Did you miss our recent workshop on standing out in a crowded market? Don’t worry! Here’s a quick recap of the key insights and actionable strategies we covered. Dive in to see how understanding and leveraging customer desires can transform your business. Plus, join us for a deeper dive at our live session in Dubai this Wednesday!
Read on for more details.
Hi, Who handles the selling in your business? If you’re directly involved, it reduces your business’s value. Investors and buyers prefer companies where the owner
Yesterday, I shared how we helped an Events company owner expand into Saudi Arabia while reigniting growth in her core business. The secret? Understanding the real reasons restaurant owners hire her – and it’s not what you think. By shifting her focus, she left competitors in the dust. Want to know how she filled seats and achieved success? Click to discover one of the key insights we used
Ever feel like your business is burying you, preventing major expansion? I had a client in the event industry facing the same challenge. She was stuck between scaling her business and a major expansion into Saudi Arabia. How did she manage to ignite growth while freeing up time for her expansion? Curious to learn how you can do the same?
Why are loyal Starbucks customers turning away more and more? Is it just about rising prices or is there a deeper issue at play that’s a critical lesson for any business? Are you unknowingly making the same mistake? Discover a key factor in Starbucks’ recent struggles and how to avoid them in your own business. Click to read the full story and protect your brand from a similar fate
Want to know how a small business in Dubai is outshining its competitors and charging premium prices? At a recent Hellenic Business Council meeting, Mazen Kannan, founder of House of Pops, shared some game-changing secrets. His approach is transforming the market and attracting top-tier customers. Curious about his strategy and how it can revolutionise your business? Join our next Profit and Dine Differentiation Series to uncover the full story. Seats are limited—click to learn more!
Tired of clients who want premium results but refuse to invest? In my latest article, I explore this common challenge and why it’s crucial to stand out and communicate your unique value. Don’t let “Discount Zombies” drain your time and force bad decisions. Our next Profit and Dine Series dives deep into this topic. Join us online on June 13th or live on June 19th to learn more. Seats are limited—click to secure your spot
Ever felt like you’re blending in rather than standing out? Patrick did too, in his attempt to woo Siobhan with the same old moves as everyone else. His story is a stark reminder of what happens when you allow yourself to become a commodity. Curious to learn how this tale relates to your business and how you can stand out? Read more to uncover the key to earning more and stressing less.
Ever faced a client trying to lowball your prices? Ever feel like it’s getting harder, not easier, to attract and retain the clients you want? There’s a common reason behind both issues, and it might not be what you think. Many businesses fall into this trap. Curious about this common pitfall? How to avoid it is the subject of our next Profit and Dine Differentiation Workshop Series?
Stay tuned for details.
How differentiated are your top 3 services? At a recent Profit and Dine event, I asked participants to rate theirs on a scale from 1 to 100. The answers were surprising, revealing a common issue many businesses face. If you think you’re just another player in a crowded market, there is some real hope to get you out of that quicksand. Discover why some rated their services as a pure commodity and what that means for your business. Click to read the full story and find out more.
Stay tuned for details.
This week, we undertook a Challenge to Success Exercise for Reg. In just a few emails, Reg received a roadmap to stand out, niche down, and accelerate his business success. He avoided the pitfalls of generic marketing advice and found support from fellow SME owners. That’s why our next Profit and Dine Series will deliver game-changing insights for SME owners. Just 15 minutes can transform your business. Coming in less than 3 weeks.
Stay tuned for details.
Yesterday, we discussed Reg’s challenge in standing out from large corporate competitors and today we go into what specific areas he should focus. How should Reg proceed? What have fellow readers been telling him?
Yesterday, we discussed Reg’s challenges with articulating why he’s different and he should be hired on an engagement. Today we go into greater detail on the other key aspect of what makes him stand out in a crowd. How should Reg proceed? What have fellow readers been telling him?
Yesterday, we discussed Reg’s marketing profile for his new consulting business and why it was doomed from the start. Today we go into greater detail by starting on the question why someone should hire Reg for an engagement. How should Reg proceed? Share your thoughts, and I’ll pass them along.
Meet Reg, a seasoned corporate veteran branching out into his own consulting business. His beautifully structured marketing profile is, surprisingly, a detriment. Why? Discover the dangers, key insights and strategies throughout the week but starting here.
During my MBA studies at the University of Chicago, I learned about “sawing the floor,” a concept where you outmaneuver a larger competitor by exploiting a neglected niche. This strategy helped me launch million-dollar institutional trading desks in London and Dubai. It’s simple in concept but requires clarity and dedicated focus to execute. This approach can transform any small business once you understand your target market’s core desires and effectively communicate your solution.
A disastrous date taught me a vital business lesson: be true to yourself. In business, trying to please everyone leads to mediocrity. Instead, focus on attracting the right audience and repelling those who aren’t a fit. When you’re clear on your purpose and ideal clients, it’s easier to be heard by the right people and achieve powerful results.
A recent conversation with a yoga influencer highlighted a powerful business truth. Most entrepreneurs would envy her loyal following and unique brand. She’s 80% there – the last 20% is legal structure, marketing, and other logistics. Too many entrepreneurs do it backward, creating a solution before finding an audience. Success comes from understanding your audience first and building around their desires..
Remember the heyday of online dating with cliché profiles? Many businesses fall into the same trap, underselling themselves and competing on price. By learning to stand out and communicate effectively, you can choose your clients, set your terms, and achieve higher sales and profits. It only takes a few months to escape the bog of commoditization. Start with taking that first step, not on a moonlit beach, but towards business clarity and success.
In networking events, many describe their business in basic functional terms, which commoditizes their services. Instead, focus on the unique value you provide. “I save clients $5-10K annually on taxes” is more compelling than “I do your books.” This approach attracts higher-quality prospects and allows you to charge for the full impact of your work, improving your quality of life as a business owner.
Think delegation is just about assigning tasks? Think again. Effective delegation is an art—a strategic four-stage process that gradually transfers responsibility while increasing accountability. From hand-holding to complete autonomy, each stage prepares your team to take the reins effectively.
Take a quick look at the four stages that can change your business, allow you to free your time and transform your life.
Meet Mary, an entrepreneur who isn’t buffeted by financial stress, but is driven by a different kind of hunger. She has all the resources, yet she seeks something more invaluable for her specialty snacks brand. What is Mary chasing that money can’t buy? Discover what’s driving her to scale her business and how it’s shared by many other business owners.
Ever wondered how dating woes could teach valuable business lessons? Surprisingly, both realms often suffer from a common issue that leads to both heartache and empty bank accounts.
This shared culprit affects everyone from misguided incels to struggling business owners.
Dive into our latest piece to uncover this insidious trap and learn effective strategies to avoid it, ensuring your business—and maybe even your love life—thrives by one simple discipline.
Ever caught in the cycle of ‘I’m gonna be like you, Dad (or mom)’? This poignant reflection stirred by Harry Chapin’s classic song reveals the often overlooked costs of work-life imbalance. As business owners, the pressure to provide can sometimes distance us from life’s truly precious moments—our children’s milestones. Explore how striving for a balanced life not only shapes a successful and more profitable business but also fosters the relationships that matter most. Are you happy with how you’re balancing the demands of success with your family’s needs?
Struggling with delegation? You’re not alone. Many leaders face the dilemma of expecting employees to think like owners without an equity stake, leading to frustration on both sides.
Discover why shifting this mindset is crucial for effective delegation and how understanding the real dynamics of employer-employee relationships can simplify your management strategy.
Stay tuned for actionable insights on mastering the four steps of delegation—more details coming later this week
Ever found yourself working tirelessly yet seeing your bank balance refute your efforts, loudly proclaiming that “Zero is not an achievement”? I recently faced a similar impasse. Echoing the old adage about doctors not treating themselves, I turned to my trusted Mastermind group for insights.
The collaborative power of the group provided me with actionable, simple adjustments—none requiring hefty investments. It’s a humbling reminder that even those who offer guidance can benefit from it in return, continuing the virtuous circle of learning and support. If you’re struggling to juggle everything alone, consider this an invitation to join a community committed to mutual success
In the last couple of days we have been talking about the muddy trap of commoditisation. Recall the story of Jane, who found herself dedicating 70% of her time to a client that only contributed 20% to her profits.
Together, we tackled her dilemma, not by simply cutting ties, but by first freeing her from the commodity bog. We identified her unique value, so she could distinguish herself from the masses with similar claims.
With newfound clarity and confidence, Jane was able to prioritise the right clients and enjoy the growth and stability that was escaping her before. Stuck in the mud yourself? Let’s connect and find your unique business path out of the quagmire.
As a business owner, ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels without making progress?
It remined me about my first concert experience seeing Boston back in the late ’80s—post a heavy rainfall, we found our car stuck in the mud. Just like in business, where many find themselves trapped, unable to grow and resorting to desperation.
Stuck in the mud usually comes from one issue – and the good news is that it’s an issue you often can remedy without expensive toys or gadgets.
In business, it’s crucial to discern which clients add value and which ones drain your soul. Applying a biblical verse, Matthew 7:6 on casting pearls before swine, my latest article explores the significance of protecting your valuable efforts from being wasted on unprofitable relationships.
Meet Jane, a social media entrepreneur who learned to fire her “pigs” to grow the business and bring in more. And it just took three questions as you will see
Next week, our Master Round Table and Cigar Experience will reveal crucial strategies for reclaiming your time through smarter delegation. Ever wonder why delegating sometimes fails spectacularly? We’ll explore three common pitfalls that could be undermining your efforts and how to navigate them successfully.
Join us to uncover the subtle art of empowering your team without falling into the typical traps that could cost you more than just time.
The mall was dead today.
First day of school — but no parents, no buzz, no business.
Why?
The parking fees went up.
Now everyone’s gone.
One tiny short-term decision is destroying long-term value.
Are you doing the same in your business?.
Most founders overcomplicate their business and chase low-value customers. Discover how to simplify, systemize, and scale your business for profit, positioning, and exit — even if you’re stuck in the grind today
“Just pick a dress!”
That’s me this morning — negotiating like a hostage negotiator with a 4-year-old who couldn’t decide what to wear.
What would have worked much better? A uniform. A hard system (which she will be required to wear starting next week Tuesday).
And that’s when it hit me —
Most founders don’t have uniforms in their business.
They’ve got chaos, decisions, firefighting… every single day.
Here’s the wake-up call (and the solution)
“Why are you grabbing their shoes?”
My wife wasn’t wrong — and her comment hit harder than I expected.
Because I’ve seen too many business owners make the exact same mistake — and stay stuck for years because of it.
Read on and see if this common life and business killer looks familiar and what you can do about it.
“I didn’t want the business. I just wanted my dad.”
A reader sent me that after my last post — and it remined me of the song Cat in the Cradle.
His father built a profitable company from nothing.
But it took everything from him.
Time. Health. Connection. Life.
When he finally offered it to his son —
the answer was no.
Not because the business didn’t make money.
But because no one else could survive it.
Founders, if you’re building something no one wants to inherit…
Maybe it’s time to change what you’re building
He built it for his son.
His son didn’t want it.
And now the business is gone.
Founders — your legacy only matters if someone actually wants it.
Let me show you how to make sure it’s worth passing on — or selling for millions.
I haven’t trimmed my beard in two weeks.
Not because I’m lazy.
Because the only guy I trust is out of town — and I’d rather look like a werewolf than let the wrong hands touch my face.
That’s loyalty.
And if your business doesn’t have customers who feel that way about you — you’re leaving a goldmine untapped.
Let me tell you why the best clients are the “wolfmen”…
(And why you never, ever let them go.)
I saw a restaurant commit business suicide.
I watched a project lose its sponsor and still gain value.
And I spent 7 weeks away — not because I’m rich.
But because I built for control.
Most entrepreneurs build themselves a cage.
Q4 is about unlocking the door — and stepping into open roads and open skies.
If you want real control over your time, money, and relationships…
Stay tuned.
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