Running an SME is a balancing act. One moment you’re chasing new customers, the next you’re putting out operational fires, managing your team, or keeping an eye on cash flow. With so much happening at once, it’s easy to get caught in the whirlwind and lose sight of what actually drives progress. That’s where KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) come in. Think of them as the dashboard of your business. Just like a car’s dashboard shows speed, fuel, and warning signals, KPIs tell

Most people start a business because they’re good at something. A baker bakes. A designer designs. A plumber fixes pipes. And when the doors open, it’s natural to lean on what you know best: doing the work. But as businesses grow, simply doing more of the work isn’t enough. That’s where the three personalities of a business owner come into play:   The Technician  The Manager  The Entrepreneur. The Technician lives in the present moment. This part of you loves the craft, the h

Mission statements often get dismissed as corporate wallpaper. They appear in annual reports, on websites, and sometimes in glossy frames in the office lobby. But too often, they’re forgotten in practice. The reality is, a well-crafted mission statement is one of the most powerful tools a business can have. When done right, it becomes more than a sentence. It’s the compass that helps leaders make hard choices, the anchor that keeps a culture steady during change, and the spar

Most companies set goals. They talk about hitting revenue targets, growing market share, or launching new products. Those are fine but they rarely ignite passion. That’s where the idea of a BHAG; a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal comes in. The term was introduced by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their landmark book   Built to Last   (1994). Collins described a BHAG as a bold, long-term vision, something so clear and compelling that it inspires people to stretch far beyond busine

When companies face uncertainty, leaders often rush to look for the next big idea or the perfect strategy. It feels natural to ask, “What should we do?” But in practice, the better question is almost always, “Who should we do it with?”. Jim Collins captured this insight in his book   Good to Great : get the right people on the bus, put them in the right seats, and let the wrong people off. Only then can you decide where that bus should go. It sounds simple, but in fast-growin

Change isn’t optional anymore. In today’s world, whether you’re introducing a new tool, shifting strategies, or adapting your culture, how you lead change can make or break your organization especially for small businesses. Here are three essential steps that help change move from idea to impact. Do these well, and change doesn’t just happen; it strengthens your team, raises morale, and builds long-term resilience. 1. Talk Early, Talk Often People don’t resist change when the

We’ve all worked with managers who simply “keep the wheels turning” and others who inspire us to do our best work. The difference often...

In growing companies, alignment and speed are often harder to maintain than strategy itself. That’s why one of the most powerful habits...

Every company says they care about culture. It shows up in hiring pitches, in leadership speeches, sometimes even painted on office...

Most executives drown in metrics. Customer satisfaction scores, market share, retention rates, each promising to be the key to growth....

In 1996, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras published one of Harvard Business Review’s most enduring articles,   “Building Your Company’s...

Family businesses are the backbone of many economies, often built on decades of hard work, trust, and shared values. But anyone who’s...

In today’s fast-changing business world, leaders are expected to do far more than oversee operations or meet deadlines. The role of a...

Change is inevitable in business but so is resistance. Whether it’s a new process, a system upgrade, or a major shift in company...

Just a few years ago, artificial intelligence felt reserved for elite tech firms. Today, it’s woven into everyday business from the...

I’ve been working with a boss who has ADHD for about a month now. Although he mentioned it during the interview, I didn’t fully...