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Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant

@bradpoulos.bsky.social

40 followers 36 following 45 posts

Prof of getting sh*t done (ENT @ TMU) | Author, small biz fixer | Keyboard warrior (Southpawz) | Toronto, mostly caffeinated 🇨🇦

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Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · 3d

Guest post by Denise Fekete of Gore Mutual Insurance
Why do people resist change—even when it’s good for them?
Denise unpacks the psychology of change and shares battle-tested strategies.
🧠 A must-read for any leader.
🔗 bradpoulos.com/change-management
#ChangeManagement #Leadership #ADKARModel

Change Management Isn’t Optional — It’s Survival

Change management is survival, not a luxury. Practical strategies to lead through resistance, shift mindsets, and make change stick in your business.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · 3d

Unlock the hidden forces shaping your industry’s profitability. Michael Porter’s Five Forces isn’t just for big business — small biz owners can use it too! Learn how I used it to avoid a costly mistake. #SmallBusiness #Strategy #PortersFiveForces

bradpoulos.com/porter-five-...

A Big Company Strategy Tool Anyone Can Use

Use Porter’s Five Forces to analyze your industry’s profitability. Practical tips and a real example help small business owners spot threats and opportunities.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · 3d

Money makes people show up.

Meaning makes them care.

If you’re trying to motivate your team with coffee perks and raises, you’re missing the real lever.

Herzberg’s theory explains the disconnect—and how to fix it.
bradpoulos.com/motivation/
#IdeasWorthStealing #SmallBizWisdom #Motivation

Forget Money. Here’s What Really Motivates People.

Raises and perks don’t drive performance. Discover Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory and what really keeps your team engaged and loyal.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · 16d

A lot of solopreneurs call themselves “CEO.”
That’s not always the flex they think it is.
Your title sets expectations. About your company, role, and credibility. Choose wisely.
Read the full post here: bradpoulos.com/business-own...

#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #TitleMatters #SmartGrowth

Choosing the Right Business Owner Title

What should you call yourself if you own a small business? The wrong title can hurt your credibility—here’s how to choose the right one.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · 16d

Lots of small biz owners decide…
To raise prices. Fire the wrong hire. Cut the wrong-fit client.

Then stall.

This week’s post is about closing the gap between deciding and DOING. Action is the edge.

bradpoulos.com/bias-toward-...
#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BiasTowardAction

A Bias Toward Action

Deciding isn’t the same as doing. This post shows why action is the small business superpower—and how to overcome fear, doubt, and indecision.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · 16d

That customer didn’t just want a drill.
They wanted a hole in the wall.
If you’re marketing based on features, you’re missing the point.
Jobs to Be Done theory helps small you get inside customers’ real motivations:
bradpoulos.com/jobs-to-be-d...

#JTBD #SmallBusiness #CustomerBehavior #Strategy

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Oct 6

We always overshoot—fiber, cannabis… and now AI. I break down why infra spend is dwarfing revenues, what history teaches, and how to invest without getting wrecked.
bradpoulos.com/ai-overbuild/

We Always Overshoot: From Fiber to Cannabis to AI

AI’s infrastructure buildout is overshooting demand—just like the fiber glut and cannabis overproduction I witnessed firsthand.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Oct 1

Every successful CEO knows that survival comes before growth.
You're putting your business at risk by relying too much on one client, employee, or contract. Learn how to build a resilient company.
bradpoulos.com/dont-bet-the...
#EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusinessTips #BusinessResilience

Building Resilient Companies That Never Have to Bet the Farm

Discover why the CEO’s top responsibility is building a resilient company that can survive any single bad decision or risk.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Oct 1

Bootstrapping is empowering—but it’s not forever. It builds discipline, customer focus, and resilience.
The real question: can you build something worth funding?

Read the new post: bradpoulos.com/bootstrapping/
#SmallBiz #Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping: Building Your Business on Your Terms

Bootstrapping a business takes grit and discipline. Learn the real-world lessons for building strong, lean, and on your terms.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Sep 25

Founders: Stuck trying to make the perfect decision?
Sometimes “good enough” is exactly what your business needs.
Learn how satisficing can save you time, energy, and headaches.

bradpoulos.com/satisficing/

#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #DecisionMaking #Satisficing #BusinessGrowth

Good Enough Might Be Great

Stop decision fatigue! Learn the "satisficing" secret to making faster, smarter business decisions. Boost momentum & avoid burnout.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Sep 12

Your biggest competitor isn’t who you think.
It’s the disruptor you don’t see coming.

That’s creative destruction—and small biz owners need to watch for it. 👀

bradpoulos.com/creative-des...

Your Biggest Competitor Isn’t Who You Think

Your biggest threat isn’t the competitor down the street. Learn how creative destruction blindsides small businesses—and how to spot it early.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Sep 12

I ask every business owner I work with, "Tell me why you can’t raise your prices.”
Most times, they don’t have a good answer.
Raising prices goes straight to profit.
Most customer losses are minimal.
The fear is real—but it’s rarely rational.
#smallbiz #pricing #profit
bradpoulos.com/small-busine...

Tell Me Right Now—Why Can’t We Raise Your Prices?

AI for small business: save time, cut costs, and boost consistency with real use cases, prompts, and tools you can start using today.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Sep 3

“Too small for AI” is just an excuse.

From drafting HR policies to mapping competition in minutes, AI is already helping small businesses like mine.
I put together a guide with real examples + prompts you can steal:https://bradpoulos.com/ai-for-small-business/

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 31

Before you grow, make sure you’re making money on every unit.
This post breaks down how to calculate unit economics and why it’s mission-critical for startups and small businesses.
📈 Read here: bradpoulos.com/unit-economi...
#SmallBiz #Startups #FinanceBasics

Before You Scale, Do the Math

Learn why understanding your unit economics early is essential for pricing, profitability, and scaling your business the smart way.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 31

Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is look a little clueless.
Columbo mastered it. Ted Lasso does it with kindness.
Playing “dumb” can open doors, disarm rivals, and give you space to win.
bradpoulos.com/playing-dumb

#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #IdeasWorthStealing

Playing Dumb - A Tool For the Smartest People

Discover the playing dumb strategy—how acting clueless, Columbo-style, can unlock insights, disarm rivals, and give smart leaders an edge.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 20

Aristotle nailed it: We are what we repeatedly do.
Habits are invisible until they define us.
The same is true for businesses—systems are habits at scale.
Why small, repeated actions determine whether you grow or get stuck.
bradpoulos.com/importance-o...

#SmallBusiness #Habits #Entrepreneurship

We Are What We Repeatedly Do

Learn the customer warning signs that signal a client’s decline, and steps to protect your business from concentration risk and unpaid invoices.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 20

Your biggest client might be your biggest risk.

Here’s how to spot the red flags before they take you down with them.

🔗 bradpoulos.com/customer-war...
#SmallBusiness #CashFlow #CustomerRisk #BusinessTips

Customer Warning Signs: How to Spot Trouble Before It Hits Your Business

Learn the customer warning signs that signal a client’s decline, and steps to protect your business from concentration risk and unpaid invoices.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 12

Your marketing budget is broke.
These 7 hacks will make you look like you’re rolling in ad money.
Scrappy > spendy.
🔗 bradpoulos.com/marketing-ha...
#SmallBusiness #MarketingHacks #SmallBizTips #EntrepreneurLife #Bootstrap

The Lean Marketing Machine: 7 Hacks to Grow Your Small Business Fast

Stretch your small biz marketing budget with 7 creative hacks—from repurposing content to scrappy PR and social media magic.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 12

Referrals feel like magic. Until they don’t.

If your business lives off word-of-mouth, you’re not in control of your growth—you’re waiting on luck.

Here’s what to do instead:
🔗 bradpoulos.com/referral-bas...

Referrals Are Great - But Not a Growth Strategy

Relying on referrals alone will stall your growth. Here’s why—and how to build a marketing strategy you can actually control.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Aug 12

🩺 Time for a Small Biz Health Check?

Don’t wait until things break. Here’s a quarterly checklist every owner should be running:
💸 Cash
📈 Sales
🙋‍♀️ Team
🛠️ Ops
🎯 Customers
🔐 Tech
📋 + more

✅ Steal it here: bradpoulos.com/small-busine...
#SmallBusiness #OperatorChecklist #QuarterlyReview

The Small Business Health Check

Use this Small Business Health Check checklist to review cash flow, sales, HR, marketing, and more—10 key areas to assess every quarter.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Jul 30

The older I get, the more I trust this:

Most problems solve themselves if you let them.

Strategic inaction isn’t laziness—it’s knowing when to wait.

Full post: bradpoulos.com/strategic-in...

#Leadership #SmallBusiness #Bradisms

The Surprising Power of Strategic Inaction

Learn why 90% of workplace problems resolve themselves—and how smart managers use patience and strategic inaction to lead effectively.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Jul 30

Every process either has friction or grease.
Friction slows you down. Grease moves people to action.
A simple way to spot what’s getting in your way: [link]
#SmallBusiness #GrowthTips #SystemsThinking
bradpoulos.com/grease-vs-fr...

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Jul 22

Everyone was buying WiMAX hype. I didn’t.
Same with cannabis stocks. Same with Iridium.

This week I wrote about when to trust your gut—and why the crowd is usually late.

🧠💡 bradpoulos.com/business-int...
#Entrepreneurship #DecisionMaking #TrustYourGut

Learn when to trust your gut in business, especially when it contradicts industry wisdom. Insights, examples, and real-world decisions.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Jul 22

You don’t need more hustle. You need better systems. SOPs aren’t optional—they’re how small businesses scale without the chaos.
🔗 Systems Thinking for Small Biz: bradpoulos.com/systems-thin...
#smallbusiness #SOPs #systemsthinking

Systems Thinking for Small Biz: The Case for SOPs

Learn how systems thinking and SOPs turn small business chaos into consistency—and why smart structure creates the freedom to grow and adapt.

Brad Poulos - Small Business Professor, Mentor and Consultant @bradpoulos.bsky.social · Jul 15

“What on earth makes you think you’re worth that kind of money?”
I asked that in interviews. Not because I’m a jerk. Because hiring for culture means testing how people respond.
Here’s why the owner must personally review every hire:
🔗 bradpoulos.com/hiring-for-c...
#HiringForCulture #SmallBiz

Why The Owner Must Review Every Hire

Hiring for culture is a necessity for small businesses. The owner must review every hire to build a team that truly aligns with their values.