For many family business owners, "growth" is the declared holy grail. It's their primary metric of success. However, there is often a profound disconnect between the desire for the result and the willingness to undergo the process. When I peel back the layers, I often find a growth paradox: owners who crave an ever-increasing topline …
Continue reading The Growth Paradox: Do Family Business Owners Truly Want to Grow their Business?
Albert Einstein may have coined the phrase "Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over and Expecting Different Results" although he was likely not a football fan, this famous "quote" perfectly encapsulates the current state of Italian football. For over a decade, the Azzurri and the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) have stared at a …
As we stare down a global economy that by each passing day is edging ever closer surging inflation, I always amaze myself when I see the difference in family businesses that are built on a leadership & strategic mindset versus those family businesses engulfed by an inward, operational, micromanagement culture. Inflation does more than raise …
The recent escalation of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has reignited a debate among global economists: will this be the shock that delivers a global economic recession? While the conflict dominates headlines and energy markets, its ultimate impact on the economy is anything but certain. The post-Covid global economy has proven remarkably resilient, shrugging off …
In the present turbulent times—which will surely leave multiple price, inflation, and economic growth effects—one appreciates much more when family businesses invest in data systems and analysis, governance structures, robust organisational structures, and strategic and leadership mindsets. While technical infrastructure provides the "bones" of a business, the leadership mindset serves as its internal compass, ensuring …
These days have been a profound sense of deja vu for me. Watching the current global shifts feels like a playback of how family businesses reacted to the seismic shocks of the pandemic and the onset of the Ukraine-Russia war. In those moments of crisis, a clear line was drawn in the sand. On one …
As the conflict in the Middle East enters a critical phase, the Maltese economy finds itself at a crossroads. While Malta entered 2026 with a robust growth forecast of 3.8% and cooling inflation (2.3% in January). However the sudden escalation in the Middle east & Gulf region could potentially shift the risk landscape. The most …
Continue reading Mitigating the likely effects from the War in Iran
In today’s digital landscape, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are generating more information than ever before. However, a significant gap remains between possessing data and leveraging it. While more than some SMEs & family businesses are investing in digital technologies like ERP systems, many are finding that simply having the tools is not enough to …
Continue reading Empowering Family Businesses & SMEs: Turning Data into Strategic Gold
For many family business owners, the company isn't just a source of income. It’s an extension of their identity. This deep emotional connection is often what fuels the business through its early years. However, as the company matures, that same "founder's grip" can transition from a strength into a structural bottleneck. The central conundrum is …
There is a specific look in a family business's owner eyes when they see a clear data analysis for the first time. It’s a mix of profound relief and sudden, sharp terror. It’s the look of a person who has been driving a bus at 80 mph through fog for many years, only to have …
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