Smart growth is good growth

Smart Growth is business growth without guesswork. In business we need to manage risk. The entrepreneur, as a risk taker, needs to be sure that to take the risk of a business venture, they have the best opportunity for business and personal success. Smart Growth seeks to manage that risk by creating certainty; that is, removing the guesswork......no surprises....  

Planning - Smart growth means that every step or activity or event has been considered in a structured process free from the pressure of immediate performance. Through planning we understand everything that would, should and could happen in our business at every twist and turn. 

Astuteness - this is the awareness of the things and people around us. We are aware of where we fit in relation to our competitors and aware of what they are thinking of us. We know our strengths and weaknesses and we know what triggers our defensive and offensive behaviors to protect our business.

Diligence - Smart business requires us to be in control of our finances, our people and our environment. Diligence takes us down a path of formal discovery of where we should and should not be at any particular time. It identifies the control mechanisms, systems and procedures to ensure we follow our planned path.

Creativity - Smart Business is about innovation and doing something new to put us in front of our competition. The innovation does not necessarily need to be related to the product; it could be the way we deliver the product or manufacture or even the way we bill our clients. If you can creatively find a find a way to get in front and stay in front....then that's Smart Growth

Leverage - It doesn't matter how big or small your business is, there will always be limited resources known as scarcity. An entrepreneur will always have to decide the best use of limited resources; and there will never ever be enough to do everything. That's why we need to be smart around "leverage". We will always have to manage scarcity and we should always seek to best exploit our limited resources. We need to negotiate with good strategic partners and secure good deals that leverage your market positioning. 

Assertive - Although we should always seek to build good relationships and we must always respect the customer; we are not their doormats. Smart growth recognizes there is a time for co-operation and a time for a solid contract; assertiveness happens when you know the difference. 

Systematic - Smart Growth recognizes that we cannot do it all on our own. We must engage and utilise the people and resources around us. Smart Growth works to establish systems that continue to function when we go on holidays or get sick; or get sick of work. 

Sound theoretical base adapted for practicality - What works best; Theory or Practical???? Smart Growth respects both with equal awe because neither can be inherited and neither are achieved without extensive effort over a prolonged period. Most importantly, Smart Growth can only be achieved with a balanced input from each.