Permission to Leap! 6 Steps to Business Growth Through
Change
By Stephanie
Chandler
Change is essential to business success, and I’m not
talking about the kind of change you drop in a vending
machine. It’s the kind of change that too often brings
fear, self-doubt and resistance to business owners.
Building a business is hard work and once the wheels are
turning, it can be difficult to grasp the idea of doing
something differently. But more often the not,
resistance to change that can lead to trouble. A
business that doesn’t change risks become stagnant and
misses the opportunity to grow.
Consider McDonald’s, a turn-key operation that functions
in cookie cutter fashion and has maintained the same
core menu for decades. Though the business is based on
being predictable, McDonald’s introduces new products
and promotions on a regular basis. Often times the
company strikes gold with something new like the Oreo
McFlurry, and sometimes even McDonald’s misses the mark.
Whatever happened to the McDLT?
In
the entertainment world, performers must constantly
reinvent in order to keep their place in the spotlight.
Great examples include Madonna, Elton John and Cher.
Each has gone through transformation many times in order
to remain successful.
Your Gut is Calling – Answer the Phone!
If
you are wrestling with a business idea, whether it is a
new product, marketing strategy, niche customer base or
a whole new business division, here are steps you can
take to move forward.
1. Plan Your Attack
Think of preparation as insurance. The better you can
prepare, the better your chances of success. Do your
homework and make sure your idea makes sense. Survey
your customers, talk to peers, read books, take classes,
hire an advisor—whatever it takes to define a strategy
that has legs.
2. Don’t Bet More Than You Can Afford to Lose
Be
realistic about the risk involved. If your idea is of
mammoth proportion, make sure you have a mammoth back up
plan. If in the grand scheme of things, it will be of
minor consequence if it doesn’t go as planned, then keep
moving forward.
3. Feel the Fear - Then Kick its Tail
You
might be surprised by how much fear is removed from the
equation when you start with step #1: Plan Your Attack.
Being prepared brings confidence. If you still need a
nudge, remember the lesson from the Wizard of Oz:
“You’ve always had the power.” Take a deep breath and
proceed to step #4.
4. Take the Leap
If
you own a business, you have undoubtedly taken many
leaps of faith already. And I’ve got news for you; you
will likely take many more in your life as a business
owner. Remember a time when you took a leap and it paid
off. Now go replicate that.
5. Evaluate Often
Once
your idea is off the launching pad, don’t close your
eyes and hope for a safe landing. Pay close attention to
the progress. Make changes, adjust and continue the
development process. If it’s wildly successful,
celebrate. If it’s broken, look for ways to fix it.
Sometimes even problems can become opportunities if you
look at them from the right angle.
6. Lather, Rinse, Repeat
Here’s an idea: make change part of your ongoing
business plan. Look for ways to improve, introduce,
create and grow. Go through the process again and again
until you run out of ideas. When that happens, it’s time
to retire!
When
you embrace change and transformation, you give yourself
and your business permission to grow. Are you ready to
leap?
About the Author:
Stephanie Chandler is the author of several business and
marketing books including FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO
INFOPRENEUR: MAKE MONEY WITH BOOKS, E-BOOKS AND
INFORMATION PRODUCTS. She is the founder of
http://BusinessInfoGuide.com,
a directory of resources for entrepreneurs and
http://TheBusinessGrowthConnection.com,
a marketing company specializing in electronic
newsletters.
*This
article can be reprinted in full provided the author
resource box is included with the publication.
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ARTICLE ~ BUSINESS GROWTH ~ CHANGE ~
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