Keep on your path
I see a lot of new businesses start and change. There are a lot of great ideas out there, business mums are a clever bunch.
One thing I’ve seen happening more and more is businesses changing and moving off their original path, and not always for the better.
The biggest effect I’ve seen (from an outsiders point of view) is businesses changing and being more like everyone else. Essentially they lose what has made them special and stand out in the first place.
To keep yourself standing out from the crowd, focus on what makes you special in the first place. Do you make amazing clothes for girls? Then you may want to stick with that rather than bring in a boys range. Do you provide a great promotion opportunity for WAHMs? Then you may not want to go in to general business or parenting information. These are just a couple of examples, there are so many other examples.
Often changing course can leave you feeling overwhelmed and with too much to do, and the feeling you are not doing anything very well. How do I know? Simple, I’ve been there.
If you find you’ve gone away from your original course, there is nothing wrong with going back to basics. It’s always worth spending regular time having a good look at your business and seeing what works & what isn’t working any more – but that’s another post.
I agree with the last part of your post – I’m broadly in favour of business evolution, as long as it is because you have chosen a new path not because you fell into one.
I’m in the rather unusual situation of having taken over someone else’s company, as she has emigrated to Australia. It’s taken me a year to figure out how my Motivating Mum is different from the original, but now it is following a path that is more true to me and my talents
Debbie recently posted..Mumpreneur? Who Me?
Hi Debbie, thank you for your comment. I’m also in favour of business evolution – this post came about because I saw so many businesses seemingly change quite suddenly and in a completely different direction, and often in a saturated market