Brandon Dawson is CEO of Cardone Ventures, Leader & Scaling Expert. His mission is to help 1 million business owners 10X their success.
As businesses aim to grow and thrive, they will inevitably encounter milestones that challenge the very foundation upon which they were built. With over 20 years of research and documentation on the growth cycle of businesses, I refer to these milestones as “breakpoints.”
From my experience working with companies of all sizes that are striving for sustainable growth, it’s evident that these breakpoints are unavoidable.
The most dangerous thing about breakpoints is being at the top of one and not knowing you’re even there. But, the good news is if you know for certain these breakpoints are coming, you can prepare for these challenging moments.
One essential strategy I advocate for any business owner is to anticipate impending breakpoints by establishing duplicable processes and systems capable of supporting the desired growth and expansion.
The Seven Breakpoints
I believe there are seven breakpoints that warrant attention, especially when a company is in the realm of $1 million to $125 million in annual revenue. If you’re not prepared, they can come at you quickly and push you back down in the direction away from growth. They come as follows:
1. Startup
2. Procession creation
3. Core leadership
4. Automated systems
5. Executive leadership
6. Integrated technology
7. Platform
Preparing For Breakpoints: Duplicate Processes And Systems
As something I’ve said in past talks: “At the heart of sustainable long-term growth lie three pillars: consistency, scalability, and flexibility. Duplicable processes and systems reinforce each of these pillars.”
Consistency breeds reliability, credibility and loyalty within a business. Standardizing operations not only enhances these qualities for the customer base but also fosters trust within the organization itself. Moreover, consistent practices improve efficiency and minimize errors, positively impacting the bottom line.
Embracing scalability positions businesses for expansion and prosperity. Duplicable processes and systems are designed for scalability and are capable of accommodating growth and changing demands. By preempting bottlenecks and fostering adaptability, businesses can navigate growth uncertainties with resilience and agility.
Change is inevitable for business owners, and duplicable processes and systems, developed with inherent flexibility, empower businesses to navigate shifting dynamics confidently. Customizable and adaptable, these frameworks enable swift responses to market demands and customer preferences, fostering a culture of innovation and resilience.
Crafting A Blueprint For Success
For small and mid-sized businesses aiming for sustainable growth, the journey begins with deliberate action and strategic foresight. Here are four essential steps to cultivate duplicable processes and systems:
1. Define Your Processes
Delve into your business’s operations, from sales and marketing to product development and customer service. Identify the core elements essential to your enterprise. This step is particularly important in Breakpoint 1 (startup) when you’ve already defined what you do but need to figure out how to move forward. It becomes important again in Breakpoints 4 and 6 (automated systems and integrated technology) as technology and more sophisticated forms of automation become necessary.
3. Document Your Processes
Thoroughly document your processes in an accessible guide to ensure consistency and accuracy across tasks. This is key to Breakpoint 2 (procession creation) as you start to develop systems to hire and train team members and to replace yourself.
4. Test And Refine
Embrace failure as an opportunity for improvement. Evaluate processes and systems to preempt errors and enhance efficiency based on feedback from your team and customers. In each breakpoint, I encourage you to think of failure as your best friend and biggest teacher. Learning to look forward to failure is going to give you the right mindset to continue to develop the tools you need to move ahead.
5. Train Your Employees
Provide comprehensive training to equip your team with the skills they need to execute tasks efficiently and consistently. This approach will grow and expand, especially as you leave behind the manager within you in Breakpoint 3. It will lay the foundation for your core leadership and, eventually, for executive leadership in Breakpoint 5.
Sustainable Growth
Breakpoints don’t need to spell doom for your business; rather, they can offer opportunities for duplicable processes and systems to guide you through each challenge. By integrating consistency, scalability and flexibility into your strategy, you can unlock your business’s potential for growth, optimization and scalability, leading to an exit strategy that excites you.
As technological advancements, market shifts, and regulatory changes continue to reshape industries, it’s more important than ever that businesses remain agile and responsive.
I find that duplicable processes and systems provide the framework necessary for businesses to navigate these complexities with confidence, ensuring not only survival but sustained success in the long run.
Embracing this strategic approach empowers business owners to future-proof their enterprises, positioning them as leaders in their respective fields. So, while breakpoints are inevitable, with the right systems in place, they become nothing more than stepping stones on the path to greater achievement.
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