<\/p>\n
But even as businesses at large strive to thrive, so too must the individual professionals that drive them. At the end of the day, a business\u2019 success, or lack thereof, is a direct reflection of the people therein\u2014from ownership and management to frontline and support staff and everyone betwixt and between.<\/p>\n For some insight-oriented motivation, here\u2019s a glimpse at how some business owners and professionals are growing their businesses and capitalizing on opportunities in their respective industries while promoting professional self-development<\/a>.<\/p>\n #1 \u2013 Embrace Your Uniqueness, Don\u2019t Try to Blend In<\/strong> When it comes to one\u2019s personal trademark, Karen Leland, author of \u201cThe Brand Mapping Strategy: Design, Build, and Accelerate Your Brand<\/a><\/em>,\u201d suggests developing your brand by design, not default. \u201cKnow precisely where you are so you can discern where you need to go,\u201d she says. \u201cEvery business person, from secretary to CEO, needs to start by assessing the personal brand they currently have and be truthful about the degree to which it exists by design\u2014or default. Then they need to take stock of the impact that current brand is having. Is your brand producing the reputation you desire? What is it about what you do, or how you do it, that makes you unique, distinct and special? What sets you apart? Positioning yourself by specifically articulating how your brand speaks to the needs of your audience, coupled with the unique way you address those needs, is critical to creating an effective personal brand. And the more specific you can be, the better.\u201d Speaker and business guru Anthony Russo<\/a><\/strong> was able to wrangle his fear and rejection worries\u2013to an extent that he built a seven-figure business in less than 18 months. Russo achieved this remarkable revenue benchmark by \u201cdoubling down\u201d that, as he puts it, \u201cis the art of leveraging failure to accelerate success.\u201d By this, he means absorbing everything he passively learned from each prior failure and proactively learned about each situation by seeking and researching new tactics and trying again. While Russo concedes that failure is a significant part of nearly any business process, especially relating to company ownership, he urges that powering through can lead to success that may not just meet, but exceed, original expectations.<\/p>\n #4 \u2013 Fractionalize Unforeseen Problems<\/strong> #5 \u2013 Work Smarter, Play Harder<\/strong> According to an Accenture study<\/a>, \u201cThe parallels between a superior customer experience and employee experience are striking. An optimized customer experience generates loyalty and additional sales. A stellar employee experience attracts talent and boosts workforce engagement, productivity and retention. This, in turn, directly improves a business\u2019s financial performance.\u201d The net result? The report revealed that \u201ccompanies with highly engaged workforces are 21 percent more profitable than those with poor engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n #6 \u2013 Embrace Value System-Driven Victory<\/em><\/strong> Chau feels that, at the end of the day, it\u2019s really about the conscience of the entrepreneur. He personifies this notion and walks the walk…all the way to the bank.<\/p>\n #7 \u2013 Control What You Can<\/strong> Looks aside, the idea of \u201ccontrolling what you can\u201d is about far more than trying to make yourself as outwardly attractive as possible. It\u2019s about embracing your inner beauty, strength and fortitude and being utterly and unequivocally confident in your capabilities.<\/p>\n Epitomizing these philosophies is former Ms. Olympia 50+ Sheryl Grant<\/a><\/strong> who, after leaving a corporate career, discovered that transforming her body began with a shift of what she could control: her mindset. She developed what she now calls the \u201cF.I.T. for Business\u201d model based on principles of faith, intuition and tenacity and went on to win Ms. Olympia her first time competing at age 55. Today, Grant teaches entrepreneurs and executives that, while they can\u2019t always control their external surroundings, they can determine how they respond to situations. She imparts that their perspective and beliefs often drive success, or lack thereof, and play a big role in shaping their future.<\/p>\n As the old adage goes, there\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat … and there\u2019s certainly more than one way to spur growth for your business or career trajectory. The seven strategies above, particularly when employed in multiplicity, can catapult your professional endeavors to new heights. It\u2019s never too late and there\u2019s no better time than now.<\/p>\n ~~~<\/em><\/p>\n As the Executive Editor and Producer of \u201cThe Luxe List,\u201d Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded brand analyst, strategist and futurist. As a prolific branding and marketplace trends pundit, Merilee spotlights noteworthy industry innovators, change makers, movers and shakers. Experts, brands, products, services, destinations and events across all categories are spotlighted in her exclusive cross-media platform that reaches multi-millions each month through several syndication channels: print and online publications as well as broadcast TV and terrestrial radio. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com<\/a> \/ Instagram www.Instagram.com\/LuxeListReviews<\/a> \/ Twitter www.Twitter.com\/LuxeListEditor<\/a> \/ Facebook www.Facebook.com\/TheLuxeList \/<\/a> LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com\/in\/MerileeKern<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Seven Growth Strategies to Spur Fresh Success Growth. All businesses and professionals should desire it and most certainly need it. But achieving and sustaining growth in today\u2019s uber-complex environment\u2014whether corporate, entrepreneurial or personal career growth\u2014takes multifaceted vision, ingenuity and agility. Indeed, a lack of growth in business speaks volumes. It says a business or individual […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15802,"featured_media":4822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3255],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"success\"](\"https:\/\/www.realtrends.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/01\/SuccessArrows-300x169-1.jpg\")
For companies, economic indicators are a useful benchmark which often portray how ominous or encouraging the growth opportunity landscape may be. For example, according to intel from The Conference Board\u2019s Economic Forecast for the U.S. Economy<\/a>, GDP data shows that \u201c… growth slowed in the final quarter of the year [2018],\u201d and that, \u201cduring 2019, expect growth to slow further, as effects from fiscal stimulus measures wane …\u201d Such intel can put things into perspective and prompt businesses to pivot on activities and expectations for the period.<\/p>\n
Whether with respect to a company\u2019s offerings, approach or image\u2014or to staffers, themselves\u2014uniqueness and authenticity can be key in attracting and entrenching customers. Sure, it\u2019s easy to \u201cplay it safe\u201d and still turn a profit, but to fully achieve breakthrough goals and hit seemingly impossible targets requires taking risks\u2014true, and even unconventional, sincerity among them. Harvard-trained lawyer Chinwe Esimai<\/a><\/strong>, the first African to secure a global executive role at one of the world\u2019s largest banks, encourages individuals to embrace \u201cshining in their own lanes,\u201d even in corporate America. By not downplaying her efforts or her Nigerian-born immigrant background and by staying true to her uniqueness, Esimai achieved extraordinary success with a banking industry leader.
#2 \u2013 Increase the Value of Your Brand<\/strong>
For companies, your brand isn\u2019t your brand until you\u2019ve legally maximized all of your resources. This is according to patent lawyer JiNan Glasgow George<\/a><\/strong>, who underscores that, for multi-billion-dollar companies like Apple or Nike, their trademark, logo and patent is what they focus on to drive value. George, who helps small businesses understand the power behind copyrighted brands, explains that intellectual properties (IP) provide protection against other companies from \u201cborrowing\u201d your ideas while also solidifying the uniqueness of your brand.<\/p>\n
#3 \u2013 Double Down on Failur<\/strong>e
<\/strong>Many in business are understandably discouraged after taking a loss, let alone experiencing a series of losses or rejections. However, with a fresh point-of-view on failure you just might be able to turn those setbacks into growth springboards. In fact, in his book, WTF?! (Willing to Fail)<\/a><\/em> Brian Scudamore (founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?<\/em>), explores the notion of \u201cfailing upward\u201d and, in the process, \u201cusing setbacks to change your business for the better.\u201d He asserts that \u201cbeing an entrepreneur means letting go of fear,\u201d and I contend that all aspiring professionals (not just entrepreneurs) should embrace this paradigm.<\/p>\n
Unanticipated problems or events are always spontaneously occurring, and that unpredictability\u2014especially with complications\u2014can wreak havoc on the most well-conceived plans, sabotage timelines and send expenses soaring. This is why many companies invest so largely in prevention development teams\u2014a strong resolution department to solve problems before and after they happen to keep the momentum and productivity flowing. But, not all companies\u2014and certainly not individuals\u2014have the luxury of having a department team at-the-ready to alleviate the angst. Franchise and small business expert Brian Clark<\/a><\/strong>, owner of Service Team of Professionals (“STOP”) franchises, uses a simple method to avoid unforeseen obstacles from overtaking his businesses. According to Clark, \u201cEvery problem can be solved by asking the right questions and breaking down the problem. Fracturing each challenge to small, accomplishable tasks will not only be less intimidating, but also easier to maneuver.\u201d<\/p>\n
Productivity is a key priority in the labor supply-and-demand chain. It\u2019s easy to focus on profits and products, dismissing the \u201chow\u201d it all gets done. Yes, Rome wasn\u2019t built in a day, but it also wasn\u2019t built single-handily either. Many businesses and professionals have been taught strategies to \u201cwork smarter not harder.\u201d But well-respected business advisor and company CEO Richard Polak<\/strong> subscribes to \u201cwork smarter, play harder.\u201d He\u2019s advised the world\u2019s largest companies, including the likes of General Electric, to focus on time and output. To invest in the well-being of its staff as well as invest in technologies that boost its efficiency and capacity, thus maximizing work time and morale to boost bottom lines. Polak differentiates himself by referring to his model as \u201ccompassionate\u201d productivity strategies.<\/p>\n
Pak Chau<\/a><\/strong>, the wildly successful tech entrepreneur who operates in various sectors like social networking, e-commerce and esports, did the unthinkable. As a value-driven entrepreneur, Chau had undertaken a successful ICO (Initial Coin Offering) to raise nearly $2.5-3 million for his esports platform. But, subsequent to raising these funds, he had an epiphany. Chau returned the money from investors and told his team they were going to start raising sales-driven capital from scratch. Why? As months passed after the ICO, Chau harbored an ominous feeling. \u201cDeep down in my heart,\u201d he recalls, \u201cI felt that something was wrong. I felt that the energy in the office was slowly draining.\u201d One reason for that was the newly-established investors from the ICO. \u201cThey knew nothing about gaming,\u201d Chau laments. \u201cThey were offering advice that did not resonate well with me or my team, and it was starting to obviously impact the company culture.\u201d
<\/strong>Chau was looking for more than generating revenue, but rather to actualize a more holistic measure of achievement. Having foregone the funds from the ICO\u2014undeniably a gut-wrenching decision most entrepreneurs would never have the stomach to execute\u2014he had to figure out a way to launch on a shoestring budget. He believed that he could build his new business directly with the customer; in this case as a community-based marketplace. So, Chau pressed ahead without the ICO-driven funds and ultimately launched his community-based solution. Within days, it attracted more than 20,000 users and now, less than a year later, it boasts more than 70,000.<\/p>\n
While clich\u00e9, they are undeniable truths: Perception is reality and \u201cimage is everything,\u201d as painfully vain as these maxims sound. From one\u2019s physical appearance to how one behaves, people tend to judge first and reason later. The same holds true for a business facility. Whether an office lobby, a retail display window, a website home page or even the body condition of fleet vehicles, aesthetics play a mission-critical role in overcoming the litany of obstacles and objections that are initially present with a new engagement. The influence of appearance is something serial beauty and cosmetics industry entrepreneur Dawn Hunter<\/a><\/strong> knows all too well, <\/strong>having built an empire helping people cultivate and refine their image by putting their best face forward.<\/p>\n