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SCALING A BUSINESS - ARE YOU READY?

June 29, 2020
 
The answer is: You'd better be.
 
As we struggle to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis, we are dealing with a new world reality. Knowing if you are ready to scale is more important now than ever.
 
Technology is being utilized more as people are working remotely, afraid of being in an office together. Technology can keep things moving but for many businesses (like ours), it doesn't fully replace the personal, face-to-face meetings.
 
COVID-19 is forcing all of us to examine the inefficiencies in our businesses. It's forcing us to make decisions on people, how we communicate with customers, what services we provide, how we provide them, what customers are showing up and which ones are not. For the smart, good entrepreneurs, it's forcing you to look at your business differently and acknowledging and fixing what's no longer working.
 
There is a difference between scaling your business at a manageable rate and scaling your business at an unmanageable rate. As I've said before, faster isn't always better.
 
Rapid, high-scale growth often comes with curve balls. If you've never managed through those curve balls before, it can puta strain on your people, on facilities, and on vendors. When you are growing fast, it is harder to absorb demands from your customers, demands from your bank, and demands from your employees. Some entrepreneurs deal with it using brute force, others go down with the ship.
 
Growing your business at rapid scale - whether intentional or not - is very difficult. Few people can pull it off, and those that do may have a lot of luck on their side. It's much better to have a written plan round manageable goals and the rate of growth you are willing to engage in. It's a control issue. If you don't manage to control it, it will control itself. And that can be very dangerous for you. How do you do that?
 
First, you need to have a solid business foundation. If you don't have the fundamentals in place and the "J curve" happens, that can put you out of business. And at a minimum, cause unnecessary strain.
 
You need to have the basis built the right way, and in working order. Then you can - and should - start turning what Jim Collins refers to in his book, Good to Great, as the Flywheel.
 
The analogy of the Flywheel is a massive metal disk, mounted on an axel and weighing 5,000 pounds. It's your job to rotate it as fast and as long as possible.
 
You'll begin by exerting full effort and it will seem to take forever just to complete one entire turn. But as you continue to push, the turns gradually get faster and faster until the Flywheel's own weight and momentum is turning itself at an unstoppable rate.
 
If you tried to identify which turn effort caused the Flywheel to rotate on it's own, it would be impossible. Because it wasn't one big push that made the difference. It was your cumulative, collective effort applied consistently that resulted in the buildup and breakthrough.
 
This is the way to scale your business. It's not one major action or event that suddenly grows your business. You will keep making small herculean pushes. Eventually you will see yourself getting better at your business, and you will see the demand for your product or service increase. Everything will accelerate as you continue to find new ways to solve problems that come up. All of this happens at a faster and faster rate, gradually building momentum. You will recognize that it's not slowing down, but things just keep getting better.
 
Part of having a written, executable business plan in the beginning is to control your rate of growth, build a foundation and have everything in place to move that Flywheel. As that happens and you're realizing gradual growth and not linear growth - you will be growing at an accelerated rate, but on much more controlled basis.
 
So many businesses try to turn the Flywheel way before they are capable and able to. If you build a foundation first and then apply the Flywheel concept, your business will scale. And you will be ready.
 
What efforts are you making to scale your business? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!


INDEX
  • 4 PILLARS OF A SOLID BUSINESS FOUNDATION
  • A NEW WAY TO SET GOALS IN 2023
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A PRESIDENT?
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER?
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER?
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A COO?
  • HOW TO EXIT YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A BUYER
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER?
  • IT'S NOT THE GREAT RESIGNATION; IT'S THE GREAT REALIGNMENT
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE AN HR MANAGER?
  • WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS A PRICING STRATEGY
  • THE 4 Cs OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
  • WHAT IS A CEPA ADVISOR AND HOW CAN ONE BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS?
  • THE FALLOUT ON CULTURE WHEN YOU DON'T HIRE A PLAYERS
  • THE ROLES OF SALES IN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
  • FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR IN YOUR LIFE
  • THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A SMALL BUSINESS
  • WORKFORCE IN MOTION
  • GOAL SETTING FOR 2022: WHAT TO DO NOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL NEXT YEAR
  • LESSONS LEARNED AFTER PUBLISHING MY FIRST BOOK
  • WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS INNOVATION
  • THE COVID-INSPIRED SPIKE IN ENTREPRENEURIALISM
  • THE PROS AND CONS OF OUTSOURCING YOUR FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE
  • HOW TO SET GOALS IN 2021
  • THE LEADERSHIP EVOLUTION OF YOUR BUSINESS
  • HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR ADVISORY BOARD
  • THE PANDEMIC-INDUCED INNOVATION OF MEETINGS
  • HOW TO USE THE 8 P'S OF MARKETING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
  • BEST PRACTICES FOR COLLEGE FINANCING
  • SCALING A BUSINESS - ARE YOU READY?
  • THE HALFWAY POINT: IT'S TIME TO REVISIT THOSE BUSINESS GOALS
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: SUCCESSION PLANNING
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: EVOLUTION OF FAMILY LIFE
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: FINANCIAL RISK
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: INTEGRATION
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: WHY ARE YOU GROWING YOUR COMPANY?
  • GOAL SETTING 2020: HOW TO KEEP YOUR GOALS FRONT AND CENTER ALL YEAR LONG
  • ASK GERBER: HOW TO STAY LASER FOCUSED DURING THE HOLIDAYS
  • Ask Gerber: How to Identify Your Business's Culture When You Don't Think You Have One
  • Ask Gerber: When Should I Hire a Professional Manager?
  • Ask Gerber: Should You Mix Business with Friendship?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I ESCAPE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SLUMP OF FEELING TRAPPED IN MY BUSINESS?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW CAN ENTREPRENEURS CREATE SHARED EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR CHILDREN?
  • Ask Gerber: How Can I Recognize Permanent Failure as an Entrepreneur?
  • Ask Gerber: How Can I Recognize and Overcome Temporary Failures?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I HELP EASE EMPLOYEE STRESS DURING BUSY SEASON?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE HR?
  • ASK GERBER : DO I NEED A CEO?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE A COO?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE A CMO?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE A CFO?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I KEEP PASSION AND PROFITS TOP OF MIND IN MY BUSINESS?
  • ASK GERBER: WHY DO I NEED TO INVEST IN HOSTING AN ANNUAL RETREAT FOR MY TEAM?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW CAN I ENGAGE WITH MY CLIENTS/PROSPECTS WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK?
  • ASK GERBER: WHAT IS A CLIENT SERVICE MATRIX? PART DEUX
  • ASK GERBER: WHAT IS A CLIENT SERVICE MATRIX? PART ONE
  • ASK GERBER: THE HIRING PROCESS. WHY IS IT SO DAMN HARD?
  • ASK GERBER: WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND GROW YOUR COMPANY CULTURE
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I ACHIEVE THE WORK/LIFE BALANCE AS A BUSY ENTREPRENEUR?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I PREPARE MY FRIENDS FOR LIFE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?
  • ASK GERBER: FIRST GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
  • ASK GERBER: I PUT SO MUCH OF MYSELF INTO MY BUSINESS THAT I WORRY I AM FALLING SHORT AS A SPOUSE AND PARENT. WHAT CAN I DO?
  • ASK GERBER: ARE CHILDREN OF FIRST-GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS MORE LIKELY TO BE SPOILED?
  • ASK GERBER: WHAT'S YOUR STANCE ON REMOTE ACCESS FOR EMPLOYEES?
  • ASK GERBER: WHEN DO I NEED TO HIRE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT?
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