Secrets to Success Deborah Cole Micek and John-Paul Micek

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Business looks to fresh
ideas for growth

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The "old ways" of doing business have been on the way out for years. Yet training programs and consultants continue to do things the way they've always been done.

Maybe they're stuck in the past. Maybe they're blind to the facts. Or maybe they just don't want to change.

Whatever the reason for failing to deliver practical, real-world tools that support your entrepreneurial growth, I can assure you that it's rooted in the fact that these so-called experts don't recognize that a new business paradigm has emerged, one that's being defined by small business owners.

For far too long, "big business" has gotten way too much attention from the media, educational institutions and training companies. According to data compiled by the Small Business Administration, small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the nation's nearly 111 million employees, and a staggering 99.7 percent of U.S. businesses are classified by the SBA as "small."

Yet the vast majority of training, workshops and educational programs meant to help you grow your business still remain focused on the traditional big-business "sheep-herding" model ... with all its rigid idea-smashing, momentum-crushing baggage.

As a business owner, if you want to win big in the marketplace of the new millennium, you'll need to attract, retain and build relationships with your clients in a brand new way. But to do that you need a better way to grow and optimize your business. As an entrepreneur you need an effective yet flexible approach to growth using YOUR system as THE system -- not on the big-business "sheep-herding" model.

Traditional education, the average consultant and most business development gurus all tout a highly regimented approach to growing a classical "top down" business. They find it nearly impossible to change course and adapt to the fast, flexible structure of today's small businesses.

Here are three simple steps you can use to begin creating your own system for growth, and how you can prepare yourself to profit from the marketplace of the new millennium:

Step 1. Gain a thorough understanding of your own natural style, a combination of your unique personality, passions, experience and abilities. By doing this you'll be equipped to bend and mold proven success strategies.

Step 2. Research and gather strategies and techniques that directly apply to your business or industry.

Step 3. Practice the principle of exponential growth in your business. This is a process of intentionally planning for, and then making, small incremental improvements in multiple areas of your business that will allow you to achieve growth of astounding proportions.

When you work together with your business coach and a peer group of successful business owners to consistently follow through on these steps, you will accelerate this entire process even further. With these high-leverage resources, you'll experience growth that's rapid and flexible yet consistent and focused.

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By John-Paul Micek

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See the Columnists section for some past articles.

John-Paul Micek is the lead business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. Reach him at JPM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.

Deborah Cole Micek, chief executive officer of RPM Success Group, is a business success coach and life strategist. Reach her at DCM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.

Access an expanded version of this article at www.GetCoachedforFree.com.