Are you on a scaling-up journey in your business?
Are you struggling to keep up with demand?
Have you ever considered that it is possible you might be trying to scale up too quickly?
In the accounting industry (which is our founder's background) this is referred to as overtrading, which is another way of saying a business is growing or scaling up too fast. In our experience, it's a common reason successful businesses fail regardless of their size, regardless of how long they have been in existence.
Being part of one of the leading Accelerator programmes ourselves, it’s a popular topic of conversation at the moment.
As you might expect, Bradley Brown Consulting wholeheartedly believes that scaling up needs to be done with care if you really want to have a long-lasting business. This may be because your business is your main or only source of income just like it is for many of the entrepreneurs we speak to and work with.
Fortunately, there are many ways to scale up with care, even if your competitors find it astonishing!
Here's just one example of an experience our founder has had, where our approach to scaling up has been challenged ...
I recall attending a networking event some year ago where I said I wasn't looking for new clients at the time because I didn't have enough capacity left to deliver the level of service I felt my existing and prospective clients deserved. One person was so horrified to hear this, they said I was wrong and I should never say such a thing!
As a reflective person, it occurred to me that for some people there is a real fear of telling it how it is. It takes courage to say I'm closing the doors to new clients for now until I have enough capacity to deliver a service I feel my clients deserve to receive.
Throughout my time in the business world, spanning several decades (I started very young!), I’ve witnessed far too many businesses unwittingly falling into the same trap. I’ve had many discussions with business owners and business leaders who’ve experienced this for themselves. One of the commonalities they have candidly shared with me is a fear of not having enough customers to keep the business afloat. And it is that fear that has kept them pushing on even when they can see that the ship is sinking. Given the circumstances, it is a perfectly human way of responding to an overwhelming situation.
It’s one of the many reasons why Bradley Brown Consulting actively encourages founders, entrepreneurs, business owners and business leaders to take a balanced approach to business. After all, you’re only human!
Find out more about how the Humankind Entrepreneurs Club can help you make your business more sustainable, in an ethical and socially responsible way, by visiting our Case Studies and Testimonials here: https://www.bradley-brown-consulting.com/case-studies
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