Two more successful habits…

Fast growing companies follow certain principles that the less successful firm do not embrace. Last article, we covered three habits, and this article covers two more of these success principles for business growth.

Gazelles, or companies that grow more than 20 percent per year for three consecutive years, have overcome the barriers to growth. Verne Harnish in his book Mastering the Rockefeller Habits shares, “As organizations move up the growth path they go through a predictable series of evolutions and revolutions. The three barriers that prevent firms from moving along this path include: lack of leadership, lack of systems and structures, and market dynamics.”

The Rockefeller Habits help firms overcome these barriers. From my experience as a business coach, I know the habits work.

Award-winning entrepreneur Henry McGovern, founder of American Restaurants, the largest restaurant chain in all of Europe with revenues over $3 billion, shared at a Fortune Small Business Growth Summit one of their secrets to growth and success.

 “We believe our motto that ‘Everything is Possible’ and use the Rockefeller Habits” Thus, we are using them in my new company Radish Systems (www.RadishSystems.com) along with the ‘Pursuit of Passionate Purpose’ success model.

Practical Pointers on Two More Best Habits of Fast Growing Companies:

4. Clear understanding of the firm’s market position drives strategic planning and sales and marketing
• Brand promise and market (Sandbox) are clearly defined.
• The organization is aligned around 5 key strategies for growth.
5. Reporting and analysis of Customer Feedback data is as frequent and accurate as financial data.
• All employees are involved in collecting customer data.
• There is a person assigned responsibility for customer feedback.
• All senior leaders communicate with at least one customer weekly.

Radish Case Study. In our strategic discussions at Radish Systems (also known as Radish 2.0), we questioned who is our target market and who do we want to play with in our Sandbox. Our purpose is to help businesses communicate more effectively with smart mobile device users.

Mobile device users are important and are definitely invited into our Sandbox; however our top priority customers (or playmates) are enterprises seeking to improve efficiencies in their contact centers and build loyalty with the stakeholders with whom they communicate.

 In addition to working with our Alliance of partners, we use Willie Suttons’s Law, “Go where the money is!”

So what do we promise to deliver to our customers? What is our brand promise? A fast-growing firm does not come up with a brand promise lightly, so the ‘radishes’ gave it considerable discernment. Radish promises: happy, fast, rewarding experiences.

Radish has annual and quarterly strategic planning meetings where we establish and review our five key strategies for growth. Additionally, we share customer feedback in our daily huddle and weekly meetings. Because our customers are so important, we just hired the best Director of Customer Care we know. And so the Radish story continues…

What habits are you using to grow your business?
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Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D., is CEO of Technology and Management Solutions, a management consulting firm that helps organizations, teams, and individuals grow to new heights in profit, productivity, sustainability, and passion. Szczurek is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC®), business coach, speaker, author, and entrepreneur whose Colorado-based technology firm, Radish Communications Systems, sold for over $40 million. She is also author of the business performance blog, Radish Sprouts, and the Amazon-bestseller, Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, which provides her proven, step-by-step formula for success. Call 800-555-8674, visit www.TMSworld.com, www.PursuitofPassionatePurpose.com, www.RadishSprouts.typepad.com, and follow Theresa on Twitter @TheresaSzczurek.

Copyright © 2010 Theresa M. Szczurek. All Rights Reserved.