05 September 2023

My (Un)Sexy Strategy for Business Growth

1Frameworks

5Insights

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Frameworks in this episode

Strategy6 steps

Six-Step Business Strategy Audit

Audit six business dimensions to find smarter paths for sustainable growth.

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Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 1

Myth Buster0:15:29

The “Unsexy” Strategy Work That Actually Saves Time

Strategic review can feel wasteful because it is uncomfortable and does not provide instant return on investment. Jasmine counters that this work prevents owners from continuing obsolete activities and lets them respond faster when part of the business stops making sense.

Important strategic work may not produce immediate ROI.
Avoidance can preserve inefficient or outdated activities.
Regular reflection enables faster adaptation.
Time spent reviewing strategy can prevent larger future waste.

“It's not fun or exciting, and it doesn't have like an instant ROI.”
Jasmine Star · 0:15:29

“Even though it seems like a waste of time, it's actually the opposite.”
Jasmine Star · 0:15:29

#strategic planning#time management#adaptation#business growth

Hot Take· 1

Hot Take0:14:28

Why Customer Success Belongs in Every Major Strategy Meeting

Jasmine argues that customer-success employees may understand users better than anyone else in the company because they handle praise, problems and requests directly. Her head of customer success therefore participates in major all-hands, strategy and product meetings.

Customer-success teams operate on the front line of user communication.
They hear both positive feedback and unresolved frustrations.
Their knowledge should influence strategy and product decisions.
Representation in major meetings keeps leadership connected to evolving needs.

“they hands down, know the most about your business, how they're the front lines of people saying good things, not so great things, and asking…”
Jasmine Star · 0:14:28

“She knows our user better than anybody else.”
Jasmine Star · 0:15:29

#customer success#team communication#user research#product strategy

Explainer· 1

Explainer0:02:03

Three Reasons a Business Strategy Audit Matters

A strategy audit protects alignment, responsiveness and profitability. It helps owners keep their goals relevant, respond to fast market changes and concentrate limited resources where they create the greatest effect.

Reconfirm what the owner wants from the business and life.
Adapt to changing trends, customer preferences and economic conditions.
Allocate resources toward the work that matters most.
Connect strategic choices to profitability.

“Number one, ensure that you're still aligned with your business goals. What do you want from your business? What you want from your life to…”
Jasmine Star · 0:02:03

#strategy#alignment#adaptability#profitability

Story· 1

Story0:01:08

The Capacity Ceiling That Forced Jasmine Star to Rethink Growth

Jasmine describes reaching the practical limit of a successful luxury wedding photography business. Weddings, live educational events and digital products generated three revenue streams, but each faced a capacity constraint that made further growth difficult.

Luxury weddings generated roughly $15,000 to $20,000 each.
The business limited itself to 25 weddings annually.
Live events required too much time and energy to run every month.
The plateau prompted Jasmine to distinguish available options from scalable ones.

“At the time I had three forms of revenue, but I realized that I was capped.”
Jasmine Star · 0:01:08

“And it was at that time that I did an audit to understand, Hey, what are my options and what of my options? Can I…”
Jasmine Star · 0:02:03

#scaling#capacity#revenue streams#photography

Takeaway· 1

Takeaway0:15:29

A Fixed Strategy Cannot Serve a Changing Market

Jasmine closes by framing adaptability as essential to business survival rather than an optional trait. Owners must be willing to change when their market, customers or operating assumptions evolve.

Markets will continue to change.
Strategies should not become permanent simply because they once worked.
Adaptability supports continued growth.
Business owners must prepare emotionally and operationally for change.

“The future of your business is counting on you to be adaptable.”
Jasmine Star · 0:15:29

“You must change to grow. If you're not growing, you're dying.”
Jasmine Star · 0:15:29

#adaptability#market change#growth#resilience