Fast Track Business Growth
Are you ready to grow your business this year? I am and I ‘d love to hear how you are doing it. Below are some of the tactics I’ve put into practice [or that I’m in process of making happen] in order to make 2016 my #bestyear ever.
Get a coach. I hadn’t had a coach for a while and I knew I needed to get one. I’ve had many coaches over the years and I know for a fact that when I have a coach – I GROW. It’s that simple. So I got a coach. And I may even be getting another one for another area of my life.
Get REALLY honest about how you’re getting in your own way. We all get in our own way at some point in our career. I have done it over and over again. And I’m not sure I’ll ever ‘get there’ or be completely free of self sabotage – but I continue push forward and grow in this area. Getting honest is HARD. To look at myself in the mirror and truly assess the good, the bad, and the ‘not so nice’ takes guts. But when I get quiet and honest – I GROW. Avoiding my weak spots or ignoring my sabotaging behaviors will not make them go away – for me it’s been a guarantee they will pop up when I most want them not to. For me it’s not a choice – I must continue to know myself in order to continuing growing.
Get accountable. It’s not enough to just have a coach or mentor in my life – I must LET them hold me accountable. I must be willing to be vulnerable and authentic. I must be willing to let go of being ‘perfect’ and having it all together. I must be willing over and over again to say what’s true to some one I trust. Growth is hard work. Being accountable is hard but the benefits are worth it.
Set specific goals with timelines. I’ve always written down my goals but some years I’ve been better than others about breaking down those goals into actionable, repeatable items. This year I have some BIG goals and each goal has a daily/weekly/monthly action step connected to it. And the best part is I can share my goals and timelines with my coach to be held to what I said I would do.
Connect with your clients. I have the BEST clients. I truly work with some amazing people. And connecting with them brings me joy. I do not stay connected to just sell them more stuff – I connect with them because I care and I truly enjoy who they are and what they bring to my life. Building solid relationships with my clients helps me grow and gives both of us opportunities to help the other grow. We all do business with people we know – people who are invested in us.
Focus on revenue generating activities EVERY DAY. Generating revenue is YOUR job as a business owner or professional. In order to fast-track growth we must create a strategy that puts generating revenue on the fore front EVERY DAY. I know what I need to do to grow my business – I have always known, yet I haven’t always DONE what I needed to do. This year I decided I would stop knowing and start doing. I have a plan in place that includes revenue generating activities EVERY DAY. This doesn’t mean I put making money before people or excellence – it means I stop avoiding the thing that I know will keep my business alive.
Care about your people. Our employees, vendors and partners make us great – they ARE our business. And they want us to care about them more than they want anything else. My competitive edge comes from how much I care about others. This year I am working on being more intentional about showing others how much I care. I have always cared and have tried to show it. Yet I often got caught up in other things and didn’t do the important work. I know growth comes when I show up authentically and let other people know I care in tangible ways.
Re-engage the FUN. If your ‘fun-meter’ isn’t on high – your clients will feel it. And you’ll be less than you could be. Do what ever it takes to re-engage in your business. Find the fun! Create fun.
DO it NOW. And if you can’t find it on your own – get help or get out. Life is too short and there are way to many ways to make money to be in one that does not bring you joy. We can not create growth and sustain growth if we are miserable.
Start now. We don’t have to change the world or the way we do things in one day – but we do need to start if we’re going to grow this year. I have started. I haven’t done it perfectly. I’ll get off track and I will have to re-start. The best part about this amazing journey is that it’s a process – a wonderfully, challenging and constantly changing process. And we can START or re-start anytime. Make today count. Go after fast-track growth in whatever small way you can right now today.
Michelle Neujahr provides high-energy, dynamic presentations guaranteed to reinvigorate your organization and revive your people. With more than two decade of experience as a motivational speaker, Michelle has given over 2,000 presentations to audiences across the country. As an expert in Business Renovation, Michelle’s programs are designed to challenge organizations and individuals to renovate what they have in order to achieve greater results. Companies hire Michelle to entertain, educate and motivate while creating a positive, energetic tone for your conference or event. Visit Michelle's website.
