HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN YOUR BUSINESS?
Entrepreneurs talk about strategies to keep things in balance.
“We have a number of strategies to grow our business but I believe the real key is to have a plan and routinely check- in. We have monthly, quarterly and annual planning meetings. At these meetings we look at our numbers and measurables to tell us if we’re on track. Our business has to continually evolve. Taking time to figure out what’s working and what isn’t allows us to focus our energy on strategies that will take us to the next level.” Christy Switzer, co- owner of I Know A Guy Renovations, iknowaguyrenovations.com
“For us, in a service industry, sustainable growth is all about our capacity to meet client’s needs. We work with contract professionals, which means we can scale up or down very easily as we do not employ full- time staff. Contract professionals allow us to hire the best trainers we can find, and to keep them. As our schedule gets busier, our contractor trainers clear their schedules to work with us. In any business, treating your people well gets you everywhere. In our business, it is the way we are able to grow and meet the demands of our clients.” Merri Lemmex, Managing Partner, Operations, Lemmex Williams Training Inc., lemmexwilliams.com
“As food producers, we look for many ways to grow. For us, as crop producers, growth has typically come from expanding our land base. That isn’t easy to do with rising prices for land and few pieces of land for rent or purchase. Now, we look to changing methods of production so we can grow our profits and also look for other businesses we can operate with same capital. Exploring new markets, looking at ways to grow new crops with greater gross profit potential or becoming part of the food processing and distribution chain are all ways we can grow in a sustainable way.” Laura Bechard, business and executive coach at Bexco Business & Executive Coaching, linkedin. com/ in/ laurabechard
“Maintaining sustainable growth is about strategy. Businesses thrive on momentum and creating the right momentum can be a real challenge. New businesses scramble to get the first clients, or are wildly successful. Both situations can force a reactive mode of building team and systems to catch up. Sustainable growth requires moving from reactive to proactive in your business activities. This requires a strategy based on facts such as your key performance indicators. Business is always changing and planning for these changes proactively is the best way to provide sustainable growth.”
Nancy Seeger, CEO of Seeger Consulting Inc., seegerconsultinginc.com
“I achieve sustainability by over- delivering on my value promise. Being indispensable to my clients and focusing on my clients goals and values, results in me being referable to other successful people.”
Dean Kendall, CEO of Ideal Life Experience Ltd., linkedin.com/in/ideallifeexperience