I was part of a meeting today where an individual was considering options to go into business, and one option is to go into business with someone that specializes in helping business to “grow quickly, really quickly!”. I didn’t get an opportunity to ask what “grow” means – Revenue, Gross Profit, Retained Earnings, Clients, Staff, Branches, Products, Services. I also didn’t get an opportunity to ask what “quickly” means.
When my daughters were still in school, they would frequently ask me to “quickly” take them here or there. And “quickly” fetch them when they were done.
When my oldest daughter got her car, the one thing she realised “quickly”, was that nothing that involved using your car ever happens “quickly”.
Going to a friend on the other side of town takes time. Getting back home takes time. Going to the mall takes time. Going to work, takes time. Driving anywhere, takes time.
And it involves one’s own action, the expense of one’s energy, and the cost of fuel.
There are so many specialists that claim – some even guarantee – they can help businesses grow quickly. Some specialists claim they can free up cash, and even guarantee that.
I don’t know if they can, and it’s not for me to say.
Three things I do know, and can say –
- Business don’t fail quickly;
- Business don’t become successful quickly;
- Nothing worthwhile happens quickly.