No matter the size of the business, it is important to be aware of what is happening in different areas, which can be difficult for micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses. Large businesses have the luxury of dedicated teams to focus on the strategic development and growth of marketing, sales, social media, finances, human resources, partnerships, etc. This makes it easier for them to focus on what is working, what needs to be improved and the progress that is being made. 

Growth rarely happens by itself, and your business needs you to consciously engage and be proactive about continuous improvement — helping your business achieve its goals, objectives and vision. Here are five ways that have helped me be intentional about growth while running a small business.

1. Make a decision to grow.

Change is part of life; however, progress and growth do not always follow. My approach to being intentional about growth started with me becoming conscious of the areas that required my attention — e.g., marketing, finances, strategy, etc. — and grading the progress that I felt was being made in each area. That was the easy step; once I decided what to focus on, I knew growth would only happen if I made a firm commitment to dedicate time to making improvements in each area — no matter how small.

Making a decision to grow means taking the time to increase your awareness of what is happening — or what has happened — and choosing to move forward by taking action and getting help. This is a repetitive cycle rather than a one-off exercise, which should have a constant place in your life and business.

2. Put yourself at the center of growth.

I’m finding that more entrepreneurs seem to be focusing on their personal growth, which they see as integral to the success of their business. Since my early twenties, I have been dedicated to increasing my self-awareness in order to identify, explore and move beyond my personal barriers, so continuing to work on myself as well as my business has always felt natural. A hard truth I had to face was that, sometimes, a lack of growth in my business came down to a lack of growth in myself. 

In a previous article, I wrote about the different types of fear that I have had to overcome. I was only able to do this because I dedicated time to increasing my self-awareness. Assessing one’s mindset, emotional intelligence, attitudes, beliefs and personal values can place you in a powerful position. It can help you gain an understanding of who you are in relation to your business, including your strengths and weaknesses and what you are prepared to do about them. 

3. Learn and engage with growth strategies.

Nowadays, there are a million and one ways to grow. Choose one that can work for you. With so much information in the public domain and a wide range of experts available — via mentoring, coaching, training — there is no excuse to stay stuck, stagnant or in the dark about how to succeed. Even if you are an entrepreneur who likes to figure things out for yourself, there are plenty of resources both off and online that you can access. 

Even though I have always run a small business, I have learned and used tools and resources usually found in large corporations. For example, I taught myself how to engage with project management processes, such as Six Sigma and agile methodology, and for business planning, I learned the lean startup method and customer development process. Investing in short courses on these skills was beneficial; I also watch a lot of YouTube videos to learn the basics.

4. Find growth partners.

Running a business as a micro-entrepreneur can be an isolating and lonely journey; however, you don’t have to travel alone. For many years I worked alone, which gave me a lot of freedom but stunted my growth. That is why I believe it’s important to find partners in growth and role models who you can learn from. Mentors are great, as they come with a wealth of knowledge and experience due to having already succeeded in what you are seeking to do. Make sure they can dedicate sufficient time to help support you, and before you start the process, be clear about what they can offer and what they have already achieved. 

In a previous article, I highlighted having an accountability partner as a great way to stay on track and grow. Depending on how you find your partner, the only cost will be the time you give to each other.

5. Invest in your growth.

Finally, be prepared to invest in your growth as a sign of your intentionality — putting your money where your mouth is. When did you last pay for a course, enroll in a program or pay for support that could help you make improvements? I have no problem paying for a course that I believe will help me, and I see it as a worthy investment that always pays off.  

When I have made this commitment in the past, I have been conscious about making a return on my investment. For one investment that cost me thousands of pounds, I tripled the amount of money that I had made the following year because of the new skills I had learned and implemented.

To conclude, growth requires dedication, self-awareness, openness to learning, partnerships, investment and, most of all, consistency. In business, growth that creates progress is not always a given or a natural process. No matter how hard you work, when you take time to work on your business and on yourself, you’re more likely to be rewarded. I hope the tips above will help you on that journey.

The original article was written by Dionne Jude and published on Forbes in July 202. Visit reevew.co for more information