Sometimes I procrastinate. I have something that would be easy if I just got it done, but instead, I put it off. Do you ever do that? Recently, I procrastinated on a deliverable that was my client was anxious to see. What I promised him seemed simple enough at the outset, it quickly showed itself to be a lot more complicated. The more complicated it got, the less confidence I had that I was going to get a useful result -- so I put it off and worked on other, more accessible, assignments. But I knew he needed it. So instead of delegating and renegotiating the deadline, I just kept promising myself that I would get to it. As time went by, and he kept reminding me that he still needed it, … [Read more...]
About Brad Farris
How many “grownups” do you have in your business?
I was chatting with a referral partner this week (The incomparable Adam Radulovic) and as we were discussing a company that I thought needed his services he asked me, “How many grownups are there in that organization?” “What do you mean, ‘grownups’?” I asked. “You know. Who’s telling the kids to do their homework, and making sure they’re picking their clothes up off the floor. Who’s driving decisions and accountability and making sure that the right things are getting done the right way?” BAM! Right there I learned one of the best questions to ask to assess the growth of a business. How many grownups does your business have? Here are some characteristics of grownups so you can know them … [Read more...]
Don’t do it because I told you to — do it because you want it!
Drove back from Boston to Chicago last weekend to ferry my new college graduate (and all her stuff) back home. Along the way, we played the license plate game. (We found 47 states in just over 1000 miles!) I couldn’t help but notice that every time we found a New Hampshire plate, I had a powerful reaction to the state’s motto. Somehow that motto, “Live free or die” made me want to push back. I found myself saying (in my head), “No! YOU live free. If I want to live in oppression, I can do that.” Observing that, I became aware of two different thoughts. First, I need to see someone about that oppositional defiance disorder! Second, there’s something about telling people what to do that … [Read more...]
Why is my business growth stuck? Natural barriers to growth in the business lifecycle.
Just like children, businesses grow through predictable phases. We start life as baby startups, then progress to raging growth companies, before settling into a more stable “adult” phase. But as we cross each of those growth stages things change -- and if we don't change with them our growth can get stuck. Here’s my version of this story (based mainly on the growth of B2B service businesses). Baby startup Once upon a time, you had an idea. It wasn’t your first idea, you’ve had many business ideas, but this one came at a time when you were feeling particularly frustrated (or desperate) and needed a change. So you started working on your idea, and before you knew it, you were in business … [Read more...]
Are you ready to change? (Reading Time 90 sec — but it’s a hard 90 sec)
In the last two emails, I've talked about some common problems that entrepreneurs confront when they are growing their business. They are over-invested in their importance and competence. They believe"If I work harder, it will get better." They don't see anyone helping them -- it's all up to them. They can't let go... If you are going to make progress growing your business, you are going to have to do some things differently. Things that make you uncomfortable. Things that you aren’t going to like (at first). Are you ready to do that? So I’ve got to ask you, what is your own bullshit that you can't stand any longer? * * * No, I’m serious. What stories have you been telling … [Read more...]
What is your NEXT challenge (Reading time 1 min 30 sec)
Let’s just say you are the world’s best baker — you are at the top of your class technically. Sure there are more things to learn, but what’s your next challenge? What’s the hill you want to climb? There was one other thing that struck me as I listened to the fantastic podcast I wrote on about on Thursday. They are arguably the best in the world at their craft, Chad at baking bread, Chris at making Pizza. So what do they do now? There's no need to invent new bread recipes continually. There’s only so much that you can do with pizza. So what is someone who is a driven entrepreneur, who wants to make a difference, do once they've mastered their craft? Chad went and found farmers who … [Read more...]
We all have the same problems (Reading time 2 min 30 sec)
My son, who works in the restaurant industry, sent me this fantastic podcast where David Chang interviews Chris Bianco (of Pizzeria Bianco) and Chad Robertson (of Tartine Bakery) about their lives and careers. It’s incredible; you should listen to it. But what struck me most about the interview was how the problems, fears, and challenges they talk about are so familiar. As they talk about their careers, you hear them say: 1. They work too much. Chad tells the story about how he’d make the dough, then sleep for 4 hours while the dough rose. Then get up and finish making the bread, running the bakery, etc. hoping to catch 4 hours of sleep before rising the next day to make the … [Read more...]
Stages in Business Growth (PART 3)
Just like children, businesses grow through predictable phases. We talked about start life as baby startups, that progress to raging growth companies in our first email. Then we talked about the adolescent crisis that leads to specialization. Today, we finally reach a more stable “adult” phase. Here’s my version of this story focused primarily on B2B service businesses. See if you see any of your own experiences in it. Stable adulthood If you can find a specialization, build a lead generation machine that consistently brings in work that fits that specialization, and learn how to get paid well for it, then your whole business changes. You can hire a team of well-paid experts who do … [Read more...]
Stages in business growth (Part 2)
Just like children, businesses grow through predictable phases. We talked about start life as baby startups, that progress to raging growth companies in our last email. Today we reach adolescence, before settling into a more stable “adult” phase in our next email. Here’s my version of this story focused primarily on B2B service businesses. See if you see any of your own experiences in it. Adolescent Angst It turns out that not all of that work that’s coming in is for things that you and your team are good at, it’s not all even things that you enjoy. But the work keeps coming! You are getting referrals, and that’s great. But the work that’s coming in, the work you are doing, wasn’t the … [Read more...]
Stages in business growth (Part 1)
Just like children, businesses grow through predictable phases. We start life as baby startups, then progress to raging growth companies, before settling into a more stable “adult” phase. Here’s my version of this story focused primarily on B2B service businesses. See if you see any of your own experiences in it. Baby startup Once upon a time, you had an idea. It wasn’t your first idea, you’ve had a lot of business ideas, but this one came at a time when you were feeling particularly frustrated (or desperate) and needed a change. So you started working on your idea, and before you knew it, you were in business for yourself. (Whatever that means!) Those first few years were hard. There … [Read more...]
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