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"Witty, clever and extremely relevant in these godforsaken Zoom times." Zoë Foster Blake

Book on sale now from Penguin Random House.

Ian Whitworth

The real cost of AI: please stop creating unnecessary work for others around you

June 5, 2023

Milkrun is gone, but its founder acted in an honourable way we can all learn from.

May 29, 2023

If I’d let that fucking airline win, it would have put me in a mood for days and interfered with the rest of my work and general sense of self-worth.

May 22, 2023

It starts small and boring, then later on, it suddenly starts to pay off on a large scale. Don't be like Alan Joyce.

May 15, 2023
Why permanent employees outperform casuals

If your business involves any contact between customers and your people, permanently-employed people will outperform them almost every time.

May 8, 2023

A question to ask when you communicate with clients is: does this thing I'm saying imply they’re complete idiots?

May 1, 2023

Gender diversity is an ongoing effort in every industry. But for traditionally bloke-heavy sectors like ours, it's an epic struggle. Here are some strategies we've tried.

April 17, 2023

Are you willing to invest in gatherings with the sole objective of making people feel good? You should.

April 3, 2023

If your business runs entirely on documented process, like the MBA people would like, you're not ready for when the Nazis turn up. Here's a better, simpler, quicker way to make decisions in your business.

March 27, 2023
No cash

It's an essential skill a lot of would-be entrepreneurs don't know about. Don't get run over by the no-cash bus.

March 20, 2023

Last week I crossed a grim line in the sand, and there is no going back.

March 13, 2023

When I hear someone say "I've worked hard all my life" I reach for my TASER

March 6, 2023

We all have these legacy relics. You can't see them any more, but customers can.

February 27, 2023

Whoah it's the blog's 5th birthday! But do any of these ideas work? And have I learned anything in that time?

February 20, 2023

Their products are powerful compliment magnets, but you must be prepared for some tough love

February 13, 2023
Sales for non-sales people

So you don't think you're a sales person. That's fine, neither do most of us but you can still bring the money through the door.

February 6, 2023

If you have constant staff churn, you'll pay through the nose in recruitment, training and new-staff mistakes.

January 30, 2023

Two Code Red alerts that make us run away from angel investments as soon as we see them

January 23, 2023
AI-produced image of a penguin using a laptop

You think you're unique and cool, but through the eyes of customers, you're probably indistinguishable from your competitors. The sameness is about to go to galactic levels with new AI tools like ChatGPT.

January 16, 2023

It’s been fifteen years. How do we finally realise the value of this beast we’ve created? And what are we going to do with all the money?

December 12, 2022

If your people have had a few too many and they're all standing on a table with linked arms singing Horses, that is a great sign for the future of your business.

November 28, 2022

Look behind Elon Musk's behaviour at Twitter and you'll find the real villains: the leaders who sold out their staff and took all the cash.

November 21, 2022

AI is coming to change your working life. Some of your precious skills are doomed and you can't stop it happening. Here's what you can do.

November 14, 2022

How four people have created great businesses using hyper-specialisation. It's a great way to make customers love you.

November 7, 2022

Nothing against Navy SEALS, but my job doesn’t involve much amphibious warfare. Neither does yours. Give it a rest, white collar office guys.

October 31, 2022

How would redesign your business if you got taken out for 2 months? It's the key to getting your business past the cottage industry stage.

October 24, 2022

Please don’t start new businesses in areas you know nothing about.

October 17, 2022

Do you or your staff suffer from Consequence Blindness? And why over-reliance on automated customer surveys could put your business in deep trouble.

October 9, 2022

Being a good customer has always been something enlightened businesses aim for. Now it's more important than ever.

September 26, 2022

Does your organisation crush interesting ideas because they don't come with logic and data? It might be costing you future breakthrough success.

September 19, 2022

Power balances between buyers and sellers have shifted. Rules that have operated forever have been turned upside down, at least for a while.

September 12, 2022
First year of business

Most business inspo is about where you’re going and what you're going to get. The riches. The power. But in many ways the early years are the most fun.

September 5, 2022

So you think you're a badass business rebel. You want to stand out from the boring crowd. But is your rebellion just a different type of conformity? And will it cost you money?

August 29, 2022

Running a business means suppressing your strongest instincts. Like when staff decide to leave. Easy tiger, this is a long game.

August 8, 2022

No adult with a proven track record should have to do psychometric testing. One of many reasons to set up your own business.

August 1, 2022

One of the burdens of business is overcoming the lifelong legacy of lies, from others who got to your customer before you. Some thoughts on how to overcome that.

July 25, 2022

Does more website information mean more sales? Or is it a distraction, burying your core advantages beneath a mountain range of generic info-spam?

July 18, 2022

Week one of Undisruptable in Advice Column Mode. How do you plan future office space with remote work and the need to keep everyone happy in a skills shortage. Plus: swaggering fools who can't recognise that advice is for them.

July 11, 2022

It’s a business model that seems to have cherry-picked all the worst, hardest, most expensive elements of running a business.

June 27, 2022

I’m going to switch the blog to Advice Column Mode soon, send me your curliest questions.

June 20, 2022

People are always reluctant to take action. It's so hard to persuade them. Here's a lesson on how to do it, from when I almost ended up losing half an ear to a melanoma.

June 14, 2022

It's one, simple, obvious thing that loses you the client. This week: what that is, and how to avoid doing it yourself.

June 6, 2022
Scotty Marketing

Don't be a product that people only buy once. How to make marketing a force for honesty and profitability in your business instead.

May 30, 2022

He is the Great Anecdote Repackager, standing on the shoulders of actual achievers, the Andre Rieu of leadership.

May 23, 2022

I have a non-exit strategy and it works for me. Learn why, plus we look at a business that's still leading its field after 650 years.

May 16, 2022
Dealing with the skills shortage

Our industry has gone from starvation to indigestion in record time. Here are some tips to help your business deal with the shortage of good staff.

May 9, 2022

Most businesses could radically lift their profit margins, but choose not to. Because they think short term, and believe two big myths about marketing.

May 2, 2022
Business theatre skills

Hey it works for Elon Musk. 6 essential theatre rules that apply right across the world of business. Each will help you stand out and get remembered.

April 26, 2022
Too much management

You need a lot less management than managers would have you believe. Our entire approach is: better people on the front line, as little management as possible.

April 11, 2022
Steve Jobs and then 2ic Tim Cook

The big breakthrough moment for your business is finding someone you trust to handle 80% of stuff the way you would.

April 4, 2022
Use your own product main shot

Use your own product. I guarantee you will find at least one thing that will make you hang your head in shame.

March 20, 2022
Prices up

Inflation is on the march. Here's why you need to act now on your pricing to stop your margins going backwards.

March 14, 2022
How to spot future stars

Finding great up-and-comers is vital and one of the great pleasures of business. Here's the one characteristic to help you spot future stars.

March 7, 2022
Humiliating new business pitch

Early on in your business, you will do humiliating new business pitches. Here are two of our worst, and why it was good for us long-term.

February 21, 2022

How to avoid customer complaints as skills shortages hit, and why we all have a duty to be nice to trainees.

February 14, 2022
Grant Cardone vs Parkinson's Law Smackdown

Business book smackdown time. This week, The 10X Rule vs Parkinson's Law. One has made me a lot of money, and the results might surprise you.

February 7, 2022
Undisruptable South Korea deal

Undisruptable will see its first international release later this year and it's not in a country you'd expect.

January 31, 2022
Sort your payment terms out

Payment terms are in the top 5 disciplines for SMEs, yet most people are terrible at it. 

January 24, 2022

Good daily habits are essential. They can also be a way to distract yourself from taking the big steps you need to be happy.

January 17, 2022

My first post-lockdown 2.0 business trip was super-productive and an absolute joy. It was a reminder how powerful and energising face-to-face contact is.

December 13, 2021

Other people's jobs are harder than you think. When you use these phrases, it reveals you underestimate other people, and that leads to bad decisions.

November 29, 2021
Business risks you don't expect

A supplier cut off our entire cash supply for trading illegally except we weren't. How their mistake could have killed our business, and how to manage weird risks that can take you down.

November 22, 2021
Sales and marketing cliches Ian Whitworth

Every industry has its cliches invisible to those inside. Here's a quick 3-step cliche reduction checklist to help your proposals, websites and tenders.

November 15, 2021

I've just been through home loan hell after buying a place up the coast. I've learned a lot and here it is.

November 8, 2021
Bert Newton Muhammad Ali

Bert Newton was a beacon of happiness and beloved by people of all ages.mThis week: how and why to be more Bert.

November 1, 2021

If your business goes all-virtual, there's no culture. Some ideas on making your staff want to get back to the office.

October 25, 2021
The Great Resignation Ian Whitworth

The Great Resignation is here: 40% of workers want out of their current job within six months. Here's how to turn it your advantage.

October 18, 2021
Dealing with liars at work

We've all worked with them. Here's what to do when you end up working with liars and fantasists.

October 11, 2021

Nine tips that helped me have a nice career as a paid idea-haver, hopefully some of them work for you.

October 5, 2021

Ideas will keep you from being replaced by software. Robots and code can do what they’re told at vast, efficient scale but they don’t break any new ground.

September 27, 2021
Dr Evan Shaw Fleamail

Time to share our investment secrets that are not really secret and are probably wrong for you.

September 13, 2021

JobKeeper was great policy, then it became a snouts-in-the-trough free-for-all, as Australia’s Least Needy helped themselves to free money.

September 6, 2021

How can a few short words become a powerful competitive edge? This week we look at opportunities most companies ignore, to make customers like you.

August 30, 2021

A story for quiet people who always get left out of things.

August 23, 2021
Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends and Influence People is an essential reminder human nature doesn't change, whatever the tech boosters say.

August 16, 2021

Even though our businesses are shuttered with little prospect of revenue until next year, I'm OK. Some ideas on how to cope with this endless loop of cancelled hopes and plans.

August 9, 2021
Kid on diving board

It seems so obvious, yet so many people are oblivious to the Grand Canyon gap between the knowing and doing sides of their business life.

August 2, 2021

A story of why it pays to be yourself in business. Rather than trying to suppress your instincts and second-guess what people want you to be.

July 26, 2021
Lace 1984

People talk too much in business. In speeches, in sales, in everyday conversation, using silence adds impact and makes you look thoughtful.

July 19, 2021

The reviews are in and they are very good.

July 12, 2021

Australia's new realistic philosopher king: why we can learn more from Nick Kyrgios than Olympic gold medallists.

July 5, 2021

Hey I was young and stupid. Here’s a simple yardstick to guide your behaviour when your age starts with a 2 or more

June 28, 2021
Lord Sugar Celebrity Apprentice

Your business isn't a TV show, and Celebrity Apprentice isn't business. But there's still lots to learn from Lord Sugar's show.

June 7, 2021
Service Not Servants

Subservience feels good to a certain type of client, but they’ll always find someone willing to lick them all over more thoroughly than you.

May 24, 2021
Firing Clients Is Sometimes A Good Thing

Firing clients isn't something you should do often, but you need it in your emergency toolkit to show that you have your staff's backs.

May 10, 2021
Undisruptable Edit

Undisruptable is through a 6 month edit and off to press. Here's some interesting things I learned through the whole publishing process.

May 3, 2021

Plus some handy tips on how we used a dog to increase our margins for years to come.

April 26, 2021

Lots of customers aren’t as good at using your product as you expect. You have the specialist skills. Customers like me don’t. We can be stupid, distracted, impatient, half-drunk, or all those things.

April 19, 2021
Customer Change Electric Car

Yes you're stressed and nervous but don't hit 2022 and realise you missed some of the biggest opportunities of your business life.

April 12, 2021
Post-JobKeeper Tips

Businesses in tourism, events, hospitality, the arts and entertainment are in deep trouble. Some realistic tips on how to survive.

March 29, 2021

Hard times bring the advisory scammers out of the woodwork. They are skilled at seeming like the answer to your problems. Be very careful.

March 22, 2021
Jürgen Klopp

Twelve horror months on, we’re certain our businesses will survive. A big reason for that is a mindset business owners don't talk about much: be less Gerry Harvey, and more like Gareth.

March 8, 2021

Corporate artificial intelligence deciding to burn your money is a major risk issue for your business. Like Facebook did to me last week.

February 22, 2021
Cost Cuts

There are two sorts of businesses. One is exciting and fulfilling to work at. The other will crush your soul.

February 15, 2021
Art Of Ther Apology

Have you fucked up lately? We all do it. What separates the long-term winners from the clowns is owning it like an adult.

February 8, 2021
Dennis Denuto

If your only COVID strategy right now is hoping for government rescue, you’re doomed. And frankly you deserve it. Here's how to survive.

February 1, 2021

In this week’s video, learn the 3 Essential Business Lessons Of The Bin Chicken. An adaptable, persistent inspiration to us all.

January 26, 2021
Ian Whitworth Undisruptable

It's all happening! The book's on pre-sale. I'm - uh - pivoting to video. Blog rebrand coming up! Welcome to 2021!

January 20, 2021
Ian and PK in beard hats

I haven’t been able to write about some of the most fucked-up parts of this year. Here's one that's been lurking for the last three months.

December 14, 2020

So many businesses are still wedded to sales and marketing methods that, if they were any more 80s, would have stepped out of a Delorean in a CHOOSE LIFE t-shirt.

December 7, 2020
Russian Fiends Will Punish Your DIY Business

The DIY mindset runs deep in the small and medium business world. In the long-term, not paying experts will cost you.

November 30, 2020

Most people get nowhere because they risk nothing. They’re afraid of mistakes and what people might think. In 2020 you can get away with it.

November 23, 2020

Governments seem unaware any other industry exists. So tradies get subsidised despite being unaffected by COVID-19.

November 16, 2020
Smokin' Joe and the power of informal communication

Make all the grand strategies you like but your staff's informal communication habits can cancel your plans. Open management is the answer.

November 9, 2020

Business people laugh at The Donald's shtick but their businesses still just talk all about themselves. And why being boring can be a good strategy.

November 1, 2020
Ian Whitworth Penguin deal

From deep in the sulphuric ash-pit that is the year 2020, I’ve ticked off one of my biggest life goals.

October 29, 2020

An amazing tech breakthough, but as tech replaces your identity with avatars, what do you build your reputation on?

October 26, 2020
Ian Whitworth Penguin deal

From deep in the sulphuric ash-pit that is the year 2020, I’ve ticked off one of my biggest life goals.

October 19, 2020

A moment’s silence for the passing at age 25 of Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s unloved web browser. A reminder that nothing is permanent in business.

October 12, 2020
UberEats rider

Why do regular businesses deliver on their safety and financial duties to staff, while global tech companies like UberEats just ignore them? With fatal consequences.

October 6, 2020
JobKeeper Zombies

No point in sugar-coating this, weaker businesses are going to die as JobKeeper winds down. Let's try to stop your business being one of those.

September 28, 2020
Ian Wright Mr PIgden

The stars of tomorrow will become visible by how they behave through this bastard year. If you can recognise them and give them a bit of extra guidance, you're set to thrive in the future.

September 21, 2020

We analyse a government 'Staycation' ad that's all middle aged guys in suits. Why ignore women when they have so much purchasing control?

September 14, 2020

You don't need to be a pushy extrovert hustler to achieve greatness and make a lot of people's lives better.

September 7, 2020
Scene Change Virtual Studio For School Events

Lessons learned as we attempt to pivot a business shut down by COVID laws

August 24, 2020

Why a lot of people need to harden the fuck up about their workplace stress right now. And why pivots are a media myth.

August 17, 2020
Richard Branson

3000 laid-off Virgin airline workers get a photo autographed by Richard Branson. It's a tone-deaf dick move in a terrible year. Sometimes the best marketing is: no marketing.

August 10, 2020

Most people treat LinkedIn like a video game, focused only on the high score. Some counter-intuitive ways to get better results.

August 3, 2020
Chimps and remote work lessons

People learn by watching. If you keep everyone doing all remote work, in a few years you’ll have an ominous skills and culture black hole.

July 27, 2020
Gen Z vs Millenials

Gen Z are calling out millennials for saying 'adulting' and they are right. This week, how to be an adult, and why it's a valuable skill in any situation.

July 20, 2020
Paleo Pete Changing People's Minds

Facts and logic have never been so irrelevant for persuasion. 5 tips to change people's minds in an era when they construct their own reality from Facebook comments.

July 13, 2020
Are You An Entitled Karen? Take This Test

COVID has brought out new entitled habits that are really bad if they infect your business. Learn if you're a Karen, and what to call a male Karen.

July 6, 2020

It's an essential skill. But all the liar-detection tips you read in self-help books are just wrong.

June 29, 2020

Most managers speak in rubbery words that let their staff choose their own adventure. How to avoid that, plus why it's time to drop the Corona platitudes.

June 22, 2020
Client University grads

Learning about your clients' businesses is a valuable education tool as you try to skill up to survive the post-virus wasteland.

June 15, 2020
Shoplifter

My real-life teenage crime exploits, and how Black Lives Matter has taught me that I need to do a whole lot better.

June 9, 2020
Rory Sutherland

Why do customers say one thing then do another? Because understanding them takes deeper understanding than your spreadsheet model.

May 25, 2020
Looting

Taking advantage of suppliers and staff under these conditions is just looting. Your small, dirty wins will be cancelled out many times over long term by your damaged reputation.

May 18, 2020
Post-COVID winners Ian Whitworth

The opportunity times are drawing near. What sort of behaviour and mindset will come up a winner in the post-Covid business world?

May 12, 2020
COVID career change

Should you change careers if your industry has ceased to exist for a while, or stick it out and hope for the good old days to return?

May 4, 2020
Tiger King Business Lessons

What business people can learn from the world’s favourite peroxide-mulleted, tattoo-eyelinered, polygamous, murder-conspiring tiger farmer, Joe Exotic.

April 27, 2020

The human touch: we didn't realise how much we all needed it until it was taken away

April 20, 2020
Drop Your Corporate Mask

The only way you're going to survive the coming months is being absolutely true to yourself. Your clients can handle it. Plus what to do sales-wise when there's nobody buying.

April 14, 2020

We went from the occasional videoconference to it being our entire business life in about a week. Some tips to cope with that change and stay professional.

April 6, 2020
How To Negotiate With Commercial Landlords

Essential tips from a commercial leasing pro and a large commercial client, plus a template letter you can use

March 30, 2020

Laying people off is a gut-wrenching experience for anyone who likes their staff. If you have to do it, some points to consider.

March 25, 2020
Covid Cleanup

Week 2 of the Covid business hellscape. All the rules are changing. More tips on cash flow, negotiation and government stimulus deals.

March 23, 2020
Landlords Killing Our Economy

Why should Covid-closed businesses take the full expense of public health, while landlords keep sending the bill like there's no virus?

March 23, 2020
Convention Centre Covid 19 Prep

Keeping your business alive during Covid 19 will test you to your limit. Here are some survival tips I learned in previous downturns.

March 16, 2020
Dan Procter Simply CRO

How my friend got a sales strike rate of 60% using interesting things in a box rather than the usual spam.

March 9, 2020
Smug guy

Who knew that being lazy, or even wrong, could make you a better manager?

March 2, 2020
Bad News: Coronavirus

A torrent of bad news at work this week. What can you do about it? And did Roxy Jacenko really spend $75K on office curtains?

February 24, 2020
Dr No

Being able to say no to business opportunities that don't suit you is the greatest luxury of all. It's a better success goal than material wealth.

February 10, 2020
Hotel Front Desk

A big philosophical topic reduced down to a short, one-question quiz. It’s never wrong.

February 3, 2020
Ian Whitworth Australia

Some semi-patriotic Australia Day thoughts.

January 28, 2020
Sales call with awkward pause

You're going to have to do some calls. Phone calls. Here's a technique to make them less stressful for you and your clients.

January 16, 2020
Southern Ocean Lodge destroyed by fire

The coal industry is sitting pretty as it suffocates entire, far bigger business sectors. Industries are being smashed by fires, and its time to move into the 21st century.

January 13, 2020
Drunk December Brains

Are you planning a successful 2020 right now? Here's what that's a really bad idea.

December 16, 2019
Prince Andrew Queen

Most organisations have people who are deadwood burdens on the payroll. They don't achieve much at all, but they're soooo good at looking busy.

December 9, 2019

Write well, and you can get an unlimited number of people to feel that they like you. Getting better at writing makes your thinking better.

December 2, 2019
Cybertruck launch

The Cybertruck launch was a festival of armchair design advice from people who will never buy it. Ignore the socials and embrace creative dictatorship.

November 25, 2019
De Rucci BW

Sure the De Rucci bed guy makes every trip to the airport a nightmare but we can all learn from his ominous presence.

November 18, 2019
Michelin Guide Genius

It's essential (and fun) to keep an eye on your competitors. But there's a giant, invisible competitor right in front of you.

October 28, 2019
5 Minute Anti MBA by Ian Whitworth

Our whole business was set up with the rule: whatever MBAs would do ... do the opposite of that. It works really well.

October 21, 2019
Scene Change Tassie Flood

How an insurance broker saved us from our own stupidity, and how epic stories can be great for your brand.

October 14, 2019
Nostalgia is bad for you

When business gets hard, it's easy to slip into a 'good old days' mindset. It's bad for you and bad for your business.

October 7, 2019
Scenechang Beer Case Study By Ian Whitworth

Lessons from Apple, Tesla or Nike can be too intimidating for small/medium biz. Here’s a marketing case study that cost about $7500 and really established us when we were a small outsider brand.

September 30, 2019
Sinking Businesses by Ian Whitworth

How do you know if you’re working for a solid, dependable business, or one that’s teetering on the edge of doom?

September 23, 2019
Presentations_stop ordering the fish by Ian Whitworth

So many businesses do elaborate pitches without researching who they're presenting to. Here's what happens.

September 16, 2019
How To Stop Annoying Your Customers by Ian Whitworth

Customer churn is a complete waste of your sales efforts. You’ll make tons more money winning a smaller number of customers and keeping them.

September 2, 2019

You may find the humble ibis disgusting. I find them a source of business inspiration. They've adapted to change and thrived. Learn how and why to be more ibis.

August 26, 2019

It's easy to go into business with people. Getting out is hard and expensive. 6 essential signs of good long-term business partners.

August 19, 2019

You don't know what management are up to unless you know their secret code words. A handy guide to what your boss really means.

August 12, 2019
The Wrong AV Company For You

The clingier you get, the more it drives people away. Confidence attracts people, and that becomes a positive cycle as your business grows.

August 5, 2019

Restaurants and cafes have a casualty rate right up there with John Wick movies. Why is that?

July 29, 2019
Spread Your Hero Net Wider by Ian Whitworth

Escape the endless content recycling bin that is LinkedIn and business advice in general. You'll get skills and ideas others will never find.

July 22, 2019
Tiptoeing Through The Humor Minefield

Humor and jokes at work. Is it the passport to charm and success that everyone tells you it is? How to get it right.

July 15, 2019
Get Real: 5 Types Of Misplaced Business Optimism

Business needs maniacal optimism, but it helps to have a feel for when that's misplaced, so you don't over-promise and get blowtorched later.

July 8, 2019
I Was A Teenage Carny: The LIfelong Value Of Terrible Jobs by Ian Whitworth

Every terrible job you have is coding in skills that will last the rest of your life. Embrace it. Five essential lessons I learned as a lowly amusement ride operator.

July 1, 2019
13 Things You Should Banish From Your Business by Ian Whitworth

The decor, processes and technology that make your business look like the one that turned up to the party in Crocs.

June 24, 2019

Recruitment ads paint an idealized picture that sets everyone up for disappointment. How to write self-selecting ads that attract fewer, better people.

June 17, 2019
Self-Help Books That Can Just Fuck Off by Ian Whitworth

Some thoughts on all those fucking books with bleeped-out swearing on the cover, and my Top 10 Business Books for 2019

June 3, 2019

How do you get attention when everyone just wants to look at hot people holding up random products?

May 27, 2019
Your Surveillance Is Counter-Productive by Ian Whitworth

Creepy things bosses do, and why obsessive staff surveillance and measurement is actually counter-productive.

May 20, 2019

When the procurement raccoons take over, it's all about understanding risk, and building your relationships higher up the food chain.

May 13, 2019
Audience of one by Ian Whitworth

As almost everything becomes digital, physical objects can become a standout marketing tactic.

April 25, 2019
Goldfish In Chief By Ian Whitworth

Dealing with people who always get swayed by the last person they spoke to.

April 15, 2019
Staff Marketing: George Clooney

Everyone thinks of marketing as something for customers, but the effect on your own staff can be just as important.

April 8, 2019
Scenejet

Every so often you should do something large and insane. It can be more effective than your lame search word campaign, and a ton more fun.

April 1, 2019
Unicorns and Rainbows by Ian Whitworth

Sometimes bigger isn't better. Shoes of Prey had a great, sustainable business. Then they took the unicorn bait.

March 25, 2019

Using a tarot reader to make your business decisions seems insane. But it's still better than what a lot of people do: make no decisions at all.

March 18, 2019

Growth risks swamping people in process. If you hire good people, they do good work. They don’t need a ton of process.

March 4, 2019
You Get The Clients You Deserve by Ian Whitworth

New clients just make your business bigger. Good clients make your business better. And they make your life better long-term.

February 25, 2019
One Stop Shop Syndrome by Ian Whitworth

One of the biggest business lies is One Stop Shop syndrome, where a business claims to cover all your needs, but is mediocre at most of them. Don't do that.

February 18, 2019

There is great business opportunity in helping lazy-ass clients do less work and go home at 5pm.

February 11, 2019

Actually delivering for the customer is the strongest way to build your brand, and for that, sales and operations must learn to get on.

February 4, 2019
Make Your Business Look Bigger By Ian Whitworth

10 basic moves to look like you're already big and successful, even though you are living entirely on 2-Minute Noodles.

January 28, 2019
Make Your Business Look Bigger by Ian Whitworth

The right marketing can make the smallest business look epic. But these 8 common phrases just make your smallness obvious.

January 21, 2019
Marking Your Homework by Ian Whitworth

If you can't tell me these 4 numbers off the top of your head, you shouldn't own a business

December 10, 2018
The Christmas Party Killer

A cheapskate dick-move that will have your staff looking for a new, better job in January.

December 3, 2018
Stand Up For Your Staff by Ian Whitworth

If you want your staff to actually deliver greatness – rather than just talk about it and project it on meeting room screens – you have to back them up.

November 26, 2018
Grammar Time by Ian Whitworth

Mock all you like, MBAs, but the way you structure a sentence has big effects how you're seen as a leader

November 19, 2018
One Big Client By Ian Whitworth

You're winning big now, but you're one client move away from having nothing. You need more clients even if it shrinks your business.

November 12, 2018
Motivation For Sceptics by ian Whitworth

It's the Kill All MBAs rebrand! Time for something a bit more self-explanatory. And a shade less psychotic.

November 6, 2018
Take The Second Exit by Ian Whitworth

Yet more new product ideas that come from being ripped off and annoyed by existing products.

October 29, 2018
Face Shazam by Ian Whitworth

Great new business ideas usually come from annoyance at your current experiences. Let me show you how it's done

October 22, 2018
Lost In Translation by Ian Whitworth

"Common sense is, well, just common sense in that you shouldn’t lick exposed power wiring or give Facebook your phone number. But in business, it's the enemy of new ideas."

October 15, 2018
Words Create Your Success by Ian Whitworth

The most important words are the ones your staff say to each other when there's no manager there.

October 8, 2018
Bachelor of What I Reckon by Ian Whitworth

Asking the people around you for advice on marketing is a fast-track to mediocrity. Ignore them and talk to your customers.

October 1, 2018
Worst Presentation Ever By Ian Whitworth

Before you can do a great presentation, grasshopper, you must do presentations so horrifying you leave the room and Google “how to get new identity”.

September 17, 2018
Charm Tips by Ian Whitworth

And why customer satisfaction surveys are the new spam.

September 10, 2018

Good front-line people are the essence of all that’s positive about a brand. Marketers: make sure they're not embarrassed delivering your brand message.

September 3, 2018
I Am Not Yr Fam by Ian Whitworth

Believing that any annoying characteristic is purely down to an age group is pretty offensive. Generation is no better a guide to behaviour than astrology.

August 27, 2018
Conversation Not Poker by Ian Whitworth

Want to be charming? Of course you do, it will every area of your whole life so much better.

August 20, 2018
Stop Stealing From My Mum by Ian Whitworth

Take a look at how you do business. If you wouldn’t be happy to see it all written down and published, take a hard look at yourself.

August 13, 2018

I owe everything I've done in business to being a cab driver. Here's why talking to cab drivers builds essential business skills.

July 23, 2018

You can waste years following confident tips from business gurus and motivators that turn out to be nonsense.

July 16, 2018
Own The Screw-Up by Ian Whitworth

One of the handiest things I ever learned came from a chance meeting with author Bryce Courtenay when I was a clueless wannabe. His one tip fixed a ton of rank amateur moves I was making.

July 9, 2018

"Store staff were abused. One got grabbed by the throat. Those aren’t people you should pander to. Those are people you should ban from your store."

July 2, 2018
Business Survivor by Ian Whitworth

If you own or run a business, you’re wondering: how do you stop the AI invasion replacing you and your soft, puny, carbon-based staff?

June 25, 2018
LinkedIn Top 10 Unemployable Job Titles By Ian Whitworth

Just call yourself what you do and let your achievements do the talking.

May 21, 2018
Design ROI by Ian Whitworth

Design has ferocious powers to ratchet up your ROI, particularly long term. Here’s why.

June 4, 2018
The Art Of Business Drinking By Ian Whitworth

Doing business after dark is a valuable skill. There's scope to be charming and likeable, or an absolute dickhead. Here's how to do it right.

May 9, 2018
Shut up with your advice

People love to give you advice. Those with the strongest urge to give it are the last people on earth you want it from. How to avoid Advice Thrusters, dealing with office romance advice, and the art of business ventriloquism.

April 30, 2018
Success Is Just 7 Basics, And Why Motivators Suck by Ian Whitworth

To be a guaranteed success you only have to do 7 basic things. 63 words. Pay attention to the basics and you'll never need success seminars or Gary Vaynerchuk videos.

April 19, 2018
Business Travel Tips: Secrets of hotels and flight upgrades by Ian Whitworth

Essential business hotel travel tips. Take the infallible test to see if you're a good or bad person. Secrets of the upgrade, and more.

April 17, 2018
Business Travel Tips: 8 Fellow Travellers To Avoid by Ian Whitworth

8 airport and flight characters that make life a nightmare for the frequent business traveller. And how much is too much business travel?

April 9, 2018
The Long-Term Value of Hands-On Work For Managers by Ian Whitworth

If you own a new business, you have to do a bunch of menial jobs because you can’t afford the help. Rejoice in that because you’re developing skills that will pay off handsomely later on.

March 21, 2018
Kill All MBAs by Ian Whitworth

Should you set up your own business? Probably. Do you need an MBA? Probably not, it might make things much worse.

February 7, 2018
Ian Whitworth, Author at Undisruptable