Accelerating Business Growth by Developing the Human Operating System

For several years now (actually, since 1997), I have set up and scaled businesses, across sectors, cultures, and continents. In doing so, one thing has become apparent: business is bespoke and not a cookie cutter process or a “5-Step method” like many will have you believe. Least of all, it is not about a marketing strategy, a website, and social media posts.

Business is first and foremost about people. People are the operating engine of any business and if we dig deeper, we begin to understand that within each individual is their own “operating system”.

Over the last few years I have focused on businesses and scaling them through their people. The growth has been exponential and has often exceeded the expectations of the Founders and Board. This is what has surprised me the most; why have we not recognised that when we focus on people and help them grow, they, in turn, innately build the business?

Over the last few months, I've monitored the responses and impact these practices deliver and have noted that my facilitation and programs transcend traditional business growth methods. Scaling a business is a skill I've honed, but unlike others who focus on sales campaigns and funnels, I approach it through a depth in understanding people. My focus is on enhancing the "Human Operating System" — expanding the capacity and capability of the individuals who drive the business from “grass roots” up

“Change the masses, you change the world”. This is my philosophy and often is met with resistance from those who like to do things like it has always been done and yet, expect a different outcome.

A holistic approach is what I embrace and that includes knowing people better than they know themselves. Yes, I invest in knowing the people I work with as, often, they themselves are stuck in a loop and cannot see the trees for the forest as they have been doing what they have always done as part of business or the system they have been raised in.

Change and growth in business is not a typical 5-step strategy or a marketing formula. It's about understanding people, recognising their unique potential, and guiding them to expand their mindsets, embracing their differences, which naturally leads to business growth.

Many people who know me describe me as highly strategic and analytical, with a deep understanding of human nature. My background in finance with a focus on compliance adds a layer of precision coupled with business, but at the core, I'm people focused. Clients often tell me, "Cathy, sometimes you know us better than we know ourselves, and you can see what we can’t." 

Here are some examples of what clients have shared about their transformations personally and in the business they have worked :

• "When you told me “this is where I see you”, I didn't see it. Now that I'm here, it's so clear." — International politics

• "Everything has changed—my clients, my work, and my reach have all expanded since taking on board your suggestions." — Babyboomer B2B entrepreneur

• "You're the North Star, showing us the bigger picture and how we can create a ripple effect." — C-suite executive

I've witnessed exponential growth in those who trust themselves enough to explore their potential, not just in business but in their mindset and the possibilities they hadn't even considered.

Many people remain stuck in a loop, clinging to what they know. They achieve some short-term success but require deeper expansion. This loop limits actual, sustainable growth and that only comes from continual practice of the changes they want to make and by being conscious in their decisions to change. Words become empty when repeated without action and this is where people miss the opportunity for transformation.

True Expansion Begins with Exploration

Expansion isn't about doing the same thing over and over. It's about venturing into the unknown and exploring what else is possible. Full disclosure: this requires you to embrace being challenged and to be ready to step forward into unfamiliar territory. That's where real dreams are realised.

We get stuck in our comfort zones because they provide a sense of safety and familiarity. Our brains are wired to avoid uncertainty, so even when growth opportunities arise, the fear of the unknown can hold us back. Comfort zones create an illusion of control, but they also limit our potential. When we refuse to push beyond what is known, we deny ourselves the chance to explore new paths and expand our capabilities. True transformation happens when we challenge ourselves, break habitual patterns, and embrace discomfort as part of the growth process. This, at its core, occurs on a personal note. So, if we do not enhance the “Human Operating System”, we are only working with the tip of that Iceberg only to allow the bottom to keep us exactly where we are.

In one of my recent blogs, I explored how the word "when" can be a limiting force. Too often, we frame our future with "When I have X, then I'll do Y." This places our dreams in a distant, undefined future, limiting our actions today. Instead, I ask: “What can you do now?” Shifting from "when" to "now" is a powerful step toward expanding your mindset and your business.

Are You Ready to Explore?

This is about exploring beyond a process, a system and being open to what you don’t know. Scarcity is the most common practice for people and yet it is overlooked daily in business and in our personal lives.

“How” is not your gift, it’s mine, and this has taken over 2 decades of my holistic approach to develop. Leaping forward with a new lens and approach to creating wealth in people will enhance your business but it won’t happen if you have the same people doing the same thing or pretending to know how.

Genuine growth comes from lived experience of taking others on the journey with you. It's about doing what you've never done, embracing the unknown and stepping into new possibilities. Every successful business expansion starts with the individual's ability to explore the beyond. . . 

Are you ready to explore the unknown and see where it can take you?

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