How to Maintain Vision During Business Growth

Your vision is pulling you. Is it pulling others? You’ve said the right things, but you still struggle with misguided expectations, competing measuring sticks, and those that focus on serving their ego. In business, you know vision matters and it is more than words. It lives beyond your statement of what you see for the future. In lives within the people that walk alongside you as they see it come together. It becomes a feeling, the picture you paint, the emotion others will feel, and the connection to what really matters. 💫 It is what gets you up in the morning and what helps you sleep at night. 💫 It can stand the test of time yet adapt as you learn more. 💫 It gives you balance when the shiny objects appear. 💫 It is not forced as you interact with others. Imagine what is possible when those around you see it the same way. Think of it this way - vision is 80% action / 20% words. Here are four actions you can take right now: ☑ Figure out what gets your people up in the morning and lean on that in every interaction. ☑ Give the space for people to explore, fail, learn, and grow. ☑ Be that sense of stability when shiny objects create a distraction. ☑ Know when ego is controlling the room and how to silence it, especially if it’s your own. This is your leadership moment. Lead with care: curiosity, adaptability, resilience, empathy. And pull people towards your vision. Don’t push. The results? Expectations are clear, measurements are understood, and everyone is leaning in the same direction. P.S. Connecting others to your vision starts with mastering the mindsets to get you there. Not sure where to start or in a stall? I can help. Message me to learn more about connecting your vision and mindset so you stand at the forefront of lasting, positive change for yourself, others, and your business.

Imagine building a puzzle without the picture on the box to guide you. How would you know where each piece fits? This is how my business coach brilliantly described my business today. If you had to build the puzzle, you would start with the edges, then work on the left corner with the ocean part. Then, you move to the same color pieces in the sky. When you're building a business, however, you can't lose sight of the whole picture. You must take pauses to step back and make sure you're working on the right parts. You can build the team so one person is working on the left corner, one is working on the right, and another is organizing the pieces by color and supporting the builder. This analogy hit me when I realized that I enjoy the bird's-eye view. I enjoy making sure everyone is working on the right parts and we are not losing focus on the big picture. But here's the real takeaway: In business, just like in puzzles, the process can be complex and overwhelming. Yet, the key is to have a clear vision and a cohesive strategy. You don’t need to see the entire picture at once, but you need to ensure every piece is being placed with purpose and precision. For me, this means regularly checking in with my team, making sure our efforts are aligned, and adjusting our approach as needed. It’s about trust, delegation, and constant communication. Each piece of the puzzle, each member of the team, plays a critical role in completing the whole picture. So, whether you're a business owner, a team leader, or an individual contributor, remember to take a step back now and then. Look at the bigger picture, reassess your strategy, and ensure every move you make is bringing you closer to your goal. Building a business isn't just about the final picture; it's about enjoying the journey, learning from each piece, and celebrating the progress along the way. Keep your vision clear, your team motivated, and your focus sharp, and you'll find that the pieces will eventually fall into place.

Keeping perspective is a gigantic challenge for startup and small business founders. I know, because I wrestle with it all the time, and I see my startup partners trip up on it on the regular. Here’s what I mean by this: In order to build a profitable business that makes the difference that got you started in the first place, a founder must simultaneously focus on two seemingly contradictory missions. 1. The big vision that is the North Star of the business—the significant change that the business is meant to make in the world, the mission to make lives better. 2. The day-to-day building of the processes and procedures that make the business work; the granular focus on product, market fit, and sales; the blocking and tackling of a business that forms the character of the work you do. The best businesses have a virtuous cycle wherein these two missions reinforce the other, but make no mistake: that’s rare and hard to pull off. Do you have a regular cadence that helps you step back and make sure that the day-to-day work is serving the vision of the company and, alternatively, that the vision of the company hasn’t blinded you to the necessary steps to bring that vision to life?