Hi everyone, Carl Gould here with your #70secondCEO—just a little over a one-minute investment every day for a lifetime of results.

As your business develops, you need to focus on improving the quality of your product or service and building your credentials. While sales remain important—especially early on to keep the cash flowing—your major focus should be developing your core competency.

Now, every stage of business has three phases: early, mid, and late. I bring this up because Stage 2 is where most businesses spend the bulk of their time—even the Rolling Stones are still in Stage 2, just in the late phase.

In the early part of Stage 2, the focus is quality. If you just opened a pizzeria or deli, for example, your top priority should be making the best food possible. That’s what gets people talking—and coming back. Pricing and discounts matter less than creating a product people love.

As you move into mid-Stage 2, start building your brand. Gather testimonials, sharpen your skills, earn credentials, and keep raising your standards. Quality remains key—it’s just now reinforced by credibility and brand trust.

Like and follow this podcast to learn more. I’m Carl Gould, and this has been your #70secondCEO.