A few nights ago, my wife and I were sitting in the quiet of our living room, reflecting on our working lives She’s seen the long nights, the phone calls taken at dinner, and the weight I carry on my shoulders after a meeting with a family business client. She looked at me and said …
When Cost Trumps Value
This is one of the most delicate blog articles I have every written. So let me be clear from the start. To the family business owner focused on costs rather than value, this is not a condemnation, but a gentle plea for introspection. The legacy you seek to preserve is not held just in the …
What employers should be looking for when employing
This year I was involved in various recruitment processes by our clients. What I found interesting is that employers need to ensure that they are employing persons whilst knowing how the employment landscape is transforming itself because of a seismic shift. Driven by the rapid ascent of Artificial Intelligence, the urgent demands of the green …
Continue reading What employers should be looking for when employing
The Double-Edged Sword of Instinct
Many family business owners are celebrated for their lightning-fast decision-making, often driven by deep instinct and years of practical experience. This ability to "jump the gun" and act decisively is frequently the engine that propelled the company from a startup to a success story. Yet, this very strength is often the source of significant instability …
Key Insights from the Central Bank Quarterly Review
The Central Bank's latest Quarterly Review provides a good economic snapshot, highlighting both current operating conditions and deep-seated structural challenges that Maltese family businesses must address to secure their future. For sectors traditionally dominated by family enterprises—such as manufacturing, construction, accommodation, and food services—the report's findings on labour, productivity, and financing are particularly important. The …
Continue reading Key Insights from the Central Bank Quarterly Review
Get the basics RIGHT!
A phone call usually comes in a state of high alarm. A frantic family business owner, facing a perfect storm of structural issues and plummeting performance and a looming sense of confusion, normally reaches out desperately for help. They speak of issues with regards individual employee or managerial performance, declining business performance, uncertainty and market …
Stuck on a Plane…thinking on Risk Management in Family Businesses
Last Tuesday evening at 8pm, as I sat in my plane seat, the captain informed us that suddenly Brussels airport was closed due to drone sightings. We did not know how long we will be stuck there and if we would make it home at all. As I sat there, tired and concerned, my mind …
Continue reading Stuck on a Plane…thinking on Risk Management in Family Businesses
Budget 2026 – Measures for Business
Here is a detailed overview of the measures, initiatives, and schemes targeting businesses: 1. Investment in Digitalisation, Innovation, and Research A critical component of the budget is the unprecedented commitment to technological advancement and skills improvement: Digitalisation Investment (€100 Million): An investment of €100 million is allocated to foster digitalization and the adoption of advanced …
Budget 2026
Below please find a detailed overview of the 2026 Budget: 1. Macroeconomic Overview Government Finance: Fiscal Projections: Government Debt Stock (€ ‘000) The above shows that when comparing 2024 to 2025, Government total revenue is expected to grow from €7.52 billion (2024) to €8.03 billion (2025 revised), an annual increase of roughly 6.8 %, outpacing …
The Loyal Generalist’s Dilemma
This is a very painful subject for me. In family businesses with a long history of micro-management, a lack of formal organisational structure, and limited strategic focus, a unique type of leader often emerges: the Loyal Operational Generalist. They are many times some of the most if not the most important key employees of the …
A Business Blog for SMEs & Family Businesses 