The only thing that’s constant in business is change (especially over the last few years)… 

The world is always changing… 

Consumer expectations are always changing… 

The market is always changing… 

And most importantly YOU are always changing.

And the second we think we got it made, the moment we believe we have it all figured out, it’s game over.

Because no matter your area of expertise, no matter what industry you’re in and no matter how great you are at what you do, there’s no such thing as a fixed, unchanging formula for success.

And if you make the mistake of thinking you nailed it, someone’s going to come and eat your lunch…

I guarantee it!

Forever Doesn’t Exist Anymore

My friend Eben Pagan says that the #1 skill in the world today is reinvention and I agree!

One of the smartest and most effective things you can do right now is to stay open to pivoting and reinventing yourself and your business over and over again.  

The way I see it, the 10-year business plan is dead (and maybe even the 5-year business plan!) because what’s working in marketing and sales and everything else in the online space is changing all-the-time.

So it’s definitely not about finding one way of working, one way of doing things in your business and then sticking to that forever.

The fine art of change and reinvention is about shifting away from making “forever” choices to making “for now” choices in response to what’s going on around you.

And I wish I could tell you something different, but the truth is…

If you want to stay in the game, if you want to get ahead, you need to get super comfortable with change.

… But It’s Not Random 

Back in the 20th century, people got out of college, applied for a job in company X, Y or Z and -- if they got hired -- they were in it for the long haul.

And it’s safe to say that a lot of people worked in just one or two companies their entire career and most people stayed in the same industry all the way to retirement.

But that’s not how things work anymore.

These days some people switch jobs, businesses and even industries, as often as they change cars!

Just to be clear I’m not saying that’s a good thing… building a successful business in today’s marketplace isn’t about making random changes or following a new passion or trend every 5 minutes.

It’s about making ongoing course corrections, shifts and transformations based on how the market is evolving and what clients and customers say they want and need.

How to Beat the Odds

So when you first start a business, you’re likely to go with where you’re at in terms of expertise and experience.

You’re going to launch offers and services based on your skills. You’re going to pick your niche based on what you’re great at doing and how you want to help people and that’s a good place to start.

But know this…

The most powerful way to build a business that stands the test of time right now is to consistently create offers and services that people value and are willing to pay for at any given time.

You need to pay close attention to how real people respond to you and your work and -- as you get feedback -- be prepared to make changes and adopt what I like to call the “iterate your way to awesome” mindset.

It’s what I did when I first created the Experience Product Masterclass or EPM (our signature program on online product creation).

Based on feedback from my early work with clients and customers it was clear to me that giving people more knowledge and more information just wasn’t cutting it anymore.

As the industry became more and more sophisticated, people wanted real, tangible results from their online programs and courses.

They were craving experiential learning -- basically high-touch guidance and support -- plus actionable ideas and techniques that work in the real world.

When I realized this, I took everything I learned and created a whole new category of online product that revolutionized the online education industry…

That’s how EPM was born and that’s why it became a blockbuster product for our company!

6 years on -- at a time when a lot of business owners are seeing a significant downturn in sales for their online offers -- EPM continues to beat the odds.

And I’m proud to say it’s one of the most successful programs around 🙂

FYI -- Our next EPM enrollment period is opening very soon… you can get on the waitlist here.

Change is Never Painful… Not Really

Here’s the thing…

Your business is not static. It’s not something you set and forget. 

And what I’d love for you to do is start and grow your business with an attitude of flexibility, non-attachment and openness to change.

It’s a bit of a spiritual concept and I think it’s the Buddha who said…

Change is never painful. Only the resistance to change is painful.

So let go of your attachments to how you think your business needs to work and allow yourself to flow and transform based on what’s best for you -- and for your clients and customers.

Allow yourself to be flexible and bend with the feedback and changing environment, and I promise you won’t just survive… you’ll thrive for years to come!

A final note on building a business that stands the test of time…

Let go of perfection.

As I said, change is the only constant in business so you might as well do the best you can with what you have -- and what you know right here, right now.

And if you’re feeling uncertain about the changes you’re facing and what you need to do first (or next) in your business…

Share your thoughts, stories and questions in the comments below. I personally read and reply to each one 🙂

Before you go…

Turn your expertise into income FASTER! Take my $9 Profitable Micro-Niches Mini-Course!

You know the riches are in the niches…

But most people’s niches are too broad -- they’re missing that critical Market Fit.

And that’s exactly what your Micro-Niche is all about…

Defining exactly what you do AND exactly who you serve in such a specific, compelling way leaves your Perfect Customers no choice but to lean in and say… how can I get what you’ve got?!

I’ll show you how to find yours in my $9 Mini-Course!