Business Growth and Control: 2 Key Questions You Need to Ask

When it comes to business growth, often the real obstacle isn’t what happens outside our organization, but what happens inside. Why do some businesses thrive despite economic uncertainty, inflation, and rapid technological changes? The answer might seem obvious, but it’s rooted in something deeper: control. Not just control over what happens in the market or over resources, but control over ourselves as leaders.

In the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness“, the protagonist, Chris Gardner, faces an ongoing battle against poverty and personal hardships in pursuit of his dream of becoming a successful broker. Despite all external obstacles, the true challenge for Gardner is looking inward and believing in himself. His story is a perfect metaphor for every entrepreneur who wants to grow their business: growth doesn’t just depend on the external environment, but on our approach, the questions we ask ourselves, and our ability to be honest with ourselves.

2 Key Questions You Need to Ask

When it comes to business growth, here are the two key questions you need to ask yourself:

• Are you ready to honestly assess the current state of your business?
  In the film, Gardner faces extreme moments of difficulty, yet he manages to clearly see where he stands and what needs to change to move forward. It’s not easy to look in the mirror and admit that there are things to fix. But this honesty is the key to truly understanding where you are and where you can go.
  For your business, this question forces you to take an honest look. Do you have full control of operations? Are there areas you’ve been neglecting or that could be improved? Every great growth story begins with an honest assessment of the current state, without sugar-coating the reality.
• Are you willing to do what it takes to stop any decline or accelerate growth?
  For Gardner, his determination to overcome obstacles and make tough decisions leads him to radically change his life. It’s not enough to be aware of the problems; you must act. Every successful business does so by making difficult decisions, facing change, and implementing the strategies necessary to thrive.
  For your business, if it’s not growing as you’d like, the crucial question is: are you willing to do what it takes to change it? This might mean investing in new resources, optimizing processes, or perhaps changing direction. Honesty with yourself will help you identify not only the problems but also the solutions necessary for growth.

Honesty with Yourself

Just like in The Pursuit of Happyness, personal and professional growth is linked to our ability to face reality and make tough decisions. Being honest with ourselves may seem difficult, but it’s the first step toward change.

In business, this honesty isn’t just about admitting where we’re failing, but also celebrating successes and recognizing strengths. If we can’t make an objective assessment of where we stand, how can we make decisions that take us where we want to go?

Ultimately, as Chris Gardner learned, every step forward in business and life requires facing challenges with the right mindset and a willingness to act. Honesty with yourself is the foundation for building solid growth, a successful business, and a life full of achievements.

Conclusion

Business growth isn’t just about strategies or resources, but also about personal leadership. If you’re ready to do the internal work and ask the hard questions, your business will have the opportunity to thrive, just like Chris Gardner’s story teaches us.

Are you ready to take the first step?

The decision is in your hands. Click here to book a free 30-minute call with our Senior Manager Consultant and discover how we can help you take control of your business.