To grow your small business and be successful you must expand your thinking.  After all, if your thinking never changes, then you will not be in control of creating your future.  Think about it.  If you don’t change then you will be constantly reacting to the changing business climate. 

That’s a tough way to do business.  You are always one step behind.  General Douglas McArthur, the famous World War II general once said that all defeat can be explained by two words, “too late.”  Too late in anticipating the problem.  Too late in preparing a plan of action.  And, too late in executing the plan. 

To have your small business successful you must embrace change.  If you don’t then it will run over you.  To this point I have talked about external success.  That is how success may appear to others.  Yet, true success is an inside job.  It starts within you, the business owner.  Embracing change is a successful performance strategy. 

Whether you are starting up your own business or running your own business all success starts within you, the business owner.  Here are four points to remember.

1. Your past shapes, to an extent, who you are. 

1. You determine who you become…..not circumstances, people or things.

1. The best helping hand you have is at the end of your arm.

1. Listen and learn  to focus

Here’s wishing you success and all the freedom and abundance life has to offer.

Very often I am asked:  “What can i do to imporve my business?  The economy isn’t good.  I have lsot customers.  It’s more difficult to find new prospects, customers or clients.”

Interestingly, while this is a harsh reality for many businesses, it is not for many others.  How come?  There a many reasons.  Much of the time it has to do with being in the right market niche when the economy turns sour.  But, this is circumstantial. 

To learn how to have a good business in spite of a bad economy look at the businesses, regardless of market niche that demonstrate “positive deviance. ”

What is positive deviance?  It is those businesses that are doing something positive that enables them to stand out from the competition regardless of the economy.  What are those positive things?  There are many points but I will focus on two things.

1.  Exceptional Customer Service

2.  Turning customers into advocates

These businesses are successful because they treat their clients and customers like first class passengers on their airline.  There customers do experience exceptional customer service.

And, they turn customers into advocates because they take their relationship beyond the initial transaction.  Part of a good marketing business plan is to add value to the relationship.  This may be done with a regular newsletter, cards or a follow up phone call. 

Small business growth and growing small business are not done by accident.  They are done by design.  In this design with exceptional customer service and deepening the relationship the business is able to generate referrals and do it consistently. 

How do you get referrals?  By turning your database of customers and clients into your sales force with exceptional customer service and adding value to the relationship.  This takes time and a consistent approach. 

Regardless of where your business is now you can start on this success process.  It is a winning performance strategy.  After all, you did start your small business to win.