Last week, I shared the secret to growing a thriving business in 2018: investing in yourself. I outlined the four pillars of my action plan for personal investment: Learn, Grow, Achieve and Prosper! In case you missed it, you can take a look at the power of learning to transform your business here.

This week, we’ll take a closer look at the second pillar – “Growth”.

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there.”

When I speak about growth, I refer to a process that produces personal change and progress. When a person grows, they become better or improved in some way.

Benjamin Franklin famously said that “without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning.”

If you’re like most entrepreneurs who agree that time is the most valuable resource, you don’t have the luxury of spending time passively waiting for growth to happen to you. Rather, successful entrepreneurs pursue growth opportunities.

So, with 2018 just a few weeks away, what practical action step can you take today to set the stage for meaningful growth in your business?

Facilitating growth begins with honest self-reflection.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I challenge the entrepreneurs I work with to use the weeks before the New Year to engage in self-reflection and answer some tough questions.

To make the exercise most effective, you have to choose a focus. Begin by picking an area of your business you’d like to improve most in the coming year. Let’s say, for instance, that you want to improve sales.

Schedule some quiet time in your day planner to reflect on the following questions:

The Present: Where is my business now in terms of sales results?

• What are my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to understanding and improving sales in my business?
• What is common feedback, both positive and negative, that I receive from others regarding my sales performance?
• What other indicators can provide me with data to define the current state of sales performance for my business?

The Goal for 2018: Where would I like for my business to be in terms of sales?

• What gross and net sales amounts do I want to achieve?
• What expansion plans have I always wanted to implement to grow my business?
• What are my short and long term goals to make this happen?

The Game Plan: How do I get there?  What actions do I need to take?

• What additional tools, skills and strategies do I need to learn to achieve my sales goals?
• Who will help me meet these goals and hold me accountable?
• When do I need to meet these sales objectives?
• What practical actions must I implement in my daily, weekly, and monthly schedule to ensure I reach my goals?

When we have opportunities to GROW, the questions we must ask ourselves can be daunting.  I’ve challenged myself with questions like these as well as set and met both personal and business goals.  Let me help you answer these questions and set goals for yourself, and in doing so BUILD A RELATIONSHIP that can help you grow as well as grow your business.

A Note about “Growing Pains”

Growth is the process that unleashes our potential. It allows us to overcome the barriers holding us back from achieving incredible success.

But it’s important to be prepared for the fact that growth can be uncomfortable sometimes. Growth often requires change, and for many of us change isn’t easy. The answers to some of the tough questions I’ve suggested above may require you to address issues, habits, and behaviors that have limited your success this year. Some of the proven business development and sales strategies I teach my clients require that they step outside of their comfort zone, be it to make a sales presentation, attend networking events or pursue public speaking engagements in order to generate leads. The good news is that with consistent “practice”, new business activities that were once uncomfortable soon become second nature. That is true growth.

Are You Tapping Your Maximum Growth Potential?

If reflecting honestly on your business and taking decisive action was easy, all entrepreneurs would be successful. It can be incredibly helpful to have a strategic mentor who is a master of professional growth guide you through the process and accelerate your road to success.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I draw on my decades of practical experience to teach the strategies necessary to build a Legacy Business and help clients live their best life, at and outside the office. If you’d like to “Double Plus” your income this year all while creating a lifestyle that allows you to spend time doing the things you love with the people you love most, contact me today.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with almost 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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