The very earth we live on doesn’t stay on one point. It’s in our very nature to shift so growing a business will be a series of these shifts. As I talk to other entrepreneurs, I realize there are moments that turned every business. People usually talk about growth in relation to how much money you have made or perceived success.
While it may be an indicator there are always moments behind the scene that are rarely captured on shifts that people made. Let me share what has been my experience;
- Agree to follow the call. However, the call is not tidy and the blessings are also not comfortable. Blessings are found in trials and failures. I shut down my first business but in that is where I learned a lot about running a business including what not to do and met people who I now consider to be mentors.The call is messy but ultimately it will lead to you getting convicted about something and it is very hard for somebody who is convicted to give up.
- Allowing for a change of direction that is not limited by your immediate skills or resources. Look at what your customer needs not what you can do. Once I realized an actual program in Centonomy would have more impact, it forced me to bring in other experts. Don’t ask what can you do. Ask what does the business need? This may make you change direction and bring in others.
- Start paying yourself. We are not profitable in our businesses because we do not think profitably. Paying yourself will force you to do more as you can’t pay yourself with what you don’t have. In addition, it will give you personal financial motivation. You will stop underestimating expenses and create a healthy separation from the business. You are somebody who creates value for the business.
- Talk back to fear and purposefully do the thing that is a contradiction to that fearYou get bolder with fear as you go along. Remember it is a muscle that needs to be built. The voice in your head is often lying.
- Put yourself out there in a scary way. I have learned that God meets you on the bus, not at the bus stop. Do something to become visible to your customers that are out of your comfort zone. Don’t just sit in your shop hoping customers will come to you.
- Product innovation. Think about this like a tree with branches. Just like a tree has the same root and trunk, you can innovate from where you are. It does not necessarily mean a whole new investment. Allow for experimentation as cheaply and efficiently as possible.
- Take some time off. You were never meant to do this alone. It’s not about you. This will show you where the business is too dependent on you and opportunities to empower others. You will need to keep your ego in check.
- Know there is more to you than what you are currently doing. You also shift and evolve as time goes by. What you are doing today is not what you can do tomorrow but if you insist on it, you will stay stuck.
Article Written by Waceke Nduati (Entrepreneurship Coach, Author, Founder (Centonomy Ltd)
Waceke’s book Making Cents is now on sale at selected bookstores and also available to order on 0715085777/ bit.ly/MakingCentsBook. For queries on speaking engagements and training programs get in touch through waceken@centonomy.com| twitter@cekenduati.