- 25 June, 2006 -

Keynote speaker Steven Little, renowned speaker, writer and consultant on the subject of small business growth, shared his seven irrefutable rules of small business growth at the 2005 annual Right at Home owners' convention. Little is the former president of three fast-growth companies and has been a senior consultant for Inc. magazine since 1998. During his speaking and consulting career, he has worked with some of the country's most admired organizations, including UPS, Sprint, Bank of American, Compaq, Microsoft and the Small Business Administration. Little's seven irrefutable rules are concepts he has found to resonate with people in the know ? people who have witnessed sustained, profitable growth. The following are excerpts from his presentation and book: "The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business:" Establish and maintain a strong sense of purpose If you are going to start a business, it should be about what you know, what you enjoy, and increasingly important these days, whom you know. Most small business that survive any length of time have a period of seemingly sustainable growth. However, only those organizations that are guided by the beacon of purpose successfully navigate the treacherous and ever-changing waters of today's volatile marketplace. In brief, it's your "reason for being." Thoroughly understand the marketplace The word predictable isn't of much use any more, especially when it comes to business in today's ever-changing marketplace. But you don't have to be a giant corporation with millions invested in market research to get it right. Superior market intelligence is an organization's ability to first recognize, than adapt to, significant changes in the marketplace. It is the ability to see patterns where others cannot. Build an effective growth planning system For most experts, formal planning is an essential ingredient for any organization looking to build sustainable growth. Having an effective growth planning system is the best indicator of whether your company will grow. Planning for growth is an ongoing process, not an event. It's a never-ending journey, not a destination. Develop customer-driven processes Most business owners confuse being customer-driven with "giving good service." That is, if the goods ship out on time or if a service is delivered efficiently, it's a job well done, only to find a year later, that the customer goes somewhere else. Define everything that you do from a customer's perspective, and then look for ways to improve that every single day. Don't just satisfy customers ? anticipate their needs. Put the power of technology to work Technological changes are headed for your company and your industry no matter what industry you are in. You need to recognize and prepare for them. You need to know what is on the way and how it is going to create obstacles or opportunities in the future. No matter what your business is, you have to become a technology expert. Attract and keep the best and the brightest The number one issue facing small business owners is people ? always has been, always will be. Nothing is more important to the growth of any organization than finding, training and retaining superior people. To do this, you need to create a positive culture where top performers want to work. See the future more clearly You need to become an expert on how the future will impact your business. The ability to see the future more clearly than others is a common characteristic among successful entrepreneurs. You must regularly consider the macroforces of change and their impact on your business, industry and community. It's a skill that anyone interested in growth must develop, especially in today's turbulent marketplace.

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