High Agency: Transform Your Life and Business Forever

In life and business, the concept of agency plays a pivotal role in shaping outcomes. Agency refers to the ability to take control, make decisions, and act in ways that influence your destiny. Those with high agency don’t wait for life to happen to them—they take charge and make things happen. On the other hand, individuals with low agency often find themselves stuck in cycles of inefficiency or unhappiness, watching time pass by without action.

For small business owners, adopting a high agency mindset can be the key to unlocking growth, solving persistent challenges, and achieving long-term success. Let’s explore what high agency means, how it applies to business ownership, and actionable examples that demonstrate its transformative power.

What Is High Agency?

High agency is about taking ownership of your circumstances and outcomes. It’s the mindset of proactively seeking solutions rather than waiting for external factors to dictate results. A simple analogy illustrates this concept:

Imagine two individuals stranded on separate remote islands with stacks of wood available to them:

• Low Agency: One person uses the wood to spell out "HELP," praying for someone to rescue them.

• High Agency: The other person builds a raft with the wood and sets out to find land, taking control of their destiny.

The difference lies in action versus passivity. High agency is about using available resources creatively and decisively to shape outcomes in your favor—whether in life or business.

Why High Agency Matters for Business Owners

For small business owners, high agency is not just a mindset—it’s a necessity. Running a business involves constant decision-making, problem-solving, and adapting to challenges. Without high agency, you risk falling into patterns that limit growth and perpetuate inefficiencies.

At The Makeover Group (TMG), we’ve seen firsthand how high agency transforms businesses. Owners who embrace this mindset are able to identify opportunities, make bold decisions, and optimize their operations for success. Here’s why high agency matters for business owners:

1. Proactive Problem-Solving: High agency allows you to tackle issues head-on rather than avoiding them or waiting for someone else to intervene.

2. Optimizing Outcomes: Instead of focusing on inputs or obstacles, high agency emphasizes achieving results through creative solutions.

3. Building Resilience: Taking ownership of challenges builds confidence and resilience, enabling you to navigate uncertainty effectively.

4. Driving Growth: High agency empowers you to pursue opportunities that lead to revenue growth and operational efficiency.

Examples of High Agency vs Low Agency in Business

Let’s put the concept of high agency into practice with real-world examples relevant to traditional small businesses:

1. Managing Monthly Costs

• Owner with High Agency: Deep dives into monthly expenses and credit card transactions to identify overspending areas and implement cost-saving measures.

• Owner with Low Agency: Knows costs are out of control but avoids addressing them, leading to financial stress at the end of every month.

2. Addressing Ineffective Accounting Services

• Owner with High Agency: Recognizes that their accountant isn’t acting in their best interest and switches providers to ensure better financial management.

• Owner with Low Agency: Continues working with an ineffective accountant despite ongoing stress over unclear financial health.

3. Improving Sales Processes

• Owner with High Agency: Implements or delegates the creation of a sales process to capitalize on leads and increase conversions.

• Owner with Low Agency: Acknowledges missed sales opportunities but doesn’t act on improving processes, resulting in stagnant revenue.

4. Evaluating Marketing Performance

• Owner with High Agency: Holds their marketing agency accountable for poor results and seeks a new partner that aligns better with their goals.

• Owner with Low Agency: Accepts lackluster performance month after month without taking action.

How High Agency Can Change Your Business Trajectory

Adopting a high agency mindset can fundamentally change how you approach challenges in your business:

1. Every Problem Is Solvable

High agency starts with believing that every problem has a solution—within the limits of physics—and committing to finding it.

2. Focus on Outcomes Over Inputs

Rather than getting bogged down by obstacles or excuses, prioritize achieving results through creative thinking and decisive action.

3. Take Ownership of Decisions

High agency means owning your choices rather than leaving outcomes up to external factors or other people.

Practical Steps to Develop High Agency

If you want to cultivate high agency as a business owner, here are actionable steps you can take:

1. Shift Your Mindset

   Start by believing that you have control over your circumstances and outcomes.

2. Identify Areas of Improvement

   Evaluate your business operations—financial management, sales processes, marketing strategies—and identify areas where action is needed.

3. Take Small Steps Toward Change

   Don’t let overwhelm stop you from taking action; start small by addressing one issue at a time.

4. Learn From Mistakes

   High agency is not about perfection—it’s about learning from failures and iterating toward better outcomes.

5. Delegate When Necessary

   If certain tasks are outside your expertise or bandwidth, delegate them to trusted team members or external partners.

6. Hold Yourself Accountable

   Set clear goals and track progress regularly to ensure you’re taking consistent action toward improvement.

The Long-Term Benefits of High Agency

Embracing high agency can lead to transformative results for both your business and personal life:

1. Increased Revenue Growth: Proactively optimizing processes leads directly to higher profitability.

2. Improved Efficiency: Tackling inefficiencies head-on saves time and resources.

3. Reduced Stress Levels: Taking control eliminates the anxiety caused by unresolved issues.

4. Enhanced Decision-Making Skills: Regularly practicing high agency sharpens your ability to make confident choices.

5. Greater Satisfaction: Seeing positive changes as a result of your actions fosters fulfillment and motivation.

Take Control With High Agency

High agency is more than just a concept—it’s a powerful mindset that can transform your life and business forever. By taking ownership of decisions, proactively solving problems, and focusing on outcomes over obstacles, you can unlock new levels of success while building resilience along the way.

At TMG, we believe every problem is solvable when approached with creativity and determination—and we’re here to help business owners embrace high agency as they navigate challenges and pursue growth.

Remember, everything is possible when you take action! Start today by evaluating areas where you can apply high agency in your business—and watch how it changes the trajectory of your success story into the future.