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Hiring for Growth, Not Just Coverage Illustration of a hiring process showing candidate profiles on a clipboard, one selected with a checkmark, surrounded by resumes, a magnifying glass, and a handshake, representing choosing the right employee.

Hiring for Growth, Not Just Coverage

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THE GROWTH BARRIER SERIES – The difference between filling a seat and making a hire that actually moves your business forward. A client of mine hit a wall last year that had nothing to do with sales or cash flow. Business was strong. The pipeline was full. But he couldn’t take on more work because his team was maxed out. So he did what most owners do when they’re underwater. He posted a job ad, hired the first person who seemed decent, and threw them into the deep end.

Lessons with Lily: You Decide What Controls Your Day

Lessons with Lily: You Decide What Controls Your Day

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This month’s lesson with Lily came from a tough day at school. I received a message from her teacher explaining that Lily had gotten into a couple conflicts with classmates during the day. One interaction in particular involved another student repeatedly teasing her with comments like “boys rule, girls drool.” Eventually, Lily became frustrated and […]

Building a 90-Day Action Plan 90-day calendar with checked dates, a clipboard checklist, target icon, and stopwatch, symbolizing short-term planning, accountability, and focused business execution.

Building a 90-Day Action Plan

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THE GROWTH BARRIER SERIES – Why annual goals collect dust and what to do instead. Every January, millions of business owners sit down and write their annual goals. Grow revenue by 20 percent. Hire three new people. Launch that new service line. Open a second location. The goals get typed up, maybe put into a spreadsheet or a slide deck, and then shared with the team at a kickoff meeting.

The Pricing Trap Red and black illustration of a confused tradesman holding a power drill while choosing between low, fair, and premium pricing options shown on stacked coins, representing the challenge of pricing blue-collar services profitably.

The Pricing Trap

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THE GROWTH BARRIER SERIES – How underpricing quietly starves your business of the resources it needs to grow. I once asked a business owner how she arrived at her pricing. She paused for a second, then said, “I looked at what everyone else was charging and came in a little lower.” That’s one of the most common answers I hear. And it’s one of the most damaging strategies a small business can follow.

Lessons with Lily: Snowmen, Strategy, and the Need to Rebuild

Lessons with Lily: Snowmen, Strategy, and the Need to Rebuild

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February brought us one of Lily’s favorite seasonal activities: building snowmen. With fresh snow on the ground and a spark of creativity in her eyes, she quickly got to work rolling snowballs, stacking them, and decorating the perfect wintry friend. The result was a smiling snowman with a carrot nose, leaf hat, and plenty of […]

Know Your Numbers (or They’ll Sink You)

Know Your Numbers (or They’ll Sink You)

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THE GROWTH BARRIER SERIES – Five financial indicators every business owner should check monthly. No accounting degree required. A few years ago, I started working with a business owner who was pulling in just over $3 million in annual revenue. On the surface, things looked solid. The phone was ringing, the team was busy, and the top line was growing year over year.

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