As we celebrate a decade of growth at Atomic Revenue, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned along the way. From starting with just an idea to becoming a trusted partner for many, the journey has been full of challenges, triumphs, and valuable insights. Here are 10 lessons we’ve learned over the past 10 years that have shaped how we do business and serve our clients.
1. Collaboration for Success
Atomic Revenue was built on collaboration, bringing together the concepts of marketing operations and sales operations as revenue operations before that term was mainstream. As with all emerging businesses, the leadership team did all the jobs associated with growing a business. Building a diverse, well-coordinated team was a lot easier than learning how to delegate responsibility to move the business forward. Uniting people who bring different skills and perspectives has allowed us to create solutions way beyond the original vision for the company. The success we’ve had is directly tied to the strength of our team and our ability to collaborate effectively.
2. Adaptability to Change
Flexibility is key in this ever-changing business world. I’ve learned that being adaptable is crucial, both for Atomic Revenue and for the clients we serve. We had to continuously evolve our strategies and approaches to meet new challenges and take advantage of emerging opportunities. In the early years, scaling the business involved doing less and delegating more—something that required a lot of trust. But once we separated “ownership” from “control” and "leadership" from "title" to empower the team, we were able to grow faster and more profitably as we accomodated changing client needs and evolving market conditions.
3. Value of Relationships
At Atomic Revenue, we have always emphasized the importance of building genuine relationships. A significant amount of our growth has come through referrals, and that’s because we take the time to invest in our clients, our partners, and our networks. When you build authentic, trust-based relationships, the rewards are more than financial—they’re long-lasting and meaningful well beyond the lifespan of a direct working relationship. I’ve learned that the stronger the relationships, the greater the opportunity for mutual success wherever our businesses and professions may take us on life's journey.
4. Implementation of CRM Systems
Before Atomic Revenue, I had the opportunity to manage the implementation of multiple CRM systems. This experience taught me how critical it is to integrate technology with the customer journey. But what I’ve learned over the years is that the real secret isn’t just about proper set-up of a technology platform—it’s about the people, the processes, and the data that the CRM serves. By focusing on those key elements, we’ve been able to help our clients achieve success regardless of the CRM system they use.
5. Understanding the Bigger Picture
As the business grew, I quickly learned the importance of 'seeing the forest through the trees' with an eye on the bigger picture. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks, but what really drives success is having a clear vision of where you want to go. At Atomic Revenue, we’ve made it a priority to align marketing and sales strategies with the broader business goals of our clients. Making decisions with long-term growth and profitability in mind has been key to our ability to scale and build lasting relationships.
6. Managing Growth
When we first started Atomic Revenue, we had no clients, a negligible brand (that's a different story), and a whole lot of ambition. Managing growth has definitely been one of the more challenging lessons. We’ve learned that it’s not just about increasing revenue and profit while managing cashflow; it’s about ensuring you have the infrastructure, the team, and the processes in place to handle growth before the growth arrives. Constantly evaluating our capacity to scale and ensuring we’re prepared for the next phase has been critical.7. Accountability with Clients
One of the hardest but most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of being transparent and holding clients accountable. At Atomic Revenue, we pride ourselves on being honest with our clients, even when the truth is uncomfortable. We don’t shy away from tough conversations, and I’ve found that this level of honesty helps build stronger relationships and better outcomes. It’s important to tell clients what they need to hear—not just what they want to hear. Sometimes that is not the best retention strategy but it has been the catalyst for growing companies.8. Information from Data
In today’s data-driven world, I’ve learned that understanding how to leverage data is essential to making informed decisions. We’ve always placed a strong emphasis on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Return on Investment (ROI) because they help us and our clients understand where to allocate resources. Money is a renewable resource, but time is finite. I’ve learned that using data wisely helps us avoid wasting both.9. Resilience in the Face of Challenges
There were many moments when things didn’t go as planned, and the path forward wasn’t always clear. I’ve learned that resilience is crucial to navigating those challenges. Entrepreneurship is full of setbacks, and it’s easy to get discouraged. However, the ability to keep going, even when the going gets tough, has been a fundamental part of Atomic Revenue’s success. Resilience is a trait that every entrepreneur must cultivate.10. Being a Lifelong Learner
Finally, I’ve come to realize that learning never stops. There are always new tools, techniques, and approaches to explore. I’ve made it a point to stay curious and humble, always open to new insights and bringing team members into conversations to share their expertise. The journey of learning—whether from successes or failures—is what keeps me motivated. It’s important to never stop growing, both personally and professionally.Conclusion
As we celebrate 10 years at Atomic Revenue, I can confidently say that these lessons have been essential to our growth. There’s no formula for success, but the lessons we’ve learned along the way have helped us navigate the challenges and take advantage of opportunities. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, but I’m also excited about what the next 10 years will bring. The journey is far from over, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us. Here’s to continuing to learn, grow, and succeed together!
About the Author
Tara is the Founder and CEO of Atomic Revenue, where she continues to problem-solve, innovate, and define the formula for and establish the discipline of revenue operations that launches client growth with stronger foundations and better ROI. As the company's EOS® Visionary, it is her passion to share what she has learned over the course of her career and help other business owners and leaders increase revenue and grow with consistency. She is also a renowned national speaker.
