How Big Does Your Business Need To Be?
How Big Does Your Business Need To Be?
In nature, plants and animals evolve not to grow larger but to be better adapted to their environment, and that~{!/~}s also the right way to think about the evolution of your business. Your business should be exactly as big as it needs to be to take maximum advantage of both your strengths and the market conditions. While it~{!/~}s not always possible to know this optimum size, you should be worrying about what the proper size is, rather than fretting over when you~{!/~}re going to get larger. Often, the key to surviving bad fortune is well-timed shrinkage.
The best time to think of diversification or change is when you don~{!/~}t need to change. People over the ages have been complaining that we live in a world that is continually changing and that the world is changing too fast.
When I started my business just 26 years ago, the telex machine was the only convenient tool to help companies communicate across borders. Then came the personal computer, the fax machine, the internet and teleconferencing and now online social network sites, Facebook, MySpace and other new electronic devices that bring people closer. They also make us crazier and crazier. They make us feel that we must do several things at the same time~{!*~}multitasking~{!*~}or we~{!/~}re not working productively. The world is changing faster than we can keep up. In this swift-paced world of shrinking national boundaries, no businesses, large or small, are invulnerable, especially those of entrepreneurs.
It is no longer safe to do the same thing over and over again without exploring new territories. We must think ahead and be willing to let go of our own personal myths, goals, romantic visions or corporate missions.
One of my persistent dreams is that I find myself falling from the sky and, in my wish to survive, I tell myself to fly. Then, wings sprout from my shoulders, I start to flap, I stop plummeting and begin to soar. Wishful thinking, no doubt.
But this epitomizes the way of the entrepreneur as I feel it. There is no security in this world. We can only cope by convincing ourselves that we can~{!/~}t stand still. We must keep transforming ourselves in order to endure and to prosper. We have, after all, invented our lives. The invention can never stop. We must keep rediscovering ourselves and the world we live in. We learn and grow confident. But we never stop starting over.
How Big Does Your Business Need To Be - To learn more about this author, visit James Chan's Website.
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Every business needs to evolve, but not every business needs to expand, and one should never expand just for expansion~{!/~}s sake. The virtues of the independent life~{!*~}agility, flexibility, creativity, responsiveness, and personal integrity~{!*~}tend to diminish as a business grows bigger. And the tasks of management loom larger, which is fine if, and only if, that~{!/~}s where your talents lie.
In nature, plants and animals evolve not to grow larger but to be better adapted to their environment, and that~{!/~}s also the right way to think about the evolution of your business. Your business should be exactly as big as it needs to be to take maximum advantage of both your strengths and the market conditions. While it~{!/~}s not always possible to know this optimum size, you should be worrying about what the proper size is, rather than fretting over when you~{!/~}re going to get larger. Often, the key to surviving bad fortune is well-timed shrinkage.
The best time to think of diversification or change is when you don~{!/~}t need to change. People over the ages have been complaining that we live in a world that is continually changing and that the world is changing too fast.
When I started my business just 26 years ago, the telex machine was the only convenient tool to help companies communicate across borders. Then came the personal computer, the fax machine, the internet and teleconferencing and now online social network sites, Facebook, MySpace and other new electronic devices that bring people closer. They also make us crazier and crazier. They make us feel that we must do several things at the same time~{!*~}multitasking~{!*~}or we~{!/~}re not working productively. The world is changing faster than we can keep up. In this swift-paced world of shrinking national boundaries, no businesses, large or small, are invulnerable, especially those of entrepreneurs.
It is no longer safe to do the same thing over and over again without exploring new territories. We must think ahead and be willing to let go of our own personal myths, goals, romantic visions or corporate missions.
One of my persistent dreams is that I find myself falling from the sky and, in my wish to survive, I tell myself to fly. Then, wings sprout from my shoulders, I start to flap, I stop plummeting and begin to soar. Wishful thinking, no doubt.
But this epitomizes the way of the entrepreneur as I feel it. There is no security in this world. We can only cope by convincing ourselves that we can~{!/~}t stand still. We must keep transforming ourselves in order to endure and to prosper. We have, after all, invented our lives. The invention can never stop. We must keep rediscovering ourselves and the world we live in. We learn and grow confident. But we never stop starting over.
How Big Does Your Business Need To Be - To learn more about this author, visit James Chan's Website.
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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