Are you ready to build your print business from the inside so it works better on the outside? Working on the inside of the business sounds lofty and philosophical, but what does it look like in action?
Let’s start with what your print business COULD be.
There’s always a gap between where a print business is and where they want to be. If you are a person who (for example) writes up goals and resolutions for the new year, addressing the gap may seem like a wishful exercise. We glance around at competitors and businesses in other sectors doing extraordinary things. We probably have old tapes playing in our heads about what we should have accomplished by this point in our lives. We might think to ourselves, “If only I had more money, self-discipline, time, or support from the right people.”
This isn’t defeatist thinking. It’s just unstructured thinking.
To make progress, you need to add more structure to your business growth process, especially at the beginning of the year. No matter how you celebrate the New Year, you can’t deny the collective energy of hope, expectation, and belief that encircles the globe as we enter the new year together as one world.
Tap into that energy source to propel yourself ahead!
That may seem a little woo-woo, so let’s think about this logically. What are the areas that genuinely strengthen a print business? For me, this is what I believe, and you will create your own list:
- Aiming high.
- Identifying shared values.
- Finding people who want to do good things in their communities and the world with their money.
- Creating an environment where people want to do their best.
- Choosing ethical providers and vendors.
- Surrounding myself with people who want me to succeed and appreciate that I want them to succeed as well.
- Creating the kind of business that can span the generations and help print thrive.
You can see this is a deeply personal list. Especially in family businesses, not everyone will agree. It’s a process that may take time. If you are a solopreneur, you need someone to have these discussions with who can hear you without being prescriptive.
The discussions and revelations from the process will help you build from the inside. I tell clients, “Feel the discomfort and do it anyway!”
How important is this process?
It’s important. This is how the strong get stronger.
The companies that lead the way in profits, new ideas, market dominance, and strategic business decisions go through this exercise regularly. They are aligned and strong on the inside. Their strength and commitment compel them to do the hard work because they see results. You don’t have to be a big company, but you have to believe in yourself and your potential.
Why now?
We’re entering a time of great opportunity, with more upheaval for our industry to come from unexpected places (more on that later). Laying the groundwork is vital.
A more powerful and strategic print business is waiting to emerge from the inside. Let’s do this!
By Sandy Hubbard
Sandy Hubbard is a Marketing Strategist and Business Advisor specializing in the printing industry. Connect with Sandy on LinkedIn or in the #PrintChat group, which she co-hosts with Deborah Corn.
