Get Back to Your Roots

Is your business offering a little of everything? (Or rather – a whole lot of nothing.)

Companies add service lines for a multitude of reasons, and sometimes it all works out. Other times – and often in a downward situation of plummeting numbers – businesses begin offering more and more and more. (Stop by this coffee shop and get your taxes done and your hair styled while you wait. What?)

The result: Customers are often overwhelmed – and underwhelmed – and end up at Starbucks where they know they’ll get what they went for.

Wading in the pool of “a little of everything”? It may be time to take a step back, reevaluate and Get Back to Your Roots:

Review Your Mission. Literally, review your company’s mission statement. Figuratively, examine as a whole whether your company is doing what it
set out to do. Are you achieving the goals you’ve set, both short-term and
long-term? 

Know When to Fold ‘Em. I often remind clients that pulling back a service line that isn’t progressing as planned is not a sign of failure. On the contrary, it’s a sign of staying on task with the details of your business – a key component of success. Is there an area of your business that is not progressing? 

Next Step. There will always be opportunities to add service lines, to grow, to attempt another goal or vision for your company. Keep your ambitions in line with your mission at every next step. Are you planning your next step even as we speak? Will it promote your mission?

Say What? If your company does not have a mission statement—stop everything. Write one. Now. What separates your company from the pack? What are you looking to provide, short and long term? 

Bottom Line: Do what you do and do it well. Continuously get back to your roots to ensure your company grows steadily. (And, by all means, don’t get your hair done at a coffee shop.)