Business Growth Conference

Because what got you here won’t get you there. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that phrase during my tenure in business, I could retire early.

Gone are the days when business owners and leaders could simply update last year’s plan and call it good. Today’s owners and leaders face an ever-changing market, constant technological disruption and intense competition for internal and external customers. As a result, leaders must learn to play offense and be prepared to quickly shift strategies if necessary. This goes beyond quarterly or annual plans. Even in highly stressful times, leaders must always keep a finger on the pulse of their long-term growth plans.

Historically, companies went about achieving growth by simply offering new products to existing customers, securing net new customers, or expanding their geographic market.  Now, with constant technological disruptions impacting entire industries and shortening the life of many companies, businesses can’t (and shouldn’t) rely on one single engine of growth, even if it has historically been very stable.  Today’s leaders should be actively researching secondary growth engines that can accelerate their pace of growth, offer greater differentiation and/or diversification, and leverage the strengths of their core business while reinvigorating an entrepreneurial mindset in the legacy operation.

In this session, attendees will:

• Hear how two local companies achieved their goals by shifting to different growth engines
• Learn how organizational growth and lifecycles play into long-term plans
• Explore how businesses are valued and how this should inform your growth approach
• Engage in an exercise and discussion around our growth engine plans

The world has changed for sales. The old ways of getting leads at trade shows and conferences has slowed, and traditional methods of generating new conversations now result in clients putting salespeople off. In addition, simply asking prospects about their needs is not good enough as many aren’t sure what they need.

You may have tried the typical things like replacing the sales leaders, sales training, and implementing new marketing initiatives, but for whatever reason, you still can’t resume the growth or leads you once had. And now, the game has changed even more due to recent events. In short, sales is on the defense.

In this session, we will talk about “flipping the field” and playing offense by taking advantage of new ways of generating opportunities by taking advantage of the change.

We will discuss:

• Changes in markets and the opportunities that creates
• Understanding how to change your messaging and approach
• Creating an executable plan that can be measured and adjusted as needed

The past two years have caused enormous shifts in how organizations operate.  While a lot of attention is focused on where people work, the reality is that today’s disruption extends far beyond hybrid or not. The foundation of what it means to be an employee and employer is evolving, opening exciting possibilities and new challenges. For example:

• Those born in 2007 or later are expected to live past 100 years, unlocking the potential for 60 quality working years.  What does a successful six-decade career look like?
• The half-life of technical skills is five years and getting shorter.  How does a business stay ahead of market trends when people’s skills lose their value at such a rapid pace?
• The desire for flexibility has permanently altered working and collaboration habits.  How can my organization take advantage of new practices while still delivering on core business goals?

  Smart leaders understand that businesses don’t grow on their own – it’s people that drive results.  This talk will provide context to better understand today’s environment, help prepare for upcoming disruptions, and identify opportunities to create better and more profitable organizations in the future.