What got you here, may not get you there.

There is a common fallacy that if we start successfully in something and it grows, that this will continue and work at scale. But there are some real issues in this belief that those in business need to consider if they are to avoid the pitfalls and make the right choice.

99.2% of businesses start really small. Often from a second job, a hobby, forced by redundancy or disillusion with corporate life. For example, it may be that you have a real talent as an electrician. You start by doing work for family and friends, they refer you to others, you get busy. So, you launch a website, start to advertise on social media, get business cards and network, get a sign written van and place a few small ads. Your business continues to grow until you have a full schedule of work ahead, life is turning out pretty well for you. So, you think of expanding.

But what got you here, may not get you to the next step which requires you to acquire finance to fund your expanding team of electricians, their vehicles, equipment and stock. Plus, an admin team to support them, and premises to accommodate all these people and growing parts store. You also need to develop business plans, manage cashflow and increase marketing activity to keep all those new people and resources busy. Spending more time in the business, than on the business.

When you were on your own, this all came easy as you only had yourself to look after. But when you look to grow you have to learn a whole lot of new skills around business management, marketing, recruitment, finance, fleet management, inventory control and more.

The default expectation in business is "growth is good" growth signals success. But bigger is not always better. Smaller means you can be selective with your customers and projects, you can enjoy more time with family and friends, avoid the complexities of growth and be fully in control.

So, before you look to grow beyond what makes life good for you, consider if you need to - what are you looking to achieve? If you decide to grow, take time to prepare and plan, understand clearly your aims and what success looks like, what the milestones are and how to quantify them.

Planning is a key component in achieving business growth and success, helping to ensure that you wake up each morning with purpose and eliminate the Decision Dilemma - “What do I do next?” A plan works to identify what you want to achieve, when and importantly how you are going to achieve it. Growth for the sake of growth, is not really a plan.

As Howard Schultz said: “Success is not sustainable if it is defined by how big you become or by growth for growth’s sake. Success is very shallow if it doesn’t have meaning.”