That E-mail Got Me Thinking…
Since starting the InnerCircle several months ago, I’ve had a chance to connect with several small interiorscape companies that otherwise wouldn’t have made it on my radar screen. 

What’s interesting is how the bigger companies get all the press.  But the fact is small interiorplantscape companies taken together are serving and estimated 100 million dollar market.

When Small & Large Interior Landscape Companies Collide
During InnerCircle conference calls, where large and small companies have a chance to interact, it’s interesting to see the dynamics between the two.  Here’s small sample of points that have come to my attention:

• Small and large companies have the same business challenges only on a different scale (more on this later)
• Small companies benefit from being exposed to the experience and inspiration of the larger companies.
• The large companies benefit from the energy, passion and fresh approach of the smaller companies.
• Small companies are often learning business building for the first time, but the large companies are re-learning business building which can be even more valuable.

For Small Companies It’s A Matter Of Creating Scalability
Just as the difference between a dollar and a million dollars is only a matter of scale, so is the difference between large and small companies.  Small companies that want to grow need to develop the business skills of scale.  To do it they need to transfer the work they do themselves to systems, processes and other people.  It’s the only way to go beyond the physical limitations of a single person.  To scale, you need to build a machine.  You can’t travel very far and fast without a machine.  Would you rather walk to Bahmas or take a plane?

For Large Companies It’s A Matter Of Managing The Complexities Of Scale
Employee’s, legal, transportation, operation, sales, marketing all become more difficult to control as a company gets larger.  The challenge for larger companies involves managing the scale they’ve created so that they can optimize the machine to scale even more.

The Building Blocks of Smart Decisions

Making progress in your interiorscape company always boils down to making smart decisions. It’s a process that gets a whole lot easier when you have support from others who understand your business and have a unique empathy for what your going through.  That’s why the most successful people always look for ways to connect with other smart people.  You give ideas, you get ideas.  Larger companies tend to have access to more resources, but the ones that are still growing go out of their way to find even more.  It’s a valuable lesson for the small, single person plantscaper - Being Isolated hurts business.  Avoid it.

Helping Small Plantscapers Scale
If you’re a one person operation looking to build an interiorscape business machine - it pays to get the advice of others who have been there.  Find as many ways as you can to get exposure to those who have made it happen.  Go to ALCA, CALSCAPE and other industry events.  Look for speakers who have achieved with their business what you want to accomplish in yours.  Visit the Interiorscape Magazine Forums Often.  Take notes.  Find plantscapers who write great posts and call them.  And of course, bookmark this blog…

Meantime, the InnerCircle is rapidly growing.  Each person adds more value to the entire group.  One of the things I’m most proud of at this point is how it’s helping the small plantscape companies.  Some of our members may be on their own, but they are not alone!