ARTICLES TO HELP YOU BUILD A BETTER BUSINESS

Why can't you trust your people the way you used to? As your team grows, relational trust stops working. Here's how to build structural trust instead.

Finding A Path Forward: A Coaching Success Story

By John Nieuwenburg | August 26, 2016

Even though Simalex – a good old fashioned die casting company – had decent cash flow and customers with brand names, the company had been mismanaged for a number of years and was in rough shape when Fred Lynn Jr. took over as CEO. Fred was essentially taking over a start up. Fred is extremely…

When should you fire your client? A short case study.

By John Nieuwenburg | December 18, 2014

Recently, I saw this post from someone on my social media feed: Question: I want to fire my client but a great deal of recurring revenue depends on this one account. What should I do? Here is their post: I need to “FIRE” a Client, but as one of my top 3, it forces me to walk…

What is your mission? What are your top 3 talents and what contribution will you make to the world?

By John Nieuwenburg | October 28, 2014

Recently, I received an email from a highly esteemed colleague that had this challenge: What is your mission as a coach? Specifically, what are your top 3 talents and what contribution will you make to the world? Here is how I responded, and I trust you’ll agree it is worth sharing. My Top 3 Talents/Strengths are: Strategic:…

Are you a professional? Here are 3 reasons why you should present your service as a product.

By John Nieuwenburg | October 12, 2014

Are you a lawyer, accountant, doctor or architect? These are the services that first come to mind when we think of a professional. The dictionary definition of a professional is : relating to a job that requires special education, training, or skill : done or given by a person who works in a particular profession.…

How do I communicate clearly and cut down on industry jargon? Ask the Experts

By John Nieuwenburg | July 3, 2014

Recently I was asked to participate in Business in Vancouver’s (BIV) Ask the Experts column. Here is my response to the question BIV posed: Ask the Experts: How do I cut down on Industry jargon and communicate clearly? Thomas Levitt a professor at Harvard Business School had this insight: “People don’t want to buy a…

By John Nieuwenburg | February 11, 2013

Keith Cunningham is one of my mentors. Over the last 25 years, he has read two to three books per week! He is repeatedly asked for his recommendations for the top 10 business books he has ever read. This is a little like asking a mother about her favourite children. Here is the list of the top…

Test Your Accountability

By John Nieuwenburg | December 13, 2012

One of the major challenges facing organizations today is to ensure accountability through its policies, procedures, and philosophies. All of us have experienced numerous examples of businesses that have established rules, standards, expectations, and policies, yet are continuously ignored, sabotaged, and/or broken for a variety of reasons. As a manager, business owner or executive, ensuring…

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Build a Self-Managing Company

How to build a business that runs smoothly, profitably, and (mostly) without you.

Feeling stressed out and overwhelmed with a business that is taking all your time - and not giving you enough in return?

Are you finding it challenging to hire the right team (and get them to do the right things)?

I wrote this little guide for you!

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Get Your Time Back

How to escape overwhelm and gain time freedom in your business

Get control of your email and calendar
Prioritize your most important tasks
Become more productive than you ever thought possible

Ready to free up 5-7 hours per week? Download this guide today! Enter your details below to receive your free copy!

What topics does the W5 Coaching blog cover?

The W5 Coaching blog covers a wide range of topics aimed at helping small and medium business owners thrive. John writes about practically every challenge an entrepreneur might face. Some of the common themes include:

Business Strategy & Growth: Posts about planning, goal-setting, scaling up, and strategic thinking to take your business to the next level.
Sales & Marketing: Advice on improving sales processes, understanding customers, creating revenue and profit plans, and even developing a unique selling proposition (USP) or personal brand.
Financial Management: Articles covering the “arithmetic of business” – understanding your financial statements, cash flow, margins, and key metrics so you can make smarter decisions.
Time Management & Productivity: Tips and case studies on getting more done in less time, prioritizing effectively, overcoming overwhelm, and balancing your workload (for example, how to reclaim 5–7 hours per week or implement productivity hacks).
Team Building & Leadership: Guidance on hiring the right people, delegating, improving employee performance (often through asking better questions as John uses the Socratic method), creating a strong company culture, and leading your team to success.

Mindset & Personal Development: Insights on the mental shifts needed for success – topics like developing an owner’s mindset, staying motivated, dealing with fear or obstacles, and maintaining the right attitude as a leader.

Many posts are part of the Ultimate Guide series mentioned above, which means the blog is neatly organized by those categories. Whether you’re looking to solve a specific problem (like “How do I improve cash flow?” or “How can I hire better people?”) or just browsing for inspiration, the blog likely has something relevant for you. We update the blog regularly with fresh content, so it’s a great idea to check back often or join our mailing list for the latest posts. It’s all free advice – take as much as you like!