Dancing with business growth is more fun with partners

Growing a business sounds like a great idea until you find yourself in the thick of change — and choices. If you can’t dance with business growth, you might as well leave the party. Change can be cause for celebration, but the reality of it can send the strongest among us into a spin. (Hi, nice to meet you.)

I was four percent shy of February being my best business month. A couple of people in my tribe suggested I count it as my best business month because the work was complete, the invoice had been sent, and the money was on its way. Nah. My daddy said to not count my chickens before they hatch. I’m counting what’s in my hand, thank you.

I’ve invested multiple thousands of dollars in my business during the past few years. I’ve taken online courses delivered by powerful experts. Some of my results have been remarkable, but gaping holes (read: opportunities for growth) remain. Sometimes I’m sweating with elation on the dancefloor. Sometimes I’m floating like a fairy in my zone. There also are moments when I think about heading for the door.

The trouble with taking courses designed to have you grow your business is, well, what that growth will take. I’ve shit-canned a website I used to love but outgrew. I decided on a new website URL that now seems too small — or too broad. I’m not simply throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks; all of it is by design, inside an inquiry about growth.

Enter the course I’m in right now and join me in a conversation about scaling business. Scaling? Jeez. I only learned the concept of firing unresponsive, pain-in-the-ass clients a few years ago! I need to take a breath. The trouble with pausing to take a breath is that valuable time ticks by, and I’m not getting any younger.

I figure I have a dozen years left of operating at this level. Scaling my business will require thanking my ego for its service and telling it to get out of my mission’s way. It’s not about me. It’s about fulfilling the missions of nonprofits and businesses with an environmental or humanitarian flair — all while transforming what we read, see and hear in the media (which, in turn will make work a little easier and life a little more fun for everyone involved).

I “no can do this” alone. I’ve hired a virtual assistant. Now it’s time to create an army of former editors, learn from them, teach them what I’ve learned, collaborate, uncover the value of tapping into our collective perspective such that this crazy little mission I’ve been blabbing about for more than a decade lights up the dancefloor (hopefully before I’m shown the final EXIT).

Although I’ve left parties a time or two, it had nothing to do with not wanting to dance. My commitment to dancing with business growth is fully intact; I’m just a little dizzy from the spin.