Founder & Partner @ Kanvas | Foster Innovation, Develop Business Strategy, Drive Growth

Katie Nowak

Here are 3 common growth mistakes I see...
...even in great businesses!

✨ Growth isn’t measured.

If you pay more for a customer than the revenue they generate over the course of working with you... it's not worth it!

(9.9 times out of 10)

As a result, you need to know which channels are actually working for you.

At a minimum, track how much it costs you to acquire one new customer in each channel... and how much they’re worth over time!
​
When you see those side‑by‑side, it gets a lot easier to stop “nice to have” activities and double down on what is actually driving toward your goals.
​
✨  Growth isn’t unique.

Don't copy the same growth playbooks as everyone else! Please!

If you want to acquire customers efficiently (less cost), you usually need to do something a little different (unique growth channel) that you're well-positioned to outperform in (competitive advantage).

Ask yourself:
+ Where do my customers live, work, and play?
+ In what moments are they most likely to make a buying decision?
+ Which of those moments are least crowded by my competitors?
+ In which of these unsaturated moments could we best deliver, based on our strengths?

...that’s where your best growth experiments often live.
​
✨ Growth ideas are too far outside your core competency.

When growth feels slow, it’s tempting to chase whatever’s trendy, like AI, influencers, complex partnerships... the list goes on.

Instead, your best growth bets usually build on the things you already do well!

Example:

Let’s say you run a local landscaping business. You’re excellent with people, building teams, securing new clients, and making yards beautiful. (Maybe you should come by my yard 🤣 )

A “shiny” growth idea might be launching a consumer gardening app. You would need engineers, designers, growth marketers... and probably a new team to help you navigate it all.

More grounded growth ideas might be:
+ Introducing a simple referral program for existing customers
+ Partnering with local realtors or HOAs who already trust you
+ Adding a seasonal package (spring clean‑up + fall prep) 
+ Offering an annual subscription for your best clients

Same ambition (more revenue) but now you’re stacking growth on top of your strengths instead of inventing a whole new business model!

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What resonated most with you across these growth prompts?

What would you add to the list?
 
Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s chat. 😎 

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I'm Katie Nowak, an innovation leader, new venture designer and investor sharing examples & lessons weekly.

Follow me + hit 🔔 to stay tuned.

Innovation Leader, New Venture Designer, Speaker @ Kanvas || Investor @ Altra Venture Partners

If nothing on your calendar scares you a little…
… you might be underestimating yourself 🤯 

I’ve always joked that life lives on the perimeter of your comfort zone.

If you’re always outside of your comfort zone, you’ll burn out.

…but if you’re always inside it, you’ll miss out on exciting life experiences!

I often reflect on my comfort zone balance across any given week, month, quarter, or year.

In doing so, I’ve defined 3 levels of ‘good scary’:

✨ Level 1: You can do it today, but you’re nervous.
✨ Level 2: You need help or prep to pull it off.
✨ Level 3: You have no idea how, but you’re committed.

My challenge to you is to pick a Level 1 or a Level 2 ‘good scary’, and give it a try this week.

You can use that momentum to build toward Level 3!

So tell us -

What’s one thing on your list this week that scares you a bit… but you know you’re capable of?

Share in the comments so we can cheer you on.

PS - I’ll be sharing a Level 3 scary of my own, soon! The picture is a hint. :)

—
I'm Katie Nowak, an investor, innovation leader, and new venture designer sharing examples & lessons weekly. Follow me + hit 🔔 to stay tuned.

Ariel Serber

Passionate evangelist for financial education, literacy, and independence. Advisory solutions and problem solving for businesses; risk management, business planning, building brand equity, capital raising and more.

When it comes to our financial lives, more than ever, businesses and people need support and objective strategic advice that get us where we need to go. 

We are either in control of our finances or it controls us. This is especially true for business owners and startup founders. This is the challenge I help clients overcome.

Professionals and business owners that fail to plan, plan to fail - and plans with clearly written and measurable goals are more likely to succeed.

Businesses need a plan for growth, success, and, exit or succession. Professionals need a plan of action to make sure they never run out of money, to manage risks and to create their legacy.

If you'd like to speak or learn more, let's connect.

Email: arielserber@lions.financial  Cell: 516.318.0994
calendly.com/serber

Services for businesses:                                                         

Business succession plans                           
Key-person protection plans                      
Executive benefit plans                                  
Employee benefit plans     
Capital Raising                                                  

Services for individuals:

Legacy & estate plans
Asset & wealth management plans
Retirement income plans
Philanthropic plans
Insurance Planning

Director of Client Success

So, so powerful. What a terrible loss on so many levels. Thank you for putting this together and sharing this incredible legacy. Keep that legacy alive, vibrant. and meaningful.

Ariel Serber 

Advocate for financial empowerment, literacy, and independence. Advisory solutions and problem solving for businesses; risk management, business planning, building brand equity, capital raising and more.

my longest friend died

rest in peace, Zaki

As Founder and CEO of Scroobious, Allison Byers is expanding access to early stage capital. She has now written the book she wishes she had when she raised money for her startup and it's coming out soon. Called "Fundraising for the Rest of Us,"  I'm looking forward to hosting her here to talk about it, her story, her work, and her mission.

More about the book - 

This book isn’t for any one type of founder. It’s for anyone who has ever thought:

💭 “I don’t know what investors actually want from me in this meeting.”
💭 “I get ‘come back when…’ and the goalposts keep moving.”
💭 “My business is solid. Why does fundraising feel like a personality test?”

You’ll learn how to:

👉 Think like an investor so your pitch actually lands.
👉 Build a compelling deck using my Core 10 Pitch Framework.
👉 Choose the right capital sources for your business (not just the loudest ones).
👉 Handle bias + pattern-matching without shrinking, spiraling, or pretending it isn’t happening.

These are all vital lessons for us to understand - the rest of us is most of us.
Let us know what questions or challenges or situations you're facing and thinking about in your journey. Looking forward to this conversation and reading the book ASAP

Thanks!!

Fundraising for the Rest of Us With Allison Byers

What is the objective of a data room? 
Nina Raab🦁 provided a clear answer to that - it should provide a clear stack of evidence for why and investor should invest in you and your business. 

Having a guiding light like that can really create the roadmap to follow to build that stack right!

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The Battle

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Ariel Serber

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Engagements

Likes

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