Is the Director of Operations certification right for you? How does it differ from the OBM certification? And what kind of impact can the DOO certification have on your business?
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Investing in a certification is a big decision, and sometimes it helps to hear from other people who have gone through a program before committing yourself. That’s why I put together this episode: to give you a chance to hear from 2 incredible women who have gone through the DOO certification.
You’ll hear from Liz Watson who comes from a corporate project management background and from Kelly Reynolds who comes from Wall Street. Their stories will give you an idea of the type of women who participate in the DOO program (always women with the natural skillset and past experience to become a Director of Operations). Plus, they will share how the certification impacted them and their advice for those considering the program.
This episode is perfect for you if you’ve been considering applying for the Director of Operations certification program or if you have a team member who you might want to put through the program.
Directors of Operations: Then and Now
Liz Watson
Where Liz was before the certification:
- Liz had experience in corporate, working in IT Project Management
- She has also worked at a Fortune 500 company, as well as hotel management and sales
- Liz holds the PMP certification
- She was ready for a change, so she started googling what could be done in the online space using her project management skills
What drew Liz to the Director of Operations Certification:
- Liz wanted to be able to play a role at a higher level of an organization or small business
- She was ready to up-level her skills
What were the greatest benefits of going through the program?
- She gained new services that she can use with the frameworks Natalie teaches, such as the Strategic Mapping™
- The community of like-minded women
- Being able to review modules in advance but then discuss and connect on live calls
What advice does Liz have for anyone considering the certification?
- Even though it’s a 10 week program, it’s very doable
- Great fit for people who are detail oriented and love to serve others
- She was able to pay for the certification twice over within about a month after completing the program
“We are not always the face of the organization, but we’re the one helping that leader step up.” – Liz Watson
“Just getting the certification is not going to get you leads, it’s not going to build your business on its own. You’re going to have to do those things that it takes.” – Natalie Gingrich
Kelly Reynolds
Where Kelly was before the certification:
- Was on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers
- Started her own business as a VA
- Went through the OBM Certification
- Was focusing on 1:1 clients but wanted to uplevel what she was doing
“The DOO certification is not a rewiring; this is an amplification and a blueprint for doing things for your specific audience.” – Natalie Gingrich
What drew Kelly to the Director of Operations Certification
- Kelly wanted to learn more about business strategy
- She knew her friend Teresa had been through the program, so she asked her about it, and this confirmed that she would be a good fit
How is the DOO Certification different from the OBM Certification?
- The OBM Certification is more structured for online businesses and does a lot with launching and marketing
- The DOO Certification has more strategy and how to deal with things like HR, team management, reviews, goal setting, etc.
How has the DOO Certification impacted Kelly’s business?
- Runs an agency now with some team members
- Was doing a lot of 1:1 work and was ready to do more strategy that didn’t require her to be constantly in the business
- She began offering Strategic Mapping™ right away and this is now a core service
How was the investment for Kelly?
- The investment was not a problem for Kelly
- She was able to recoup her investment without any problem
What advice does Kelly have for anyone considering the certification?
- It’s right for someone who wants to up-level
- It will help you grow as a business without killing yourself with working lots more hours
- If you are wanting to be a VA or implementer, then this certification may not be for you. Maybe just learn a new software or tool so that you can offer those services.
“If your high comes from the form of implementing, then stay in your zone. Don’t complicate your current structure. Continue to develop in that way.” – Natalie Gingrich
Ready to Up-Level Your Business?
If you are ready to take action and up-level your business with the Director of Operations Certification, apply now here. Applications are open until Jan. 24th, and our next round begins Feb. 3, 2020.
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Liz Watson:
Liz Watson is a small business operations consultant. Her goal is to help reduce the overwhelm so often felt by visionary entrepreneurs that are looking to scale. She spent 20 years in IT project management and leadership at a Fortune 500 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she decided to use her knowledge and experience to serve small business owners through her own consulting business. She is certified as a Project Management Professional and Director of Operations. She is a proud mom and is passionate about environmental sustainability.
Kelly Reynolds:
After business school and a decade spent on Wall Street, Kelly thought there had to be more to life than a terrible commute. She started out as a virtual assistant and has quickly grown the company into the Reynolds OBM Agency. She and her team now help small businesses grow by getting organized and efficient, no commute required.
She lives in New Jersey (the good part with the beaches) with her husband, son and adorable dog Opie. She loves pretty spreadsheets and people who bring red wine, especially to business meetings and play dates.
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