IAM1888 – Founder Helps Entrepreneurs Systematize and Grow Their Business

Previous Episode: https://iamceo.co/2020/08/05/iam723-founder-helps-entrepreneurs-systematize-and-grow-their-business/

Transcription:

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Oxana Romanyuk Teaser 00:00

Launch management is absolutely essential in every entrepreneur's life. Just having that support team that can take them from the stage of just the idea and the creation to the stage of all the way to execution and the actual success of their product to that, like the launch.

Intro 00:17

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview?

If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the IAMCEO podcast.

Gresham Harkless 00:44

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Gresham from the IAMCEO podcast, and I appreciate you listening to this episode. If you've been listening this year, you know that we hit 1600 episodes at the beginning of this year, and we're doing something a little bit different.

Where we're repurposing our favorite episodes around certain categories, topics, or as I like to call them, the business pillars that we think are going to be extremely impactful for CEOs, entrepreneurs, business owners, and what I like to call the CB Nation architects who are looking to level up their organizations.

This month, we are focusing on operations. The systems will set you free. So think about systems, think about flow, sustainability, potentially working out in your morning routine, waking up early e commerce, different business models.

Think of the operations in the models that basically set up the foundation to allow the creativity within organizations, but also to make sure the trains are running on time and things are going as they should.

Now, this is extremely important because we often can turn to the sexy parts of business and forget about the operations and how important that is. So I really want to focus this month on this specific topic.

So sit back and enjoy this special episode at the I am CEO podcast.

Hello, hello, hello. This is Gresh from the IAMCEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today as Oxana Romanyuk of Remote Rock Stars.

Oxana, it's awesome having you on the show.

Oxana Romanyuk 02:05

Thank you so much for having me. I am so excited to be here with you, your audience, and so happy to share my CEO journey with everyone.

Gresham Harkless 02:12

Absolutely. I'm super excited to hear more about it, but before we jump in, I want to read a little bit more about Oxana so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing.

And Oxana is the founder and CEO of Remote Rockstars that offers high-end online business management and professional virtual assistant services to visionary entrepreneurs, industry experts, and coaches.

Oxana works with her homegrown team of rockstar account managers, virtual assistants, helping entrepreneurs systematize and grow their business.

Oxana is a certified online business manager and a proud member of the International Association of Online Business Managers. She's trained countless virtual assistants and has helped multiple entrepreneurs grow their businesses, reach more people and impact the world. Oxana, are you ready to speak to the IAMCEO community?

Oxana Romanyuk 02:53

Yes, I am. Let's dive in.

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Gresham Harkless 02:55

Awesome. Let's do it. So to kick everything off, I wanted to hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story and we'll let you get started with your business.

Oxana Romanyuk 03:02

Yeah, so happy to share, actually in my CEO journey, administrative work, helping and supporting people of different kind of like professional backgrounds and supporting that their growth in their professional journey has always been like part of my CEO story.

And it doesn't matter what part of the career and career stage or what part of industry I was in. It's just that the inspiration and my commitment to the people's development and growth has always just been in the forefront.

So I used to be a Russian language instructor to army and Navy linguists in Washington, DC. And so that definitely put me a little bit in the pressure situations when those language linguists were getting ready for the proficiency tests every year.

So that's where I just come in with that service hat and helping them really excel and their proficiency tests. And then also being a travel account manager in the corporate and leisure sector, especially servicing the high-end demanding clients.

So that kind of just like really taught me how to be very time efficient and how to actually provide like the top notch customer service too. So also being like very competitive with the sales numbers, I have a little bit of the competition and relationship building. Are like my two top strengths.

If the Clifton test with a strength funder. Yeah. And then also helping the local DC studio with their marketing and social media efforts. That's really just propelled me forward in a way of like, how important is actually visibility is for all the businesses and how important it is to have a very thought of strategy of promoting the business.

So that kind of just all of those little things put together, like just really set me. I feel like a part on my CEO journey and just really prepared me with the team management, the project management aspects of it. A little bit of the business strategy and marketing here, all of this is combined.

So that's just what really gave me a really good boost for then opening up Remote Rock Stars where I could actually incorporate all of those like administrative skills and organizational skills and systems and building relationships to you.

Our service, I feel like at Remote Rock Stars beyond the actual service-providing factor of it is just the building, those genuine relationships with our clients. That's what really sets us apart. And that's what become part of my CEO story.

[00:05:11] Gresham Harkless: Yeah, that's absolutely awesome. So many of those, relationship aspects are being able to excel under pressure and to be able to have and build those kind of clientele and provide those services.

So many of the things add up into providing really great services.

[00:05:23] Oxana Romanyuk: Absolutely. Exactly. And the thing is I feel like being a CEO, it's not just all about being super business-oriented, but it is that people factor that always comes in so different in many different ways, right? It's being from the team management. To your client management to maybe your professional networks and relationships.

And especially right now that a lot of people are entering the virtual landscape. I feel like building and maybe strengthening those professional relationships where we can rely on the support of those people in our industry is so important because honestly, an entrepreneurial journey can be quite lonely, especially in the virtual space and being an online business manager.

Sometimes even to bounce off of ideas and different people, it could be hard to find people that have the same mindset of the same drive and commitment to their business and mission. So, yes, basically, the aspect of building relationships in various areas is just absolutely important.

Gresham Harkless 06:12

Yeah, it's absolutely key when they say your network is your net worth.

So, absolutely love, that you've been able to do that and you helped so many, businesses make that transition into that online world too. So, I know I touched on it a little bit when I read your bio. Could you take us through like some of the services you provide and how exactly that experience is working with you and your team?

Oxana Romanyuk 06:30

Yeah, so our ideal client with Remote Rock Stars is basically an entrepreneur or online business owner who are it's people who are ready to scale, who are so driven and committed to serving their audience be their clients or providing just the products that they develop, that they're just like ready to expend, they're ready to grow.

And this is the time in their business when doing everything by themselves is just absolutely. So that's when our team comes in being just one account manager that. Services those clients needs or maybe a team of us actually coming together and then just helping out with all the administrative and online business management services.

And so basically on the administrative side, which is virtual assistance and then online business management side, this is a little bit more of a higher elevated type of service, I would say it's anything from email management, just plain and simple organizing, going through emails, responding to some customer support questions.

So that's a little bit of a client success management, I would say. And then podcast management. This is actually what we do for our clients outreaching, doing the outreach and then It's looking for different speaking opportunities for them. So public relations in a sense to creating media kits for them and social media management.

Like I said, the online visibility of all your platforms and different channels that a business might be on is absolutely important for it to be consistent and cohesive and just really a great representation of the brand. So then we help with that as well.

And also launch management. So many entrepreneurs now. and they're visionaries and they're creators, like every Monday, we actually come in into a video meeting with our clients. They just shower us with different creative ideas. We're just like, okay, we don't have to act on everything. Let's just really focus on something that's going to move the needle and what gets us closer to the money.

That's just like the CEO mindset that kicks in, just reigning those creative ideas in a little bit. So, but yes, launch management is absolutely essential in every entrepreneur's life. Just having that support team that can take them from the stage of just the idea and the creation. To the stage of all the way to execution and the actual success of their product to that, like the launch.

So we just walk them through the entire process. So you see, it's like different aspects of really in systems, I guess of running a business. And so our team is absolutely strong on building those systems and setting up systems and processes that would then ensure a very nice workflow between everything that the CEO has to do in their business or an entrepreneur and everything that the support team works on.

So, basically, it's a very good synchrony then and a well-oiled machine for the business to function. No matter who is actually performing the task. So that's actually our priority for the CEO or the entrepreneur to be able to step away and the business still running as usual, no matter if they're in it or out.

Gresham Harkless 09:14

Yeah, absolutely. And being able to as you said, to be able to focus on the things that will move the needle is so important because I think as you grow the business, even when you start the business, you want to quickly find out what those things are and be able to focus on those things that can move the needle for it.

And those things that can be delegated or house or whatever term we might use, but basically off of our plate is so important because it's really hard to. To grow and scale when you're doing all of the things, because when you're doing all of the things, it's hard for you to focus on those things that move the needle for us.

So that's why I love, so much everything that you're doing and so many of the services you provide.

Oxana Romanyuk 09:45

Thank you so much. Yes. Then that's why every time we work or we start actually working with the new client, the very 1st thing that we dive into is that 90 day strategy. So it's a business strategy of where we're like looking into what where who basically identifying who is responsible for the tasks.

And what types of tasks are especially repeated tasks that we can automate, perhaps, or we can document so that anyone can perform those tasks in the future and then where everything is like functioning. What kind of systems are you using? Are they efficient?

Can we consolidate some of the systems, especially so important right now when people a lot of business owners are reviewing their expenses, making sure that their business runs on a clean basis, right? So we do not have any extra fluff or something that we actually do not need to pay for.

So that's when our strategic vision comes through and our expertise already, since we're in the systems all the time.

Gresham Harkless 10:37

Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's what everybody should be trying to do. Just the book. The e-Myth was coming to mind when you're trying to systematize your business as much as possible so that you can be in it, but you don't have to be it. You can have other people to work through it and have those strong systems and processes in place.

So, I wanted to ask you now for what I call your secret sauce. And I know you touched on it a little bit. Do you feel it's that ability to see the systems that need to be in place and, of course, execute them? What kind of you feel sets you apart and makes unique?

Oxana Romanyuk 11:00

Yes, I'm so happy. It's like twofold, I would say, because on the client side, the client-facing side of our business is definitely building those efficient and super like money generating systems that are then keeping the business afloat and actually ensure that ensure the thrive or I guess this is the success of the business overall.

And then the second part of it is that we actually heavily invest in our virtual assistant and account manager community to you on the education side of it. So I would say that for us, it's definitely working very closely with our clients just as a family.

I actually do call them our Rock Stars family because we are so invested in their success and ultimately their success is the direct reflection of our support, right?

And every, everything that we do because we are supporting their businesses. And then on the second side of it. So the internal facing side is that we or I guess like as a founder of remote rock stars, I invest in the professional growth, a growth of my team so much too.

And so them growing professionally, them also maintaining their work life balance, because if their life tank is not full, how can they share the energy and expertise with anyone else if they feel depleted? So that's like a little bit of that mindful CEO, I would say mindset.

Gresham Harkless 12:13

I absolutely love that. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit and I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app, a book or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

Oxana Romanyuk 12:23

I think like a huge hack actually for a lot of entrepreneurs and CEOs is being plugged in very closely with their professional networks, associations and groups, be it even just the Facebook groups. And being able to ask questions or maybe just share their wins and failures and challenges.

And again, being part of those really like niche professional associations, I feel like it's absolutely important, not only for the professional growth, but again, just to keep that sanity of the multiple decisions that we all have to make every day.

Gresham Harkless 12:53

Yeah, absolutely. No, those are phenomenal hacks. So I definitely appreciate those three hacks. So now I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. So that could be a word of wisdom or piece of advice and might be something you would tell a client. Or if you were to hop into a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

Oxana Romanyuk 13:07

My nugget is actually if you want to be an entrepreneur and if you happen to be young and single, go for it full speed. And I would also say quit your 40-hour work and do the job that you're in. Pursue your idea passionately. Just really dive fully in with your commitment, with the passion and the drive that you can give it.

And if you're not willing to quit your job, or if you're not a hundred percent committed to that idea and to that passion, that maybe it's just really not worth pursuing.

Gresham Harkless 13:39

Love those nuggets. And now I want to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. And we're hoping to have different quote unquote CEOs on the show. So I know what does being a CEO mean to you?

Oxana Romanyuk 13:49

I would say that being a CEO means building genuine and authentic relationships. And my brilliant team, our gifted clients, my generous community talent of talented virtual assistants and online business managers just really make it easy for me. So that's what being a CEO is for me.

Gresham Harkless 14:08

Absolutely. No, I love that. And I think again, when you have that kind of North star and you're paying attention to that and making sure you're doing things with that joyful attitude and having those things in your life, it not only helps you out, with your business, but it also helps you out with your life and all the aspects of your life. And it starts to create that snowball moment and opportunity.

So absolutely love that definition and that perspective, Oxana, I love your time and appreciate it even more. So what I wanted to do is pass you the mic, so to speak, to see if there's anything additional you want to let our readers and listeners know.

And of course, how best they can get ahold of you and find out about all the awesome things you and your team are working on.

Oxana Romanyuk 14:38

Thank you so much. I really enjoyed the questions. My last I guess like my last tip or additional piece of information here would be to being a CEO. Part of it is tackling crucial conversations and sometimes uncomfortable and tough conversations, really.

So I would say that maybe going through the book of crucial conversations and just learning those techniques of how to tackle those hard conversations is really going to be important in your CEO journey.

Also learning how to say no and how to set those expectations and boundaries with your clients, with your professional networks and colleagues, maybe with your family too, and also how to improvise at work and like how to work with what you have, especially if you're at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey.

So that's very important. And you can always find us online on our website, remoterockstars.com. We also have a very nice and warm community on Facebook. That's called Remote Rock Stars Club group. And this is where we actually share a lot of vetted and verified job opportunities for remote workers, no matter what industry you belong to.

And this is where we do a lot of education and training for all of our digital nomads and all of our freelancers that are part of our family. And that again, something that we definitely approach with heart and kindness. And that's what sets us apart. Ultimately.

Gresham Harkless 15:51

Yes, absolutely, heart kindness. And let's not forget joy as well, too.

So I definitely appreciate you for providing all that information. We will have the links and information and the show notes so that everybody can follow up with you. But I appreciate , those nuggets as well, too. It's so important to make sure those things are in alignment. So with that, we're building the life in the business that we hope to have not one we want to get away from.

So I appreciate you for doing that and reminding us of how important that is, that we do that as well, too. So truly appreciate you. And I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

Oxana Romanyuk 16:15

Thank you so much.

Outro 16:17

Thank you for listening to the IAMCEO podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co. IAMCEO is not just a phrase, it's a community.

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Grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the IAMCEO podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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