The single most common reason that businesses fail - although individual causes are always at play - lies in behavior such as 1) avoidance of change, 2), unwillingness to evaluate and 3), aversion towards a new strategy. When this article "Perkins files for bankruptcy protection in Delaware" crossed my news feed on Facebook one line in particular leaped out at me: "chains that have fallen out of fashion or fail to undergo makeovers".
I am sad to read this post, as someone who tends to form connections to the establishments which have been around for decades, but it seems to be the perfect time to share these observations. Why? Because you deserve to make quality choices, irrelevant of who you choose to reach out to. Whether you decide to go hire a consultant, thoughtfully evaluate your business model or make no changes at all, I feel knowing what to look for is key.
Should you decide to invest in professional services, it's essential to A), understand your needs and B), define your goals. Make sure anyone you contract with can provide the right tools for growth and that they listen to your concerns.....remember, there are no shortcuts. Expensive commitments from folks who promise the sun, moon and stars along with assurances of tripling your business or getting a front-page Google ranking, are major red flags - and yet I've seen good, hard-working people signing up for such contracts at exorbitant rates.
Keep in mind that primary components for reasonable growth should include simple steps such as reviewing the nuts and bolts of daily operations, re-defining your mission statement and practical planning, both short and long term. Whatever your next steps will be, remember that actions such as falling into a rut of complacency or simply "standing still", are most often what kill a business.
Thanks for reading! I hope you have a terrific day.
Sincerely,
Andrea Baumann
Marketing Delmarva
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