Big to Bigger – Secrets to Growing Your Small Business | LinkedIn

December 31, 2013

Big to Bigger - Secrets to Growing Your Small Business | LinkedIn 1

I never set out to run a company. I left Corporate America and started my individual consulting practice assuming I’d always be a work-from-home, one-woman show. Fast forward 12+ years and I have an office, co-workers, and a business model.

Looking back, I wish I had consulted business experts sooner. Today, I have a small, yet powerful group of advisors I tap into. Getting outside perspective has been extremely helpful to me when making strategic decisions to grow the business.

Tips To Make Your Business Jump to the Next Level

I wanted to write a post for fellow small business owners to inspire them to keep going in 2014. We’re the future job creators of the world. I want to see as many small businesses as possible turn into bigger ones. So, I reached out to John Fox, an Internet executive an entrepreneur who advises businesses to get his take on the most important secrets to growing your business into a big one. Here’s what he shared:

A carefully constructed team. A team defines your company’s culture, product, customer service, happiness/frustration and your overall success – so don’t rush it, get it right. Here are John’s four keys to hiring:

Hire people who are smarter than you, people that will challenge your assumptions and make your business significantly stronger–know your limitations and hire to fill those gaps.

Hire experience over education – having experience building or scaling a product is far more valuable.

Hire for cultural fit. John says, “I recommend letting someone go within the first two weeks if you know he/she just isn’t working out from a cultural perspective. They may have the best experience and be the hardest worker, but if they don’t mesh with your current team your company won’t work.”

Remember you are creating a team, not just looking to hire individual all-stars. Just look at the NBA All-star game, or the NFL ProBowl… all of the world’s best players playing together on one stage… you’d think it would be amazing… usually, doesn’t turn out that way.

Knowing who you’re building for. Talk to your customers/users, bury yourself in analytics, customer studies, etc. Fly out to see them and talk to them in person. John explained, “When I was building Games.com, I answered customer support emails and got on the phone with my users, I saw how they used the product and made changes when users operated the product differently than I had intended. Finally, understand what they think they want, and make sure you don’t always build what the customer tells you they want–sometimes, the customer doesn’t know what they want until you put it in front of them (and even then, they may complain for months until they get used to it–change is hard for people).”

Doing one thing and doing it well. Make sure you have a clearly defined vision, you can’t be everything to everyone. John shared, “As my former McKinsey colleagues would say, “you can’t boil the ocean.” Make sure you hold yourself in check to your vision, and get advisors to do this too (see point 4). You may have the aspiration to be the next Google, which has many different types of web offerings, but they didn’t do it all at once–they became the experts in search, and then started to expand outside of that.”

Finding advisors. Find people to hold you accountable, who are connected in the industry and have your best intentions in mind. It’s lonely to be the CEO or GM of a division, so find others that have done it before and learn from their experiences and get them to “catapult” you forward.

Loving what you do. Life is too short. It’s never too late to make a career change, and most people will be surprisingly supportive to help you do that.

John’s Tips Were Validating

For me, running a business is a lot of work, but it feels so much better than any other work I’ve ever done. It’s extremely hard…but oh so worth it. The tips John shared above are all ones I’ve embraced (often unknowingly!), but can validate are what helped to get us to where we are today.

What other tips would you add to this list to help small business owners get to the next level in 2014? I”d love to see your comments below.

P.S. – First time reading my posts? Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Not only do I write for Linkedin, but I’m also founder of the career advice site, CAREEREALISM, and currently run the career coaching program, CareerHMO. I hope you’ll check them both out!

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CAREEREALISM’s Founder, J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career expert and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction. Her book,CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, outlines her highly successful career-coaching methodology. Purchase her e-book of CAREEREALISM for only $9.95 by clicking here !

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via Big to Bigger – Secrets to Growing Your Small Business | LinkedIn.

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It's hard to believe that it has been 12 years since 9-11.  I remember that day very clearly, and what I was doing when the first airplane hit the first tower in New York.  I was holding my second daughter in my arms, nursing her so sweetly, while outside in the...

7 Tips To Be An Effective Manager

Being an effective manager can be quite a minefield, but doesn't have to be terribly tricky, if you throw yourself into it, and follow some simple tips. 7 Tips To Be An Effective Manager Be Genuine - If you're fake, everyone is going to know it. You have to be...
Nyago Michael Emmanuel

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

Work Hazards Common Among Office Workers

Work Hazards Common Among Office Workers

Working in an office environment may seem like a safe job, but there are still a variety of hazards that can put employees at risk. Taking the necessary steps to prevent these risks and protect oneself from potential harm is essential for any office worker. Let's...

How to Make Your Retirement Plan Less Work

How to Make Your Retirement Plan Less Work

Are you one of the many business owners who dread the thought of setting up and managing a retirement plan for your employees? You're not alone! It can be a lot of work to figure out what plan is best for your company, and then keep track of all the contributions and...

Careers That Let You Make a Social Impact

Careers That Let You Make a Social Impact

Are you often frustrated by the state of society and angered by social injustices? If you wish you could have a bigger influence on society, consider switching to a career with more social outreach and influence. Here are a few careers that help you to make a lasting...

Why You Should Hire Workers Fresh Out of College

Why You Should Hire Workers Fresh Out of College

Hiring is a tricky business. You need to find someone who has the right skills, fits in well with your company, and will be a great contributor. At the same time, you can’t be too picky or you will never make a decision. While you may naturally lean towards hiring...

Why You Shouldn’t Work Out of a Coffee Shop

Why You Shouldn’t Work Out of a Coffee Shop

You see it in many different blogs and social media sites: cute little stock photos of people working at a café or coffee shop. As aesthetically pleasing as it may appear, this is actually a highly impractical way to work remotely. Here are the biggest reasons to...

How to Help Your Employees Feel Less Stressed

How to Help Your Employees Feel Less Stressed

As an employer, you have an obligation to help your employees feel comfortable when they are at work, and when you fulfill this duty, your employees will be more productive. Your employees are likely to be at their best when they are supported and calm in the office....

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Recent Posts

How to Give Your Employees More Choices in Benefits

How to Give Your Employees More Choices in Benefits

As a business leader, you understand the value of empowering your team with choices that suit their unique needs. This philosophy can extend to the realm of employee benefits, where providing more options can enhance job satisfaction and loyalty. Here’s how you can...

How to Reduce the Burden of Healthcare Costs in Retirement

How to Reduce the Burden of Healthcare Costs in Retirement

Planning for retirement involves more than just financial considerations; it also requires thoughtful preparation for healthcare expenses. As you transition into your golden years, managing healthcare costs becomes crucial for maintaining financial stability and...

How to Avoid Delays When Delivering to Customers

How to Avoid Delays When Delivering to Customers

In today's competitive business landscape, delivering products to customers on time is not just a courtesy; it's a necessity. Delays in delivery can lead to dissatisfaction and harm a company’s reputation, especially for female entrepreneurs who are striving to build...

Work Remotely Without Working from Home

Work Remotely Without Working from Home

Working from home offers a unique blend of comfort and convenience, creating a workspace that is both personal and professional. Your home becomes a versatile canvas where productivity meets comfort, and your creativity flourishes in familiar surroundings. From the cozy corner of your living room to a dedicated home office, the possibilities are endless. With the freedom to choose your workspace, you can design an environment that suits your workflow, whether it’s the tranquility of a quiet room or the vibrant energy of a sunlit nook. Working from home provides the flexibility to customize your surroundings, making it the ideal place to turn your aspirations into accomplishments.

Why You Need to Avoid Overworking Yourself

Why You Need to Avoid Overworking Yourself

The demanding landscape of entrepreneurship often celebrates burning the midnight oil as a pathway to success. While hard work is undeniably critical, overworking oneself can lead to adverse effects that are often overlooked in the hustle to meet deadlines and...