For the past 8 months, MARS Solutions Group has been rethinking what it means to grow smarter, not just bigger. By applying bold strategies, we’ve achieved success in industries like healthcare and manufacturing.
We’ve also begun productizing our successful Returnship program—a skills accelerator that helps individuals reenter the workforce—and launched MARS Orbit, a solution that helps businesses scale with the right strategies at the right time. These achievements are the result of rethinking workflows, streamlining processes, and challenging outdated assumptions. This approach has transformed how we work—and it can do the same for your business. Here are six steps to help you rethink efficiency and outputs, with lessons from our journey.
1. Adopt Exponential Thinking: 10x Over 10%
While we value small, incremental improvements over time, we aim for bold, transformative changes that redefine what’s possible.
How to Apply This:
- Challenge the Norm: Identify a process and ask, “What would it take to make this 10x better?”
- Set Bold Goals: Push your team to pursue ambitious, transformative objectives.
- Test and Scale: Start with small experiments and expand what works.
Example: At MARS, we redefined our company goals, verticals, and product offerings to be bold, efficient, and adaptable to rapidly changing markets. By prioritizing scalable solutions and agile processes, we’re positioned to deliver impact across industries while remaining flexible to new opportunities.
2. Elevate Impact: Lead with First Principles
First principles thinking helps you rebuild outdated processes by focusing on fundamental truths and starting fresh.
How to Apply This:
- Deconstruct Processes: Strip outdated workflows to their core essentials.
- Rebuild with Purpose: Design streamlined systems aligned with your company’s mission.
- Focus on Alignment: Ensure every task and goal serves a meaningful purpose.
Example: When I joined MARS as Chief Revenue Officer, our team came together to understand what was working, what wasn’t, and what could be. By restructuring based on these insights, we rebuilt our processes and operations using these principles, enabling us to operate more efficiently and adapt to evolving needs.
3. Optimize the Workforce: Think Like an Architect, Not a Manager
Managers delegate tasks; architects design systems that empower employees to thrive. At MARS, we’ve taken this principle to heart by fostering a culture of intrapreneurship while building pathways for future success.
How to Apply This:
- Build for Autonomy: Create systems that allow employees to take ownership of decisions and deliverables.
- Map Strengths to Roles: Evaluate team skills and align them with responsibilities that maximize potential.
- Encourage Innovation: Develop scalable frameworks that empower employees to think like entrepreneurs and drive change from within.
Example: Internally, we’ve built flexible talent-scaling frameworks that prioritize agility and adaptability while investing in tools, training, and transparent communication. By cultivating a culture of intrapreneurship, we’re not just building today’s solutions—we’re empowering our teams to create the future.
4. Deflect Bureaucracy & Flatten Hierarchies
Excessive layers of approval and rigid structures stifle innovation. Simplify processes and empower employees to act with agility.
How to Apply This:
- Streamline Approvals: Give employees the authority to act within clear boundaries.
- Simplify Processes: Audit workflows regularly and remove unnecessary steps.
- Enable Open Communication: Encourage teams to collaborate directly without unnecessary gatekeeping.
Example: Through an internal audit of how we spend time and resources, we identified areas that needed more prioritization for growth. This wasn’t about micromanaging but about understanding what truly drives value. These insights allowed us to focus our efforts where they matter most, cutting inefficiencies and boosting outcomes.
5. Adopt a Long-Term Efficiency Mindset
It’s easy to focus on short-term wins, but true success requires sustainable systems that drive growth over time. At MARS, we’ve gone beyond traditional marketing efforts to build programs and initiatives that prioritize long-term relationships and audience engagement.
How to Apply This:
- Think Beyond the Quarter: Build strategies that align with long-term goals.
- Invest in Relationships: Develop programs that prioritize ongoing value for customers and partners.
- Leverage Marketing as a Growth Engine: Create initiatives that engage audiences and deliver lasting impact.
Example: Our marketing programs go beyond lead generation to focus on building an Owned Audience through initiatives like our 4th Planet program, the productization of Returnship, our Uncharted Territory tech blog, an Affiliate Partner Referral Program and the recent launch of the Revenue Alliance Meet-Up Group. These efforts are designed to create meaningful engagement and ensure sustained growth through deep connections with our partners and customers.
6. Generate Productivity: Reimagine Workdays
The traditional 9-to-5 doesn’t fit today’s fast-paced, flexible world. Rethink how and when work gets done to maximize results.
How to Apply This:
- Focus on Outputs, Not Hours: Measure success by outcomes, not time spent.
- Promote Flexibility: Let employees work during their most productive hours.
- Reduce Meeting Overload: Use asynchronous tools for updates and reserve meetings for critical discussions.
Example: At my last company, I had 10–15 internal meetings a week. Now, at MARS, I only have one. My productivity has skyrocketed, allowing me to focus on high-impact work and meaningful collaboration. This shift has created a culture where flexibility and trust drive results—not unnecessary time in meetings.
The Bottom Line
At MARS Solutions Group, rethinking efficiency has allowed us to grow smarter, not just bigger. By deflecting inefficiencies, optimizing processes, generating real productivity, and elevating impact, we’ve proven that businesses can achieve transformative success by embracing these principles. It’s time to “DOGE” your workforce. The answer starts with a willingness to change.
Start your journey toward smarter growth—schedule a call now.
