subject: How To Successfully Grow Your Business [print this page] How To Successfully Grow Your Business How To Successfully Grow Your Business
What are you good at? Do not do something because others are doing it i.e. you must not do a business every other person is doing. If you are good in humour or comedy, stick to it and over a period of time, you'll develop an expertise you can't even imagine in that endeavour. People are always into short-term thinking i.e. wanting to make money quick. This is not about "get-rich-quick" syndrome.
You have to give time to explore everything it takes to gain expertise in an area of business. For instance, somebody in a business for thirteen years of deliberate activity so as to make impact to the passion he has. Discover your passion, your niche and then commit yourself into harnessing every aspect of fit.
You need to ask yourself: What does my organization have those us better than our competitors? How do we distinguish ourselves in an increasingly complex and competitive Economy? Do we exude enthusiasm to our clients and customers? Are our clients and customers loyal to and excited about our products and services? Can we attract and retain high-performing employees and strategic partners? If you cannot answer most or all of these questions in the affirmative, it means that one vital element of passion is missing from your business.
Go Get a Mentor
One of the greatest decisions you can make in your business is to find a mentor. A mentor in business is somebody who guides you all the time. If you don't have a mentor, you can miss road. You must have a mentor, somebody who have done what you want to do; someone who will say, this is what to do, this is the mistake to avoid, don't do it this way, do it that way, improve on this and that, etc.
Once you have the mentor, you won't have to repeat the same mistakes budding businessmen like you made a decade ago. The reason you can avoid such mistakes is because your mentor, if you chose the right one, would have gone through or avoided same mistakes in the past so he or she can warn you about the pitfalls ahead. The more mistakes you avoid based on your mentor's sound advice, the faster you move the ladder of success, the better chance of having your business grow and expand.
Take Time to Separate Yourself
One of the things every entrepreneur starting out will soon discover is the tendency to try to accomplish so much at such a short time and end up experiencing burnouts. This stress can even affect your ability to plan well and move your business forward and it can also affect your health. This is one reason why most businesses don't last and they end up folding up. The 'Oga' starts out well, throws his time, skills, efforts, creativity and other things over the course of a few years even at the expense of his family and other things. But due to the passion for the business burning in his heart, he doesn't know when he has suffered a burnout.
Soon, he gets easily fed up when there are difficulties facing the business, begins to see 'enemies' and saboteurs where there are none, etc. One new idea hits town and he wants to leave this business and go after that one. He is stressed and does not even realize it. The vision that used to be so clear and achievable becomes cloudy and bleak. Why? One of the reasons is burnout!
This is why you must regularly learn to separate yourself from the business for a while. Go away when you are confused and can't think things through. You can stay away for two days, three days and more. In business, we call this action "Retreat"; moving out from your business and avoiding people. During this time-out, you are going to think through the particular business problem or confusion that is confronting you. You can always come out with solutions to your problems after this timeout.
Learn How to Manage Your Finance
If you don't know how to manage your money, you are in trouble. Most times in business, the act of making money may not always be the trouble but how best to manage the money God 'gives' to you as you go on with your business. Anybody who wants to make money must develop the capacity to manage the money. '
And how have I handled my money in business? Firstly, every transaction is recorded in a retrievable format; with backup copies, just to be sure. Secondly, most payments if you can help it, must, be through the bank. If money comes in by cash perhaps because a customer pays directly, we ensure the total amount is sent to the bank after the day's work. Third, you do not mix your personal funds with that of the business; never do it. Eat your size avoid impulse buying and frivolities.
Get God Involved In Your Business
You must get God involved in your business. If God is involved in your business, it makes a lot of difference. God will show you what to do when you are confused; He will show you how to do things right, etc. There are things you can do and God won't do them for you; but there are things you cannot do and its only God that can do them for you, Take for example, things like favour With clients, sound health and protection for you and your staff, etc, can only be God's doing and not man's.
Taking Timely Action
Whatever is your doings, plans, ideas and business that you have instituted, you will consolidate properly on it by expediting action; I mean by taking immediate actions to unveil your plans and work at them. Sometimes we plan, analyze, and never take any step until it is late and no longer worth the while. Planning must be matched with right and timely action for it to profit your business.
Regularly Read Relevant Books
You must always read books that are written by various authors who are experts in your field or in related disciplines. If you are in business you need to constantly read relevant books written by famous past and contemporary authors who can inspire you with their own stories. This will help you to tap into the knowledge and experiences of these authors. Make it a habit to always read books that are related to motivation, business start-up and management, entrepreneurship, customer relations, marketing, etc.
Many of the problems entrepreneurs are faced with have already been confronted and solved other businesses people past and present. You only need to read the stories of successful and famous entrepreneurs to see how they became great in spite of the various adversities they faced, As they ~ay, readers are leaders.
Attend Seminars/Workshops
You must usually attend business seminars and workshops centered on businesses and entrepreneurship so as to develop your potentials by way of listening to teaching expositions of experts in your business areas of endeavour.
