6 Tips for Growth – Growing Your Business and Your Reputation
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 1, 2025
- 4 min read
Written by Mark Krajnik, The Culture Coach
Mark Krajnik is a tenured human resources executive that brings passion and execution to every program he delivers. He is the founder of Performance Mindset Associates. He created online courses to elevate and simplify your HR needs. Mark is a thought leader around people, talent, and culture. Host of APEX-Factor PEP Talks and author of We-Centric.
As an entrepreneur, scaling your business and creating a consistent income are the primary goals. My take on growth is to create genuine content, build systems that scale, bring a positive impact wherever I go, and follow through on all of my commitments. Under promised and over deliver is part of my standards of excellence.
After 30 years of success and failure around human resources, people, talent, and culture, I am sharing my top 6 tips of growth wisdom:
1. Lose wait
Stop procrastinating. Remove the distractions. Drive urgency every day. The reason you are not where you want to be is because you are waiting.
Waiting for someone else to do it.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
Waiting to create something new.
Waiting for someone to contact you.
Lose wait. Start planning for each new day. Prepare and execute towards your professional goals. Get up early, stay up late. Whatever it takes, just get it done. Make progress every day. Stop making excuses. Stop creating reasons why you can’t. Lost the waiting for something to happen, and make it happen. Constantly tell yourself, “If it is to be, it is up to me!”
2. Practice high emotional intelligence and a low drama quotient
Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, is often more valued in business than a high IQ. Become aware of the five components of EQ, such as self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, motivation, and empathy. Practice and evolve in each of these areas. Pause and reflect before you react. Manage yourself before managing others.
DQ stands for Drama Quotient. Avoid creating or enhancing drama within your work environment. Instead, choose to avoid, reduce, or eliminate drama and the toxicity that certainly follows. Stop focusing on OPB, Other People’s Business, and focus on why you are there. Drive results, impact, and accomplishments, and avoid the gossip, rumors, and toxicity.
3. Constantly build a continuous learning mindset
Avoid the IKE. The IKE stands for “I Know Everything.” The IKE is the person that will most likely forget more than you will ever learn. They live in the past, and their best days are behind them. I say the IKE is the wet towel on the flame of desire. They quickly and effectively stop your momentum, feed off of your insecurities, and lavish in your defeat.
Instead, build a continuous learning mindset to embrace knowledge, ideas, different perspectives, and lessons that force you to grow and evolve, and, most importantly, get out of your comfort zone. Attend webinars, join groups, network, and ask for help. By embracing a continuous learning mindset, your best days are ahead of you.
4. Establish a TGIM: Attitude
Having a positive mental attitude is the first step towards your success. Now, take that to the next level by creating a TGIM! Attitude. Thank God It’s Monday! This is where each new day brings new opportunities, new relationships, new chances to make a positive impact. Even in the face of adversity, maintain your positivity.
Everyone brings a TGIF! Mindset, looking forward to time away from work, the upcoming weekend, relaxing with family and friends, and creating that often elusive work/life balance. Definitely keep that mindset when you are off from work, however, add the TGIM! Attitude to your life every day. Practice the ‘Be Where You Are’ method to get the most out of life’s experiences. Spread enthusiasm, positivity, kindness, and gratitude every chance you get. Always pay it forward. After all, attitude is everything, and life is far too short not to.
5. Scratch your niche in business
For entrepreneurs, leverage what you got to get where you’re not. Identify your passions. Build your knowledge. Use creativity to bring your passion to life. Ask your network or community for direction and support. Listen proactively and continue to iterate. Be open-minded to allow different points of view, opinions, and ideas to penetrate your mind. Find a niche that is in demand. Do your research. AI can assist.
Create your path, your specific business plan, your undeniable vision, and your top two professional goals. I recommend aligning your professional goals with the PMA REAL Goal Achievement Journey to focus on goal achievement rather than goal setting. By aligning your gifts with your niche, you have set the foundation for greatness.
6. Be an eleven
I have always bet on myself because I set high standards of excellence and create my own luck. I was told, unsolicited, by several business colleagues and executive leaders, that I was an eleven. In the first instance, I was a bit confused until they explained that the way I treat people, my follow-through on commitments, my ability to get things done, and my positivity and kindness really resonated. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, I was deemed an eleven. My goal, ever since, has been to perform as an 11.
High praise for certain, however, when you appreciate others, listen with the intent of understanding, respect everyone and their ideas, and take accountability to follow through on your commitments, you achieve excellence in your chosen field. Creating your own standards of excellence and constantly raising that bar will differentiate you from the competition.
Following these six tips will elevate you and your brand, drive better results, and set your business up for success. It won’t be easy, but it will certainly be worth it.
Read more from Mark Krajnik
Mark Krajnik, The Culture Coach
Mark Krajnik, LSSGB, CPC, The Culture Coach, is the founder of Performance Mindset Associates and has been a leader around people, talent, and culture for three decades. Mark is a talented Executive Coach, Mastermind Mentor, and Motivational Speaker who offers CHRO services to startups and SMB. He is passionate about professional development, building high-performing work teams, creating retention-based cultures, and driving career development globally. He brings his focus on performance, execution, collaboration, creative problem-solving, and professional goal achievement to his worldwide audience. He writes about work culture, leadership development, and performance mindset. Mark is masterful at helping organizations unlock human potential.
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