Every entrepreneur needs to have one eye on the present and the other of the future. There will be times when your business faces significant challenges and you might not feel that it will last the year, let alone a few years from now, whether you need to start outsourcing or trim the fat. But this is why it’s so important for every business owner to start preparing for 10 years down the line. It may seem futile, especially when there are things that are seemingly beyond your control but this is one of the tricks that many entrepreneurs have: the tool of visualization. It can help to solidify things in your mind and give you that subconscious boost you need. With this in mind, what are some of the most important ideas for developing your business so it will last beyond the decade, rather than decay?
Physical Expansion
When we consider expanding a business we think about products, and else is secondary to this main cause. But when you start thinking about physical expansion you will need to fill the space. This may seem like a backward notion but if you physically expand your company this shows to your employees and competitors that you are a major force to be reckoned with, but it also gives you the motivation to fill the space. It’s like Parkinson’s Law, “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion,” or in this case, fills the physical space. And even if you don’t have the products to back it up right now, it’s all about highlighting that you are a bigger fish in a small pond. There are so many tricks to showing off your business as something bigger than it is, but this is where a big mindset can be the perfect starting point. Going out on your own and finding land could prove beneficial, rather than toeing the line and hiring an office. But when you start to work with various suppliers like WR Meadows that provide additional construction materials it’s killing two birds with one stone because as you are expanding the business physically, you realize you need the resources to fulfill it.
A Fully Autonomous Workforce
Having an autonomous workforce requires putting trust in your employees. This is something many employers struggle to come to terms with. When you realize that you need employees to function under their own steam, you have to let go of the steering wheel somewhat. Encouraging an autonomous workforce is not just about giving them free rein; it’s about slowly guiding them in the right direction. Partly, it is to do with the employees you already have, but also finding people that fit the mold, or, rather, finding those that don’t. It could take a long time to get this right, but this is where having the right people in conjunction with the right tools can come in handy. You need people that are able to function on their own steam but also remain organized. You could incorporate CRM tools in this instance, but also research ways to work smarter instead of harder. If you want an autonomous workforce that is able to function without your input, it all begins with trust.
Becoming An Influencer In Your Field
Everybody wants to be number one. And if you see your business as number one in your field but not everybody else can just yet, now is the time to figure out how to market yourself and become an influencer in your industry. A lot of this has to do with how you promote yourself but it’s also about walking the walk as well as talking the talk. This means that you’ve got to focus on your core values but also make sure that you deliver them. When you provide a specific service, it has to fulfill a need. There are so many companies out there trying to cram another product into an already bloated marketplace, but when you start to think differently and stop thinking about numbers this is when you truly drill down into what the business is all about. People are focused on tangible results, when in fact, it could all be about something different. If you really want to become an influencer, stop thinking about everyone else and focus on what you can really deliver. Ten years is a long time and you can get a lot done. It’s important to have goals for the long term, not just because it can help your business but it can help you during those difficult moments at 3 in the morning where you feel like giving up.
