Don't Grow Bigger Get Better
I've been thinking about growing my little boutique soapery a little bigger and quickly became disenchanted. 
When I had another business, a long time ago, another business owner (who had a fairly large company) gave me some advice. He said, "stay small". I wondered about this statement for years.
My little company grew. We were contacted by a zoo for a large scale project. We were brought in as consultants at a very large conference hall. Although we had much to share, being one of few companies dealing with alternative processes and worked on alternative construction projects, we were small. We had experience that other, larger companies did not have.
It would have been a big gamble to take that project on with a high risk and low returns. We declined the project. As it turned out, it was very wise on our part. We employed managed growth. Over the years, we did grow a bit bigger, but we had a solid foundation of craftsmanship.
Having my little soapery, doing what I love every day, and having offers to grow in ways that are uncomfortable I have to ask, is this growth painful because it is new? Or is it uncomfortable because it's not the life I want?
What I have learned from my old company is that growing bigger can be a natural course of events that never asks the direct question. It is a natural course of events.
I have done a few collaborations with other soap makers and although a bit outside my comfort area, it challenged me and brought interest and excitement to work table.
Now, I to get on with the work at hand. Do the very best every day, every moment I can. Get so much better at what I do now that growing may or may not be a by-product. Here is the deal. NOTHING grows naturally forever. Nothing. Expand, contract, and start over. The beauty of the Universe shows us that.
Corporations want us to believe they are "too big to fail" and will last forever. Most of those corporations did not exist 100 years ago, and in another 100 years probably won't be around, but die off and make room for something else. There seems to be comfort in the idea we can grow larger, in ourselves and our businesses, forever.
It is my job is to steward my love of this art-form, to protect it from those who would feed off of my little form of magic at the cost of my process. I have failed in this endeavor in the past. Did I learn this lesson or not?
Humans think that cities can grow as large as they want, g o v t can grow as large as it can, businesses can grow exponentially forever... We are now 7.9 billion people on this planet, but we are not doing it correctly. We could be living more nobility... in so many ways; being a committed conservator, a committed steward of myself and my environment.
Back to the drawing board - to do ALL things nobly, all things with honor. This is my "better," striving to be noble in my endeavors, better than I was yesterday. I would rather have less and do all things better. I don't want more but better quality in all my affairs.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, please leave a comment.
7 comments
This is written so eloquently. I love the over all feeling that growth can not go on forever and that it should be done with purpose, thought, emotional intelligence, love and with the knowledge that we are all in a never ending complex system of cycles that are all interacting and often in different times within their own cycles. Your post made me think of a fern. Little baby curled up then reaching out for light ( surrounded by other ferns in all states from juniors, adult to fading away transforming into dirt. And a canapy of large trees with light slipping through in slivers.
I dont know why i saw that picture so clearly but I did. I think it was a representation of balance, cycles, a rhythm between multiple forces working together not fighting to create a functional beautiful temporary enviornment.
I love that you run a small business. Ive seen so many companies go from high quality small to eh large or worse. Rarely do they go the other way when they get very very big. I understand having access to bigger and better equipment and extra staff. I have seen great success with companies that have struck a middle ground taking some of the load off of the main worker so they can do the most important things and or the things they are about most.
I know most of us have felt the pressure of taking an order that is to big for one reason or another. The stress from that is not healthy and the product you get out of that is usually not your favorite. Even more so do I think is a small business important for artists since I feel you are pulling out part of your mind body and soul to create your pieces.
Bee – THANK YOU!!!!
I’m so happy to have read this post at the point I’m at. I’m wanting to grow, but at my own pace and for my own reasons and pair only with the right businesses.
I hear so much out there about growing and growing fast at that!! I know I could push myself, but I’m happy at the pace things are going and I have faith the right projects are out there. And that my products will end up in the hands of people who need them.