
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.

When it comes to valuing a business, risk is everything. Imagine bidding at an auction on a note that might pay $1 million or might pay nothing—how high would you go?
Now, if that $1 million was guaranteed, suddenly, you’d pay much more.
The difference? Predictability. Too many profitable businesses fail to sell because they lack this key ingredient.
Curious about building investor confidence? Join the free Business Owners Club and our live Zoom session on November 19.

As a kid, “Uncle Ted” terrified me—he saw through my spoiled antics and wasn’t afraid to call me out. Later, I realized he was more than tough; he was a self-made success and, eventually, a mentor. But when it came time to sell his thriving business, things didn’t go as planned. Now, I share his story to help other business owners avoid his fate.

9 out of 10 business owners struggle to sell their businesses on terms they want. Why?
They can’t convince investors of their business’s future potential in the right hands.
If you want to attract serious buyers and keep control over the deal, start planning now.
Sign in to the Owners Club for the 4 questions you need to answer to make your business investor-ready. Plus, join our Open Office Discussion!.

Last night, I watched a documentary on the 2004 Red Sox—a team that, after 86 years, made bold moves to secure a championship.
It reminded me of a key insight when valuing businesses: like a traded sports icon, your past efforts alone don’t drive investor interest.
Investors focus on future potential under their control.
Find out more in our free Owners Portal and Join me on November 19 for a free session where I’ll cover how to make your business irresistible to investors.

Ever thought about what would happen if life threw you an unexpected curveball?
I recently heard a story that hit me hard—a business owner who poured everything into his work until, one day, he couldn’t anymore.
No backup plan, no safety net… and in an instant, everything he’d built was on the line.
It’s a powerful reminder of why having a business that can be sold today really matters.

A conversation with Brian highlighted the millions he saved by building a sellable business even when he didn’t have any intention to sell at the time.

It was on another election day that I started my new life here in Dubai. The people I’d meet and the experiences I’d have in that job would shape why I started Sophiall and why I strongly believe that every entrepreneur deserves success and shouldn’t miss out like 70% of other business owners who build profitable companies but can’t successfully sell them or pass them down.

I got to experience first-hand the ridiculous pitch a café owner made when it came time to sell her business and I wished to see her current financials.
Now her answer wasn’t so out of the ordinary. Often business owners have the incorrect conception of what makes their business attractive to someone else.
The stakes are too high to find yourself in this same no-mans land so we have released a new course in the Owners’ Portal. Read on to find out more.
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