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.

Robin P. Zander is an entrepreneur, strategist and author. With experience ranging from management consulting to the circus, he has devoted his life and career to working with individuals and companies to accelerate performance. 

Robin is the founder and CEO of Zander Media, a creative shop that makes irresistible explainer videos. He is also the executive director of Responsive Conference, an annual industry event about the future of work. 

Robin is the author of two books: "Responsive: What It Takes To Create A Thriving Organization" and "How To Do A Handstand,” a national bestseller in Japan.

Learn more at www.robinpzander.com.

Robin P. Zander

We’re just 3 days away from Snafu Conference in the Oakland Museum of California — and the agenda is packed with insights you can use immediately.

If you can’t join in person, don’t worry: the main stage sessions will be recorded and shared in a few weeks.

A few highlights:

Coaching is Selling: How To Unlock Human Potential – Jeff Jaworski, PCC (former Google sales exec) and Marie Szuts (former CPO turned coach) dive into why coaching and sales are more alike than you think.

Everything Is Sales: Lessons from Product Development – David Shackelford, Head of Product at Asana, shares how asking better questions turned product work into a masterclass in persuasion.

How To Raise Money: Systems, Stories, and Relationships – Eric Bahn of Hustle Fund reveals the tactical systems he uses to fundraise, recruit, and partner — all while keeping relationships human.

Selling in the Age of AI: Purpose and Authenticity – Dan Cavenaugh, Jennifer Cavenaugh, and Jackson Cavenaugh explore relationship-driven sales across generations and how AI fits in.

Is AI Coming For My Job? – Ha Nguyen reframes the question, showing how to build skills that make you durable in uncertain times.

Navigating Uncertainty: A Founders’ Fishbowl – Patrick Thompson, ★Komal Ahmad, and Niels Hoven rotate through real-world decision-making while attendees join the conversation.

Venture 3.0: Trust, Story, and Selling in Complex Ecosystems – Robby Peters and Raquel Scott, MBA Scott unpack how venture capital is evolving to support founders through trust, relationships, and ecosystem-driven growth.

Authenticity at Work: Lessons from Experience – Mandy Mooney shares how creativity, strategy, and authenticity intersect in large organizations.

Founder-Led Sales in the Age of AI – I sit down with Gagan Biyani (Udemy, Sprig: Eat Well, Maven) to explore founder-led sales and growth in a fast-moving AI world.

I started Snafu to learn in public — to understand influence, durability, and what actually works.

Whether you join us in OMCA or follow along from afar, I’m grateful to be on this journey with you. Let’s keep learning.

writing Snafu ✍️ • curating Responsive Conference 🌎 • narrative strategy @ Zander Media 🎥 • Built & sold Robin’s Cafe 🍲 • Handstands 🤸 • Relentless Optimist

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