10 Questions Every Elevator Business Owner Should Ask

Going from point A to point B in any situation requires a vision and a willingness to accept a change in scenery.

Growth in business is very similar to this concept. The journey to point B isn’t always smooth sailing. It may be filled with turbulence, uncertainty, and quite a few pot holes.

This is entrepreneurship in a nutshell.

In order to reach your next destination, take a good hard look at who you must become to get there. You’ll outgrow the tools you once used. You might outpace your current systems and processes. You might even outgrow the people around you today.

You’ll have to make decisions without all of the information (because you just don’t know what the future holds), bet on yourself when no one else does, and pivot when your plan stops working.

What got you here won’t get you there.

These ten questions are designed to help you pause, get honest with your business, and evaluate if the foundation you’re standing on can support what you hope to build.

1. Are my financials in order to support growth?

If the answer is “kind of,” it’s a no. Growth costs money. You can’t lead with confidence if you don’t know what you’re working with.

2. What is my unique value proposition (UVP)?

What makes you different from the other guys? If your team or your clients can’t answer that in one sentence, it’s time to sit down and reevaluate the direction you’re heading as a company.

3. Is my team ready to handle increased demand?

More jobs may mean more cash in the door, but it also means more pressure for your team. You may need a bigger team, or a tune-up for your current one. So ask yourself, do you have the right people in the right seats?

4. How efficient are my current operations?

Are you constantly putting out fires? Waiting on updates? Micromanaging everyone? Then your systems and processes need to be addressed.

5. Do I have a plan to attract and retain clients?

Referrals are great. Repeat clients are better. You need a strategy that involves much more than hope and word of mouth.

6. What are my top three goals for the next 12 months?

What’s your BHAG? Where’s your vision board? What are you actually working toward? If you can’t see the bigger picture, your team can’t either, and they can’t help drive those goals forward.

7. Am I leveraging the latest industry technology?

Are you still stuck in spreadsheets? Giving old school quotes? Technology doesn’t replace the humanoid aspect in our industry, it just makes us faster, better, and our companies more scalable.

8. How am I tracking my progress and success?

You’ve got to know your metrics to measure your success. If your team isn’t being held accountable to clear numbers, then you’re not managing their performance. And if you don’t have a metric system in place, it’s not time for growth yet (because you’ll have no way of tracking it).

9. Do I have a contingency plan for unexpected challenges?

One key team member leaves. A job falls through. Equipment fails. What’s your plan B?

10. Am I prioritizing long-term sustainability over short-term wins?

Quick wins feel good, but they don’t last or build sustainability for your team. Build for where you want to go, not just where you are.

If even a few of these questions made you pause, good. You’re not behind, but you are at the beginning of something that requires more from you. Getting from point A to point B takes focus, clarity, accountability, and the humility to admit you can’t do it alone.

Mentorship is an asset these days—one that I didn’t have the luxury of when I was building Madden Elevator. Having someone in your corner who knows the elevator industry, understands the stakes, and can help you make direction-setting decisions in your business is invaluable.

That’s what eADVISOR is. Monthly mentorship. A clear action plan. Real-time support to help you lead with intention and build a business that lasts.

Learn more about eADVISOR →