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Revenue growth needs structure, not more speed

  • Writer: Noëmi Thum
    Noëmi Thum
  • Apr 28
  • 4 min read

Updated: May 5

When I joined a small, fast-growing company as a business developer, the team had just grown to 25 people. Two years earlier, it had been one founder and one idea. I still remember that one sentence:


"We used to be able to just talk things through - that was enough. Now I feel like I'm losing control."


Customers were contacted twice, internal projects were sent out, and documents looked like they came from five different companies. What did he want? No recriminations - just clarity, stability and healthy growth.


This scene has stayed with me. Because it shows: Growth doesn't automatically mean ease - sometimes it feels like a loss of control.



Why your business doesn't need "more commitment," but a strategy and new structures for revenue growth


Especially in the early stages as an entrepreneur, a lot of things are based on gut instinct and improvisation. But the bigger your business gets, the more you need clarity: in your strategy, in your communication, in your processes, and in your role. Otherwise, you become a bottleneck for revenue growth in your own company.


The solution is not more of the same. It's a new perspective that grows with you.



A stressed man with his head in his hands at his desk, in front of a laptop and papers - a symbol of the excessive demands of a growing company.

The typical stages of a growing a businesses revneue and what you need at each stage:


Every company - no matter how big - goes through similar phases. You have iterated, adapted, stabilized - and that is why you are a global player today. These phases don't just affect start-ups, but also small companies, individual entrepreneurs or teams in the process of being established.



Phase 1: Foundation and Development


Why this phase is critical:

This is where you lay the foundation for everything else. Many fail not because of their idea, but because they start without direction - with a "somehow" instead of a clear plan.


What is important at this stage:

  • A crystal clear offer that is understandable - to your target audience, not just to you

  • A clear audience analysis: Who are you doing this for - and who aren't?

  • First key figures at a glance: What do you need to earn as a minimum to not only survive, but to build meaningfully?

  • Communication that makes you visible without bending you



Phase 2: Revneue growth and Leadership


Why this phase is tricky:

This is where you find out if your business is sustainable - or if it will swallow you up. Roles become unclear, tasks get mixed up, and focus is often lost. Many people start rowing instead of steering.


What counts in this phase:

  • Clear responsibilities, even if you are (still) working without a team

  • A sharpened offering that doesn't try to cover everything, but appeals to exactly the right customers

  • Positioning that clearly states what you stand for - and what you don't

  • Conscious communication, both internally and externally - so your company doesn't get lost in its own complexity

  • First steps to leadership: How do you want to lead - yourself, your team, your organization?



Stage 3: Stabilization


Why this stage is underestimated:

Many people think that stability means standing still. In reality, it is the transition from "I do everything myself" to an entrepreneur with a system. And this is where you need a new mindset.


What is crucial in this phase:

  • Repeatable processes that don't stop with you

  • A prioritization system that gets you out of constant firefighting mode

  • A willingness to share responsibility - strategic and operational

  • Structured processes that serve you - not because you "should" have them

  • Room to redefine your role: less day-to-day chaos, more visibility

  • And technology that helps you regain time and focus. Not just another tool to overwhelm you, but systems that simplify processes, create transparency, and make communication easier


Technology is not an end in itself. It is your lever to maintain clarity - even as your business becomes more complex.


A confident entrepreneur in a yellow blazer with documents in a modern office represents clarity, structure and presence in business.


Phase 4: Reorientation


Why this phase requires courage:

This is where you question everything. Things are going well - but you want more. Or in other words. You may feel like you want to redirect your business. And that's what scares many people. Because it's not the beginning anymore - but it's not the end either.


What's important at this stage:

  • Space to think strategically: What vision is driving you now?

  • The courage to let go of old habits - even if they once worked

  • Clarity about what you no longer want - at least as important as what you want

  • The foresight to see where new skills, partners or structures are needed

  • Reflection on your role: do you really want to continue doing everything yourself?



What I know from over 14 years of business development, digital product development, process improvement, and sales:


...is that sustainable growth comes not from doing more, but from making better decisions.


Through focus. Clarity. And the courage to do things differently.


Over the past 14 years, I have seen companies fail just when they are ready to take the next step. Because

  • they improvised too long

  • didn't let their processes grow with them

  • or didn't have the courage to relinquish responsibility.


And I have also seen entrepreneurs flourish when they start to work in a structured way - without losing their freedom.


Growth doesn't mean doing everything. Growth means doing the right thing at the right time.



Bottom line: Your business and revenue can grow with you - step by step


If your business feels chaotic, overwhelming, or somehow "out of place," you haven't failed. You're ready to take the next step.


And that's what I'm here for: to help you get your business back on track. Clear and stable. With growth that feels good.



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