Your business needs you, even after you’re all set up with a website and booking system. It is so important to continue to nurture your business… both practically and energetically.

Anytime my work slows down more than I’d like, I ‘spend some time with my business’ and my leads and projects magically pick right up again. I can’t tell you exactly how it works but I can tell you that it works.

Spending time with your business can be as simple as sitting down to review your financial targets and last quarter’s income; or doing a little copy editing on your web pages; gathering together testimonials you haven’t published yet; or even just re-reading your previous blog posts to get those concepts flowing in your awareness.

"Where focus goes, energy flows"

For me, this always helps, and feels like magic.

But even more powerful than ‘puttering’ or re-reading my blog is when I actually devote some time to things that are highly likely to move the needle.

It can be difficult to know where to focus your energy to grow your business. There are so many opinions and shiny things out there! So, where is your precious energy best spent as we move into 2024?

Let’s take a look.

4 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2024

1. Build a Network of Strong Authentic Relationships

Local and in-person networking stands out for its ability to create meaningful, in-depth connections that are often based on trust and shared interests.

And you can network globally in this way too, as long as you treat each of your distant contacts as if they are a friend you regularly meet up with for coffee.

Building authentic relationships can be a powerful complement to your overall marketing strategy, especially for counsellors, group practices, therapists, healers, and service-based businesses that rely on personal relationships and trust. So, start by attending industry events, engaging in meaningful conversations on social media, and prioritizing one-on-one interactions. Your network can be a powerful catalyst for business growth.

2. Provide Genuine Value in a World Full of AI Knockoffs

On August 10th, 2023 a book recounting “the story of the 2023 Maui fire” was published and available for sale on Amazon. The description stated that the book covers the timeframe of August 8th to 11th, despite the book itself being listed on Amazon on August 10th. It quicky gathered a heap of scathing 1-star reviews and so many complaints that it was promptly removed from the bookseller giant.

In a landscape increasingly saturated with disappointing AI products, your human authenticity becomes a rare gem. You understand nuance and sarcasm, and you can bring sensitivity to the conversation. Focus on providing real, tangible value to your clients. Humanize your business by allowing your own unique qualities to be seen. Whether it’s personalized service, empathetic understanding, or a bespoke approach, emphasize what makes your business authentically YOU.

3. Prioritize Mental Health and Well-being

Do you know what else isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? Hustle culture.

All your hard work is actually less effective when you’re feeling burnt out, depleted, sleepy, achy, or resentful. And really, that’s NOT why you chose this career path, is it?

This is related to point #2 in that the presence of AI is actually training us all to get better at spotting incongruence and inauthenticity, and I think we’re all going to hold our coaches and role models to a higher standard in 2024… and we ourselves will also be expected to ‘walk the walk’.

So, in 2024 prioritize your own wellness as well as the health of both your clients and your team. Take days off, don’t respond to emails during downtime, and hold your boundaries once you set them. Consider incorporating wellness programs, flexible work arrangements, or mental health resources into your business structure.

Afterall, none of this matters if we don’t have our health.

Image of two people holding coffee cups | Talk to us | Physis Publishing

4. Invest in Automation

I say “invest” because this does require some careful and thoughtful setup time. But once that is complete your future self will thank you! This past July was a very slow month for Physis Publishing. Instead of worrying about it I focused on upleveling my whole framework, system, and client experience, and that’s been paying off fabulously ever since. (July is notoriously slow for many, so this year I’ll take my own #3 advice and book holidays instead!)

So, think about the emails that you seem to be writing or responding to a little too often. The scheduling back and forth that could be solved with a booking platform. How about contracts, agreements, or proposals? Chasing after payments?

Anything you do repeatedly should either (i) be automated, or (ii) be templatized. This will make a world of difference in the time you spend, particularly on administrative tasks.

Many of my systems and communications are automated in Dubsado, a platform that handles all my proposals, contracts, billing, scheduling, and emailing. If you’d like to try it out with a 20% discount you’re welcome to use my affiliate code: physisdiscount

Now, before you worry about losing that human touch we’ve been talking about, let me reassure you – excellent automations have lots of personalization, and you can build in as many manual touchpoints as you need to.

Imagine having more time to brainstorm new ideas, connect with clients (not to mention friends and family) on a deeper level; or simply take a breath without feeling like you’re drowning in admin work. That’s the beauty of automations and systems: more space for you to focus on the heart and soul of your business.

To summarize, four trends for growing your business are to nourish authentic relationships in networking; be your real human self and let that show; prioritize mental health and wellbeing; and invest in automations for the things you repeat unnecessarily.

So, as you roll into 2024, ask yourself: Where will you spend your energy? These aren’t just trends; they’re practical ways to carve out your path in a world full of opportunities.

Thanks for you time here today, and I want to challenge you to try one or all four of these 2024 business-growing trends. If you care to share, I would absolutely love to hear how it goes!

Your journey to success starts right now – let’s make it real, impactful, and a bit less stressful. Here’s to a year where your connections are solid, your impact is enchanting, and your business is rocking it.

DIY Course:

Call in Your Dream Clients

Conjure Your Own Brand, Website & Marketing

This in-depth 6-part learning series will help you to understand the magic of integrity marketing to call in your ideal clients!

Get 6 Lessons Plus Bonus Resources and How-To’s Sent to Your Inbox

So you can fill your practice with your dream clients and make the income and impact you’re dreaming of!