To Build A House, You Start With The Foundations

A quick guide to solid business growth

When there’s another round of business expansion on the cards, I always try to take some time to look back, as well as forward.

I want to remember where I’ve come from, to make sure I’m still going in the right direction.

So, with future projects lining up, I thought it was a good time to go back to basics and do a review of the businesses' foundations.

It’s a useful activity no matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, but if you’re just starting out, these are my top tips for laying solid foundations.

Finding Your Why

OK, watching the Simon Sinek TED Talk is suggested so often it’s almost a cliché, but his advice still stands the test of time.

He famously said ‘People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it’.

And I firmly believe this is true.

Knowing your why gives you clarity, motivation, and a sense of direction.

My 'why' revolves around building a better life for my family & being a positive role model for my nephews. My ‘why’ includes having the freedom that an entrepreneurial life brings, and using that freedom to spend more time, focus & energy on the people that matter to me.

But finding your ‘why’ is just the first step.

You then need to make sure your why, your core values & your long term goals all align. And that’s the tricky part.

But once you’ve figured that out, you can communicate your ‘why’ to the world and it’ll turbocharge your business.

Develop a Business Plan

Again, this sounds so simple. But because it’s so basic, it’s not necessarily something entrepreneurs spend much time on.

Because, why bother?

It’s not like you have to prepare a presentation for a boss, and you already have all this info & knowledge in your mind.

But getting good at preparing well-thought-out business plans not only focuses you, it’s also a great skill to have when it’s time to start seeking outside investment.

Learn how to do it early and, future you will be thankful.  

Build a Strong Network

Yes, I know I keep banging on about it, and I’ve become networking’s biggest cheerleader. But that’s because I’ve realised how brilliant it can be.

Your connections can open doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and offer valuable advice. They’ll also teach you things you didn’t know you needed to know.

Embrace Technology

Life has been a little hectic lately, as we’ve been migrating all of the business onto a completely new system. It’s stressful & a lot of extra work in the short term, but it’ll pay dividends in the long term.

Getting your tech right, right from the start, saves time, energy & money.

But I’ve also learned that it doesn’t pay to get too entrenched in any particular software.

Technology is evolving at such a pace, and if you’re an entrepreneur laying solid foundations for the future, you need to evolve with it.

Know Your Numbers

Don’t stick your head in the sand.

Don’t shy away from the spreadsheet. Get to know your numbers from day one.

This is non-negotiable, even if you hate maths.

You need to know exactly what’s going in, what’s going out and be able to project the future, too.

Lifelong Learning and Personal Growth

Just like the tech world, the property market is dynamic, and only dead fish go with the flow.

There are tonnes of industry publications, plenty of people on here you can follow, some brilliant mentors and some awesome events.

If you’re always learning, you’re on to a winner.

The best advice I’ve had?

If you’re always the cleverest person in the room, you’re in the wrong rooms.

Go & find the people who know more than you, then learn from them.

Finally...

Building a successful property business requires a solid foundation of clear purpose, strategic planning, strong networks, technological integration, financial acumen, and continuous learning.

By focusing on these foundational elements, you can set yourself up for long-term success and resilience in the competitive property market.

But, let’s be real…

Whether you’re just starting out or growing rapidly, there are always a million and one things to do.

Looking backwards at your business foundations can feel like, well, a backwards step, sometimes.

But every good property developer knows, you want to buy something that’s built on solid foundations. It's worth the time & effort, I promise.