And importantly what the best businesses have done to achieve those results?
Plus we help you with the implementation so that you get the results you seek.
Alec Blacklaw, leading Strategic Advisor to business owners, shares 5 top tips that leading businesses employ to enjoy and maintain their success.
DREAM
It starts with a dream. A passion to improve the outcomes for people. A product, a service, an idea that will make sure that people get a better result or experience.
PLAN
Once the dream evolves and takes shape flesh out the vision and alternate strategies to achieve the big picture. Understand the structure that will be required, designing the culture of the organisation to allow it to differentiate and engage with the target audience. You need to stand out.
IMPLEMENT
Take action and put in place the critical success factors for the business. Talking only gets you so far; time for the rubber to hit the road.
REVIEW
Measure and manage the important things on a regular basis to make sure you are on track. Watch the trends, the dashboard and take corrective action quickly.
Understand and manage your cash flow. Reward your people for excellent performance.
IMPROVE
Always look to improve on what you are doing . One step at a time. Engage . Dont rest on your achievements – continue to invest in yourself, your people, your products and services , your brand.
Sharpening the saw every day and week . It’s a journey not a destination.
Why is it that some combinations seem to work better than others?
Or that the combination of particular ingredients makes all the difference? Hmmm.
A coincidence or not ? I think not.
The right combination of Passion, Focus and Capability will produce great outcomes.
Are you drawn to people who are passionate about what they are doing, presenting or speaking about? You are more likely to connect with a brand, product or service that evokes passion or arises the passion in you.
So what’s your story? What is it about your business or product or service that stands out and deserves to be listened to?
In a crowded world where competition for your interest is huge, your point of difference needs to connect with my heart and mind!
You need to get my attention and connect with my needs, my challenge, my pain, my problem…
Is that making sense?
Ok , so sit back and review your value proposition and test that your message is truly connecting with your target audience.
Focus is a challenge for most people and most businesses. Understanding and working on what’s critical for your success; employing your time & resources wisely, ensuring all decisions fit with your vision is VITAL.
Continually ask yourself – ” Is what we are doing right now moving us closer to our objectives? ”
If it’s not moving you closer, then stop doing it. And get back to doing what matters and that will make a difference to your success.
Capability is a minimum standard you might say. But does your business, product or service do what you promise? Is it consistently doing this over an extended period and exceeding expectations? Your feedback, amazing testimonials and increased sales and market share will confirm this.
Is there something in your “Offer” that delights your customer and delivers more than expected? If not,go back to the drawing board, re-design & add that missing ingredient.
Think of the great businesses, products or services that you admire… They will all do this.
That’s why they are in the top 5% in their segment.
Be prepared to invest whats required, in advance and stay the course.
Don’t give up, others will.
It’s worth the investment of time and energy.
Lots of business owners succeed, lots of businesses are doing some great things and achieving their goals.On the flip side there is whole other bunch that are not doing so well. You probably know of some.
If business was like the Olympics or the World Cup, most countries would struggle to consistently qualify. The statistics confirm that the large investment of resources by lots of people does not deliver the results that most seek. And then there is the opportunity cost and huge social and personal implications for those that don’t succeed. Tragic.
There’s a pattern – and it’s not always clear, but like those crazy mazes if you look hard enough it’s there.
Aha – now I see it! – More profitable, valuable and enjoyable.
That’s the three amigos.
Imagine having a business that ticked all 3, consistent with your specific goals and objectives. Not mine but yours. Once you have those three consistently humming and aligned, you really have something that will win the hearts, minds and dollars of your target audience. And everyone involved has way more options. Fact.
One is good, two is cool and all three is pretty amazing. It will be the leading business in the segment, by any standards. You will know and admire businesses that are profitable, valuable and enjoyable. You will buy from them, you will want to be part of them, invest in them, follow them… They will be succesful.
Ok, so let’s say your business is profitable but not truly valuable – it is on paper, but you don’t have loads of buyers knocking down your door, wanting to buy you out at a price you would be thrilled with. Or else the offer is not on terms and conditions that suit all stakeholders.
Or maybe your business is profitable and valuable, but is not a whole lot fun… perhaps not all of the board is aligned, or you are having trouble attracting and retaining the right people, or not connecting with your customers as well you would like. Your target audience is not fully engaged or it’s a struggle… sound familiar?
It’s often the more enjoyable bit that many people relate to and want more of . And it’s the bit they haven’t got right.
The challenge is to create & build a great culture, developing the emotional connection
that is required with all of your stakeholders, to succeed over the longer term.
Look at the businesses that are truly succeeding – on many levels and that are sustainable. They will have all three firing and running smoothly.
They will have a brilliant vision and point of difference that all of their stakeholders will have bought into. Their passion will shine through and you will passionate about them, their
products or services.
That’s why two out three isn’t enough.
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Do you know where you are headed?
That’s a start. It’s a long way to anywhere if you don’t know where you are headed.
Is your vision a secret? …or would your partners, team and clients know this too?
Having a clear and engaging vision is critical to maximise your success. You need a clear documented vision that gets attention and communicates what makes your products or services special. One that makes you or your business standout in a crowded and noisy market place.
It will showcase your passion and profile your point of difference. You have one right?
Connecting with new clients and community is both simpler and harder than ever. Depends how you see it and what you do about it.
Ok, so technology is developing at a faster and faster pace. Social media is rampaging – only 750 million people are connected last time I checked.
This is good news surely. Embrace it, and leverage it to position yourself way above your competitors. First step; go back and review your vision. When’s the last time you did this?
Is it still relevant? Could you ask any one of your team, clients or target audience about your business and vision and get an answer back that is in line with your actual vision and how you want to be perceived and positioned? Does your audience really get it? If they don’t, then that’s good news too as most will fail this test.
This is where you need to get cracking and jump-start the pack to seriously grow or reposition your business!
Develop a killer pitch that makes an emotional connection with your team, clients and target audience.
Leverage the power of social media to build a more profitable, valuable and enjoyable business.
Love to hear about your success. Go to it.
Alec Blacklaw 