One idea to Build your Business, one idea to Scale your life. Every Wednesday.

Welcome to Winformation Weekly. My 13 years’ experience of growing a business from £0-£100m, and the life that goes with it. All wrapped up, in one winning weekly email.

Simon Says

Winformation This Week…

Happy Winsday! Halfway through another busy week and in need of some long overdue tips and lessons to help you win in both business and life.

Organic growth and intentional scaling of a business are similar in that the outcome is business growth. However, the approach is very different. There is no right or wrong; it depends on your preferences and life goals. That said, many people avoid scaling a business in favour of organic growth, fearing the stress and increased workload.

But there is a way to intentionally scale a business without losing your mind, and I discuss how I’ve done this in the past in the Business section this week.

Now, what can Finland teach us about resilience?

We would all love to build our resilience. I truly believe it’s not something you are born with, but a skill that can be developed. Like any skill, it improves with focus and can fade over time if neglected. This week in the Life section, we explore why Finland has a specific word for this in their language.

Business

5 Simple Steps to Scale Your Business Without Losing Your Mind

Scaling a business is different from organically growing it. I see organic growth as positively reacting to challenges and increased revenue as they happen, whereas scaling involves working from a long-term vision and proactively anticipating and addressing challenges before they arise.

1. Customer retention. I think from experience this was the biggest eye opener for me. People think to scale you need lots of new customers, you need some for sure, but it’s far more important to focus on retaining the ones you have as a priority.

2. Document everything. From day one, I would be documenting the WAY something is done just as much as WHAT is being done. At some point, to scale effectively you will need to pass these processes onto others. Then one day, they will have to pass the same process onto others themselves. They all need to be documented clearly and often this can be as simple as starting with a piece of paper and working back from the outcome.

3. Avoid “Magpie Syndrome”. Scaling means refocusing and refining on what’s working. Diversification is important, but I would focus on scaling out the core revenue streams that are really performing.

4. Make yourself redundant. At every stage of the scaling of your business, you need to be building the platform below you. As it rises you are taking on more and more high level strategic decisions so that the work and day to day operation is being picked up by capable, hungry people that are eventually specialists with their roles. Building a rock solid team that can then between them constantly improve the processes of the business.

5. Partner up! I really want to avoid the word “shortcut” because there aren’t many in this game. But effective scaling of a business that would put you in the slip stream of others and really keep the stress levels lower as things are shared, is to partner with other businesses that align but don’t compete. You can share audiences and really scale together, learning from process improvements your new partner would also be happy to share.

Life

Building Your Resilience Like a Finn!

I was reflecting on the year I’ve had and for many business and personal reasons, I think it has been the toughest of my life so far. I was researching how other countries and cultures deal with tough times to see if I could learn something, and I came across the Finnish concept sisu. It literally had no direct English translation, yet it perfectly captures the essence of resilience. More than just grit or perseverance, sisu represents a deep, almost stubborn, determination to push through challenges, especially when the odds aren’t in your favour.

What makes sisu unique is how deeply it’s woven into Finland’s national character. It’s not just about enduring tough times; it’s about how you face them. The Finns believe that when you’ve reached what feels like your limit, sisu kicks in and carries you further. It’s that extra reserve of mental strength you didn’t know you had.

I’ve been to Finland at Christmas once and yes, it’s pretty and feels very festive, but I tell you what, the environment is no joke. The sun was up for only 2 hours a day, and the temperatures were minus 40 at times. Crazy. And it’s these living conditions that are credited with shaping this mindset. But sisu is more than just surviving the elements. It’s about staying calm under pressure, finding solutions when things seem impossible, and embracing discomfort as part of life.

This concept is so ingrained in Finnish culture that it influences everything from how they approach education to how they handle business challenges. Finns don’t just bounce back from setbacks; they lean into them, trusting that persistence will eventually pay off.

The beauty of sisu is that it’s not reserved for the Finnish alone. It’s a mindset anyone can adopt. Building resilience isn’t about being fearless or invincible; it’s about showing up and moving forward, even when things feel overwhelming.

So, the next time you’re facing a tough situation, remember sisu. It’s a reminder that you can push past what you thought were your limits and find strength on the other side.

Until next week! 

Let’s win, together!