These tips focus on how your business can most effectively meet your goals. While this isn't always about making more profit, every business must make enough money to provide for the owners' present and future needs. While we can reflect on additional goals when we talk to individuals, this is the one area that is common to all businesses. That's why we focus on this aspect here.
There is no one secret to making your business take off. 100% growth sounds amazing but, except in limited circumstances, will collapse. Rather it's one small step after another that can be relied on. Of course then what happens is, much like gardening, early gains are lost as weeds continue to choke growth. So not only do you have to continue to work on as well as in your business, you have to implement changes thoroughly so you can continue to grow.
Having said there's no one "secret", business is all about people - people in the business, customers, suppliers and advisors. No two people are the same, so the possible combinations are endless.
Michael Gerber, in his classic "The E-Myth Revisited", talked about the three people any business needs: Technician, Entrepreneur and Manager. The trouble most small businesses have is they are usually run by one person - who simply can't naturally be all three. The entrepreneur is typically internally motivated, while the manager is typically externally motivated. Businesses can survive without all three - but can only get above ground level when they combine all the skills.
It's not enough to simply have the skills available, whether through employees, colleagues or consultants. They have to work together. Different mindsets are seen as annoyances rather than strengths.
Having the right people types doesn't mean things will work as they should. Having both internally and externally motivated people isn't enough. People are more than just their motivation style (or any other system of classification). Having complementary styles alone doesn't guarantee success. So what does?
You may be a "beans on toast" type of cook, or a top chef serving up amazing culinary delights. When the "beans on toast" cook attempts to emulate the top chef, perhaps success will follow. More likely, as in "The Hundred-Foot Journey" it will require practice, training and experimentation. Or possibly the best result for some individuals will be staying simple.
There is no single guaranteed "secret". Some things improve your chances of succeeding - a little or a lot. The number one is stickability, so keep working at it. And the number one aid to that is having someone who will help you keep at it. If you try it alone, the chances of success are slim.