It’s every start-up founder’s dream: fast growth characterized by graphs that look like hockey stick.
But the dream can turn into a nightmare unless you are prepared to handle it. Some of the decisions you make during this crucial time, when there is maximum pressure and no time to fix things, can become part of the company DNA.
As a founder, I experienced fast growth first hand. My first year in business selling reusable grocery bags in 2006, I sold 200,000 bags. In 2007, I sold 2 million bags. In 2008, I sold 8 million bags. I ran into all kinds of problems. Thankfully, most of them had good outcomes, partly because of a few things I did that kept me on track.
I recently sat down with Scott Cole at the coaching platform, Ace-Up, to talk about how to handle this kind of fast growth. We talked about what helped me stay on track while writing orders as fast as I could write them.
I shared five tips for staying on track when growth is fast and furious:
- Define your principles and stick to them
- Engage new employees right away
- Empower employees to make their own decisions
- Have the courage to share your successes AND your failures (and what you learned)
Read the full text of my new post about staying on track in a fast growth phase on the Ace-Up site here.
Find me on the Ace-Up platform and learn more about services I offer and how coaching can help you.