7 Tactics For Business Success: Lessons from the Trenches

Welcome to a journey through the distilled wisdom of years spent in the trenches of business growth and entrepreneurship. I’m here to share with you seven simple, yet profound tactics that can steer your business towards success. These lessons are not just theories; they are the essence of my lived experiences, and I hope they resonate with you as much as they have with me.

1. Keep It Real

Let’s start with authenticity—keeping it real. In the hustle of scaling a business, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. I learned this the hard way after experiencing two exhaustion breakdowns that cost me a week of my life. The takeaway? Live passionately for your work, but never at the expense of your life. Business is important, but it should never overshadow the essentials: fun, family, and health. Remember, no one on their deathbed wishes they’d logged more office hours.

2. Perspective on Winning

Next, we talk about perspective—specifically, the perspective on winning. Everyone wants to win, but it’s crucial to understand what winning really means. It’s not about giving 110%—that’s not only impossible, but it’s also unnecessary. Winning is about being just over the halfway mark, at 51%. That’s because the other 49%? That’s your invisible progress. It’s the quiet, uncelebrated strides you make daily. Whether visible or not, if you’re putting in the work, you’re winning.

3. Pull Triggers Fast

The third lesson is about decisiveness: pull triggers fast. Procrastination is a silent killer of opportunity. When it comes to good ideas and underperforming staff, hesitation is not your friend. You don’t need every piece of information to act on a good idea, and you certainly don’t need to wait for a ‘perfect moment’ to address staff performance. Often, letting underperforming staff go can be a kindness, freeing them to find their true calling. Act swiftly, learn on the go, and keep your team strong.

4. Profit Is Priority

Now, let’s talk about profit. There’s a popular notion to ‘start with why,’ but while purpose is essential, it’s profit that keeps the lights on. Profit might sound like a dirty word, but it’s the lifeblood of any business. It’s the enabler that allows us to pursue our greater ‘whys.’ So yes, connect with your mission, but always keep an eye on the bottom line—profit is your measure of success.

5. Numbers Tell Stories

I used to dread numbers, but I’ve learned that they are the foundation of success. Numbers tell the stories of our past, present, and future. They help us set goals, measure progress, and keep focus. Embrace numbers, let them guide your decisions, and watch as they pave the way to achievement.

6. It’s an Income Problem

When profits dwindle, the knee-jerk reaction is to slash expenses. But greatness isn’t achieved by contraction—it’s achieved by expansion. Remember, it’s not an expense problem; it’s an income problem. Focus on growing your sales and expanding your reach. That’s the path to success.

7. Fix the Systems

Lastly, when things go awry, our instinct might be to hire or fire people. However, more often than not, it’s the systems that are at fault. Good people can’t thrive in broken systems. Before you look at your team, examine your processes. Create, update, and refine your systems to ensure they support your people and your goals.

In summation, these seven tactics—keeping it real, maintaining perspective, pulling triggers fast, prioritising profit, understanding the importance of numbers, recognising income problems, and fixing systems—are your everyday lessons for business success. Embrace them, and watch as they transform your approach to business and life.

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