The Ferris Wheel Approach to Business Development is no place to be.
Sometimes I’m amazed — and not in a good way — at how business owners approach growing their business. I’ve boiled it down to three “basic” approaches to developing a business, and want to challenge you to REJECT ONE, MOVE AWAY from one and EMBRACE the third.
The first is what I call the Ferris Wheel approach to “business” development. “Business” must go in air quotes because what happens in this approach can hardly be called business at all. This is where the business owner acknowledges that they’re making no money in their venture. (This is when the Ferris Wheel is heading closer to the ground.) They want to ACTUALLY be successful. But, the Ferris Wheel owners are sales adverse. They’re also in love with the idea of being viewed as successful but don’t want to DO what it takes to BE successful. Sort of like the woman who wants a perfect bikini body, but refuses to sweat for it. =)
InSTEAD of diving into the (harder) tasks necessary to making money, the Ferris Wheel business owner opts for more creative pursuits. They get new head shots (a lot)… they start writing a book…. they rebrand…. They’re always at a new level of “awareness,” but their action stays at the same level. When they’re in this creative, re-imagining phase, they’re STILL not making money, but they feel better. They are hopeful. (The Ferris Wheel is starting to go up again.) They’re enjoying the view — and never acknowledging how many times they’ve seen it before.
At the top, they make a lot of bold predictions. They announce events (that usually don’t actually happen.) They hint at huge deals that you never hear about again. Still, their business is lacking profit and clients, but they FEEL great. For now.
Because the Ferris Wheel is continuing to move. Soon, they’re reaching out about money again. And just when they’re close to the ground, someone will sell them on a new direction or brand or idea. And they’ll be on the way up again.
Bottom line — they go around and around, but never get any closer to having a profitable business.
The next approach is the Conversational Stroll approach. This approach is linear and leisurely.
The Conversational Stroll approach to business is better, but it COULD be too slow to keep you afloat.
If this is your approach, you sort of do what you feel you WANT to do. You fully honor your comfort zone and are adverse to getting out of it. =) One step at a time, you keep moving in the direction that “feels right” for your business.
Let me be clear. This is MUCH better than the Ferris Wheel approach. (Especially if you have ANY bills to pay on your own!) But, it’s slow. Sometimes too slow. For instance, when I first hired a coach, he asked me what I’d have to do to DOUBLE my income in the next three months. DOUBLE my income? Was he SERIOUS??? Doubling my income wouldn’t even have come CLOSE to what I NEEDED to reach my goals. I’d need to go MUCH faster than that!
See, sometimes, when business success comes too slowly, it’s simply too slow to keep you afloat. You need MORE. A linear approach to business can cost you tons of opportunity, and in many cases, I’ve seen it lead straight to closed doors and job applications. But more importantly, the conversational stroll approach will never allow you to see WHAT’s POSSIBLE for your business.
The LEAP approach to business is FUN, PROFITABLE and thrilling. I highly recommend it. =)
The third approach is what I recommend. The LEAP approach. This is where you see a goal and make a LEAP for it. No ladder. No safety net. No ferris wheel round and round. No linear long way there. The LEAP approach allows you to leverage what you already have, rise to new heights so you have better perspective, and keeps you way ahead of your competitors.
But it will cost you — which is why so few do it. Here’s what you need to know if you’re ready to LEAP in your business:
- Massive results WILL require massive action. There’s no getting around this.
- LEAPing forward in your business will require deliberate, strategic planning.
- LEAPing requires regular measurement. Hint: You’ll look at numbers.
- LEAPing will require discipline. And boldness.
- LEAPing will require “stacking” your efforts — strategically. This means you leverage ALL you’re doing so that you get Maximum benefit from each effort. And THIS is where our blog is heading this month…. so — if you’re ready to LEAP and LEVERAGE — stay tuned! JULY is all about YOU! =)
