At our CPA firm we are fortunate enough to work with a variety of business owners within a variety of industries. It’s what keeps our days fun. We work with some businesses that are well established and some that are just starting up. Some are wildly successful and some are struggling to achieve their goals. I see a common theme with those businesses that are successful, regardless of the industry
 
It’s all about pace.
 
It’s no secret that high growth startups are all about pace. They’re trying to be first to market, hit milestones to aid in the fundraising process, and to continue to push innovation at a breakneck speed. It’s in the innovator’s DNA and you have to embrace the pace or you won’t last long in the startup world. It’s partially why that world is not for everyone – not everyone has that drive and motivation to keep themselves going when the tank is on empty. 
 
I would argue that pace is important for the success of all businesses. If you’re operating a more traditional business, your team still needs to have pace and a sense of urgency to get work done. You need a pace in responding to business leads and customer inquiries. Otherwise a better modeled business will jump in and grab them. Pace and a sense of urgency is a simple but effective way for your team to distinguish itself from the competition. It seems basic, but it will really provide your team with a sizeable advantage.
 
How do you have effective pace within your company?

• The CEO needs to know where he or she should be focusing efforts while delegating effectively to the team.
• The team should have a clear understanding of where things are headed and what they need to do to get there.
• The team needs to have the skills to determine what is important and what is not so that it can focus on key initiatives.