In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufrense didn’t wait until he was “ready” for his exit. When he picked up that rock hammer for the first
His name was Robert. Engineering consultancy. Fifteen years in business. Solid revenue. Good clients. Respected in his industry. On paper, worth north of $2 million.
One of my first clients was proud of his spreadsheet. Massive thing. Hundreds of tabs. Colour-coded. Formulas nested inside formulas. He’d built the entire accounting
“My customers are different.” “My employees wouldn’t respond to that.” “My industry doesn’t work that way.” BS I hear these lines constantly. From owners in
A friend of mine owns a construction company. Every time I see him, he looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge backwards. Bloodshot eyes.
I once had a potential client who ran a logistics company. Smart guy. Built the thing from nothing. Knew every truck, every driver, every client
This week I told you two stories. The first was a man who threw a chair across a Greek café, danced a warrior dance, and
That’s how the conversation started. No excitement. No ambition. Just a man who’d spent years building a technology business and was ready to be done
This week I’ve been telling you about a friend who turned down an 8-figure offer for his business that happened to be seven times bigger
Yesterday I told you about a tiny café in a Greek village. A three-piece band. A warrior dance. A chair thrown across the room. After
The café was tiny. Packed wall to wall. The kind of place you’d walk past and never notice if you didn’t know it was there.
I was with a business owner while he took a Zoom call from Greece. Everyone else has the usual fake backgrounds. Blurred offices. Corporate bookshelves
This week I told you a story. A company that found a niche so good it felt like magic. Fuel delivered to your doorstep. A
I was a loyal customer. Weekly fuel deliveries. Used the car wash. Topped up the tyres. The kind of customer every business says they want.
“I don’t mind the price… I just hate being ripped off” My sister was shaking her head. We had just finished with a one year
Recurring revenue is one of the four levers investors love. Money that arrives like clockwork. Predictable. Bankable. The kind of revenue that lets you plan
Yesterday I told you about a company that nailed its niche. Fuel delivery to your doorstep. Specific. Underserved. Painful enough that people happily paid for
Yesterday I talked about the four levers investors care about. Today we start with the first one: profitable niches. And I want to tell you
Here’s something that stings when you first hear it. Investors don’t care how hard you work. They don’t care about your 5am starts, your grinding
This week wasn’t random. It was about understanding what you’re really selling. And having the spine to protect it. We started with the dog grooming
“Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in.” My favourite line from my least favourite Godfather movie. And I hear it
I live next to the Headquarters of one of the largest Grocery chains in the Middle East. They have a full-size café which is the
“I’m really sorry that because I’m so attractive, you chose this expensive restaurant for our date.” She raised her glass for a pour. At the
“But it’s not about the dogs…” she proclaimed. “It’s about the men in the yachts parked nearby.” I’d never heard a dog grooming community pitched
I love this story I heard at an event this week. Years ago, a founder walked into his office with nothing but a sketch of
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: Teacher, which
After several weeks away, we came home to the wonderful surprise of our Samsung washing machine being dead. Mid-cycle the beeping begins — and this
4th quarter. Bears down by 18. “Can I call them the Greedies?” my daughter Sophia asked about the Green Bay Packers. “Sure,” I said. I
This week had a theme about owners breaking their own businesses … Slowly, unintentionally, and with the best of intentions. Monday we met Skinny-Leg Arm
Is your business worth less than your morning coffee?
It’s not a joke—it’s a wake-up call. Many business owners think they’re building a goldmine, only to find out their business isn’t worth what they thought.
Want to know if you’re on the right track? I’m sharing how to avoid wasting time and money.
See more inside
Imagine waking up to a knock on the door that changes everything. A sudden tragedy, a business in chaos, and a once-secure future crumbling. One family learned the hard way what happens when a business isn’t a true asset.
Could your business survive 90 days without you? If not, its value might be shockingly low. Discover how to secure your legacy before it’s too late…
What’s killing your chances of selling your business? It’s not what you think…
One business owner thought he was set to retire—until I told him his business might not be worth anything. Profits alone won’t guarantee a sale if you’re making these critical mistakes.
Are you unknowingly sabotaging your exit plan? Discover the hidden factors that could keep you from cashing out when you’re ready…
This post is tough to write, but the lesson is invaluable. A tragic accident turned a joyful celebration into an unimaginable loss. It made me reflect: how often do we act recklessly, unaware of the consequences? Also for those of us running a business, remember: life is unpredictable. Are you prepared for the unexpected? Reflect on your choices today. Read on for more.
What would you do if your top client was more trouble than they’re worth? This week, we explored the bold move of firing a #1 customer who drained resources and blocked better opportunities. Would you have the courage to cut ties with a PIA client? Caroline and Susan’s story is fictional, but the lessons are real. Sometimes, letting go is the key to unlocking growth, as Renee discovered in a true story.
Caroline had enough. An 8 a.m. meeting, endless waiting, and then… she did the unthinkable. For the first time, Susan was left speechless.
What did Carline do to her biggest client? And why did she feel freedom instead of fear?
How do you handle your most difficult customers, especially when they start affecting other opportunities for your business? Caroline was at a breaking point, torn between a demanding client and a crucial new deal. How do you discern and what freedom do you have when it comes to who you do business with? It’s a theme we touch on this week and in part 1 of this series.
For those of you in the US, there is a big demographic Whale that will severely affect you if you are a 55 year old + business owner looking to comfortably retire by selling your business anytime in the next 5-10 years.
Does your business have what it takes to stand out and attract investors? Click to find out more..
Sign up to receive daily insights, actionable strategies, and expert advice to help you free up your time, boost profits, and build a sellable business.