Every entrepreneur, sales director or general manager of a small business has likely faced the challenge of transforming a micro or small company into a medium-sized one.
The good news? Once you reach a certain size, the journey toward further growth often becomes easier and more manageable.
Of course, you’ll hear advice like:
“Enjoy the way things are,” or “Why stress yourself out? Bigger businesses mean bigger
problems.” While there’s some truth to sayings like “the higher you fly, the harder you fall,” the reality is that most large organizations are exceptions. If you’ve managed to grow from a small business to a medium-sized one, you’ve already achieved something remarkable.
Some might ask: “If my business supports my lifestyle, why would I want more?” But that mindset often leads to stagnation. It’s easy to get stuck running a business that appears profitable on paper but doesn’t truly compensate you when you consider whether you’re paying yourself adequately.
As an entrepreneur, you—and perhaps your family—might find yourselves deeply involved in every aspect of the business: working weekends, skipping breaks, and always being “on.” Sales directors might take pride in personally closing every deal. But here’s the crucial question:
What is your true value to the business, and how much of that can you delegate?
The most successful business leaders often share how they started by doing everything themselves—cleaning, selling, managing inventory—but they also stress the importance of letting go to grow.
On the other hand, I’ve seen experienced entrepreneurs who, even after decades, remain tethered to tasks they no longer need to handle: drafting sales offers, generating invoices, chasing purchase orders, or even unlocking and locking the office every day.
So, why do so many businesses remain small despite their growth potential?
It often boils down to two key factors: trust and entrust.
Systems, strategies, and processes are critical—but they come later. First, ask yourself:
Before diving into business books or expert advice, pause and reflect:
The truth is, the world thrived before you, and it will thrive after you. There are talented people who can excel alongside you—if you create an environment that empowers them.
Have you given them the trust and freedom to grow? This shift in mindset allows you to focus on the bigger picture and take your business to the next level.
Sometimes, the first step toward growth isn’t learning something new—it’s stepping back to create the space for others to succeed with you.
Your next thought might be: I do trust people. If that’s true, fantastic! But the next step is to ask why your company isn’t growing at a faster pace. To assess your level of trust, consider these questions:
If your answer is that your team isn’t significantly driving the business’s growth, it’s time to dig deeper:
By addressing these questions, you can uncover opportunities to delegate and empower others, unlocking your company’s full growth potential.
Now imagine this: If you were able to create the reverse of yourself delivering high performance, how would that impact your business? In simple terms, that could mean multiplying your revenue by five. Some of you might dismiss this as wishful thinking—but it’s not.
The world is built by everyday individuals who dare to prove themselves—not due to financial ties, or circumstances such as salary or ambition. If you give them the chance, and if they feel your trust is tied to their success and growth, you can cultivate a high-performance environment.
When trust, empowerment, and alignment with shared goals exist, an ethos of excellence can take root. This shift doesn’t just grow your organization; it transforms it into a thriving ecosystem of success.
