They say that a frogs brain only responds to moving objects. When it sees something that is small, dark and moving it knows it’s a fly and eats it. The same frog however would die of starvation in a box of dead flies!
Often it can be similar for the owner of a small business. There are opportunities all around but the business owner only seems to be reacting to things that immediately catch their eye. When it comes to opportunities, the business owner needs to have the time and abilities to uncover them. Many small businesses stay afloat by copying what others have done but that is generally not the way to make money. Many business owners we talk to are so busy doing day to day tasks that even if an opportunity was to be put in front of them, they wouldn’t know what to do with it.
A young business will generally ‘tread water’ as it finds its place but as a business ages, the owner has to wonder if it’s all worth while. If the owner is not gaining any ground personally, then they must understand that something different needs to be done.
Could you take a day off to visit other suppliers to see what new products they are offering? Would it be possible to take your five top clients to lunch once a month? When is the last time you sat down and thought about how a change to your sales pitch might increase your sales?
While to many business owners these things don’t sound all that important; the reality is that they work. Some of our clients have used these simple methods to increase their sales by between 10 and 20%.
If you want to grow your business, start making time to look around for other opportunities. Call a competitor to find out what they’re up to. Talk to a customer to see what else they’d like to buy. Your suppliers might be able to ‘let you in on something’ when you take them to lunch. If you’re going to be a business owner, then it’s important to realise that not everything you do must involve making a dollar for today.
If you'd like to talk to a business coach about creating a strategy that would allow you make the most of your opportunities, call us on 1800 632 907 or click here and we will get in touch with you.