I’m sure, like me, you appreciate the comfort of knowing exactly what to expect. Having confidence in a service or an experience, that things will be as good – if not better – than the last time. Whether it’s your morning coffee, your favourite supermarket, or that go-to chippy, we’re
Attending SBS Winners Day was an early highlight of 2025! The energy in the room was buzzing, with so many passionate small business owners coming together to learn, share, and celebrate. Events like this remind me just why small businesses matter so much. A True Community Kypros Kyprianou, CEO of
Do you often feel like you’re the glue holding your business together? Like if you stepped away for even a day, the whole thing would wobble (or worse, collapse in a heap)? Guess what! You’re not alone. So many business owners get caught in the trap of doing everything themselves.
Imagine you’re standing at the helm of a boat. You’ve spent January rigging the sails, and you’re finally ready to cast off —full of optimism, excitement, and big ambitions. The sea stretches out before you, endless with possibilities. But here’s the big question: where exactly are you headed? Will you
Most business owners don’t plan: fact!Many hate planning for the same reason they hate meetings, seeing it as a waste of time – all talk and no action. They don’t recognise that their focus on long-term numbers without an action plan that factors in the day-to-day reality of running a
Everyone loves a ‘sexy system’ – those dazzling marketing campaigns, brilliant branding ideas, and wow-worthy moments that keep customers coming back for more. But here’s a thought: what if hiring got the same high energy treatment? Let’s be honest—hiring can feel like a long hard slog. Bureaucratic forms, boring, generic
How Process blocks Progress I have a confession to make… the word process shrinks a little bit of my soul every time I hear it. Don’t get me wrong – I love what process does for business, but the word… not so much! It’s such a corporate, bureaucratic, boring word.
Why do some businesses seem to excel effortlessly while others constantly battle with inconsistency? It’s because it’s not just about having great systems; it’s about making those systems stick. Take McDonald’s. Their success isn’t about their burgers and fries – it’s about their delivery of the same quality and service
Delegation is a bit like Marmite; you either love it, or you really hate the thought of it. But whether you’re a fan or not, delegation is a skill every business owner needs to master. Why? Because, quite frankly, you can’t do everything yourself without burning out and losing good
This Friday the 13th won’t be a day for dodging ladders, avoiding mirrors, or side-stepping black cats, because this particular Friday 13th is also Positive Thinking Day – a day for optimism, for putting aside negative thoughts, and for seeing your glass as very definitely half full. It’s a great
I’ve just come back from two gorgeous weeks in one of my favourite places in the world – Provence, France. Mozzy bites aside, it was absolutely perfect. I just love the relaxed French lifestyle, with the coffee and croissant start to the day, the two hour lunch breaks complete with
So Gareth Southgate is no longer the England football manager, and while many may celebrate that fact, the truth is that there was a lot to admire about his leadership, and certainly as business owners, there is much we can learn from his time in the role. Probably his greatest
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? In the digital age, you’d think that matching good people to great job opportunities would be as simple as finding the perfect recipe online – just follow the steps, and hey presto!. But clearly it’s not. “Why is it so hard to find a
I see it time and time again. Business owners scratching their heads, wondering why they’re not pulling the right candidates into interview. More often than not, I look at their job ad and lo and behold they’ve pushed out something so drab and uninspiring no one in their right mind
It seems like everywhere I turn these days, I hear the same story: business owners struggling to find the right people for their team. I know that many believe it’s a candidate’s market, many more believe there are just no ‘right’ people out there, while others are convinced that they
Consistency isn’t just a virtue; it’s the cornerstone of exceptional customer experience. Whether you’re savouring your morning coffee at Starbucks or marvelling at the seamless service of Amazon, consistency is the secret sauce that keeps customers coming back for more – a powerful tool that builds trust, loyalty, and ultimately,
A wise old man (my dad) once said, ‘Never complain about how much tax you have to pay – the more you’re paying, the more successful you are!’ How true…if still hard to bear at times! A similar mantra could also exist for the relationship between a business and its
Consistency. It’s not the flashiest quality – not as sexy as a heroic act, or as attractive as charisma. But… in terms of building trust and loyalty in any relationship – personal or professional – there’s nothing more powerful. How does it make you feel? Frustrated by their lack of
When I started to think about International Women’s Day this year, I found myself thinking about a young woman who’s been in the press a lot recently thanks to her massively successful world tour, her Super Bowl-winning boyfriend, and her ability to wind up one Donald J Trump and his
When your business has a true customer-first culture – versus one that is spoken about, but not ‘lived’ – every team member is focused on giving every customer a great experience – building trust and loyalty, and creating happy customers who not only stay with you, but also refer others.
We all know how crucial effective systems and a motivated team are for success, right? But, what if I told you that even the most finely-tuned systems can fail if your managers aren’t training your team effectively or motivating them to succeed? Let’s face it we’ve probably all had a
In the world of business, the recent scandal that came fully into the glare of public consciousness thanks to a TV drama, has left many of us angry, horrified, in total disbelief… As you now know, hundreds of postmasters were sacked, fined, and even imprisoned, all due to a glaring
While we all recognise Thanksgiving as an American day of celebration, it’s a great opportunity for all of us to take stock of the things in our lives that we have to be thankful for. As business owners it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle
Imagine having a business where team members genuinely trust each other and you as their leader. A place where people feel safe, supported, and motivated to give their best; where they know they can depend on consistency day too day… And what’s the secret ingredient that makes this dream team
In the dark corners of every business, there are creatures lurking – unseen – draining productivity and spreading chaos. Creatures that need to be seen…and vanquished! The Time Vampire: This fiend loves nothing more than to suck precious minutes, sometimes hours, out of your working day, showing up in unproductive
In the world of business, success is usually measured in terms of revenue and profit. But there’s something much more profound and long lasting that underpins any successful organisation, and that’s values. Values are our internal compass – the guiding principles that shape the way we behave, make decisions, and
In the world of business, trust is the foundation that all successful relationships both internally and externally are built on… It’s not just about delivering quality products or services; it’s also about creating an environment where your customers, employees, and partners feel safe and confident in your operation. Let’s take
Have you ever heard it said that running a business is like growing a bonsai tree? If you’ve ever tried to grow a bonsai, you’ll get exactly where I’m coming from. I’ve tried and failed with a bonsai twice, but thankfully, the lessons I’ve learned seem to have made me
I don’t know about you, but I loved watching England during the recent World Cup. Yes, it was sad that they didn’t make it all the way to winning it, but they certainly did themselves and their country proud. I’ve been thinking this week about the challenges they faced before the tournament
In this brave new world of Ai, cutting-edge technology and almost daily advances in digital capability, books might seem like relics from a bygone era. But guess what? For business owners, these treasures still hold the keys to success. I’m talking about more than just paper and ink; I’m talking
‘Marianne is the author of four books and is currently working on her fifth whilst regularly writing her blog, we hope you enjoy it :)
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