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.

Ochsner Health

Provide strategic vision and executive leadership for Compliance, Privacy, Regulatory Affairs, Enterprise Risk Management, Physical Security, Workplace Safety, Emergency Management, Business Continuity, Third Party Risk Management, and Cybersecurity Risk Management.

Develop and implement organizational cultural change management to position risk-focused teams as respected business partners and solutions-oriented collaborators. 

Lead proactive risk mitigation and resilience efforts, resulting in robust and comprehensive incident response and business continuity plans, and dynamic crisis and incident management processes.

System VP & Chief Compliance Officer

Develop, lead, and execute proactive, solutions-focused strategy for comprehensive risk-focused health care division with escalating levels of responsibility.

Create and promote patient-centered risk management and resilience strategy in alignment with organization mission, vision, and values.

Provide leadership, strategic vision, and centralized system integration for Compliance, Privacy, Regulatory Affairs, Physical Security, and Emergency Management.

Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer

Established a proactive, centralized, business focused, patient-centered compliance and privacy program, including healthcare compliance, HIPAA privacy, regulatory affairs, policy management, clinical and regulatory auditing and monitoring, governmental audits, and incident management.

AVP, Compliance & Associate General Counsel

LHC Group

Responsible for enterprise-wide legal, licensure, and regulatory strategy and performance with escalating levels of responsibility.  

Directed and managed complex litigation portfolio, including defending multiple and varied federal and state government investigations and inquiries brought by various agencies.  

Provided strategic legal and regulatory advice for collaborative, cross-functional problem solving and risk mitigation with internal clients, including compliance, human resources, and risk management. 

Led and managed transactions, including initial and subsequent public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, credit transactions, and equity offerings.

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Director of Litigation

Rayburn Law Firm, PLLC

Associate in a boutique law firm, focused on civil litigation, insurance defense, workers compensation, and employment law.

Attorney

Nemesis of No, Champion of How | Risk, Compliance, Security Executive | Navigating Intersections of Innovation and Regulation | Leadership Coach, Guide, and Advisor | Dragonslayer of Problems

In my heart, I’m a helper. Growing up with alopecia, my world view was shaped by being viewed and treated differently. As I battled relentless judgment (and self-judgment) about my appearance, I resolved that nothing and no one would get the best of me. Over the years, that tenacity transformed me into a dragonslayer of problems, a nemesis of no, and a champion of how. 
 
Now, as a risk and compliance expert, I’m known for using my tireless and unique curiosity to help others discover *what’s possible* in any given situation. Choreographing creative solutions out of “yes/no” questions and uncovering the opportunities hiding inside obstacles is where I thrive. 

Known allergies - Jerks. BS. Hypocrisy. Rules that don’t make sense. Bullies. Avocados. (Seriously.)

****************

Other things to know about me: 
+ I value curiosity, humility, authenticity, and please & thank you.
+ How we achieve results is far more important to me than what results we achieve.
+ I've never met a process that I didn't want to enhance!
+ Assuming positive intent, creating meaningful connections, and developing trusted relationships are all key components to building and leading a team, compliance or otherwise.
+ I'm the person to call for precision and deliberate calm in leading large scale crisis management, complex problem solving, and change management.
+ Crucial to a team’s success is using a consistent approach (rather than result) to evaluate and understand concerns, questions, or situations.
+ I am devoted to coaching, mentoring, and encouraging others to discover, nurture, and live out loud as the best versions of themselves.

Finally, I adore clarity. The perspectives I share here are a culmination of my own personal reflections, a lot of individual trial and error, and purposeful personal and leadership growth. While I am incredibly proud to be associated with my outstanding teams and colleagues at Ochsner Health, the opinions I share here are solely my own.

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