How to Be a Mover and a Shaker and a Business Money-MakerDo you want to grow your business, but don't know where to begin? Here are some simple steps to help you get there.

ByBrad Sugars

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

apsense.com

In business and in life, the old adage is true: the only constant is change, and when it comes to business, if you aren't growing, your days are numbered.

Growthis your only option, because no matter how robust yourcustomerbase may be, people move, preferences change, demographics shift and somewhere along the way, you will lose customers who will need to be replaced.
Most of us don't like to adapt to shifting conditions until we have no choice. But what if a big client leaves, a credit line is cut or an internationalshipmentis lost and uninsured?

Having a "Plan B" is good in theory, but do you actually have one?

Having contingencies in place to deal with the unknowns and uncertainties in your company will save you. This means having predictive systems in place that you can rely on to support your operations, no matter what happens.
大多数的企业家我和知道w雷竞技手机版hat they should be doing but don't know where to begin. If you know you need to change but are stuck, here are some suggestions to get you going in the right direction:

1. Get your own buy-in to a bigger vision for your business.Your clarity about your vision for the future must be bigger than your dissatisfaction with the current situation, or you'll default to doing nothing.
Here are some key questions to ask yourself:

  • What's in it for me?
  • What's the cost and payoff for making a change versus not changing?
  • Will this change help something or someone else?
  • Regardless of how you feel, is it just the right thing to do?

#insert related here#

2. Decide that enough is enough.That is how my favorite mentor, Jim Rohn, described how productive feelings can come out of disgust, and the attitude of, "I'm just not going to take it anymore."
Once you reach this point, you've essentially overcome your fear of change, which shows up to cloak our "fight or flight" mechanism.

If you find yourself lashing out and irritable (fight) or prone to avoidance and procrastination (flight), use disgust to move you toward your new vision, and you'll be better able to overcome those negative emotions (resistance) for the first steps in a new direction.

3. Focus on what matters most.My rule is systemize cashflow first, then profits, then team. So, get your sales going, focusing on new sales to current customers before new sales to new customers and start to systemize the process.

Not sure how to do it? Get help. Find someone who's done it before and use their knowledge and experience to make it work for you. And don't say you can do it yourself. If that were true, it would already be done.

4. Finally, commit to make lasting changes.Anyone who has followed the plight of most lottery winners has seen instances in which transformation and turnaround was simply too big for an individual to handle.
Once you've decided to make the changes you need to realize your vision, commit to moving forward.

Your willingness to make lasting changes begins and ends with you. Once you start getting positive results, that feedback is all you need to get the confidence you are going in the right direction.
Get clear about the vision you have for your business and the results you really want. This will help motivate you to make the changes you need to grow your business.

Brad Sugarsis the founder and chairman of ActionCOACH. As an entrepreneur, author and business coach, he has owned and operated more than two dozen companies including his main company, ActionCOACH, which has more than 1,000 offices in 34 countries.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Taylor Swift Reportedly Pays All Restaurant-Goers' Checks to Clear Out Restaurant For Her and NFL Star Travis Kelce

The star was spotted at Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs game Sunday night alongside Kelce's mother.

Business Plans

10 Simple Tips to Write a Successful Business Plan

In the new book "Write Your Own Business Plan," business expert Eric Butow takes the anxiety and confusion out of planning and offers an easy-to-follow roadmap to success.

Social Media

We Are Disillusioned and in an Influencer Overdrive — Here's How to Find Authentic Guidance via Social Media Influencers

Instagram, Twitter和Facebook看起来更unrealistic than ever. Remember when it was fun!? In the age of authenticity, we're not buying the dupliciousity of influencers.

Franchise

Is Franchising a Fit for You? Crucial Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Before taking the leap make sure you've thoroughly researched every nuance of this business model.

Starting a Business

Ask Co-Founder of Netflix Marc Randolph Anything: How to Watch

How to watch the new live streaming episode of 'Ask Marc.'