Episode 149 - Think About This Before You Scale

In this episode, we explore one of the most important, and most misunderstood, decisions for any business owner: whether to scale or deliberately stay small. Drawing on ideas from Mike Jones' Happy Business Revolution, along with our own experience of working with hundreds of SMEs, we discuss the realities behind “systemising before scaling”, the hidden costs of growth, and why many owners underestimate the personal and organisational toll of transitioning from operator to architect.

We look at why the “comfortable middle” can feel deceptively safe, and question whether maintaining a steady-state business is ever truly secure. At the same time, we acknowledge that scaling isn’t always the right choice; it demands energy, clarity of purpose, and a willingness to let go of long-held habits, roles, and even people. This episode offers a grounded, honest reflection on the practical, emotional, and strategic factors involved in taking a business beyond its current limits.

You can listen to the full episode here 

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Key Topics Discussed:

• The four stages of business growth and why systemisation must come before scale
• The owner’s shift from operator to architect, and why many resist it
• How ego, identity and personal preference affect growth decisions
• Why “staying comfortable” can quietly increase risk
• Case studies of companies that scaled well vs. those that didn’t
• The role of purpose in motivating a business through uncomfortable change
• Investment, risk, and the realities of bringing in external partners
• Why saying “no” becomes essential when moving beyond the early hustle
• The danger of building systems that look good but don’t genuinely enable scale
• Structuring a business to survive shocks and market shifts
  

Who Is This Episode For:

This conversation is ideal for business owners, founders, senior leaders, and managers of SMEs who are wrestling with whether, and how, to grow their organisation. It’s particularly relevant for those feeling stuck between a comfortable status quo and the daunting prospect of scaling, as well as those considering investment, succession, or major structural change.

Quotes to Remember:

“It’s very hard to scale something when you’re not even quite sure what it is you’re scaling”.

“The owner has got to be prepared to systemise what they’re doing, even when it feels uncomfortable or counter-intuitive”.

“If you haven’t built the ability to shift and change, one big storm could be the end of you”.

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Clarify your purpose: decide what scaling is for, more impact, resilience, profit, or succession, not just growth for its own sake.
   
   
2. Define what ‘scaling’ actually means: is it revenue, margin, reach, number of clients, or something else?
   
   
3. Systemise before you scale: document how decisions are made, how work is delivered, and how success is measured.
   
   
4. Evaluate your talent bench: identify who can grow with the business and who may not fit future requirements.
   
   
5. Be willing to narrow your focus: specialisation often makes systemisation and profitable scale far easier.
   
   
6. Stress-test your business: ask how your current model would cope with a major market shift or operational shock.
   
   
7. Be selective with advisers and investors: ensure anyone supporting your scale journey genuinely understands SMEs and isn’t simply selling a template.
   
   
8. Build for handover, not dependency: your business should be able to function, and grow, without you doing everything.
   
   

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