Behind the Business is for business owners and leaders who want to understand what’s actually happening in today’s business landscape—gaining impactful insight, clear strategy, and actionable initiatives that dissect real-world challenges, foster camaraderie among leaders, and deliver measurable results with speed and velocity toward your goal

December 2025-Issue 1001

All material , case studies & content is Accredited & Certified by the (AASBC) Association of Small Business Consultants, additional content is backed by Harvard Business Review, Small Business Association (SBA) , and other credible Sources.

The Stages of Business Growth

Businesses don’t grow by doing more — they grow by operating in the right mode.

1) The Survival Gap

Did you know? About ~80% of new businesses survive year one, but survival drops to roughly ~50% by year five and about ~35% by year ten.

2) The #1 Business Killer: Instability

Did you know? Roughly 82% of small businesses fail — not due to a single mistake, but because instability quietly compounds across operations, cash timing, and decisions until the business can no longer absorb it.

3) The Scaling Bottleneck: Growth That Adds Weight

Did you know? In 2025, 58% of small businesses achieved their revenue goals — but for many, growth added complexity faster than capability, slowing progress instead of accelerating it.

4) The Tech Advantage: Visibility Changes Everything

Did you know? Businesses that intentionally integrate modern tools gain clearer visibility into performance, decisions, and priorities — while those that don’t are forced to rely on instinct, lagging indicators, and reactive choices.

FIX
Effort is high. Control is low.

The business is moving — sometimes quickly — but it isn’t stable. Results depend heavily on the owner’s constant involvement.

  • Decisions live in the founder’s head
  • Systems are informal or inconsistent
  • Problems resurface instead of resolving
Objective of FIX Create stability, establish clarity, and reduce dependence on heroics.
GROW
Stable — but constrained by friction.

Control exists, but efficiency and scale are capped. Progress slows because friction is still embedded in operations.

  • Systems exist but aren’t optimized
  • Revenue is steady but capped
  • Margins lag behind volume
Objective of GROW Increase leverage and remove operational drag.
THRIVE
Systems carry the business forward.

Execution is no longer fragile. Leadership is strategic, decisions are informed, and growth becomes intentional.

  • Teams execute without heroics
  • Decisions are data-driven
  • Growth compounds sustainably
Objective of THRIVE Scale intentionally from a position of strength.
Schedule Your Business Stage Diagnostic

If you’re unsure what needs attention next, the first step isn’t guessing — it’s understanding where your business is operating right now.

  • FIX = Stability before growth

  • GROW = Leverage before scale

  • THRIVE = Strategy before expansion

Each stage:

  • Has a different operating mode

  • Requires different leadership behavior

  • Demands different priorities

Trying to skip a stage doesn’t create momentum.
It creates strain.

Schedule your FREE Business Stage Diagnostic TODAY