NWCI: 40 Years Leading Change - Video

Keep Your Eye On The Ball

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It's no mean feat, keeping all the plates spinning [or all the burners going] - or however you might describe the 'multi-hat management' of SME ownership.  However, one thing is for sure - if your key objectives are not in focus at [pretty much] all times - you might find yourself dangerously close to implosion.

So remember: keep your eye on the ball, and allow time to [every week] appraise how those key objectives are coming along.

Focus, focus, focus...

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I'm obsessed. With focus.

Why? Because without it, you don't know why you're doing what you're doing. And if you don't, your customers, prospects and staff don't either.  Get clarity and focus.  Right now!

Get it out of the way...

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If you haven't done it, why haven't you?

We all avoid those horrible items on the 'to-do' list, however the problem is... if we continue to do so, our list gets longer and our time management goes, well, out the window.

Get it out of the way.

Staying 'ahead of the curve'... and in step with your growth plan...

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... sometimes it's risky business... other times it's the best thing you never did... and often, it's absolutely what you should do.  Especially if it makes you feel a little nervous...

As you're all very aware, I'm one of those folk who use [with abandon] proverbs related to the SME world. I'm quite candid in being a touch self-deprecating in this sense also...

So, this months' proverb is one which has been used regularly as a book-title, presentation-header... and in plenty of boardrooms, meetings and countless other places.

What does "Staying ahead of the curve" mean to my business?

Loosely, it means that you're managing the careful act of remaining adept, focused and aware of opportunities, before they arise and being absolutely prepared for them.  You're well-connected to your market by listening to your customer, client, or whomever you service.  In fact, you're so well 'tuned-in' to them that you know what they're likely to want before they want it.  You're designing, developing and strategising your business's service or product by anticipating the next potential market "swing".

"They're always ahead of the curve"

The oft-heard comment [sometimes with a loaded-tang of frustration]... Just how do they manage it?
Retaining and nurturing a culture of innovation in your business - whether that means just you or your team - is key to staying 'ahead of the curve'.  Recently I've heard a lot of commentary on the importance of supporting 'intrapreneurship' in larger corporations - well, here's the thing, why don't you foster that approach in your small business? Actively engaging your team [big or small] in looking for better, more customer-focused, more 'forward-thinking' solutions?

Are you in risk of becoming a dinosaur?

Because we all know what happened to them.  Growth doesn't just happen - you need to support it.  How? By understanding your route to growth.  New products? New services? New markets? What does growth look like for your business? If you don't know - find out. Businesses trundling along in their current market, with very little vision of future growth, or what it looks like, are often the first casualties when market changes - seen or unseen - happen.  Don't leave yourself at risk of being a hostage to fortune.  A constant systematic review process [I am a fan of three-monthly, however more regular is even better] ensures your business model is performing, monitors successes and appraises opportunities as they arise.

Remember to have a sense of humour...

Not everything goes to plan.  This is an absolute reality of business.  Sometimes it can be catastrophic... oftentimes it's simply that an unseen or unknown factor causes an obstacle / road-bump along the way.  One of the key factors in business success is resilience [aka bouncebackability], being able to move on from a situation and taking the time to understand  why it didn't go to plan.

When push comes to shove... push back!

I've already blogged extensively about 'growing pains'... remember that in growth, there's always pressure and at times, a somewhat testing experience.  Be prepared and understand the hurdles of growth.  Remember the reward will be achievement your business's growth vision, and worth the incidental discomfort!

What does marketing really mean?

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"The aim of marketing is to make selling superfluous. The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well that the product or service fits him and sells itself." 
Peter Drucker

Poor old marketing.  It gets a very hard time of it... from being the cannon-fodder of big companies' budget cuts to general "what do they do?" quips (You're not sales, so what value do you really add?).

When I worked in MNC "land", I felt for my colleague marketing peeps, as no more than those of us in other support functions... we felt the wrath of internal politics.

In the SME ecosystem, marketing has a very serious role.  "It's the stuff you do to convince people to buy your stuff" was one quote I included in a post from the way-back machine [circa 2010].  I think this quote encapsulates part of marketing's role... but not its entirety.  Marketing occupies a key role between the inner core of business strategy and the outside world, the business's "public", the people who buy your 'stuff'.  It's tactical, focused and utterly strategic.  From the brand you develop, to the website you launch, to your value proposition.

Key next steps for SMEs... Starting at the very basics... what's your message? Is it clear and focused, does it resonate with NOSE?

More? Check this out.

Number-crunching...

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A fact of start-up, in my humble opinion? Nobody really likes the number-crunching.  Why? Well, unless you've enjoyed the mathematics end-of-things up until that point - financial projections, cash-flow and sales forecasts probably ain't your thing.

For the non-numbers fans, one reality you do need to become accustomed to is that the maths are necessary.  Cash-flow and good finances are the life-blood of any business and without them, your business can [and most likely will] come to a grinding halt.  Be not afraid: there are kind, helpful, and generally very accessible financial folk available via many of the enterprise agencies who will demystify, clarify and explain those scary aforementioned financial instruments.  Don't hide away from the number-crunching - get to it!