How to fuel entrepreneurial growth following failure?

Guess what? Hiccups happen.

In fact, hiccups are something us crazy entrepreneurs are brilliant at creating.

One thing I share with my clients is our fair share of failures, whether that be bad investments, judgements or creations. Things just simply don’t always turn out the way you may anticipate they should.

Constant re-creation and ‘get up again’ moments are what give entrepreneurs their thick skin and drive or as I like to call it ‘the attitude of the game-changer’.

Here’s how I learnt from these 3 creations that didn’t go down the way I quite liked.

EAT FIT FARM

THE IDEA:
Following the success of my core business Eat Fit Food, I decided to extend the business model by purchasing a 100-acre farm with the intent to convert it into an organic produce making machine.

THE CHALLENGE:
Having 3 children under 2 and a half years old and managing the operations of Eat Fit Food to deliver 10, 000 meals across Sydney & Melbourne did not allow time to effectively focus on the expansion of the farm.

THE LEARNING:
Well yep, I learnt a lot from this experience! I loved creating Eat Fit Farm, and the weekend trips I did with the kids to harvest the veggies has definitely contributed to their love of gardening and healthy eating today. However, taking an idea and starting small with vigorous testing prior to scale is not a process I should have skipped over. But do I regret it? Hell no.
FRESH FOOD VENDING MACHINES

THE IDEA:
Adding edge and extra availability to my customers made the idea of a vending machine look quite shiny. I found the machine & to be honest, it seemed like a pretty simple way to provide high traffic areas with quality produced meals. It’s what the Japanese market thrives off!

THE CHALLENGE:

After imported 3 machines from Germany that were set up and all ready to go into testing – we started experiencing some complexities. Essentially, the meals would get stuck and the machines could only be serviced via Germany – a disaster for a business model built of immediate convenience! After continuous arguments with the company trying to return their faulty 100k worth of equipment, I was more than ready to let this one go.

THE LEARNING:
Always put the customer at the centre of your business model by making a list of all the issues that could potentially happen. Make sure that before you commence in-market testing, there are processes you have finalised, agreed on with suppliers and set up to provide the consumer with the best possible experience. If this isn’t possible within the set up – then have a think about whether this idea is in fact feasible.
SCALING UP EAT FIT FOOD

THE IDEA:
From the start I always knew what EFF stood for. Premium, high-quality meals delivered with convenience and consistency. So, when this worked I decided I wanted everyone in Australia to access my product. I had Virgin, Harris Farm & Caltex on board and into some great contracts that promised some big numbers.

THE CHALLENGE:
Working with these big conglomerates meant large negotiation pressures and quantity controls were out of my control. The team became stressed trying to produce quantities we weren’t set up for, and my cashflow was tighter than ever before. This was not feasible, so – I pulled the pin.

THE LEARNINGS:
Growth is not always a gain. Stick to your true brand values and really evaluate the impact of scaling up on the longevity of your operations.