by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 29, 2025 | Business Value, Dependency on Owner
In a small Greek village we’ve spent the last month, I saw a business die in real time.There was a restaurant — 30 years in the same family.Run by a man, his wife, and his brother.They were crushing it.Loyal locals.Repeat tourists with summer homes who came back every...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 25, 2025 | Business Value, Customer Experience
It’s our last weekend in Greece.We went to one of our go-to restaurants from the last 10+ years.“Can I get another half kilo of the rosé? And maybe some watermelon for the kids?”The waiter replied, curtly:“No, we don’t do that anymore. I’ll bring the dessert...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 23, 2025 | Customer Experience, Business Value
I told you yesterday about my favorite seafood restaurant in Greece.Well, I went back again — and it confirmed something every business owner needs to tattoo on their forehead:Lifetime value isn’t just a customer stat — it’s how you build freedom, wealth, and...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 22, 2025 | Business Value, Customer Experience
It’s my last week in Greece.We returned to my favorite seafood spot — not just for the incredible food, but for something that’s vanished almost everywhere else in the past 12 months:Hospitality.After the meal, they brought out a fresh bowl of fruit. No extra charge....
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 18, 2025 | Business Value, Scaling the Business
I met Selim three years ago at an owner’s roundtable.He had a team of 18.Gross revenues were around $4 million.The business looked solid from the outside — even admirable.But when I asked, “How’s the cash flow?”He winced.“We’re doing OK… it’s just tight because we’re...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 17, 2025 | Business Value
I caught up here in Greece with my client Michaelis this week.He is a brilliant guy. Founder of a SaaS company with solid tech, great support, loyal team.He was laughing, joking, and teasing me for putting ice cubes in the village Rose wine we were sharing.6 months...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 16, 2025 | Business Value
Let’s talk about Rebecca again because I think her story is such a great example.A few months back Rebecca and I were having a coffee and she couldn’t sit still.She was constantly fidgeting, snapping at her phone like it had personally insulted her.“She called me...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 15, 2025 | Business Value
Next to one of the first beach clubs here is a restaurant.The owners of the restaurant competed against the beach club with their own chairs and umbrellas.But the beach club was more popular and had patrons all day and into the late evening.The restaurant owners...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 14, 2025 | Business Value
We try so hard to represent everybody, we alienate everybody,”Greg Schultz, the national campaign manager of former President Joseph R. Biden’s 2020 primary run.Sam wanted to sell his business.It was profitable. But nothing special.He knew it. And worse — so would a...
by George Sotiropoulos | Jul 11, 2025 | Business Value
Yesterday I talked about brutal truths.Today, let’s get specific — because the lies you believe (or let slide) are already sabotaging your business.Let’s start with your customers:How satisfied are they really?How many come back — without begging?How many rave about...
