Real-Life Small Business Success Stories

What does it take to create success in business? A look at real-life small business success stories shows 3 key steps:

Step 1 - Recognize that getting different results requires a different course of action. If you simply keep doing the same things, you’ll get the same profits. To expect anything different without changing the way you operate is insanity.

Step 2 - Understand that you can’t do everything yourself. You don’t have the time and you aren’t an expert in everything. Getting help in areas that aren't in your comfort zone isn't letting go of control; it's acknowledging that success is a result of finding the best person for the job.

Step 3 – Commit to your new way of operating. It's easy to make plans to change but it's another thing entirely to actually carry out those plans. Small business success is a result of action based on planning.

Meet Two Real-Life Small Business Success Stories

These are examples of business owners who were fed up with lousy results. These owners knew what they didn't know, realized they needed help, and didn't hesitate to make an investment in the future of their businesses.

We've chosen these two examples since they represent challenges that are quite commonplace among small business owners. You may identify with some of their circumstances before their profit improvement program. But can you identify with where they are now? If this kind of success is eluding you, perhaps it's time to start your own Profit Improvement Program.

If you take Nike's advice and just do it, you can be the next hero of our Small Business Success Stories section.

Success Story #1 - Focus on Strategy
Meet a company where growing sales led to lower profits and poor cash flow.

Success Story #2 - Focus on Profit Improvement
A good example of hard work yielding no results.