Change May Be Your Ace in the Hole

Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market forces or it has simply bubbled up from the internal dynamics of your enterprise, change itself always presents opportunity for improvement. And in a knowledge based economy, change may be the only thing we can count on as small business people. So, if you want to stay ahead of the curve, you must embrace change as a necessary strategy for commercial success.

Despite the inevitability of change, we spend a great deal of time and energy trying to stop it from happening or, at the very least, trying to slow its momentum, hoping to lessen its impact on our fragile yet cozy paradigms. However, small business owners should not overlook change management as a killer business strategy, for this is one arena where even the solo-preneur should have no problem outrunning the big guns.

Smaller operations can literally bend strategies and rewrite policy books overnight if the market is asking for it. The bloated budgets and cumbersome management structures of large corporations simply have no chance against the strategic agility of their smaller cohorts. Day to day responsibilities are reduced to administrative minutiae in hierarchical commercial settings. For the small business, these tasks can be dynamic and even interesting, but someone has to lead the way.

Small business entrepreneurs often forget why they began working in this "grass roots" playground in the first place. As their success builds, administrative hassles start to overwhelm them like weeds taking over a garden. While the corporate suits must spend day after day sifting through policy documents and snoozing through monotonous meetings, small business leaders are continuously presented with opportunities to tear down what is old and reinvent their operation, if that is what their markets desire. This kind of strategic fluidity is what moves the small business from the surviving to thriving.

So, next time your "success" is getting you down, deal with the weeds, clear the air, and be glad you have the opportunity to move a mountain or two.

Karri Flatla is a business graduate of the University of Lethbridge and principal of snap! virtual assistance inc., a business and project support service that specializes in business research, planning and communications. Karri also produces Outsmart, a small business newsletter full of practical tips and fresh insights for entrepreneurs. Visit http://www.snap-va.com for more information.

---

How to Prepare for Your Start-Up Venture!

When you awoke this morning, you found yourself buzzing with... Read More

Job Costing - Do You Know How?

What's your job profitability? I meet with business owners every... Read More

Self Serve Car Washes in the United States

In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined... Read More

Overcoming Your Biggest Competitor

Before you read any further in this article, I'd like... Read More

Modern Clear Coats, Auto Detailers and visit to Lexus of North America

We visited Lexus USA, home of the Lexus North America... Read More

Marketing - The Way To Make What Youre Really Worth

You only have so much time in a day right?So... Read More

How to Find A Group that Needs Speakers

How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More

Implementing an Internship Program

CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship,... Read More

Top 7 Small Business Resources for 2005

If you want to start a business in 2005, and... Read More

What Help is there for Veterans Starting a Business?

Some of the very qualities that attract people to the... Read More

Successful Small Businesses Use PR

It's obvious when a small business has accepted the fact... Read More

Keeping Business Alive

Who is responsible for maintaining the business relationship?Nurturing a business... Read More

Two Types Of Business Plan Cover Pages ? Which One Are You Using?

This is the tale of two business plans with very... Read More

Choose Your Own Guru

What is a guru?A guru is a teacher. A mentor.... Read More

Do You Microbifer in Your Cleaning Business?

Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years... Read More

Small Business Security No Passing Fad

How careful are you with the data you collect from... Read More

Making Your Product Desirable For Alliance Partners

How do you make sure you have the business solutions... Read More

Comparing Boston Area for a mobile car wash business

The Boston suburbs seem to be rich with possible locations... Read More

Perception: What Are Your Patients REALLY Hearing?

Never underestimate the power of perception! Perception plays a major... Read More

Presentations and Sales Automotive Detailers

Many auto detailers fall short in their sales presentations. I... Read More

Six Essential Skills to Business Success!

The following are six essential skills to business success. You... Read More

Incorporating a Small Business: S corporations versus C corporations

If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More

Finding the Right People for your Business

Where do you find the right people for a business... Read More

Facts About Starting Elderly Group Home Businesses

There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly... Read More

More Business Card Uses

Why would you use an event pass?Event passes are often... Read More

Market Makers Play a Significant Role in Reverse Mergers

One overlooked individual in the process of taking a company... Read More

Outsourcing ? A Positive Approach For Small Businesses

Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform... Read More

Franchising in The Middle East There Will Bring Significant Opportunity for US Based Franchisors

As stability emerges in the Middle East there will be... Read More

How to Curb Antique Shop Theft Inexpensively

If you have ever had your antique shop or mall... Read More

The Hidden Treasure in Your Business

I started working with another new client last week. He... Read More

Why Do Most Online Small Businesses Fail?

Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In... Read More

Creating a Power Plan

Part of the power plan is making sure you have... Read More

Small Business 101: Deadly Ignorance

American small business is again in transition. Many employees, now... Read More