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Here are some possible ways to measure success: 1. Set SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. Setting SMART goals makes measuring success much easier and more tangible, as you can clearly define what you want to achieve, how you will measure it, and when you will achieve it. 2. Track your performance indicators. Performance indicators are metrics that show how well you are doing in relation to your goals. They can be financial, such as revenue, profit, or return on investment; or nonfinancial, such as customer satisfaction, employee engagement, or social impact. You should choose performance indicators that are persistent, meaning they show consistent results over time, and predictive, meaning they have a causal relationship with your desired outcome2 3. Seek feedback from others. Feedback from your customers, employees, peers, managers, or mentors can help you measure your success from different perspectives. Feedback can help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as provide suggestions for improvement. You should seek feedback regularly and constructively, and use it to adjust your actions and goals accordingly34 4. Compare yourself with your competitors. Comparing yourself with your competitors can help you measure your success in terms of your market position, reputation, and differentiation. You can use tools such as benchmarking, SWOT analysis, or Porter’s five forces to analyze how you compare with your competitors in terms of quality, price, value, innovation, and customer loyalty. You can also use customer reviews, testimonials, or referrals to gauge how your customers perceive you versus your competitors5 5. Celebrate your achievements. Celebrating your achievements can help you measure your success in terms of your personal satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. 6. You should acknowledge and appreciate your efforts, results, and learnings, and reward yourself for your hard work. . 7. You can also share your achievements with others, such as your family, friends, or colleagues, and express your gratitude for their support. 8. Celebrating your achievements can boost your motivation, confidence, and self-esteem, and inspire you to pursue more goals.

Building a Business Around Real Needs: Strategies for Success Most of the time people look for products to sell when they don't have a customer base that needs those products. Many businesses struggle by creating products in a vacuum, hoping customers will appear. Here's how to flip the script and build a successful business focused on solving people's pressing needs: 1. Deep Customer Understanding: • Research: Conduct market research, surveys, and focus groups to identify unmet needs and pain points. Talk to potential customers, understand their frustrations, and what keeps them up at night. • Target Narrowly: Instead of a broad audience, define a specific niche with a well-defined problem. This allows you to tailor your product/service perfectly to their needs. 2. Needs-Driven Product/Service Development: • Solution-Oriented: Don't just create a product, design a solution to a specific problem. Focus on the benefits it brings and how it improves the customer's life. • Customer Validation: Get early feedback from potential customers throughout the development process. This ensures your product stays on target and addresses their core needs. • 3. Building Trust and Community: • Value-Based Marketing: Focus on educating potential customers about their problem and how your solution makes their lives better. Content marketing, workshops, and free resources establish you as a trusted advisor. • Community Building: Create a community around the problem you solve. Online forums, user groups, and events foster connections and allow you to continuously learn from customer experiences. 4. Building a Sustainable Business: • Pricing for Value: Price your product/service based on the value it delivers, not just production costs. People are willing to pay a premium for solutions that solve critical problems. • Metrics of Success: Track metrics that reflect solving customer problems. Focus on customer satisfaction, retention, and the impact your product has on their lives. Examples of Businesses Built Around Needs: • Budgeting Apps: Address the need for better financial management. Like what Premiumreal is doing. • Telehealth Services: Solve the problem of limited access to healthcare. • Educational Technology: Aims to create engaging and effective learning experiences. Like what we are doing at Aristocrat Global and also what Premium Real Consulting is doing. By prioritizing customer needs, building trust, and creating a solution-driven business, you'll attract a loyal customer base and achieve sustainable success. Remember, it's not about selling products, it's about improving people's lives. My Name Is Precious Adugbo, I am business consultant for small and medium scale businesses.

Time for a mid-year business review! As we hit the halfway point of the year, it's time for some reflection. At my agency, coaching business, and SaaS company, we use this time to check our progress, celebrate wins, and plan for the future. ✅Reflecting on Achievements In my agency, we start by celebrating our successes. We look at key numbers like new clients, engagement rates, and successful campaigns. One of our wins this year was a campaign that boosted engagement by 73%. Celebrating these moments keeps us motivated and shows us what’s working. ✅Identifying Areas for Improvement We also look at where we faced challenges. In my coaching business, we review client feedback to see what worked and what we need to improve. For example, we learned that our educational resources were great, but our clients wanted more feedback on their work. So, we added more interactive ways to communicate. ✅Setting SMART Goals With a clear picture of our achievements and challenges, we set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For my SaaS business, one goal is to increase user retention by 5 percentage points by year-end. Specific: Enhance user engagement features. Measurable: Track retention rates and user engagement. Achievable: Based on our current growth and resources. Relevant: It fits our goal of improving customer satisfaction. Time-bound: Achieve by December. ✅Planning Actions Turning goals into actions is key. At my agency, we use SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to guide our decisions. ScaleFunnels helps by putting all our tools in one place—project management, analytics, CRM, and marketing automation. This saves time, money and boosts productivity. 💫Encouraging You to Do the Same I encourage you to try this with your business. Reflect on your wins, analyze your challenges, set SMART goals, and plan your actions. This process isn’t just about finding what works and what doesn’t—it’s about setting yourself up for ongoing success. A mid-year review can give you the clarity and focus to achieve your year-end goals. It helps you stay on track and adapt to changes. By doing this, you’ll be ready to tackle the second half of the year with confidence. Let’s make the second half of this year amazing. What are your reflections and goals for the rest of the year? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you!

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 When it comes to solving complex business problems, you need a powerful tool that helps you understand the root cause of the issue and develop effective solutions. This tool is called the issue tree.  An issue tree is a visual representation of a problem that is used in management consulting and strategic planning. It helps you break down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts. By doing this, you can identify the real causes of the problem and develop targeted solutions. Building an issue tree is a simple process. Here are the steps: 1. Define the problem: Identify the specific problem you’re trying to solve. This could be anything from declining revenue to low customer satisfaction. 2. Identify the root causes: Brainstorm the different factors that could be contributing to the problem. Don’t limit yourself to obvious factors; consider all possibilities. 3. Categorize the root causes: Group the root causes into related categories, such as marketing, sales, product, and operations. Once you’ve built your issue tree, it’s time to analyze it to determine the root causes of the problem. Here’s how: 1. Evaluate each issue: Assess the likelihood that each issue is contributing to the problem. Give each issue a score from 1 to 10 based on its likelihood of being a cause. 2. Prioritize the issues: Based on the scores, identify the issues that are most likely to be causing the problem. These are the issues you should focus on first. With the root causes identified, it’s time to develop solutions to address them. Here are a few tips for creating effective solutions: 𝐁𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider unconventional solutions. Sometimes, the most effective solutions are the ones that are the most innovative. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦: Consider not just the immediate impact of the solution but also its long-term effects on the business 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞: Implement your solutions and track their impact on the problem. The issue trees are a powerful tool for solving complex business problems. They help you to break down problems into manageable parts, identify the root causes, and develop effective solutions. By using issue trees, you can make smarter decisions that drive growth and success. Whether you’re a business owner, manager, or consultant, issue trees can help you solve even the toughest problems. Remember, when it comes to problem-solving, think like a tree: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. See you again next Thursday! #UnlockingBusinessSuccess #IssueTrees #ProblemSolving #ProductDesign #BusinessStrategy #RootCauseAnalysis #StrategicPlanning #InnovativeSolutions #GrowthMindset #BusinessConsulting

I have a confession - sometimes I forget we are humans first, business people second. It's super obvious but I'm recognizing one way I tend to forget it: I jump to a business outcome without building enough trust / empathy / understanding first. Behind that is an assumption - we are here to win, we all want the business outcome, so I will help us find the best way there. Highest business impact = best outcome. But chasing a business outcome is hollow if people are not behind the approach. We need to feel good as humans - achieving something might be a component of it but I have to clear the baseline of mutual trust and understanding. I can't "skip a level". Doing so sets aside a fundamental aspect of being human. In that moment, I am putting my role as a "business person" ahead of my role as a human. I usually recognize that I need a certain amount of buy-in to get things done at work. But my orientation is still backwards if I see basic aspects of "being human" - the need for safety, connection, purpose - as placed on top of "getting work done". Getting buy-in turns into a "soft skills" checklist at the service of a business outcome. My (dead obvious) realization is that those basic human needs precede and supersede getting work done. Business is the artificial, abstract arrangement we put in place on top of being human. We don't "put on" soft skills, we "put on" being business people. My proper orientation starts with being human well, even at work. Delivering business outcomes is an extension of that. I'm most familiar with Operations and Customer Success, so I'll try to use those to make it practical. In Operations, this might mean understanding where people are at (mentally, emotionally, ideologically) even over delivering on a goal or project. At times, it means staying in the gray - the ambiguity of half-formed ideas and decisions - rather than forcing immediate clarity. It should feel good to work together, otherwise we are probably setting aside some aspect of basic human need. I can be a great project manager but miss being a great human in that moment. In Customer Success, this might mean putting customer delight first, even over business outcomes. At most companies where I was in CS, I joined the charge to deliver an ROI model we could use to calculate customer value. But sometimes we race to a calculation without making sure we understand what the customer needs to feel good. And sometimes that is not a number - it is feeling heard, validated, or looking good in front of someone. It might skew more technical, social, practical, etc based on the person and where they're at. Thanks to Dan Ennis for a great conversation today and encouraging me to post this thought. Also Amy Foo for prompting me to notice!

The Power of Measurable Metrics As #professionals, #entrepreneurs and individuals striving for #success, setting goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) are essential for progress and #accomplishment. However, it is the "Measurable" aspect that often holds the key to unlocking our full #potential and driving meaningful results. The power of measuring one's goal can never be under maximised and its benefits include: 1️⃣ Clarity and #focus: Measurable metrics provide a clear understanding of what we want to achieve. By defining the desired outcome in quantifiable terms, we eliminate ambiguity and can focus our efforts more effectively. 2️⃣ Progress Tracking: Measurable #goals allow us to track our progress objectively. This tracking provides valuable insights into how well we're doing and helps us make informed decisions about adjusting strategies, staying on course, or celebrating successes. 3️⃣ #Motivation and Accountability: The ability to measure progress and see tangible results can be highly motivating. It provides a sense of accomplishment and helps us stay accountable to our commitments. Setting such goals might seem ambiguous, but the following means can be utilised: 1️⃣ Quantify the Goal: Instead of setting vague goals like "Increase sales" or "Improve productivity," quantify them with specific numbers and deadlines. For instance, "Increase sales by 15% in Q3" or "Improve productivity by reducing response time to customer inquiries by 20% within the next month." 2️⃣ Break Down Goals into Milestones: Divide your larger goal into smaller, measurable milestones. These milestones serve as stepping stones toward your ultimate objective and make progress easier to track. 3️⃣ Choose Relevant Metrics: Ensure that the metrics you select align with your overall objective. For example, if your goal is to enhance customer satisfaction, consider using metrics like Net Promoter Score (NPS) or customer feedback ratings. 4️⃣ Use Tools and Technology: Leverage available tools and technology to gather data and measure your progress accurately. From spreadsheets to analytics software if you are in the data space, these resources can simplify the tracking process and provide valuable insights. A simple alarm for reminders is also worth it. 5️⃣ Regularly Review and Adjust: Set aside regular intervals to review your progress. Analyze the data, identify trends, and be prepared to adjust your strategies if needed. Flexibility is key to staying on the path to success. Remember, incorporating measurable metrics into your SMART goals is not about adding pressure or focusing solely on outcomes. It's about gaining valuable information that empowers us to make better decisions and optimize our efforts. Don't allow people's result to make you feel stagnant but learn to stick to your goal and get motivated by it this new week, and beyond.

🚀 Understanding the Rule of 40 for Business Success 📈 In the dynamic realm of Software as a Service (SaaS), achieving and maintaining success is no simple task. A possible solution lies in the "Rule of 40". ✅ What is the Rule of 40? The Rule of 40, the compass for SaaS companies, blends revenue growth and profitability into a singular benchmark. It's simple: 📈 Rule of 40 = Revenue Growth Rate (%) + Profit Margin (%) 🎯 The target? A sum equal to or exceeding 40%. But what does this mean? 1️⃣ Revenue Growth Rate: The heartbeat of success. It measures how fast you're gaining new customers, expanding, and driving sales. Growth is critical, but it must be sustainable. 2️⃣ Profit Margin: The efficiency gauge. It reveals how well you manage costs, optimize resources, and generate profit. High margins signal operational efficiency. 💡 Why Does the Rule of 40 Matter? 🔹 Balancing Growth and Profitability: Success isn't just about capturing market share, it's about sustainable profitability. 🔹 Investor Confidence: Meeting the Rule of 40 opens doors to funding opportunities. 🔹 Focus on Efficiency: Efficient companies provide better products and services at competitive prices, satisfying customers and retaining them. 🔍 The Weighted Rule of 40 In this age of growth-oriented SaaS strategies, the Weighted Rule of 40 emerges. It elevates growth, placing more weight on it than profitability. For smaller SaaS firms aiming for rapid expansion and investment attraction, it's a strategic guide. 📈 Weighted Rule of 40 = (1.33 * Revenue Growth(%)) + (0.67 * Profit Margin(%)) Investor preferences increasingly lean toward companies excelling under this metric. 🚀 Challenges of Achieving the Rule of 40: 1️⃣ Market Saturation: Preserving and nurturing existing customer relationships for long-term business success 2️⃣ Economic Downturns: Adapt to periods of economic decline, job losses, and financial challenges 3️⃣ Balancing Costs: Managing expenses while optimizing growth and profitability efficiently 4️⃣ Customer Retention: Keeping clients satisfied, loyal, and coming back for more 🌟 Summary The Rule of 40 is a roadmap to profitable growth in the competitive SaaS landscape. With the Weighted Rule of 40 and a focus on efficient growth, you can navigate the ever-evolving SaaS industry with resilience and foresight. Your success is not just about innovation; it's about financial prudence and strategic execution. 📚Want to dive deeper into the Rule of 40? Access our blog here: https://lnkd.in/ezgXtc7j #SaaS #Ruleof40 #BusinessSuccess #Efficiency #ValueWorks 🚀💼

SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS Are you facing complex challenges that hinder digital transformation, scalability readiness, operational excellence, or value delivery agility putting your company at risk or will be if not rectified? If so, then the work I have done to refine and target my practice focus is timely and may be exactly what you need! I invite you to keep reading and reach out when something clicks! 📢I'm excited to introduce my practice platform, FRAMEWORKS FOR SUCCESS. It focuses on defining Minimal Viable Context and Artifacts with sufficient foundational detail that clarifies WHAT, HOW, and WHO aligned with WHY. These guiding frameworks prepare clients to take charge and confidently move forward with implementation. I empower clients to regain control, replace dysfunction with clarity of purpose and direction, and restore confidence - positioned for exceptional outcomes. "Setting the Stage for Success" is my mantra for supporting family, friends, clients, and employers. If you're still reading, I'd love to hear how my approach to a solid, well-understood foundation might align with your needs. Please leave a comment, and let's connect if we haven't already. 👉Please DM me now if you are navigating challenges in my focus areas that are hindering your company and are ready to consider outside help. Otherwise, keep learning more… UPDATED LINKEDIN PROFILE: I have optimized my LinkedIn profile to be a more effective introductory component for my practice, helping create visibility and connect with those who need and are ready for help. Check the About section for more about positioning. INDUSTRY ALIGNMENT: While most of my clients have been in the Tech/SaaS and Healthcare sectors throughout the life of my practice since 1997, FRAMEWORKS FOR SUCCESS easily translates to other domains. DISCOVERY CALL: Let's start with a FREE discovery call to see if we're a good match. During the call, you will share more about your situation, challenges, and goals. I'll share my approach with you. We can do this over Zoom with your team, too. After that, it'll be clear if we're a fit. DISCOVERY FRAMEWORK: If our discovery call goes well and we're a good fit, the following suggested step is a paid 2-week discovery framework engagement. This will clarify what implementation or operational framework(s) are needed, the scope of deliverables, and the availability of client personnel to help. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING! What do you think about where I have landed with positioning? What challenges are you facing in your work environment, and how do you approach setting the stage for success? #frameworks   #valuedelivery   #setthestageforsuccess #frameworksforsuccess #digitaltransformation #startup #scaleup #scalabilityreadiness #operationalexcellence   #valuemanagement #valuedeliveryagility #agilefrustration #agileplanning #justenoughplanningforagile #RACI #rolesandresponsibilities #playbooks #alignment #strategyalignment

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞? Are you trapped in an ending cycle of day-to-day tasks with no room for growth? It's a situation that many entrepreneurs find themselves in, and it not only hampers business performance but also takes a toll on well-being. Your business relies heavily on your involvement, and the burden of carrying it all on your shoulders can be draining. Emotionally, it feels like a struggle with no end in sight. However, there is hope on the horizon. Imagine the possibilities for businesses across industries: ⚡A local bakery could boost efficiency and customer satisfaction by implementing an ordering system that streamlines operations and reduces wait times. ⚡A home services company could experience growth by utilizing a customer relationship management (CRM) system to follow up on services and encourage feedback. ⚡A consulting firm could cut down costs. Enhance project delivery times by adopting a project management tool that facilitates team collaboration and resource allocation. These steps, although they may seem daunting at first, can lead to a business that operates seamlessly without relying on your constant intervention. To achieve this turnaround, you can follow these five steps: 1. Embrace the power of transformation: Integrate technology into your business processes to automate tasks and free up time for more strategic thinking. 2. Enhance your customer journey: Utilize a CRM system to personalize your marketing efforts and provide customer service that leaves a lasting impression. 3. Strengthen your presence: Develop a digital marketing strategy that connects with a broader audience and maximizes your reach in the digital realm. 4. Streamline processes: Adopt project management tools that help streamline workflows for productivity and efficiency within your organization. 5. Harness the power of data insights: Utilize analytics to gain insights into your market and customer needs, enabling you to make decisions that drive growth and success. I'm sharing these insights based on my experience and the genuine transformations I've witnessed. By implementing these strategies, you can create a business model that not only boosts revenue and profits but also operates seamlessly without requiring constant oversight. 🌟 What's the first system you'll implement to start this journey? #SmallBusinessSuccess #BusinessGrowth #sunitapednekar #MSMEs #smallbusiness #businesscoach #systems 

🚀 The Dual Path to Business Success Through Performance Metrics 📊 As the Director of Innovation, I am constantly exploring ways to help businesses thrive in today's fast-paced and fiercely competitive world. And one thing is clear: success is no longer just about innovative products or services. It's about astute strategic thinking, decision-making, and the ability to adapt and perform effectively and efficiently. In this context, I came across an insightful article on how performance metrics can pave the way to business success. 🏆 With digital technology making access to information easy and consumer behavior constantly evolving, performance metrics have become critical to an organization's growth and sustainability. The article highlights the importance of measuring and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) and leveraging data analytics to drive informed decision-making. By tracking and evaluating metrics such as customer satisfaction, revenue growth, operational efficiency, and employee productivity, businesses can gain valuable insights into their performance and identify areas for improvement. But here's the twist: the path to success is not a one-way street. It's a dual path that requires a balance between innovation and performance. 🤝 On one hand, businesses need to focus on innovation to stay ahead of the curve. This includes exploring new ideas, technologies, and business models to drive growth and create a competitive edge. By dreaming big and starting small, companies can build a balanced innovation portfolio that encompasses core, adjacent, and transformative innovation. On the other hand, businesses must also prioritize performance and operational excellence. This involves setting clear goals, aligning strategies, and continuously monitoring and optimizing performance metrics. By leveraging performance metrics, businesses can identify bottlenecks, streamline processes, and ensure efficient resource allocation. The dual path to success lies in the synergy between innovation and performance. [3] [2] [1] By combining the power of innovation with the insights derived from performance metrics, businesses can make informed decisions, adapt to changing market dynamics, and drive sustainable growth. I would love to hear your thoughts on this dual path to business success. How do you balance innovation and performance in your organization? Share your experiences and let's inspire each other to achieve greatness! 💡 #BusinessSuccess #PerformanceMetrics #Innovation #StrategicThinking #DataAnalytics #GrowthMindset #Adaptability #Inspiration References: [1] Competitive Strategy 2024 : Boosting Business with AI: https://lnkd.in/dkykKq_A [2] Business Strategy and Sustainability - Addressing Fundamental Questions in the Business World: https://lnkd.in/dwdaaRcm [3] Aligning Strategy to Innovation - How to Dream Big but Start Small: https://lnkd.in/dB3g6d_6