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3 Quick Ways To Grow and Scale Your Small Business

Libby McCready • May 20, 2021

So you’ve got a small business. It’s going well, but you’re looking for the quickest and most efficient way to grow and scale.

To do this successfully, you must understand the importance of effortless maximization—that is, working smarter, not harder.

Growing and scaling your business is a great way to increase revenue for your small business, but it requires an active and consistent effort in the planning process. 

So, when it comes to scaling your business, where do you start? 

You start by reviving your already existing business plan—you create consistent processes and you work towards building a sustainable business.

Read on to learn three ways to grow and scale your business through a business growth plan:


1. Re-think Your SMART Goals

Business growth plans are built around SMART goals. 

But what are SMART goals exactly? SMART stands for:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Timebound. 

However, I take a different approach to this framework. My personal definition of SMART is: 

  • Specific
  • Motivational
  • Aspirational
  • Rewarding
  • Teamwork

SMART goals are essential and necessary as you continue to grow your small business because they allow you to keep focused on the big goals while planning practically. 

While rethinking your SMART goals, it’s important to identify how they align with your target market’s wants and needs. The purpose of your goal is to grow—and when you do that, you’ll feel a great sense of achievement from the work that you do. 

You’ll also notice table-turning results in your sales and overall impact.


The pursuit and achievement of a SMART goal pulls you and your business forward, allows you to venture out for new opportunities, and gives you the courage to innovate and improve your efforts continually!

2. Use the Best-performing Business Growth Plan Layout

Your business growth plan should include five key things:


  • A simple statement of your primary goal: Maybe you want to be number one in your industry, to offer the best product, or to be a top service provider. A primary goal like this usually has a time horizon of three to five years.
  • Three to five sub-category goals that support your primary goal: Cover all facets of your business (product, brand, team, marketing and sales, and operations). 
  • A section outlining a measure of success for each sub-category: These measures should last for no longer than a 12-month time period.
  • A section outlining the finite tactics: What tactics will you perform to live up to your measure of success? What are the one or two things in each category that collectively, each quarter move your business forward. 
  • Evidence of the SMART acronym: Ensure everything in your business growth plan reflects your SMART goal—everything must have a specific purpose, carry motivation, be aspirational, feel rewarding, and can only be accomplished with solid teamwork.


3. Keep Your Business Growth Plan Visible and in Constant Iteration

Out of sight, out of mind. In sight, top of mind. 

Look at, think about, and act on your business growth plan every day. This type of consistency is what will make real change in your mind, and in your daily movements and decisions. 

Make a commitment to yourself—that you will remain dedicated to the day-to-day responsibilities required to make your business a lasting success.

Map Out Your Business Growth With a Thought Architect

If we haven’t met as yet, I’m Libby McCready, Business Coach and Chief Thought Architect at Opportunity Street

I work with executives, sales leaders and their teams who are looking for focus, growth and scale.

Are you looking to create a business growth plan that focuses on your strengths? Contact me  today and rediscover what your fast track to winning looks like.

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