28/08/2026
I’ve seen businesses grow in revenue and become weaker at the same time.
More customers.
More employees.
More activity.
More complexity.
And somehow… less control.
We have been conditioned to treat growth as evidence that a business is succeeding.
I don’t think that is always true.
A company can grow revenue while:
→ margins deteriorate
→ the founder becomes more indispensable
→ decision-making slows
→ customer experience becomes inconsistent
→ management layers multiply
→ cash becomes tighter
→ ex*****on becomes harder
That isn't necessarily value creation.
Sometimes it is simply complexity growing faster than capability.
One question I increasingly believe CEOs should ask is not:
“How fast can we grow?”
But:
“What must become stronger before we grow again?”
Because sustainable growth requires the organisation underneath the revenue to mature too.
Systems.
Leadership.
Decision rights.
Commercial discipline.
Operational capability.
Otherwise, the business gets bigger without becoming better.
And eventually growth exposes every weakness that smaller scale was hiding.
What do you think is more dangerous for a business: growing too slowly — or growing before it is ready?