Leaping Lilypads!
A GROWTH MANTRA FOR A MONDAY MORNING.
For many small businesses, it can be a real challenge to look outside their comfort zone for new business.
The time, effort, financial return equation, just doesn’t seem to add up, and it can feel hard to make that level of investment when the reward feels so distant.
But wherever you are working now, whatever you do, you’re already connected to a bigger audience. Our skills and expertise don’t exist in isolation. They have arms and legs - both geographically, perhaps sharing your story in a new location, to a new audience - or by business type: the same skills and location, but a new audience - cleverly connected to your existing clients and champions of your brand.
This principle works on any scale, whether you’re a building company working on domestic projects that wants to expand into commercial work, or a graphic designer creating engaging content for local consultancies (every law and accountancy firm, or financial advisor - however big or small - is going to benefit from those services too).
Connections can be mapped in a myriad of ways: more linear thinkers might like to spreadsheet them out, or create a relationship flow chart, while more visual thinkers prefer drawing a squiggly spider web, spreading in a multitude of directions. Whichever way you choose, map out your contacts and look at who they might connect you to; which businesses might benefit from the same service and who in your network could help introduce you.
WEAVE YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WEB
Think too about who you might be able to collaborate or partner with in order to make those connections stronger. There may be opportunities to team up and create a truly compelling offer and reap even greater rewards.
The important thing is to identify clients and project types that are similar or connected - the ‘lily pads’ that you can leap from with confidence. Because confidence is absolutely key.
No one is going to find talking to a prospective client about a totally new subject, easy. It’s not!
But by focusing on the skills you have and how they might enable your client to be more successful, you can speak with real authority. Build a relationship. Build your brand reputation.
In future blogs I’m going to talk more about impact and influence; relationships and reputation, as I believe they are critical to the success and growth of any business - however large or small.
But for now, if you’re looking for a little inspiration on a Monday morning, why not put pen to paper and map out your own relationship ‘pond’ and identify a few lily pads to leap for.
Good luck!
