Growing your business is a spiral process, where you go through certain phases, then repeat them again. Note that it's not a straight line and also there's no arrival. Success is not a place you arrive so much as it is a journey.
The first stage of a growth cycle is discontent. You're not satisfied with the current state of your business. You want more of something: more clients, more income, more reach.
That could look like: you don't have enough clients or enough income. Or you're holding back; you're not fully sharing your passionate purpose with the world.
In this phase, you're searching for answers. You feel a lot of uncertainty about the way ahead.
You find a path forward in two ways: you get deeply connected with your message AND you learn the business strategies that allow you to share that message.
The next stage of the cycle looks like a split personality. You hear lots of interior voices with conflicting views. You feel torn between your old mindset and old ideas, and your new mindset and new ideas.
Part of you is resisting making a change. Sometimes resistance itself even seems illogical - you know intellectually what to do, but emotionally, you're not ready to take that step.
To exit this phase, you have to persevere emotionally and finally implement the strategies that allow your message to move out into the world.
That may look like creating a new program within your existing business, or it may involve more fundamental changes to your business.
The next stage can feel like a plateau. You've internalized the new beliefs and mindset shifts that were required to get you here. You've mastered new business skills and enjoy using them. You're finding increasing enjoyment in doing your work. It feels easy to connect with your ideal clients. You get more satisfaction than ever from working with your clients.
When you arrive at a plateau, it feels wonderful. At first. And then, you will start to want more.
When you become discontented and start wanting more, the cycle will begin again. Your next trip through the cycle will be a step up - from one level to another. That is not about incremental results - it's adding another zero to your business.
In each cycle, you'll open the door to growth through self-development - changing your beliefs about yourself and what's possible. And that in turn allows you to step into the unknown and develop new business strategies, with faith that you WILL be able to learn them and use them and pull it all off in a satisfying and accomplished way.
CALL TO ACTION
Which phase are you in?
•If you're feeling discontent, then it's time to look for a expanded and richer message.
•If you're having a lot of internal discussions and yet you're not reaching a decision about the right way ahead, make sure you're supporting both your inner growth and your business growth.
•If you're at a plateau, then enjoy this time!
Marcy Stahl’s passion is helping women direct sellers and solopreneurs achieve the successful lifestyle they want. She knows that the top entrepreneurs have the top mindsets. Her mission is to help every entrepreneur develop a profitable and abundant mindset.
Marcy is a serial entrepreneur. Previously, she co-founded and managed a government contracting firm that earned over $1M in annual revenues. She holds a B.S. with honors and M.S. in Computer Science from George Mason University. Prior to coaching, she spent 21 years in the corporate world in technology.
She is the co-author of Direct Selling Power. Marcy is an Area Chapter Coordinator with the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (DSWA) and a member of the Direct Selling Women’s Speaker Bureau. She’s currently in coaching school for direct sellers.