As we become experts in what we do we can fall into a common trap. Treating prospects and customers as children because they are not a proficient in whatever niche we specialise. It can drive away lots of good customers…
Many business owners take the shortcut and use their tax description to describe to prospects what they do. That ends up commoditising them, opening them to the “google slap” (where prospects go on google and find thousands of others who do the same thing for cheaper) and putting them at the mercy of price wars and bad attitude clients. See how one conversation changed my client from this fate to something much better…
Trying to grow your business and do everything yourself? Good luck….
In this last restaurant we see how an owner’s personal attitude can drive the culture and ultimate success or failure of his business. How the “brand”of his business is tied up in how he presents himself to his potential customers.
I’m in Greece this week and will highlight some observations I see from different F&Bs that have customer experience and underlying business value lessons for all types of businesses. In the second one we have the most successful restaurant on the strand. Every day lunch and dinner he has full tables. And it stems from providing consistent high quality experience from the passerby to the final bill payment. An experience that gives him a constant stream of repeat patrons and others referred by friends or the high reviews.
I’m in Greece this week and will highlight some observations I see from different F&Bs that have customer experience and underlying business value lessons for all types of businesses. In the first one, we have a nice owner and a nice clean place but it’s sabotaged by confused messaging of what it is and some very awful pictures and inaccurately paint a low quality vision of what to expect inside.
Trying to grow the business on the back of monkeys? By investing in your employees, you’ll not only improve productivity but also attract the best new talent to continue driving the growth of the business.
What is the most effective way to sell a new product or service to your customers? Listen to them, find their pain and needs and then design the product or service. Most do it backwards and then find themselves struggling to find an audience for what they created. Learn the formula from direct marketing to know what to priortise and when.
Today the lesson is how to organically grow the business by leveraging an overlooked asset… your existing customer base and unlock the key to how most successful businesses were able to scale and grow.
Pricing is an overlooked and powerful lever of growth but it’s often determined incorrectly or unnecessarily limited.
We touch on due diligence today and the uncomfortable questions you can head off by preparing from today and turning a painful process into a beneficial one.
Buying a business is akin to a game of inches – it’s the fine details that can make or break the deal. Scrutinize your contracts, work on your growth paths, and be prepared for tough negotiations. Don’t let a few oversights cost you a potential sale. It’s not just about getting to the end zone, it’s about ensuring every yard is fought for and won
In 1985, the Chicago Bears learned the hard way that you can’t run the same play repeatedly and hope for different results. A striking parallel to an owner who kept spinning the wheel, hoping buyers would overlook his over-involvement in the business. Like in the game of football, businesses thrive on the right fundamentals and the ability to adapt. Are you making the necessary adjustments or sticking stubbornly to the same play?
my first M&A deal taught me a lot and especially how character can make or define success. A spoiled son decides to play in the big leagues and learns quickly the ball flies pretty fast and can be pretty hard. He hesitates and costs him millions.
what happens when you build a real business and you want to retire and sell but allow one function to fall short because its leader is incompetent or lazy… same as what happens when you fumble the ball on the goal line every down….
The Movie Any Given Sunday was famous for highlighting the battle for inches on both the football field and life. From personal experience I can tell you the inches look deceptively simple and often it’s just a few that separates the consistent winners from the losers. This week we’ll go into more detail on why that’s the case in business.
In the story with David and Nathan, David was having an “affair’ with his business by being so busy in day to day thankless tasks that he was neglecting growing the company and his own family. In my experience, several owners who were too busy to invest 20 minutes in finding out the strengths and risks in the underlying value of their business are no longer in business today. It’s not a coincidence.
In the story with David and Nathan, David says in passing he stepped away from a recurring revenue opportunity because he was focused on potential costs. In Business, predictability is sexy. You don’t want your business to come off as challenging, volatile, and a “bad boy”.
in the story with David and Nathan, David is allowing himself to take his eyes off his business by indulging the wishes of a customer that has become too big. You don’t want to be at the mercy of a big whale of a customer or it can evaporate your business in a second or keep you up at night worrying about it..
in the story with David and Nathan, David had his “black knight” Jack, who is destroying the value of David’s business by being completely inept in his finance role. It’s an unforced error and 100% avoidable. It just requires a commitment to producing and providing high quality financial reporting.
in the story with David and Nathan, Nathan started by how David’s poor customer experience from outsourcing is destroying the value of his business. Some metrics in this article make Nathan’s point pretty clear…
In the world of business, the real thief may not always be who you expect. David finds out finally the uncomfortable truth – that the thief jeopardizing his company’s value and his family’s future is closer than he thinks.
As the stakes get higher, the complexity intensifies. Juggling projects, pleasing clients – but is David losing sight of what matters?
Tough calls and slashed costs – the realities of running a business. But could these decisions lead to unexpected pitfalls? What will David find out eventually?
David begins suspecting his employees, even one he went above and beyond looking out for. Who in your organization would you protect unconditionally? Is your loyalty justified?
Just when David thinks he has everything under control, a breakfast chat changes everything. Are you aware of everything happening in your business, or is there a blind spot you’re unaware of?
The stakes are high if you plan to sell your business one day. Below is a case study of someone who did everything right when it came to making her business a sellable asset except for one area she wanted to save a couple of dollars …
And the math shows the benefits and costs of enhancing and neglecting the value of your business.
The key to restful sleep as a business owner….
Keep delivering on your promises to customers and suppliers, and continue to provide excellent service and uphold your reputation in the marketplace.
In short, transform your business into a premium, sellable asset that will secure your legacy and provide you with peace of mind.
Call me if you need help doing it.
Here we talk about 3 common anxieties and concerns that cause many business owners – especially those in their late 40s or 50s – sleepless nights..
Met a guy this weekend who was a total hustler but a bit out of his league trying to raise 50% investment. However, he did provide a reminder that we should ensure we walk the walk.. instead of just talk the talk…
It’s 3 a.m. You’re raiding the fridge when—BAM! Blinding light.
Little green men strap you down and start firing questions:
“Why does your business collapse when you’re not there?”
“Why did you miss those family milestones?”
“Why haven’t you built a business that runs without you?”
Sounds ridiculous? Maybe.
But go through due diligence when selling your business—and you’ll feel like you’re in the hot seat.
He built his business with blood, sweat, and tears…
Endless hours. Sacrificed weekends. Missed milestones.
All for the dream of “someday.”
But what if hard work isn’t the hero of this story?
What if it’s the villain—trapping him in a business that can’t run without him?
In my latest article, I challenge the one belief that’s holding most business owners back.
In a world where business owners grind endlessly…
They sacrifice time, miss milestones, and tell themselves “someday it’ll be worth it.”
But someday never comes.
The hero becomes the villain—missing it all and leaving with nothing.
If you’re running your business like this, you need to hear the truth.
In my latest article, I share a lesson from The Dark Knight that might change your business (and your life).
Why are so many business owners playing checkers when they should be playing chess?
The biggest mistake isn’t what you’re doing—it’s what you’re NOT asking:
• Why isn’t my business more profitable today?
• Will anyone actually buy it when I’m ready to sell?
Read inside the answers to tough questions business owners avoid—and reveal the simple strategies to take control and maximise value
Is your business a winning chessboard—or are you reacting to avoid losing your queen?
Here’s the brutal truth: If your business has you stuck in “react mode,” you’re not just stressed—you’re leaving money on the table. It’s less profitable to run today and worth less when it’s time to sell.
In my latest article, I reveal how to escape the trap and take back control.
What if the stress in your business isn’t about your employees, your clients, or even the economy? What if it’s something else entirely?
I recently worked with a business owner who thought her team was the problem—but the real issue went much deeper.
And it wasn’t just creating stress—it was dragging down her business’s value.
Curious what we uncovered—and how she’s turning it around?
Yesterday, I met a business owner who thought he was thriving. He personally closed 90% of his company’s deals and was growing sales every year. But when it came time to sell, his biggest strength became his biggest weakness.
It’s a mistake I see far too often—and it can derail your future plans.
Discover how to avoid it here.
What would you do if someone told you your business was worth little to nothing?
That’s the situation Rebecca faced—until one conversation changed everything.
In just 60 minutes, Rebecca discovered the true value of her company, went back to the negotiating table, and walked away with six figures.
Curious how she did it?
It all started with a single, free assessment.
Click below to read her incredible transformation story—and find out what your business might be worth.
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