The job of the entrepreneur and the corporate CEO are similar.  They are both charged with energizing their team, keeping them honed to the mission, and with insuring the growth and success of their firms.

Yet, too many of these folks fail to recognize that revenue growth is nice- but it’s net profit growth that counts most of all. Because who really cares if you grow your business 100% or more a year if your net profits for that growth barely register in the teens?  (Sorry, INC500- that’s why I disagree with your premise about fastest growing small businesses.)

How do you do that?  Start with a simple mission statement and a crystal clear value proposition.  Every potential customer or client must understand what it is you are offering and why what you provide is better than your competitors. (Every employee clearly must know these or you will have problems galore.)  And, your (or the company’s) vision/mission must be uniform across your websites, your blogs, your social media- in short, every interaction your firm provides. (Again, why it must be clear to your employees, to insure those interactions resonate with your “essence”.)

And, that means you need KPI- key performance indicators.  Because you have to monitor your progress towards your goals, as well as  the ability of your prospects to discern your value.  And, while we’re at it, you want to include employee data and customer data in these measurements, to make sure your whole operation is operating in top form.

Because if you are not- you need to disrupt your practice and get it to where it needs to be.  And, to be honest, you need to monitor the entire marketplace- even the edges, to discern what other firms may be doing to disrupt you- and have plans ready to capitalize on their changes to your advantage. And, figure out what new vistas can be brought into your universe, to keep growing your business.

Which means that your staff needs continual training and information to help you garner these footholds. And, for those team members that don’t seem to be helping your cause- because they don’t get the nuance or just can’t be among your top performers- need special evaluation and assistance.  Because if they persist in being the laggards, it may be time to help them find employment elsewhere.

You can’t make your objectives if everyone is not on board- starting with top down- and bottom up.

Oh, and remember- we never acquire all the knowledge we need to make perfect decisions- so make the best ones you can and adjust as new information is obtained.   It’s to the nimble that execute the plan – and its modifications.

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