Evolution: John McGrath told Coffs Coast businesses in February to work on adapting their planning to accommodate change.
“What got you here won’t get you there”
There is an uplift in consumer confidence coming back in the business and property market space post-election now that things are finalised and we have some clarity around Federal leadership moving forward and some policy direction around superannuation and negative gearing.
Thinking about this, it’s timely to look back on a recent chamber luncheon where John McGrath delivered some insights and anecdotes around looking into yourself and your business to get to the next level.
I’m sure there aren’t too many people that go into business wanting to just maintain the “status quo” and who don’t strive for growth and increasing market share or profitability.
This is of course documented through Business Plans and business goals.
Goodness knows committing the amount of hours that small business requires should result in every business owner delivering amazing products and services to clients, and ultimately have a better quality of life.
John’s classic saying that resonates clearly is that “what got you here, won’t get you there”.
I wanted to unpack that a little as we head into a new financial year and hopefully deliver some pockets of gold to help other business owners take it to the next level.
In order to achieve what you achieved last financial year you did what you did, marketed, implemented decisions, delivered a level of service and product. Simple as it sounds.
So if your business plan calls for growth this year in revenue or profit then you need to engage in new, different, more refined practices to deliver a higher level of result.
What could that look like? Start by thinking bigger! Is there any real reason why you couldn’t double your business in 12 months? What would that look like for you? What would that mean for your quality of life, or your family’s quality of life (without having to work longer).
Having self-belief, releasing negative thoughts that are potentially holding you back, taking your service levels, stock presentation or marketing from a 5/10 to an 8 or 9 out of ten.
You need to tap into your “why”. Why did I go into business? Why do I get up every day and go in? Why and what do I and my family deserve in life?
If you can visualise and write down your goals every day you will be a long way to actually achieving them. On reflection to the business lunch, some great points from John are:
• Care first about people (really care) then the results will flow
• Are you an amateur and just interested in what you do or are you a professional and committed?
• What do you have in your life that you don’t want?
• What don’t you have in your life but do want?
In today’s technology era there are so many ways to take you and your business to the next level.
The only person preventing that in reality…..is you.