Idle Hands
With one day left in the month, Northern Vessel has already shattered most of its all-time single-month records. By all accounts, everything continues to trend in a shockingly positive direction. A week doesn't go by without a business, investor, or property requesting us to open a new location.
Speaking of new locations, it's the elephant we hear nearly every single day:
"When are you going to open a new location?"
"When are you going to expand?"
"Where will the next shop be?"
"Why don't you open another spot?"
"You'd make so much more money if you would just grow!"
Yes, it's the elephant in the room. You know what they say about idle hands, though. This is the moment most business owners would get big eyes, grow complacent with their current operation, and decide to start multiplying. Having worked with countless businesses, I think this approach is often a huge mistake.
Multiplication sounds simple and effective. Just do the same thing again, and make twice as much money. However, there are deep implications to such an approach. It increases risk while spreading thin our time, attention, energy, leadership, team, and resources. It's nearly impossible to retain the same level of excellence by multiplying. Few can do it well, but most crash and burn.
Our strategy is completely different. Instead of letting our idle hands lead us down the road of multiplication, we're going to double down and triple down on excellence. Whatever we're doing, we need to be better. Better hospitality, better drinks, better experience, better atmosphere, better process.
Here's where I think businesses and people make a critical mistake. Every time we hit our peak, we think it's our peak peak. The truth is that it's not our peak peak, but rather our next peak. We have so much more in us!
Here's how this has played out at Northern Vessel. As we round out our shop's third year, we've noticed a trend. This year's floor was the prior year's ceiling. Our prior best becomes the new worst. Every time we think we've hit our peak, it turns out to be the new floor. The bar gets raised, then we endeavor to meet it again. It's a self-perpetuating cycle. That's the real secret behind sustained growth. The relentless pursuit of excellence!
This applies to all of us, whether an individual or a business. If we're not careful, our idle hands lead us down some awfully self-destructive roads. Instead of trying to find easy or artificial ways to grow, sometimes we just need to be more excellent. Excellence is the gateway to the next level.....and then the next. Wherever you are in the journey, just know that your current peak will soon be your new floor. Keep raising the bar!
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