🔭 Looking Far Ahead vs. Quick Wins

What growth champions do right:

• They put real money toward long-term projects, even when times get tough

• They meet monthly or quarterly to decide which growth projects to speed up, change, or stop

• They share their wins through company meetings and updates (80% more often than average companies)

Where most companies miss the mark:

• Average leaders spend only 22% of their time on long-term growth projects

• During rocky periods, only 30% increase funding for growth plans

• Many fail to set and share clear growth goals with their team and board

Real example: When Corning's stock dropped during the pandemic, CEO Wendell Weeks didn't hide. He publicly announced a clear three-year plan to add $3+ billion in new sales and promised quarterly progress reports – something most CEOs avoid.

 👠👠 Taking Bold Steps & Backing Them Up

What growth champions do right:

• They test bold new ideas, knowing some will fail

• They move quickly instead of waiting for perfect conditions (64% act fast when markets shift)

• They put money into creating new products or entering new markets (63% more often than others)

Where most companies miss the mark:

• 47% focus on small tweaks like pricing changes instead of bold moves

• Many claim to value speed (79%) but don't commit the resources to match

• Too few are willing to make quick, imperfect decisions to get ahead of competitors

Real example: Dr. Bruno Ferrari built 140+ cancer clinics across Brazil, then made a surprising jump to Saudi Arabia. Seeing similar healthcare needs in a completely different market, he created a partnership expected to bring in $550 million yearly within five years.

🔍 Putting Customers First

What growth champions do right:

• They use smart tech to predict what customers will want next (45% use advanced tools)

• They personalize responses and use AI to improve customer interactions

• They turn customer feedback into actual improvements and new offerings

Where most companies miss the mark:

• Only 15% regularly use customer input when making business decisions

• Just 23% check in with customers to make sure their products deliver real value

• Many collect feedback but never turn it into actual changes

Real example: Sephora has grown 25% despite fierce competition by creating in-store experiences based on customer feedback, building a 40-million-member "Beauty Insider" community, and hosting special events that connect directly with their best customers.

 🌱🌱 Growing the Right Team

What growth champions do right:

• They move their best people to growth-focused roles (36% make it easy to shift talent)

• They create safe spaces where quick, low-cost failures are OK

• They hire from different industries to bring in fresh thinking

Where most companies miss the mark:

• 69% admit they lack the right talent to grow

• Fewer than 8% feel confident in their hiring and training plans

• Many reward people based on team size or budget rather than growth potential

Real example: The Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) hired twice as many tech experts as bankers and created training programs for all employees to learn AI and data skills. This strategy added $270 million in new value in just one year.

🗝️🗝️ Key Takeaways

• Watch what you do, not just what you say: Most leaders think they prioritize growth, but their actions tell a different story. Track how you spend your time and money to make sure they match your growth goals.

• Get comfortable being uncomfortable: If your growth plans don't make you at least a little nervous, they probably aren't bold enough. Successful companies take smart risks and value speed over perfection.

• Actions beat plans every time: The difference between average and amazing growth isn't just good ideas – it's creating systems that track progress, hold people accountable, and quickly remove obstacles.

Here is the link to the article if you want to read the entire piece.

Stay awesome, stay confident, and soar higher!

— Cheering you on, Nick