15 Things You Need to Hear to Make 2025 Your Best Year Ever: A Growth Blueprint for Practical Business Owners

For many practical business owners—those accidental business owners who started with a skill and then built something great—it’s very easy to feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of the next steps.

At SUMMIT, we get it. We’ve been there too. Whether you’re an engineer, contractor, or a manufacturer, you’ve worked damn hard to create a good solid business, but you might now be feeling:

• Lost - when it comes to long-term direction
• Lonely - because no one understands the weight you're carrying
• Frustrated - with inconsistent growth and unclear next moves

Here are 15 critical facts that I've learnt over the last 25 years in my businesses, that can help you reset, refocus, and take your business to the next level in 2025.

1. The gold you’re looking for is in your current client base.

Growth doesn’t come from chasing shiny new opportunities. It comes from serving your current customers better. The world has changed and customer excellence is the new battleground.

• Upsell complementary services.
• Build loyalty through better aftercare and follow-ups.
• Focus on solving bigger problems for clients.

Mindset Shift: Treat every client like a long-term partner.

2. It’s easier (and far cheaper) to profit more from existing customers.

Your current customers already know you. Trust you. Value your work. Instead of always chasing new leads:

• Offer upgrades or maintenance packages.
• Create retention programs that keep clients loyal.
• Sell more often by being proactive about repeat opportunities.

Quick Win: Ask yourself, “How can I help my existing clients even more?”

3. Your ability to extract maximum value from customers is the skill to master in 2025.

This isn’t about being pushy. It’s about serving your clients so well they naturally want to work with you more.

• Solve bigger problems, Solve more problems.
• Deliver results that make you irreplaceable.
• Become a trusted partner, not just another supplier.

Key Question: “How much more value can I add for my best customers?”

4. Your reason ‘why’ might inspire you, but profit makes it all possible.

Your “why”—providing for your family, leaving a legacy, or supporting your team—depends on consistent profit. Without it, your vision can’t survive.

Your Purpose is pretty important too, Why do you do what you do?

What is your purpose? What is the point?

Action Step: Start aligning your values with your daily decisions, with long-term profitability in mind.

5. The primary function of your business is to make a money.

This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. Profit allows you to:

• Reinvest in better tools, better people, better training, and apprenticeships for your team.
• Deliver higher-quality work to your clients.
• Build a stable future for your family.

Mindset Shift: Profit fuels the growth and reputation of your business. Without it, you’ll just stall (Trust me).

6. The two ways to increase profit: Get more customers or maximise existing ones.

Your time, energy, effort and resources are limited, so focus on what matters most:

1. Finding and helping new customers.
2. Getting more value from the customers you already serve.

This ties directly to SUMMIT’s Acceleration Phase: implementing good marketing to drive growth without wasting time or money.

7. To get more customers, you need two things: leads and conversions.

For growth, focus on creating your marketing message, a marketing system that works consistently:

• Lead generation: Get noticed through clear messaging and good marketing.
• Lead conversion: Improve how you turn enquiries into paying clients.

Pro Tip: Focus on your value, your quality, and why you’re the best choice.

8. Three ways to profit more from existing customers: sell more, sell often, keep them longer.

For practical businesses, this might mean:

• Maintenance contracts.
• Upgraded or additional services.
• Regular follow-ups to stay front-of-mind.

Quick Win: Introduce small retention packages or loyalty perks that deliver value.

9. Know your average lifetime value (LTV) of a customer.

If you don’t know what a customer is worth over their entire relationship with you, you can’t make smart decisions about marketing or retention.

• What’s their average spend?
• How long do they stay?
• Where can you add more value?

10. Aim for the maximum lifetime value of each customer.

What’s possible if you really deliver exceptional value?

• Offer aftercare, servicing, or additional solutions.
• Proactively identify needs they haven’t thought of yet.

Key Insight: Your best customers are often willing to spend far more—if you earn their trust.

11. Improve efficiency, reduce overheads, and price effectively.

The three ways to boost profitability are:

1. Improving efficiencies through better systems, better people and better processes.
2. Reducing overheads (without sacrificing standards).
3. Charging what you’re worth. Stop worrying about what your competitor are doing

12. Cutting costs too deeply can backfire.

Reducing overheads too much can hurt your ability to:

• Attract new leads.
• Deliver exceptional quality.
• Retain great staff.

Instead: Invest in your systems, your team, and your brand. Build a business that people aspire to work with—and work for.

13. Overcome the stories you tell yourself.

If you’re thinking:

• “My customers won’t pay more.”
• “I can’t find better staff.”

Back yourself, Believe in Yourself. These stories hold you back. Challenge them and test your assumptions.

We've helped hundreds of business owners, MD's and Leaders just like you. Motivation is everything and confidence is created by having a sounding board that you can trust.

Action Tip: Make small changes. Test pricing, offers, and new ideas one step at a time. Then get me to help you.

14. Continually upgrade your customer relationships.

Your clients’ needs evolve. Stay ahead by:

• Regularly checking in.
• Offering proactive solutions.
• Finding new ways to add value and solve bigger problems.

15. Get someone who will hold you accountable.

Running a business can feel lonely most of the time. You need a Growth Guide who just gets you:

• Challenges old thinking, challenges you ideas.
• Helps you to spot opportunities.
• Keeps you focused on what matters most.

At SUMMIT, we become that partner through our 3 Peaks Framework:

1. Alignment: Gain clarity, direction, and focus.
2. Acceleration: Implement systems, marketing, and processes that drive results.
3. Aspiration: Build a business that attracts talent, clients, and trust.

Ready to Plan for 2025? Let’s Build a Better Business Together.

Here’s the truth: The next year won’t be any different unless you make it different.

You’ve got the tools. You've got the skills, You’ve got the team.

Now you need the focus, direction, systems, and the accountability to make it happen. (A Plan of attack)

How SUMMIT Can Help You:

• Align your vision and strategy so everyone’s on the same page.
• Accelerate your growth with clear marketing, systems, and processes.
• Aspire to become a brand that attracts top talent and high-value clients.

If you’re ready to stop feeling lost, lonely, or stuck, let’s talk.

Your Next Step:

Call /Message: 07726 342037 email us: [email protected]

or book a Free Business Mapping Session directly here - SUMMIT

Make 2025 the year you take back control, grow your business, and climb higher than you ever thought possible. Speak to any one of our clients.

At SUMMIT, we’ve walked this path too. We’ll guide you every step of the way, right by your side.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Let's continue to challenge the status quo and build a brighter future for our teams and ourselves.

THIS - is exactly what we do at Summit - East Lancashire

We work with you and your teams to redefine what that compelling vision of your future looks like, yeah sure, we'll set some goals. But the magic is working together as a team, getting your board together in the same room, planning this stuff together.

Get all your managers involved too.

Interested?

PEOPLE.DO.WORK