Not sure this is exactly the right subforum to place this, but here goes.

About a thousand times, I've heard experts say that if a business isn't growing, it's dying. I've always listened to that theory with skepticism. In my mind, what suits one business is not necessarily what suits all of them. And constant growth simply does not suit mine. Openness to change, yes--but not necessarily growth.

I'm comfortable being a small-timer and really giving my energy to just a few select clients. Taking on more clients by converting to a multi-VA model is completely out of the question for me. I know from experience that for me, managing people is so stressful it actually damages my physical health. What's more, I don't think expansion would be good for my family--and my family is the reason I have my business in the first place.

What about you? What are your thoughts on the idea that "if it's not growing, it's dying"?

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services

I can see your point but you can also view "growth" in different ways. I've thought about wether or not I'd ever want to go the multi-va route and I doubt it. Mainly because I think that it could defeat the purpose of why I want to go into business for myself (kind of like what you said. More people could = more stress). However, I have a lot of interests and would like to try to pursue some of those interests (REVA, ASL interpreting, authors assistant etc). So, as my knowledge base broadens, I may find my business "growing" and expanding into different areas which will potentially broaden my client base. However, I'm not necessarily growing in the physical sense (if that makes any sense...lol).

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase :daisy:

AnnaLisa, I hear everything you're saying - and I feel the same way about not expanding my business and not incorporating a 'team' model for the same reasons you mentioned.

Stephanie has a great answer to this question about 'growth' - I don't necessarily think 'growth' has to mean getting 'bigger'. It could mean learning new skills, maybe where the service translates at a higher price point, and introducing them to existing clients, it can mean redefining your ideal client profile and making room in your practice for some new energy to come in, or even just sending out a client survey to see how your client base is doing... it could be so many different things.

Don't sell yourself short on the 'growth' factor just because you're a one-woman show!

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I agree with Stephanie & Tess...Growth is what you need to be. Not necessarily business expansion, but your personal growth.

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www.GalFriDee.com
...Your Virtual Right Hand

I'm glad to see the three of you also think the way I do on this. That's reassuring! Doing things by the AnnaLisa-Stephanie-Tess-Dee definition of "growth"--meaning "evolving," not necessarily "getting bigger"--has worked for me up til now. It's just that I had read something AGAIN yesterday that used that same old line. It made me wonder whether I was setting myself up for failure some point down the road by not considering expansion.

But there are no signs of a problem, so I'm not going to worry now that I've heard your take on it. Thanks!

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services

AnnaLisa,

Wow what great responses from Stephanie, Tess and Dee and I could not agree more. Growth should be based on YOUR business model not others. I have a great set of clients and could certainly add on if I wanted but that is not why I started my business. I want to offer personalized service provided by me and keep my circle smaller so that I can still devote time to myself and my family.

When I am asked where I want to go I always say "Where ever I am taken that is where I go and when I get there some other path will open up". To me that is what growth is about, following the paths that you given and taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented.

Now that may change down the road as my situation changes but to grow I am currently expanding on my own expertises. Taking classes and learning by research. I will not let others define where my business should be. It is not always about more money or being a large enterprise.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

What a great thread. I feel much the same way as all of you. My growth is learning new skills and seeing where that leads me. I want to only operate with a handful of clients and build long term relationships with them. My circle of friends & family often ask "how's your business going?" with what I feel is an unspoken expectation of a flood of new business, an I-have-arrived type of response. I do realize that might be just my insecurities. Reading your comments in this thread reassures me that its okay to be small (not stagnant). Small and mighty!

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Jen Scoggins
www.virtual-jen.com

This is an interesting discussion on a topic I've often wondered about.

Jen, I love your "Small and mighty!" and it makes me think how you do indeed have to be mighty if you want a small clientèle. You have to be good enough to command enough pay to make it all work. Bigger companies can use specialists to cover the bases. If you work alone, your specialty must be powerful indeed. Know what I mean?

Note that I'm with you all here, having no intention of going the multi-VA route. Just wondering if it's sustainable in the long run to stay solo. You can certainly get by, but can you get big? I know it depends what you mean by 'big.' Like six figures type of big, I mean.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com