10 Things I've Learned from Buying a 38-year-old Small Business and Doubling Sales:

1. A static industry is the best place to be dynamic.

2. Revenue streams begin, end, and fluctuate.

YTD 2020 ← FY 2017

1 ← 1
2 ← 8
3 ← 2
4 ← 6
5 ← 4
6 ← NA
7 ← 11
8 ← 3
9 ← 7
10 ← 9
11 ← NA
12 ← 10
13 ← 12
14 ← NA
15 ← 15
16 ← 16
17 ← NA
18 ← NA
19 ← NA
NA ← 5
NA ← 13
NA ← 14
NA ← 18

3. It's possible to be too focused on technology and processes.

4. Quality is "doing what you say, and saying what you do." This is the same guiding principle for successful customer relationships.

5. There are three types of wins:
A. Incremental
B. Step function
C. Moonshot

B's are your bedrock and allow you to chase C's. A's look like momentum builders, but are actually time sucks.

6. Customers have a million options. Figure out the unique essence of your offer, and lead with it.

7. Set one big goal for your business each year. All internal discussions orbit that goal until it's achieved.

8. It's ok for colleagues to do things differently than you. Adopt tools that foster and encourage creativity.

9. Your competition isn't nearly as big a problem as you think. Play your own game.

10. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Trust your gut, but be willing to change your mind.