It is a question I often ask in workshops and when I present to audiences of business owners. It's amazing the range of answers I get to that question. As business owners, many of us have been conditioned to believe that business ‘growth’ is solely centered around revenue and business value (aspiring to become the next Google & Facebook for example).
Since many of us are time and resource poor, knowing where the set performance priorities generally fall to the most common denominators – profits, and revenue. However, to learn where you’ve been, and where you’re going, you must ask yourself, “Is my company focused on the right priorities? How do I know?”
Without a solid understanding of how you’re doing in all aspects of your business, you risk focusing on the wrong things.
“Business growth is merely a measure of choice.”
Personally, it took me many years in business to understand what that sentence means (through many ups and downs, sweat and tears). The most important question to ask to understand whether your business is on the right path is:
“What is business growth to you?”
This article does not cover all aspects of growth, as growth means something different to different people, however, we will talk through the key categories.