Anyone else feel like business right now is a strange mix of slow and solid at the same time? Things aren’t loud for me but they’re steady. Less chaos more intention. I’ve been focusing on how I run things day to day instead of chasing every new tactic and it’s made a bigger difference than I expected. It’s not flashy but it’s been working for me. Curious how everyone else is handling business right nowAre you switching things up sticking to one system or still experimenting? If anyone wants to compare notes I’m always open to chatting

“Not every stone that goes into the furnace becomes a diamond.” It made me think about the last week. I stepped back a bit. Not for any dramatic reason. Just life, kids, my store, and a lot on my mind. Sometimes you need a quiet pause to figure out what you are doing and why. But this quote made me wonder…When you are in the middle of your own “furnace season,” what actually helps you come out stronger? Is it staying consistent Is it slowing down Is it mindset Or something else entirely I am curious how you see it. Do you agree with the quote? Do you think the “furnace” makes everyone stronger, or only the people who choose to stay and grow through it? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Lately I’ve been in that quiet space where I’m doing the work, staying consistent… but not really talking about it much.Not burnout, not hype. Just quiet, steady effort. Curious if anyone else is in that same season right now?

In 2022 we acquired a business in the food manufacturing space (Bakery). One of our products is Pizzas which we sell into the catering, retail, hospitality space. One of our drivers when acquiring a business is not just to sit back once the deal is done but to ensure management have a plan in place to grow the business both organically and through acquisition. The MD of this business has share options which gives him a long term, vested interest to build something larger. This month revenues will be £550k, up from the previous £440k record, putting turnover on track to be £6M, almost double what is was in the year prior to our acquisition and making the business much more profitable (and more valuable) than it has been. The MD has a solid plan, is commercially focused, and here are some images from the production facility for one of the new contracts he has secured. Every month we meet (on Zoom) to discuss the business plan, review the numbers and hold him accountable. This form of accountability works very well, ensures we are kept up to date with progress and its great to see progress in this business. Be interested to hear how you manage your companies that you have bought or how you would if you haven't yet bought a business.

Hi, right now we're marketing on Facebook to over 55 year old owners of businesses that have five or more employees. Ideally they have management in place. We may still consider businesses that don't, but can elevate staff to become a shift manager. - In our advertising, we are emphasizing continuity and succession. We're suggesting they get to finally take a step back and enjoy ongoing payments without seeing what they've built close down. - I plan on doing a transition period for 90 days (non-commital. Ensures both sides like the arrangement, allows for training, Due diligence and a soft hand over period). Then followed by a commitment of sale at the 90 day mark. - The main goal is to smoothly handover without a sudden down payment request. That's the one potential gotcha. I'm confident in my marketing skills, having run digital marketing for clients. And my partner is local, which means if needed we can also do management. What do you guys think I should be focusing on when I talk to the owner of the business? In our marketing there is no specific business targeted. Our first lead is a nail salon who selected "11-25 employees" though.