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How do we take on the impossible (extended version)

The next page is blank — what will you write on it?”

That blank page is where every leader’s story begins. It’s an invitation to define your own impossible, to confront fear with courage, and to step into the unknown with purpose.

Because the impossible isn’t conquered in one leap.  It’s achieved one choice, one challenge, one belief at a time.

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What separates good businesses from great

Less than 5% of businesses ever hit £1M.  Not because the market’s against them, but because the owner stays stuck in "do-er mode."  They’re still the chief marketer, salesperson, decision-maker, fire-fighter and bookkeeper. 

Long hours, short tempers, and a business that only grows when they work harder and longer.

The difference between a c£200K business and a £1M business isn’t luck, it’s leadership.  Great business owners learn to step out of the chaos and build a structure that can thrive without them.

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Why not investing is a dumb idea

Whilst I understand that there is a need to ‘cut your cloth’ when business is tough, trimming away the wrong investments is potentially catastrophic. Downturns don’t last forever. 

SMEs that treat them as opportunities; to market smarter, build stronger teams, and plan with purpose, emerge fitter and more competitive.

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Why slowing down is the key to speeding up

A pause can feel like you’re stalling.  Worrying that taking time out to restructure or rethink will lose you momentum, that competitors will pull ahead, that your business is in trouble.  In reality, it’s often the opposite – trust the process.

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Business success: the hidden cost

When you picture a successful small business owner, you often see the trappings of success, the nice house, the car, the holidays abroad etc.  What you don’t see is the cost behind the curtain.

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Promoting internally: Why your best employees often fail

Promoting the wrong person can often drain your finances and morale due to lost productivity, disengaged teams and missed deadlines.  It eats up time, energy and focus you don’t have.  Does “Why can’t they just do the job I pay them to?” sound familiar?

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