On Scaling Blog

Just snapped this photo during my weekly reconnaissance mission… Each yellow "Last Chance" tag tells a story of market rejection. The clearance rack at Whole Foods isn't just a place for bargain hunters. It's a CPG product graveyard—and my personal laboratory of market feedback. Those 365 “energy support” pre-workout stick packs? The right idea, wrong retail context. The INBLOOM wellness…

If your company culture is dying… As a leader, it's Your fault (And here’s what you can do about it) When we started QuickBox, I knew every employee by name. I'd walk the warehouse floor, greeting each person, asking about their families. Then we grew to 500+ people across three locations. Suddenly, I was surrounded by unfamiliar faces. The intimacy…

Have we lost the art of the deal? I used to grimace watching my teenagers trying to resolve conflicts through text messages. The nuance disappears. Emotions get misconstrued. Resolution is nearly impossible. It hit me recently: we're doing the exact same thing in business. That breakthrough partnership you're chasing. That game-changing supplier relationship. That investor who could transform everything. They're…

In times of economic turbulence and government uncertainty, one factor separates thriving companies from struggling ones: EXECUTION Execution hinges on two elements... clarity and accountability. Everyone needs to know the what, how, and WHY—coupled with being held responsible for results. This level of clarity comes from consistent communication, as a leader. And, accountability requires transparent tracking against your strategic goals…

Sometimes life's greatest turning points begin with the simplest question… "Nice MetRx shirt. Does that stuff really work?” That casual question to Shawn Phillips at Better Bodies gym in Arvada, Colorado completely changed my life's trajectory. I was just a college student with a passion for fitness, unsure where my path would lead, but full of entrepreneurial vigor! Little did…

Here’s why your initial business strategy is destined to fail (and how this turn of events can actually lead to your success) Research has shown that the vast majority of successful new ventures abandoned their initial strategies after implementing their plans and confronting market realities. Here's why: your brilliant first strategy is most likely wrong. But that's not what determines…

“Scale” is more than a buzzword and it’s wildly misunderstood (here’s why most are getting it all wrong) Everyone's obsessed with "scaling" these days. The buzzword infects every podcast, LinkedIn post, and YouTube ad. Sadly, most of these "scaling gurus" haven't done the thing they’re actually trying to teach us (and even if they have, they’ve gotten the concept of…

The retail entry playbook for CPG brands has been rewritten (And why Costco isn't where brands go to die anymore!) The playbook for CPG brands entering retail from DTC has been completely flipped on its head. Remember the old days? —Start DTC —Add Amazon —Get into GNC or VitaminShoppe (they'd battle for exclusivity) —Sprinkle in NBTY/VitaminWorld —Make the big leap…