRM, establish follow-up workflows, or implement the systems needed to support a lead magnet and email nurture sequence.

But it’s also worth considering that the answer isn’t always to focus on generating more leads. Sometimes there’s a pretty significant opportunity to improve what happens with the interest you’re already receiving. Because good marketing can create a whole lot of problems for a business when the things happening behind the scenes aren’t set up to support it. I’d much rather help you create a process that makes it easier to nurture those relationships and convert the right opportunities than to add more work to your plate.

How Does a Business Intensive Work at Magnolia Creative Co.?

I know that bringing someone into your business can feel like a big decision, especially when you’re used to being the person who handles everything. I also know that the last thing most business owners want is to invest in support that somehow creates more work for them. That’s why I try to make the process as straightforward as possible while still taking the time to understand what you need and how I can best support you.

1. We’ll Start With a Discovery Call

Most people who inquire about an Intensive typically already have a pretty good idea of what they’d like help with. They know there’s a particular area in their business that needs some TLC, even if they haven’t figures out exactly what the solution could be.

During our discovery call, we’ll talk through what you’re currently doing, what you’d like to improve, and what you’re hoping to accomplish. I’ll also ask questions to better understand how the project fits into the bigger picture of your business. Because even though we might just be focusing on one particular area, I still want to make sure whatever we’re creating supports the way you operate and the experience you’re trying to provide.

2. I’ll Put Together a Proposal

Once we’ve talked through things and determined what makes the most sense, I’ll send over a proposal outlining the scope of work, along with the contract and invoice. That way, you’ll have a clear understanding of what we’re working on before we get started.

3. I’ll Gather What I Need and Get to Work!

Depending on the project, I’ll need access to certain platforms, information about your existing processes, or examples of materials you’re already using. Sometimes I’ll also send over a questionnaire to gather additional details and make sure I have everything I need to bring your project to life.

From there, I’ll handle all of the implementation! This is probably the part that should be emphasized most because I think it’s one of the biggest benefits of working together through an Intensive — you’re not just walking away with a bunch of homework and another project to manage. I’m taking responsibility for completely the work we’ve agreed upon, so you can continue focusing on your clients and the other parts of your business that need your attention.

4. I’ll Walk You Through Everything

Once the project is complete, I’ll send over a Loom walkthrough explaining what I’ve created, how everything works, and what you need to know to use it moving forward. I want you to feel comfortable and confident with whatever we’ve built, especially because the whole point is for you to be able to take it from there!

But you’ll also have some continued email/Voxer support as you begin to implement for the inevitable questions that come up.

And more than anything, I want you to feel like the entire experience was thoughtful, supportive, and genuinely helpful!

How Do You Know If a Business Intensive Is Right for You?

I think the biggest indicator that an Intensive is a good fit is that you have a relatively clear idea of what needs to be addressed, and once it’s completed, you feel comfortable managing it on your own or having a team member own it.

You don’t necessarily need someone else involved in your business in the day-to-day, and you’re not looking to reevaluate your entire strategy. You have a particular project that’s been sitting on your to-do list, creating unnecessary friction, or preventing you from moving with something else.

And, most importantly, you’re ready to get it done.

As business owners, we’re constantly coming up with new ideas and noticing things we could improve. And while I LOOOOVE that entrepreneurial energy, I also think we have to be thoughtful about where we’re directing our time, attention, and resources.

So before investing in an Intensive, I’d encourage you to consider a few things:

How much is this issue actually affecting your business? If you’re spending several hours every week manually managing a process that could be simplified, that’s worth paying attention to. The same goes for something that’s creating a frustrating experience for your clients or making it difficult to bring someone else into the business.

What would completing this project make possible? I think this is an especially important question. Sometimes the value of improving a system goes well beyond the immediate time savings. Having an organized project management process might give you the confidence to hire. Improving your onboarding experience might help you feel more prepared to raise your prices. And creating a more reliable lead management process might make it easier to support the marketing efforts you’re already investing in.

Is this something you realistically have the capacity to do yourself? I don’t mean whether you’re technically capable of figuring it out. I mean whether you actually have the time, energy, and desire to prioritize it alongside everything else you’re responsible for.

Is this a specific project, or is it part of a bigger challenge that needs to be addressed first? Because sometimes the thing you’re thinking about fixing is only one piece of a much larger issue.

If you’re not sure where your business is headed, what you should prioritize, or how all of the different pieces of your business need to work together, it might make more sense to take a broader look at things…

Business Intensive vs. Accelerator vs. Ongoing Support: What’s the Difference?

One of the reasons I offer different ways to work together is that the kind of support a business needs can change pretty substantially depending on what season the business is in and what the founder is working toward. And I don’t believe in “upselling” you and recommending a more comprehensive service just because it offers more support. I want the level of support to make sense for the actual challenge we’re trying to solve.

A Business Intensive Is for a Specific Project

An Intensive is a great fit when there’s one defined area of your business that needs attention and you’re looking for someone to handle the implementation. We’re focusing on completing a particular project, making sure it works for your business, and giving you what you need to manage it moving foward.

It’s a relatively contained project, which is honestly part of the appeal. You’re getting dedicated expertise and implementation without committing to a longer-term working relationship if you don’t need one.

The Vision-to-Execution Accelerator Is for Bringing Things Into Alignment

My Accelerator is a much more expansive experience. Rather than focusing on one isolated project, we’re looking at your business as a whole through the lens of the The Magnolia Method™. That means we’re examining your vision, brand positioning, messaging, marketing, systems, operations, and the way that everything works together to support the business you’re wanting to build.

I think this kind of works becomes especially important when you’ve reached a point where your business is functioning, but you’re starting to realize that the way you’ve built it might not be the way you want to keep running it. You have ideas for what you want to do next, but you’re not entirely sure which ones make sense to pursue right now. You’ve outgrown certain systems or processes, and your offers, marketing, and operations no longer feel particularly aligned with where you want the business to go.

The Accelerator gives us the space to take a deeper look at where things currently stand, get clear on what you’re working toward, and create a more intentional plan for bringing that vision to life. Which is worth mentioning doesn’t always mean growth. Sometimes the goal is to make the business you’ve already built run better, rely less heavily on your, and create more room for the work and life you actually want.

Ongoing Support Is for Having a Strategic Partner in Your Business

My Ongoing Support is designed for founders who need another experiences person involved in the business on a continuing basis. I tend to describe this is a combination of COO, online business manager (OBM), and creative director because it brings together strategic thinking, operational oversight, creative direction, and hands-on execution.

This kind of support makes sense when you have a lot of moving pieces, need help managing priorities and projects, and want someone who can understand the bigger picture while helping make sure the day-to-day work is actually getting done.

It’s a different relationship from an Intensive because we’re not simply completing one defined project and handing it back over to you. We’re working together on an ongoing basis to support the business as it evolves.

And depending on where you are in your business, one of these options may make much more sense than the others. That’s something we can also talk through during a discovery call! I’d much rather help you figure out the right approach for you than have you invest in something that isn’t actually what you need.

But Couldn’t You Just Do It Yourself?

This is one of the biggest questions that comes up when business owners consider investing in outside support…and I understand why! Especially when you’ve built your business from the group up, you’re probably pretty accustomed to figuring things out for yourself. You’ve learned how to market your services, manage your finances, communicate with clients, build your website, and wear a bunch of other hats that you never really expected.

So when it comes to setting up a CRM or creating a project management system, it’s pretty natural to think, “I could probably figure this out myself.” And you probably could! There are so many resources available to help us learn to do just about anything, which is great! But something I’ve come to believe more and more over the years is that being capable of doing something doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best use of your time to do it yourself.

There will ALWAYS be things you could do yourself. The question is whether you should be the person doing them, particularly when they fall outside of your area of expertise or take time away from the work that actually requires your involvement. There’s also the reality that some projects are just easier to complete when you’re working with someone who does that kind of work regularly.

I’ve spent years working across marketing, strategy, creative direction, and operations, so when I’m approaching a project, I’m thinking about how all of the different pieces of the business connect. I’m looking at not only the workflow itself, but the experience we’re trying to create, the tools we’re using, and how the solution needs to support what comes next.

That’s a very different starting point from trying to piecemeal everything together through tutorials when you only have a few hours here and there to work on it.

I think it’s also important to acknowledge that investing in your business can feel uncomfortable, especially when you’re being mindful of your cash flow or navigating a season of growth. Handing over control of something you’ve worked really hard to build isn’t always easy either.

But I don’t think being a good business owner means being personally responsible for every single aspect of your business. In fact, I think part of growing into your role as a founder is learning where your involvement is most valuable and becoming more comfortable trusting other people to contribute their expertise. That doesn’t mean you need to outsource everything or make investments before your business is ready for them, though. It just means being willing to look at the bigger picture and considering whether the way you’re currently doing things is actually supportive of the business you want.

And if you’ve been meaning to tackle the same project for the past six months, I think it’s worth asking yourself whether another six months of trying to find the time is really the best approach.

What Should You Expect to Walk Away With?

Obviously, the tangible deliverables of a Business Intensive are going to depend on what we’re working on together. You might walk away with a CRM that’s finally set up and ready to use, a more organized project management system, documented workflows, or an elevated client experience that better reflects your brand…or all of the above!

But I also think the way that you feel about your business after making those improvements matters as well. I want you to feel empowered and confident using whatever we’ve created. I want you to understand how it works, why we’ve approached it the way we have, and how it can continue supporting your business as things evolve. And I want you to feel supported and cared for throughout the process.

Because while we spend a lot of time talking about systems, strategy, and operations, at the end of the day, our businesses are made of us — people with different personalities, working styles, goals, and ideas about what they want their businesses to look and feel like.

I’m not interested in creating the same version of “success” for everyone I work with. I want to understand what matters to you, how you want your business to operate, and what kind of experience you want to create for yourself and the people you serve. Sometimes that means building something that supports your next stage of growth. Other times, it means simplifying what’s already there so your business feels a little easier to manage. Either way, I want you to finish our time together feeling like you’ve made a worthwhile investment in your business. And ideally, feeling pretty darn excited that the thing you’ve been putting off for months is finally done!

Making Room for What’s Next

One of the things I love most about working with business owners is getting to hear about all of the things they’re excited to do with their businesses. The ideas they want to explore, the experiences they want to create for their clients, and the ways they’re hoping their businesses will evolve over time. And something I’ve come to appreciate is just how much the work happening behind the scenes influences our ability to actually bring those ideas to life.

It’s easy to get caught up in the more exciting parts of building a business — developing a new offer, refreshing your brand, reaching a new audience, or bringing someone onto your team. And while I love all of those things, I also think there’s something really valuable about taking care of the less glamorous work that makes those next steps possible.

The systems and processes you put in place today have a pretty significant impact on what your business is able to support tomorrow. That doesn’t mean everything needs to be perfectly organized or that you need some sort of elaborate operational setup before you’re allowed to pursue your next big idea. But I do think there’s value in being intentional about the things that you’re building and making sure that they’re actually supporting the direction you want to do.

That’s what I love about Business Intensives! We get to take something that’s been needing your attention, give it the care and expertise it deserves, and create something that will continue supporting you long after our time together.

So if there’s an area of your business that could use a little TLC, I’d love to help you bring it to life! You can learn more about my Business Intensives or reach out to tell me a little about what you’re working on. We’ll figure out whether an Intensive makes sense for what you’re trying to accomplish!