
The Week We Stopped Fooling Ourselves
There’s a moment every business owner hits. Not the breakdown. Not the burnout. The moment before that — when you realise you’re fooling yourself. This

There’s a moment every business owner hits. Not the breakdown. Not the burnout. The moment before that — when you realise you’re fooling yourself. This

This week’s stories all had one thing in common: They started in the wreckage. The mirror moment — when the problem wasn’t “out there,” but

Mark had everything most business owners dream of. A company pulling seven figures. A loyal team. Even a nice villa, with a view that made

Last Friday, during the SBC M&A Deep Dive, one of the participants said something that nailed what’s wrong with most business owners in our region:

At a recent event, I met the owner of one of the top PR agencies in the region. She was brilliant — sharp, strategic, and

“Mirror Mirror on the wall… what is my business telling me after all?” There’s a punch in the gut many business owners face – the

This week’s stories had one thing in common — control. The illusion of it. The cost of it. And what happens when you finally learn
Giles was the smartest owner in the room. In fact he would tell you .. the smartest in any room. Rules and contracts didn’t really

There’s an Owner I once knew — let’s call him Mark. Mark had built a thriving business over fifteen years. A loyal team, great clients,

Ever worked with someone who built a process for everything — except getting anything done? A client once told me about a manager like that.

We took my daughters to the community Halloween party yesterday. In the gaming section was a station where you threw a Velcro ball against a

I had drinks with my client the other week. He runs an eight-figure company. He doesn’t go to the office anymore. Takes his daughters to

Two businesses. Same profit. Different value. One was chaotic — late invoices, key clients dependent on the owner, constant fires. The other? Calm. Systemised. Predictable.

Could your business survive 90 days without you? Take some time to think about it… If not, how about 60 Days…. Or 30 Days…. Or

Tim Ferris – 4 hour work week, and Emyth are great reads but they are often misunderstood. Many business owners read them and think they

If so… there were much easier ways to do that… Such as volunteering at the local neighbourhood sweat shop. Or digging a swimming pool in

The first time I ever really delegated something important…it blew up in my face. The client wasn’t happy.The delivery was off.And the person I trusted

Yesterday, we talked about what happens when the best salesperson becomes the worst manager. He was a star broker. The kind of guy who could

He could sell ice to Eskimos.Charm, wit, energy — the full package.Every deal closed felt like a solo act. And when his company needed a

We got married in 2014 at a place called Stadion, a private home perched above the sea near Finikounda in Messinia. The owner, Kosta, was

Let’s play a little game. Walk into your office Monday morning. Now ask yourself one question: “Who am I in my business?” There are 3

Here’s a Harsh truth no one tells you: If your business needs you — it’s not worth s*** You might be pulling in high revenue.

It was one email. Just one I didn’t send. That was the moment everything started to change. I had a client who needed a report.

Meet Mark. Mid-40s. Successful. Owns a Seven-figure business. Well Respected in his industry. But he’s completely exhausted with a maxed out calendar. A phone that

I was having drinks with my “Koumbaro” (close friend) this Friday. I’ve spoken about him before He owns an 8 figure business that has tripled

Recap of this week’s stories and what they reveal about building a business that gives you your life back. This week, we didn’t talk about

Too many founders surround themselves with people just like them — and stall their growth. Here’s why having humility leads to smart business growth

I ran into someone last week I hadn’t seen in a long time. We used to be part of the same business networking group —

There’s a moment every business owner hits… That foggy middle ground where you’re busy — but stuck. Meetings, calls, pitching… yet no traction. So what

I was at a low point. Cash was tight. Confidence was thinner. Still, I forced myself out to meet an old colleague for a drink.

What if someone handed you $50 million to step away from your business… only for you to buy it back for $5 million just 18 months later?
Sounds crazy, right?
Yet, that’s exactly what happened to one business owner—thanks to a team of Blue Chip consultants who thought profit was more important than common sense.
What went wrong? And how do you avoid the same fate?

What’s the biggest fear that silently kills businesses?
It’s not losing customers. It’s not bad marketing. It’s something far more subtle—yet it leads to the biggest mistakes and leaves the most money on the table.
Most business owners don’t even realize they’re trapped by it. I saw it firsthand when people thought I was insane for one simple decision I made.
Turns out, they were wrong.

Nothing more annoying than being tailgated by a speed camera. If you speed up because of the guy riding your tail you face the possibility of a speeding fine. Stay where you are and you might be rear-ended.
What if you are the annoying driver when it comes to your business.. do you think you might be? Read on to find out if that is the case.

Some businesses scale effortlessly. Others struggle, stall, or collapse under their own weight.
The difference? It’s not intelligence, luck, or even resources. It comes down to one simple rule—a rule that championship sports teams, billion-dollar companies, and elite entrepreneurs all understand.
Most people ignore it. And it costs them millions.
I break it down in my latest article.

Would you let $235 a month cost you millions?
Sounds ridiculous, right? But I’ve seen business owners sabotage multi-million dollar deals just to save a few bucks on proper bookkeeping and financial reporting.
One refused to upgrade her accountant—her deal fell apart in due diligence. Another wasted hours in Excel hell instead of growing his business.
The #1 deal killer? Poorly done financial records.
Don’t be the Black Knight hacking away with no arms

Jay was leading an M&A team set to close a major acquisition the next day.
That night, they took the seller out for a celebratory dinner. Drinks were flowing, and the owner had too much.
As they were leaving, things turned awkward. The seller got aggressive with the staff, grabbed his car keys, and drove off.
The next morning?
The deal was dead

Last night, I had a simple goal: clear out an old room and get rid of a bed in excellent condition that had been sitting in storage for three years.
What should’ve been an easy giveaway turned into something much more interesting.
It made me rethink the difference between transactions and relationships… short-term cash and long-term value.
And how these same principles shape the businesses that truly thrive.

Is your business less independent than my 3 and 5-year-olds?
Next week, I’m flying to Greece for my father’s funeral. It’ll be the first time in five years that I won’t be sleeping under the same roof as my daughters.
They’re 5 and 3 now—not old enough to take the keys, but they’ll manage just fine. My wife has it all under control.
It made me think, though… How many business owners can say the same about their companies?
If you step away for a week, does everything fall apart?
Sure, your business might pay the bills, but that’s not freedom. That’s a trap.
There’s a playbook for building a business that works without you—one that frees your time, reduces stress, and builds real value.
Have you started working on yours?
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