Do you have kiddos graduating this spring? I’ve got two! My son is finishing high school and heading off to college, and my daughter is wrapping up college and stepping into the “real” world (yikes!). It’s a wild season – exciting, a little messy, and full of growth. And not just for them. If you’re a small business owner, this might be a good time for you to reflect and grow, too.
Keep reading for 4 telltale signs your business is ready to graduate to the next level in your professional journey.
What it Means to Level Up
Graduation marks the end of one chapter – and the beginning of what’s coming next. Think about how this applies to your business. You worked hard to get where you are today. Maybe you pieced it together in the beginning, grinded all hours of the night, and figured things out. However you did it, you made it to this point. And that’s no small feat!
But here’s the hard truth: What got you here might not be what gets you to the next step.
My son is learning that how he studied in high school won’t be the way he studies in college. My daughter is learning how she interacted with people in college won’t be the way she interacts with professionals in her career. At the heart of every exciting new chapter is change.
And that change means growth.
Now, it’s time to build something more solid – something that’s designed to get you to the next level.
Growth Doesn’t Have to Mean “Big”
Before we get too far into this, I want to clarify one thing: A lot of people hear the word “growth” and picture themselves getting sucked even further into their business. They assume it means scaling into this huge, multi-location empire. And sure, it can mean that. But it doesn’t have to.
When I ask clients why they’re doing all of this, often it’s to be able to spend more time with their family. And that’s growth, too. Growth can just mean getting your time back. Feeling less scattered. Spending more time with your family – while knowing things will still run without you. And that’s valuable. You choose what direction you want to grow in.
4 Signs You’re Ready to Level Up
Sometimes it’s hard to know if this is where you are, because you’re so close to your business and the day-to-day. But there are signs:
You’re Swirling
How do you know if you’re swirling?
- You’ve gotten the sales, but now we don’t have capacity to deliver on those sales.
- You have the people, tools and process but not enough work for them.
- You have the sales, and theoretically the capacity to deliver, but are not delivering on time, with the right quality, or hitting our margins.
- The same issues keep coming up.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, like you’re just swirling around without real growth and bumping up against the same ceiling over and over, it’s time to level up! EOS gives you the tools you need to get organized, create core processes to keep tasks running consistently, and get your team aligned and accountable on a shared goal to get more done!
Your Business Is Running You
You know this one if you’ve ever thought, “If I step away, everything falls apart.” You’re on-call for every question, decision, and emergency. You’re the glue, the engine, the everything. And while that might’ve worked in the early days, it’s not sustainable.
The goal isn’t to leave your business – it’s to lead it. EOS helps you shift from being in the weeds to seeing the big picture. You start creating systems that other people can run. You delegate with confidence. You stop being the bottleneck. And instead of your business running you ragged, it starts running with you. You’re getting consistent results, even when you’re not there. Now you have time to work on the things you love and spend time with those you love.
You’ve Outgrown Your Past
Sometimes clients outgrow their original goals faster than they expected. One example of this: Some of my clients have hit their three-year picture in one year with EOS, and suddenly, it’s time to reevaluate. When you’re standing on the precipice of change, it can be scary to let go of that business identity you worked so hard to build. It’s O.K. to say, “This is what we were, but this is what we want to be,” and create new core values that align with your future.
Just like my kids will be a different version of themselves in each stage of life, your business will – and should – evolve to keep up with the times.
Your Business Feels Like a Chore
You started this because it sounded fun – but it’s not fun anymore. Now, it feels like a grind. You’re doing tasks you dread, solving the same problems over and over, and wondering what happened to the joy you used to feel.
That’s not how it has to be. When you realign your vision, get the right team in place and build systems that support you, your business gets fun again. EOS helps you rediscover your “why” – and gives you a path back to it. Whether it’s creating space for your creativity or finally having the right people in the right seats to be accountable for the stuff that drains you, you start to enjoy running your business again. Imagine that.
Change Can Be Uncomfortable
“Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
It can feel scary to dive into change – and that’s O.K. The best part of working with an EOS implementer is that you have someone there to support you and provide a game plan to keep you accountable – one that’s proven to work.
And you can never outgrow it. EOS gives you a set of tools you can keep using, no matter where you are in your business journey. Once you’ve mastered one level, the next is always there waiting for you. You are in the driver’s seat.
If this feels like your business’ graduation moment, you’re not alone, and I’m here to help. Schedule a quick 15-minute call with me to find out how EOS can help you reach your next goal – whether that’s expanding your business or making more time for family. It’s all possible with EOS.
