I am not entrepreneurial but I want control. Help!

Dear Aunty B,

I have reached the crossroads. I started my small consultancy five years ago and we have stayed at a manageable size. But we now have an opportunity to grow considerably faster after being approached by a larger distributor.

The problem is that I want to keep the business small. I am not entrepreneurial and I feel like I will lose control of the business if it grows too big. On the other hand I don’t want to hold the business back and I am also concerned that if we don’t grow, we will go backwards.

How do I stay in control and grow?

Stuck

Dear Stuck,

Well, you’re the boss. If you want to keep it small, keep it small. If you focus on bringing in profitable clients there is no reason you should go backwards.

What you can’t do is stay in control and grow – if you are not entrepreneurial.

Firstly, you won’t have the driving ambition to push the business – and your people – past the huge obstacles that lie along the growth path.

Secondly, you won’t have the experience. Growing companies burn through cash and you need special skills to limit the risk and juggle resources.

Thirdly, you will start to resent the business as it takes your focus away from your small manageable business and keeps you awake at night.

If that is not what you want it will drive you nuts.

So here are your choices: keep it small and manage it well – or get out of the way and put in a driver who can grow the business.

You have already taken the first step by acknowledging you don’t have the skills or motivation of an entrepreneur.

Good luck!
Your Aunty B

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