How high on your priority list is your core brand proposition when you’re managing the daily demands of running a business? Sainsbury’s recently agreed to sell Argos to Swift Partners for at least £120m. From a strategic communications perspective, one of the most interesting aspects of the deal is the new owners’ commitment to making Argos their “first, second and third” priority. Richard Pennycook of Swift Partners explained: “As an independent company, we will think of Argos as the first, second and third thing we think of in the morning. And when Argos sits in a very large and successful supermarket business, the colleagues at the top of the organisation are not necessarily thinking in that way.” Within a supermarket group, Argos inevitably had to compete with the grocery business for leadership attention and investment. As an independent company, its positioning, customer proposition and growth can take centre stage. The immediate focus does not appear to be a radical reinvention. Instead, the opportunity lies in sharpening what Argos stands for, driving organic growth and balancing a well-known heritage with modern relevance. It illustrates a challenge many businesses face: when the brand proposition is not given sustained attention, messaging can gradually become diluted. The business becomes absorbed in operational demands while its distinction in the market becomes less clear. So, how do you keep your positioning front and centre when operational pressures take over? And if brand strategy has taken a back seat in your business, has that weakened your market message, or is an operations-led approach right for your model? I’d be interested to hear how others balance brand strategy with the demands of running a business.

I was fortunate to join Mike on the monthly call last night, and it is fair to say this was possibly one of the best hours I have spent, as it ended up being 1-on-1. Thank you @Mike Greene for your vision and support, as this was invaluable, including the session notes I have just run through, much appreciated! Being part of the Growth Syndicate for the past 12 months has seen more business and personal development, to a position where I have launched the business, whilst continuing in significant rehabilitation, and bringing my motivation for life back again! Having "The Board" as a support for my business is awesome, and as can be seen below, this is not always just about business; this was at a Chamber of Commerce Dinner, where, during this year, through networking, two of the greatest opportunities for my business have arisen! Please share your greatest wins since joining the Growth Syndicate, now "The Board" as I would love to see, since joining this community, what it means to you as well!

How often do you rely on discounting or price promotions to win new clients, and is it actually helping you build a sustainable business long-term? Procter & Gamble (P&G) recently took a very firm stance on this. Despite a sharp rise in promotional discounting across Europe, they are refusing to play that game. Instead, they’re doubling down on winning through product superiority, innovation, and strategic communications. Their CFO, Andre Schulten, put it bluntly: “We don’t believe that promotion, in any way, shape or form, is a way to build the business or to acquire users on a sustainable basis.” This got me thinking about how we approach this in our own businesses: - If you agree with P&G: How are you currently communicating your unique value clearly enough to your target market so you don't have to compete on price? - If you disagree: Why? What kinds of discounting or promotional strategies have actually worked for your business long-term? Curious to hear where everyone lands on this!

On yourself: It’s been proven that Every conversation you have with yourself is literally changing your brain… ...make sure you are making the right cuts I love this concept and have used it for years but it’s great to hear an actual brain surgeon talk about it https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbk3UE1sezv/?igsh=MWdseGszMXY5MDg4cg==

100 principles, ideas and quick wins that could transform your business within days: Link below 👇 Every month I sit in live mentoring sessions with businesses across the whole spectrum. Trades. Law firms. Property. Distribution. Engineering. Family businesses. Same month. Same mentor. Very different businesses. And here's the thing... The problems are never as unique as people think. These 100 moments are pulled straight from my July sessions. Real problems. Real solutions. Real principles that create lasting change - and massive scale for businesses that are stuck Pricing. Cash. Sales. Hiring. Mindset. Systems. ....The lot. And not many of them are complicated. Most are simple. Brutally simple. That's the point. 👊 Complicated doesn't scale. Simple does. Pick ONE this week. Apply it properly. Then come back and tell me what changed. https://www.skool.com/theboard/classroom/bafe9059?md=88cedd0716d44d25b134754049e89242