When it comes to scaling a business, people can overlook a crucial distinction: the difference between starting something brand new versus evolving what's already there.
Starting from scratch offers business owners a blank canvas -- complete freedom to design every detail from the ground up. But rebuilding? That's a whole other challenge. It's about working within existing walls, adapting what's already in place, and sometimes having to strip things down to the studs to build back stronger.
Rebuilding also means getting real about what's worth holding onto and what has to change. Legacy elements -- values, processes, even long-standing roles -- can give stability and a sense of continuity, but they can also come with biases that might hold us back. Leaders must look at these pieces, decide what fits the vision, and then be willing to let go of what doesn't. It's about respecting the past while being clear-eyed about what it takes to build a lasting future.
Here's why this distinction matters. If leaders approach the rebuilding of an existing company without understanding what's already standing, they risk having to navigate unrealistic expectations, wasted effort, and missed opportunities to capitalize on the strengths of the foundation they already have. It's like renovating a house; when people see the structure that's already there, they understand that their role isn't just to patch things up, but rather, it's to intentionally craft each element of the house to fit a bigger vision. This approach to rebuilding turns short-term challenges into long-term gains, transforming a business to scale strategically and sustainably.