Growing out of the “adolescent” stage of business, with Nick Cramp

Just like with human beings, businesses also must move from birth to adolescence to maturity. 

But it can be easy to get stuck on the way to becoming a fully “mature” business, and it’s important to avoid a few common pitfalls on your journey. Our guest this week is an expert on that evolution, as well as someone who has coached hundreds of business owners on moving past that “adolescent” phase.

Nick Cramp is a business coach and author, with more than 30 years of business experience. Through his work, he’s gained a wealth of knowledge about how to both approach the challenges and reap the awards of day-to-day work. He’s also the author of “Better Before Bigger: Rethinking Business Success.”

Listen to the full conversation for more on Nick’s six steps for a business to move from adolescence to maturity, what business owners should “let go of” on that journey in order to scale their company, some of the common traps that ensnare founders when trying to grow their business, and more.

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• What it means to be in the “adolescent” stage of business, and some of the problems associated with that phase 
• Nick’s recommended first steps for business owners to transition from manager to shareholder, and why it’s so important for them to articulate what their “ideal” role is as a leader
• How Nick helps business founders let go of billable work and move on to other ways of adding value to their organization
• The biggest trap that business owners often fall into, and the mindset shift they need to make in order to avoid it
• How Nick thinks business owners’ leadership should “evolve” as their company grows 
• Some of the biggest insights Nick has gained from his book-writing process 
• The 6 components for businesses to move from adolescence to maturity—plus which one founders most commonly get “stuck” on 
• Why client retention is one of the most important standards for Nick’s consulting business, as well as some of the other ways he measures success, both in his professional and personal life
• The habits Nick has integrated into his life to be at his best, both physically and mentally 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

• “Better Before Bigger: Rethinking Business Success” by Nick Cramp
• Nick’s website
• Nick Cramp on LinkedIn
• “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” by Michael Lewis
• 40 Strategy
• Contact 40 Strategy
• Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn