A Problem or a symptom? Maybe it’s that they just have no common sense, are showing a lack of commitment, not doing the job properly, must ask you how to do it every time, can’t think for themselves, are not effective enough, need to be more efficient, or just plain quicker. The top one is my all-time favourite quote from an MD about one of his directors, no matter which, they are all statements made Read more…
The Curse of “I Simply Don’t Have the Time” In today’s business world, being busy is the norm, everyone is busy and the more senior you get the busier it seems you are. Business owners in the sub £10m turnover arena usually top this busy list to the point of overwhelm although its likely every MD and CEO has felt this way at some point. When I ask them why they are so busy and Read more…
Why Business Owners Hesitate to Admit Their Potential for Improvement It never ceases to amaze me how fear can grip the most rational minds, especially among those at the helm of businesses. There’s an all-too-common scenario in the business world: owners, often brimming with confidence and success, harbour a deep-seated fear of admitting their potential for improvement. This fear is not just about personal inadequacy but extends to their business models, strategies, and operations. They Read more…
Is why it does. A statistic that most entrepreneurs and business owners have heard is that 80% of businesses go bust in their first 5 years and yet knowing that didn’t stop any of them from starting one, this is most likely down to the fact that they are a positive bunch of know it all’s and none of them think this will happen to them. That should be interesting, that 80% go bust and Read more…
Breaking the Cycle Do you wake up most days feeling like you’re stuck in a repetitive cycle, where today feels just like yesterday and tomorrow seems destined to be the same? Are you putting in long hours, convinced that it’s simply the price you pay for being a business owner? Have you ever stopped to consider that you might be paying your employees more per hour than you pay yourself? If these questions strike a Read more…
Thinking Differently It seems that everyone today is obsessed with the idea of finding one singular, all-encompassing purpose for their life, I think it’s high time to challenge the notion that life’s journey must be guided by a single, defining goal. The pursuit of a singular purpose is often counterproductive, limiting, and even detrimental to your overall well-being. For most people, most of the time, it’s better to embrace the multifaceted nature of our existence Read more…
The Unintended Consequences of a Phrase. “Those that ask don’t get,” is commonly uttered in households, often by parents or guardians attempting to quell the incessant queries or requests of their children. While its immediate effect might be a moment of quiet or a lesson in patience, the long-term ramifications of such a mindset can be profoundly damaging, particularly as these children become adults. What are the negative consequences of this adage and what is Read more…
A Deeper Dive into Human Behaviour One of my favourite clients posed a question recently about why if someone has the capability, the competence, and the willingness to do something why is it that sometimes it still does not happen, that got me thinking so I thought I would attempt to answer this as best I can. The concepts of capability, competence, and willingness often intertwine in the complex tapestry of human behaviour and performance Read more…
The Art of Backward Planning for Long-Term Fulfilment In a world that relentlessly pursues success, a crucial question often goes unanswered: What does success truly mean to you? Most people when faced with what do you want from life start with where they are and yet the more strategic and effective approach involves envisioning your future success in vivid detail and then meticulously working backwards to the present. This reverse engineering of success, focusing on Read more…
The Importance of Setting Clear Principles A country is basically a group of individuals with broadly similar values, who mostly follow a set of rules and are clear on how they are expected to behave. The greatest cultures in the history of the world have been based on this fundamental concept. It’s no coincidence that successful countries have well-defined systems of governance, laws, and societal norms. Similarly, in the world of business, creating a strong Read more…