2023: The Year Your Small Business Can Thrive

As a small business owner, 2023 presents both challenges and opportunities. With the economy facing uncertainty, it's easy to fall into the trap of cutting costs and going into defense mode. But this approach can be detrimental to the growth and success of your business. I follow the sage advice of my friend and mentor, Gary Vaynerchuk, and “go on massive offense.”

Stop Wasting Money On Shit That Doesn’t Matter

Business owners, it’s time to take a proactive approach and focus on cutting costs while simultaneously increasing demand. One way to do this is by conducting a full audit of all expenses and eliminating the bottom 30% of spending that does not contribute to the growth of your business. By cutting unnecessary expenses, you can redirect those resources towards effective marketing that drives increased demand.

But I Am Already Lean

I know what some of you are thinking, I’m already lean, I don’t have any waste. Wrong, you do. We all do—case in point. I consult with a bunch of businesses in different industries all over the world. One of my consulting clients runs a family-owned business specializing in sports protection gear. On a recent bi-weekly call with the owner and 3 members of the team, all family, by the way, I tasked specific members with important jobs and jobs that the owner still had his hands in. Two weeks later, I got on my call and expected to speak with those family members and not the owner. Wrong! He was still doing tasks other people on his team were assigned to do. He is micromanaging the process, thereby making it inefficient, bloated, and wasteful. That kind of shit has to stop if you’re doing it in your business.

Confessional time: I am not perfect. I do this stuff too. When I catch myself doing it, I hand things off. Trust me, I suck at doing most things, so when I get in there, I get in the way.

Creating a strong marketing strategy is crucial for the growth of your business in 2023. This can include tactics such as SEO, social media, and brand storytelling. And if you need help developing one, you can contact me for some consulting help. I love working with small businesses like yours. I offer valuable insights and advice, and I help clients grow their brands, scale their businesses, and get shit done.

Remember that as a small business owner, there's always a way to stay ahead and grow stronger in a challenging environment. You’ve got to focus on cutting waste and creating demand through effective marketing strategies. Trust me, it's worth the effort, and you'll set yourself on a path to success in 2023.