Growth is shorthand for a lot of business virtues: new clients, increased revenues, innovation, expansion, success. Whether you’re gaining market share in a mature industry, or you’re cutting through the jungle of launching a new product, if your company is growing then congratulations, because you are doing something right.
If you’re on a plateau or shrinking, then now is not time to panic. Coming through the recession a lot of companies are on this plain. Of the many large and small companies I’ve spoken with over the past 18 months, most remain optimistic with the caveat that we are mired in a stagnant economy.
And depending on the industry you might be down (new homes, retail) or prospering (a nod to many tech companies).
But no matter the sector, there are always outliers who outperform the field. In this issue of the magazine we look some of those companies to see how they are managing to best the competition. It’s clear that there is no single strategy that will lead to growth – each company must survey the landscape and chart its own upward path.
For us at Make It Business, one of the key decisions we’ve made in the last year is to dilute the equity of the company. By bringing on key players, we’ve added a presence in the Fraser Valley (which is booming – more on this in a future issue), added management expertise, and positioned ourselves for a growth trajectory for 2012 in an industry that is in decline.
If there is one truism of business, it is that adversity forces one to consider a wider range of options. I hope that you’re choosing the right ones to help grow your company.