“Change Begins the Moment you Realize that Just Getting by Isn’t Good Enough” by Adam Santavicca

Have you ever asked yourself these three questions?

Where are you?
Where do you want to be?
Why aren’t you there already?

These questions all relate to change. Change can be difficult because it takes a lot of work to create and implement. It can be a long and thought provoking process. You worry that the change may not turn out with the right results. Change may make you question or doubt your decision. Just the thought of change can keep you up at night.

Why do you need change? The business is getting by. It’s not great, but so what?

So what! Just getting by isn’t good enough, and you know it. Now you have to do something about it. But what?

I meet with business owners on a regular basis. I discuss with them their business, look at their financials and ask them if they are satisfied with where they are today. It always amazes me when a business owner tells me how hard they work in the business and they are making enough to take care of the business and their family. They are “getting by.”

Then, I start to ask questions such as “why are you satisfied when I can easily see that you can grow your business by more than 30% this year?” “If you streamline your production process, you could add 25% more to your bottom line.”

Statements like this will get the owners attention, but they may not be able to see how to do it… reach these new goals. What they are recognizing is the need for change and sometimes they don’t believe they can change.

Henry Ford once said: “Whether you think you can or can’t…. you’re right.”

Don’t be afraid of change. Recognize when you need it and embrace it. Change is good.

To be successful and sustain long term growth, there must be changes made in the business. These can be marketing or operating efficiency changes. They can be through the introduction of new products or services. All of this represents change.

An analysis of most failed businesses usually reveals that they did not change with the times. Technology passed them by, or more correctly… their competitors passed them by.

Stand back and take a look at your business. Better yet, bring in an expert and ask them to evaluate your business. A good business advisor will come up with recommendations that will take you to your next level of success. Take these recommendations and together build an action plan that can measure the results as you grow.

After reading this article, you should have answered the first two questions. What about the third?