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First things first what is a Grown-Up business?
It's a business that makes more money than its competitors. It consistently delivers a consistent customer experience so customers buy more and then they tell everyone else to buy from you too. Sales increase, marketing costs reduce.
A Grown-Up business is more profitable because it is effective and efficient. Just as importantly, everyone is engaged with the brand.
Grown-up businesses reap far greater rewards than their peers; be that money, time, opportunities, choice, recognition and an opportunity to pay back.
So what are the seven signs? Most have been mentioned already. They are:
1. Effectiveness
They have systems, processes and procedures that are very effective at delivering your product and customer experience, it’s slick, seamless, on time, and exactly what is expected.
2. Efficiency
Being efficient simply means reducing the amount of wasted inputs.
3. Consistent
This is about doing the same thing in the same way to the same standard over and over again. One of my favourite phrases is "being consistently consistent".
You can only be Grown-Up if you are consistently consistent; all world-class or Grown-Up companies are always consistently consistent.
4. Confidence
That doesn’t mean arrogance. You must earn your customers’ confidence, as well as making confident decisions because you are confident about your knowledge. As Joe Paterno says, "When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality”.
5. Engagement
When employees, customers and suppliers are engaged with your business, the brand and vision; then magic happens.
6. Rewarding
Building a Grown-Up business is like growing a garden full of beautiful flowers; the rewards aren't instant, but when they come later, they are definitely greater.
7. Profitable
After all, without profit what is the point?
My new e-book, The 7 Signs You Are a Grown-Up Business is available for you to download now and at the same time you'll join the Grown-Up business community too.
If you aspire to be a Grown-Up business and reap the rewards then you can. If you are stuck then why not drop me a line to see if I can help.

Shirley Mansfield
Business Coach
My approach is based on a simple principle: understand the business properly, decide what matters, then execute it relentlessly.
My 3 Pieces of Paper™ keep the essentials visible: where you are going and why; the money and numbers; and what must happen and when.
Simple. Not necessarily easy. But powerful when everyone understands it and acts on it.
Follow me on LinkedIn, X @coachsme, and Substack for practical business insight, challenging comment and useful resources.
Practical tools, ideas and experience for owners who want a stronger, more profitable and more manageable business. The Grown-Up Business: Amazon.co.uk
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