Business Growth In 6 Simple Steps

Business growth is simple. More specifically, it is based on simple steps. This simplicity is not to be confused with being easy.?

The better we grow as individuals, as contributors, as leaders, and as marketers; the more we can see opportunities to build systems that help those around us and make decisions to benefit us all.

When you step back far enough you can see that every business follows the same simple growth process. They all do it in their own unique way, and at their own speed, but the steps are relatively unavoidable.

1. Connect with people and talents:

Stop trying to do everything yourself. It is futile and heartbreaking.

Partner and exchange with others who are excited about at least parts of your idea and can help it grow.

Be sure everyone gains in the exchange!

Remind everyone that they are together to help each other grow (the business will grow as a result) without getting too personal. Some need a chance or access to equipment. Some need a job or a place to be. Some need a passion or a place to belong. Others need a place to invest. And still others will surprise you with what they need to grow.

2. Design, map, plan, envision the details:

Create the context, the story, the reason, and/or the destination. There is no point in replicating without ANY differentiation and differentiation only comes from imagination.?

Think as long-range, big, and expansive as you can while also getting clarity on the details of how it might look or feel to be completed. This will form decision criteria to be used throughout.

Share your plans.

Each detail is like a handle for people to grab and connect. Quirky details, well communicated, are surprisingly effective. Unused plans do have great value - most often by quietly working in background to influence without attention. As a bonus, they allow you to sleep at night.

3. Decide what to do together:

As you begin to connect people, vision will provide context for challenges that CAN be solved. Decide together which to handle, when, and by whom.

Give people a voice and platform to invest their talents. Bring people into the decision process and allow them to volunteer or opt-into projects that interest them.?

At various points, people will leave and others will join. It is good to re-visit this regularly with teams of any size.

4. Act in ways that move towards the vision:

“Does this move us closer to our vision?” is a critical question that is NOT ASKED with enough frequency.?

Sometimes you need to take a different approach to get more leverage, traction, or assets, but don’t let a detour become a distraction from the goal.

5. Revise and adjust constantly:

Monitor progress. Take notes on ‘what didn’t work’ about the projects that worked and ‘what worked’ about the projects that didn’t work.

Sometime market pressures, feedback, results, and internal changes tell us we need to adjust the plan.?

It pays to recognize the need quickly and make small adjustments.?

Sometimes we need to pivot. Other times we need to scrap the plan altogether.?

6. Celebrate collectively:

Celebrating builds connection to the goal as well as between people.?

Find reasons to appropriately celebrate every day. Big accomplishments deserve big celebrations, but also require hundreds of little ones along the way.?

This method has been taught to me by scholars, mentors, and books, but mostly from life experience. It is not linear, or even circular, but constantly, fluid blending seamlessly from one into the other and back again. It is not about precision, but it is helpful to think of them as discreet steps with different objectives.?