I’ve been involved in many conversations over the past few months about growing my business. I’ve come to realise that the decisions I face are similar for most small business, so I thought I’d share my thoughts with you today.
Web Chameleon has been in operation for almost 5 years now. We’ll be celebrating 5 years in August – yeah!!! With a growing database of happy satisfied clients who refer our services and an ever increasing revenue, I pat myself on the back for creating a successful small business.
In recent years I’ve expanded the business from being just me, to a small team, including a virtual team to support myself and Web Chameleon.
The question (aka decision) now lurking is – Do I want more? Do I keep it at this size or do I grow it by expanding our service and product offerings?
To grow the business I’ll need to employ staff which will mean managing people on top of managing business growth. Many caution that this is an area to beware of! The up side is that I can do more of the areas in the business that I really love, and I can employ people who are great at what they can bring to the business. Well that’s the theory anyway.
For me, over the past 5 years I have loved what I do and I continue to love what I do. It does not feel like work to me because I have amazing clients, I work with fabulous people and well I just love the transformation I can help my clients create with their website, online and email marketing. I get to dabble in technology (I’m a closet techy) and marketing (which I love). I get to travel internationally for ‘business’ and in all honesty most of the time I feel blessed and wonder if it really could be any better than this?
What I don’t love is not having the capacity to service all the needs that arise for my clients,. Wanting to expand our services, but not having the team or infrastructure to do so. Oh and getting caught up in the doing of tasks that I don’t love.
So here are the things I’m considering and if this decision is facing you also, that you may wish to consider;
1) What’s your ideal lifestyle?
How does it look? What does your ideal day look like? What would you be doing? Where would this be? Who would be in it? Get into the detail – it’s important to get a clear picture of what your ideal lifestyle could look like. Or maybe you are already living it?
2) What’s your business model?
Are you service based, product based or a combination? Do you operate online, offline or both? How would you love your business model to look? Does your business model support your ideal lifestyle? Can it be grown?
3) What are your goals regarding money, time and energy allocation?
This will be highlighted in your ideal lifestyle, but for further clarity think about how many hours per week you’d like to be working? How much would you like to be earning (I encourage you to be bold with this one!)? Where do you want your energy focused? Where is your heart in all of this?
All of these things will help you to gain clarity on what is true for you. To grow or not to grow? You’ll learn more about my own business growth as I implement based on the decisions made thus far.
One of the best things I’ve learnt in the past 5 years is that we are not alone, even when we are alone in our business. I have my wonderful support team, and I also have my unofficial board of directors – my mastermind groups and my business advisors who amaze me with the depth of what they share to support me and my business.This allows me in turn, to support my own clients in their personal & business growth, and particularly as they master the art of successful online marketing.
Have you faced the challenge of growing your business or being satisfied with what you’ve already created? What did you decide? How did that work out for you?
Who supports you and how has it helped you to grow your business?
I welcome your feedback,
Belinda Jackson
Hi Belinda,
As you said, Business Growth must be a hot topic right now, as I have just written a post on how I am being patient right now with my business growth.
To answer your questions (which are great ones that anyone should ask themselves in this situation):
1. My ideal lifestyle at the moment is what I am doing. Part time work so I can be there for my family. My kids are young and although at times the work/life balance is tough, I love that I am here for my children while they aren’t at school. They grow so quickly and although I do have times where I would just love to work full time, I know that once they are at school and I can do this, that I will miss them like crazy! So for now….I will have patience and enjoy the best of both worlds.
2. My business model is virtual which works so well for me. I can be there for my clients where ever I am which is really important to my lifestyle. I can be on holidays with the family, at the park or just in the backyard…again best of both worlds.
3. Goals – money, time, energy. I am working part time which as I said suits for now. Luckily the money is not the primary reason for my working, but is a great benefit! Time and energy are the hardest ones to find trying to do the work/life balance. There are good days and bad days. But ultimately is worth it.
I do have plans to grow my business when my kids are at school and not wanting so much of me
but until then I will continue on my journey, patiently waiting and enjoying what I am creating!
Thanks for such a great article!
Thanks for your response Jodi. Awesome comments!
I think business growth is an ongoing process for us business owners, that develops according to where we are with other things in our lives. And you know what’s great – is that it is truly up to us to decide how we want things to play out…
And I agree it is ultimately worth it!
Hi Belinda, this is a great topic and sooner or later you have to make decisions. I am a practising Artist/Designer and Tutor and I work full time in my business.
I decided a few years ago that my business is now where I want it to be (after many years of hard work, I am an overnight success after thirty years), it does not mean that I don’t need to tweak it constantly and remain on top of new technology, I welcome anything that makes my job and life a little easier, so I can concentrate on the things that need more time spent on them.
The decision was easy for me as practising artist, money has never been my main objective, as I have always had something on the back burner to supplement my income as an artist.
Once goals are met and targets are accomplished then the hard questions have to be asked I do not want my business to get out of hand, I do want to be in control.
I have part time staff that I call on when I need assistance
My husband helps me at trade shows which can be a mental & physical strain. I have cut back on shows and kept it all where I can manage it. I welcome every aspect of my business from teaching to office work, and never is there a dull moment.
I have worked for many years to arrive at this point in my chosen field and I welcome what the universe now throws at me as it is always interesting and the lessons never stop!!
Working from home suits me, and the ability to timeshift and ideally, be able to plan times away at will.
I have been observing the changing patterns online in the past few years and wonder at all the networking both online and offline and believe there may come a time when real networking will begin, which allows us to leverage our time and our social networks to allow us to scale easily and without the attendant issues with the need to employ staff – but effectively use our collective resources to furnish a beneficial outcome for clients, collaborative associates and our own preferred outcomes.
It isn’t there now… but I see it as a definite potential as the sector matures.