Manifesting Growth in Your Small Business

Have you heard the phrase, "dress for the job you want, not the one you have"?

It literally means to present yourself in the light you want to be seen, oftentimes to get a promotion or level up in some way in your career. By emulating the look of leadership, your peers and leaders start associating you with a role that matches the look. In a way, it is a way to manifest your professional growth for the outcomes you want to achieve.

Small businesses have a tendency to "dress for the role they are in", in other words, they think and act small. Their branding, messaging, and operations reflect where they are now — not where they want to go.

Here’s what small thinking can sound like:

• “I can’t charge that much yet.”

• “I’ll update my branding when I make more money.”

• “I’m just a small business — I can’t compete with the big players.”

The irony? That mindset keeps you exactly where you are.

Manifesting growth in your small business means embracing a bigger business mindset, branding, and behaviors.

(Just so we're clear, this doesn't mean cashing in your savings to buy a Bentley so you can show up to customers looking like hot sh*t.)

If you want to attract bigger opportunities, better clients, and sustainable growth, your business has to start looking and acting like the version of itself you’re building toward.

This shift in mindset requires both balance and intentionality. The truth is, you are a small business — and you may not have the bankroll to fund every part of your vision just yet. But you can still make powerful shifts that align you with where you’re going.

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Here are a few ways to start adapting your mindset, without going bankrupt.

Align around a shared vision.

I cannot emphasize enough how important this one is. A properly crafted vision statement that is aspirational, time-based, and measurable is your north star. Every decision should tie back to it.

Ask yourself: "Does this decision align with my vision?" If the answer is no or you are not sure, then you need to recalibrate. This ensures you remain focused on your main priority. A strong vision statement guides everything you do in your business, from the services you offer to the clients you pursue to the way you show up through your branding.

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Adopt the habits of a bigger business.

Start capturing your processes and workflows now. You do not have to wait until you have a large team, or a team at all, to start behave like a structured operation.

Throughout my consulting career I've seen large organizations that had been in business for decades still relying on the institutional knowledge of the personnel. The result? Inconsistent onboarding, unreliable delivery, and chaos when someone leaves.

Your processes don't have to be perfect to document them from the start. Act like you’re preparing to train someone tomorrow. Doing this early creates the foundation for growth later.

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Talk the talk and walk the walk.

You started this business because you were confident that you could sell your product or services. But once you got into it, your confidence started to waiver. You start to see the competition and doubt yourself.

This defeatist mindset inevitably starts to impact how you market and sell your business.

If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath, pause, and remember why you started this business. Your messaging needs to convey confidence and authority in all you say and do. For example, instead of, "I help" or "I support", try, "I specialize in" or "I lead".

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If you aren't already, start dressing your business for the role it's meant for. When you present your business as if it’s already there, you start attracting the opportunities that take you there.