When about to give up when tired, hungry or questioning decisions you have made for your business niche, you have a choice. You can either take a step back and be willing to change or ride out the decisions you’ve already made. Lindsay Scherr Burgess has had to make some tough decisions in her business of green wallscapes to build her team and business. But she has done so very successfully.
When uncovering and cultivating a business niche, we explore four key principles crucial for its establishment and growth. Although success is never assured and every venture is unique, adhering to these fundamental principles significantly boosts your chances of success.
Choosing a Business Niche
Occasionally, businesses come to us unexpectedly. What begins as a hobby or side business, (FREE download available!) as in the case of GreenWallscapes, may turn out to be more lucrative and enjoyable than anticipated. For Lindsay, GreenWallscapes began as a simple craft project involving gluing moss onto a frame, initially not viewed as a business endeavor. Inspired by large-scale projects observed in Italy, Lindsay embarked on a personal project for her home. To her surprise, it proved to be both fun and more successful than she had imagined.
Her husband's observation sparked the realization that her endeavor could become a viable business. Agreeing to test the waters for three to six months, it soon proved profitable. With a fallback plan in place, she could have pursued another job if needed. However, armed with a solid idea, a well-crafted business plan, and her background in engineering and marketing, she swiftly implemented strategies that propelled the business forward.
The key lesson here is both simple and profound. Allowing yourself a trial period not only to launch your business but to experiment with untested ideas often reveals the potential for growth. Furthermore, leveraging one's skills and experience creatively, much like Lindsay did with her engineering and marketing background, can lay the groundwork for a successful venture. Consider how your own skills and experience could be applied effectively to various business endeavors.
Buy Back Your Time
Recognizing that time is our most precious resource is common knowledge, yet consistently applying wise time management practices can be challenging. I recommend beginning with a thorough examination and periodic review of our core values, (get FREE download here) which can guide both personal and professional endeavors. These values serve as the foundation for effective time allocation and decision-making, aiding in the pursuit of work-life balance, particularly for individuals navigating the complexities of raising a family while pursuing a career.
As the trend of women having children later in life continues, many seek ways to balance work responsibilities with childcare duties without committing to full-time office roles. This necessitates careful planning and coordination to manage competing priorities effectively. While hiring extensive assistance may not always be feasible, there are opportunities for creative delegation and systematization, especially for individuals adept at fast and efficient work, particularly in organizational or technological realms.
Delegating tasks and responsibilities to capable individuals requires both trust and effective training. While relinquishing control may be challenging, it often leads to more efficient outcomes. It's essential to identify tasks suitable for outsourcing, develop systematic training protocols, and establish evaluation mechanisms to ensure effectiveness. Starting with small steps allows for experimentation and adjustment, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptive time management strategies.
Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Embracing discomfort often involves confronting fear, whether it's the fear of rejection or failure in business endeavors. Overcoming this mindset requires a shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, a concept explored in-depth in the Hero Mountain Summit course, which delves into mindset evaluation and transformation.
Failure serves as a valuable teacher, offering insights into what doesn't work and guiding efforts toward refining successful strategies. Returning to the principle of setting time frames for exploring new ideas, it's crucial to regularly evaluate progress, celebrate achievements, and reassess future objectives. Goal setting plays a pivotal role in this process, not only for long-term aspirations but also for breaking them down into manageable steps, celebrating each milestone achieved along the way.
Breaking down main goals into smaller, actionable steps fosters a sense of accomplishment and builds confidence and courage, particularly crucial for entrepreneurs. Establishing a system of self-encouragement and reward enhances motivation and propels us forward on our journey towards success.
Listen for the Future
Listening is a fundamental principle often overlooked in our daily lives. Just as blinders and fly masks help horses maintain focus, we too must tune in to the messages surrounding us to navigate effectively and shield ourselves from distractions.
The key takeaway lies in discerning the right voices to heed amidst the noise. While there will always be naysayers and tempting comparisons to others' successes on social media, it's vital to filter out negativity and external influences that may derail our focus.
Seeking guidance from a trusted circle of contacts allows us to gather valuable feedback on what's working and what's not. By listening attentively and implementing solutions, we can steer our endeavors in the right direction.
Application and Takeaways
- Select a niche that aligns with your strengths and interests.
- Reclaim control over your schedule by prioritizing tasks and delegating efficiently.
- Embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth and innovation.
- Attune yourself to emerging trends and insights to stay ahead of the curve.
Books & Articles:
Stop Circling: Steps to Escape Endless Roundabouts See Appendix on Core Values
Women at Halftime: Principles for Producing Your Successful Second Half See Chapter 7 covering relationships and close circle of contacts
- about Lindsay scherr burgess
Lindsay Scherr Burgess is the Founder and "Moss Boss" of Green Wallscapes, a company that brings spaces to life with no-hassle preserved moss, walls, logos, lettering and art. She has done projects in over 35 states, Canada, and the Caribbean and employs a team of mostly female artists in her West Palm Beach studio. Her company’s work has been called “a lavish expression of botanical joy” and has been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda Magazine, Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Daily News, and more.
Although success is never assured and every venture is unique, adhering to fundamental principles of growth significantly boosts your chances of success.
deborah johnson
Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, Author
If you are interested in growing and learning, check out our online courses here: Online Learning
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