The surprising reason your business growth plateaus
Have you been in the situation where, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to break through your revenue ceiling? You might be moving the needle a few percentages, but in general, your topline revenue seems to have stalled?
This is exactly the situation a very talented and accomplished friend was in when she was telling me the story of her business. She went on to say that no matter what she did (reminding me she already worked long hours) that she can’t seem to generate more revenue, year over year. Each year she thinks it will be different, but somehow doesn’t end up making significantly more to consider it meaningful growth.
I was asking her deeper questions about how she operated in her business and who and what brought in the most revenue.
“It’s me brining in revenue and I’ve changed up my services, but I’m not getting the type of growth I’m looking for.”
After hearing her story, I started to see a couple of reasons why she was experiencing a revenue plateau.
Are you waiting for things to ‘slow down’?
Are you waiting for things to ‘slow down’ to focus on your goals?
When I was a Relationship Manager selling Professional Services back in the day, I had a number of prospects tell me to call them back when they weren’t as busy. When I did call back, guess what they had to say? It’s still not a good time, I’m still so busy!
Granted, I also understood for some, this was likely a way of deferring a ‘sales’ conversation, but this response also came from many current clients who were in the middle of project with my company. After leaving that role and years later moving into working with my clients, the same message was popping up - that was, in its essence - I have this goal, but I have too much going on to pursue it.
It’s like saying, I want to start running, but I don’t have time to buy the shoes.
Isn’t this the point of prioritization?
If life or the demands of the business are getting in the way of your most important goals, then are you really prioritizing them?
I’m saying this as much for me as for anyone else who sees themselves here.
I too, have said the words - “I just don’t have time to do that thing that I know is going to help me move forward and has been on my goal list for a while.”
This is what I call…
What your business needs to fuel its growth and value…
Have you ever felt the weight of running your business?
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have everything resting on your shoulders?
Wouldn’t it be nice to feel supported and know that certain things are ‘handled’, and you aren’t solely responsible to make key things happen in your business?
I’m not a car person by any means, but this analogy popped into my mind as I was thinking about how I often hear (and experience) the challenge of feeling like you’re alone in your business.