Do small really well.

A while ago one of my favourite mentors, Andrew Griffiths said to me "Do small really well". At first I wondered if he was just being supportive of small business in general, or if he had a specific thing in mind when sharing this pearl of wisdom with me. ​

​Either way, it has had me thinking about what this really means for me and what the key lessons are in this powerful little comment. After some thought and some real life application, here are my key take outs:

• Small business is different to big business. Don't try to mimic a big corporation. Customers choose small business over big business every day. Be true to yourself and your core business. Don't try to be something you're not.
• Small things matter. Whether it's a thank you card, a cupcake at your next meeting, or a compliment, choose small things to share with your clients and share them well. They can be quite powerful.
• A small amount done well is better than lots done poorly. There are heaps of different ways to promote your business and plenty of advice and guidance on offer. Don't try to do everything and do an awful job. Choose a small amount and execute with brilliance.
• Small means agile. The same way a large ship takes a while to change course, a large corporation takes a while to adjust to market conditions. As small business leaders we can adapt to market conditions with a single decision. So do it. Get agile, zig whilst others are still zagging.
• He said really well. He didn't say do it ok, do it mediocre. He said do it really well. Execution is everything. It doesn't have to be the most creative idea ever, it doesn't have to be the biggest budget. Choose your activity and do it really well. Do it better than you even expect of yourself. Delight the customer!

I'm not sure if Andrew really did mean all of these things when he shared his one line quote with me. But I have loved it. I've loved really pulling this one apart and seeing what I can learn and what I can use.

How well are you doing small?

​Is your business taking advantage of being agile?