If an owner wants a better business, first the business needs a better owner
The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Better Business Owner
If you want a better business, you need to become a better owner.
This guide covers the 5 most important things you need to become a better owner.
- Mindset. Thinking like an owner and seeing the big picture of your business.
- Planning. Deciding what you want, setting a goal, and making plans to get after it.
- Habits. Changing your behaviours to help you get what you want.
- Learning. Getting new information and developing new skills.
- Growth. Facing your fears, stepping outside your comfort zone, and doing what is necessary to create the business of your dreams.
This guide provides in depth content on all of the above.
If you'd like to shortcut the process, click the button below and let's chat for 15 minutes about coaching!
1. Developing an Owner's Mindset.
How to think like a successful business person.
There are five distinct levels of Owner Evolution. Each requires a different mindset. Here’s how to figure out where you are and what it takes to move up.
If you are working on a big goal, there are going to be problems, issues, and roadblocks along the way. Here’s the best way to overcome them
Take some time away from the day-to-day running of your business to focus on these big picture challenges. You and your business will be better for it.
The process and tasks of building a successful business aren’t all that difficult. The hard part is changing your mindset. Here are the top 5 shifts you need to make.
Successful business owners strike a balance between thinking and doing. Here are some questions to prompt your best thinking.
Taking your business to the next level can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you’re feeling a mixture of excitement and fear you’re probably encountering the transition curve. Here’s what you need to know.
The purpose of a small business is to give the owner the life they want. Too many owners sacrifice their lives for their business. Here’s what to do about it.
When you reframe, you change the way you perceive a situation. Many business challenges can provide an opportunity for growth and learning. Here are three specific business situations where reframing can be useful.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Shift from working IN your business to working ON your business. Here’s how to make the switch.
When it comes to small business, there is one single foundational purpose that is often overlooked to the business owner’s detriment.
Your self-talk matters. Discover the one small mistake that people make in their thinking that can have a big negative impact on results.
Are you a business owner? Or do you have a J-O-B in a business with your name on it? Here are 3 signs you haven’t made the leap to owner yet.
The words you speak can make the difference between joyfully moving towards certain success – or staying stuck, overwhelmed, and stressed out. Here’s how to choose them wisely.
What would you like more of in your business? More money? More time freedom? More clients or customers? The 3 things you need to get that.
Business problems fall into 3 buckets: time, team, or money. Here are 100s of articles pulled from 15 years of helping clients solve these.
My notes from Steven Covey’s classic book. By incorporating these habits into your daily life and business, you can achieve greater success
You can use this basic formula for whatever it is you want to have. What kind of person you have to BE in order to DO so that you can HAVE.
Just because you’re good at your work doesn’t mean that you’ll be good at running a business that offers that work. These key concepts will help you become a better owner.
1. Developing an Owner's Mindset.
How to think like a successful business person.
There are five distinct levels of Owner Evolution. Each requires a different mindset. Here’s how to figure out where you are and what it takes to move up.
If you are working on a big goal, there are going to be problems, issues, and roadblocks along the way. Here’s the best way to overcome them
Take some time away from the day-to-day running of your business to focus on these big picture challenges. You and your business will be better for it.
The process and tasks of building a successful business aren’t all that difficult. The hard part is changing your mindset. Here are the top 5 shifts you need to make.
Successful business owners strike a balance between thinking and doing. Here are some questions to prompt your best thinking.
Taking your business to the next level can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you’re feeling a mixture of excitement and fear you’re probably encountering the transition curve. Here’s what you need to know.
The purpose of a small business is to give the owner the life they want. Too many owners sacrifice their lives for their business. Here’s what to do about it.
When you reframe, you change the way you perceive a situation. Many business challenges can provide an opportunity for growth and learning. Here are three specific business situations where reframing can be useful.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Shift from working IN your business to working ON your business. Here’s how to make the switch.
When it comes to small business, there is one single foundational purpose that is often overlooked to the business owner’s detriment.
Your self-talk matters. Discover the one small mistake that people make in their thinking that can have a big negative impact on results.
Are you a business owner? Or do you have a J-O-B in a business with your name on it? Here are 3 signs you haven’t made the leap to owner yet.
The words you speak can make the difference between joyfully moving towards certain success – or staying stuck, overwhelmed, and stressed out. Here’s how to choose them wisely.
What would you like more of in your business? More money? More time freedom? More clients or customers? The 3 things you need to get that.
Business problems fall into 3 buckets: time, team, or money. Here are 100s of articles pulled from 15 years of helping clients solve these.
My notes from Steven Covey’s classic book. By incorporating these habits into your daily life and business, you can achieve greater success
You can use this basic formula for whatever it is you want to have. What kind of person you have to BE in order to DO so that you can HAVE.
Just because you’re good at your work doesn’t mean that you’ll be good at running a business that offers that work. These key concepts will help you become a better owner.
2. Planning
Setting goals and charting a course to get them.
The quiet time between Christmas and the New Year is the ideal time to “have a think” about your business and make a plan so that you’re ready to hit the ground running come January. Here’s how.
To successfully launch into the entrepreneurial stratosphere, you need to be like a rocket ship and find your momentum – the thing behind your goals. Here’s how…
Reviewing the past year gives you an opportunity to step back and gain a larger perspective on your business, laying the foundation for making your annual plan. Ask yourself these questions
Sticking to a plan is essential to success. If you struggle to stick to a plan, it could be because you are missing this one critical piece of the puzzle
You only get 365 days to make an impact. What about this year’s plan will be different? Here’s how to make next year your best year ever.
The people who achieve their dreams have more than a good plan. They commit themselves fully to the goals they have set.
2. Planning
Setting goals and charting a course to get them.
The quiet time between Christmas and the New Year is the ideal time to “have a think” about your business and make a plan so that you’re ready to hit the ground running come January. Here’s how.
To successfully launch into the entrepreneurial stratosphere, you need to be like a rocket ship and find your momentum – the thing behind your goals. Here’s how…
Reviewing the past year gives you an opportunity to step back and gain a larger perspective on your business, laying the foundation for making your annual plan. Ask yourself these questions
Sticking to a plan is essential to success. If you struggle to stick to a plan, it could be because you are missing this one critical piece of the puzzle
You only get 365 days to make an impact. What about this year’s plan will be different? Here’s how to make next year your best year ever.
The people who achieve their dreams have more than a good plan. They commit themselves fully to the goals they have set.
3. Habits
Shifting your default behaviours in a way that serves both you and your business better.
A dilemma is a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives. Trying to choose just gets you stuck. Here’s what to do instead.
The best way to implement change in your business and in your personal life is by developing better habits. Here are 4 science-based methods for making new habits.
Procrastinating? Stuck in analysis paralysis? These 4 strategies will help you break free from the overthinking trap and take action.
Want to reach your goals? It’s your habits that will enable you to achieve them. Here are 3 tips for making new habits stick.
Setting a goal works, in part, because we program our brains to pay attention to the things that will help us achieve our dreams. Here’s how…
3. Habits
Shifting your default behaviours in a way that serves both you and your business better.
A dilemma is a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives. Trying to choose just gets you stuck. Here’s what to do instead.
The best way to implement change in your business and in your personal life is by developing better habits. Here are 4 science-based methods for making new habits.
Procrastinating? Stuck in analysis paralysis? These 4 strategies will help you break free from the overthinking trap and take action.
Want to reach your goals? It’s your habits that will enable you to achieve them. Here are 3 tips for making new habits stick.
Setting a goal works, in part, because we program our brains to pay attention to the things that will help us achieve our dreams. Here’s how…
4. Learning
Gathering information and developing the skills you need as an entrepreneur.
A well-managed business is built on systems. As we say at W5: systems run the business, people run the systems, you lead the people. Here’s how
Executive leaders delegate at a higher level. They’re willing to let go control. As a result, they can pass off a LOT of the heavy lifting.
If you want more money and free time (or just less stress!) leveraging can be a useful tool for doing more with less. Here’s how…
Without a boss to hold you accountable, it can be easy to let goals slide. Want more success? Find a way to build accountability into your business. Here’s how
If you want to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic – nothing beats a great book. Here are my best book recommendations for business owners, categorized by the business challenge they help with.
Your non-expert clients can’t judge your expert skills. Instead, they’ll judge your competence based on other attributes of your business. How good are you at the critical non-essentials?
The most successful business owners are those that invest time and energy in their personal and professional development. Here’s how to fit in time for “reading” when you have no time.
If you want a better business you need to learn to become a better owner. Read these 7 books to take your business to the next level.
4. Learning
Gathering information and developing the skills you need as an entrepreneur.
A well-managed business is built on systems. As we say at W5: systems run the business, people run the systems, you lead the people. Here’s how
Executive leaders delegate at a higher level. They’re willing to let go control. As a result, they can pass off a LOT of the heavy lifting.
If you want more money and free time (or just less stress!) leveraging can be a useful tool for doing more with less. Here’s how…
Without a boss to hold you accountable, it can be easy to let goals slide. Want more success? Find a way to build accountability into your business. Here’s how
If you want to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic – nothing beats a great book. Here are my best book recommendations for business owners, categorized by the business challenge they help with.
Your non-expert clients can’t judge your expert skills. Instead, they’ll judge your competence based on other attributes of your business. How good are you at the critical non-essentials?
The most successful business owners are those that invest time and energy in their personal and professional development. Here’s how to fit in time for “reading” when you have no time.
If you want a better business you need to learn to become a better owner. Read these 7 books to take your business to the next level.
5. Growth
Overcoming your fears, stepping outside your comfort zone, and becoming the confident business owner you need to be.
Want to thrive as a business owner? You need to focus on character, affirmations, and habits. In short, create a plan to be the best version of you that you can.
Struggling to grow your business? Discover how the “Five Steps to Freedom” framework can help you overcome time, team, and money challenges. From mastering marketing and delegation to improving cash flow and leadership, learn actionable strategies to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
Success comes as a result of what I like to call the 3 A’s: Acumen, Activity, and Attitude. Here’s how to apply those 3 A’s to get better at sales
Feeling stuck? Inertia can be devastating to small business owners. Here’s a straightforward equation to jumpstart change and squash resistance.
Everything you want in live (and business) is outside your comfort zone. Just beware of the panic zone, danger zone, and dying zone. This article explains the difference.
Too many business owners focus their attention in their circle of concern instead of their circle of control. Here’s how to spot the difference
5. Growth
Overcoming your fears, stepping outside your comfort zone, and becoming the confident business owner you need to be.
Want to thrive as a business owner? You need to focus on character, affirmations, and habits. In short, create a plan to be the best version of you that you can.
Struggling to grow your business? Discover how the “Five Steps to Freedom” framework can help you overcome time, team, and money challenges. From mastering marketing and delegation to improving cash flow and leadership, learn actionable strategies to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
Success comes as a result of what I like to call the 3 A’s: Acumen, Activity, and Attitude. Here’s how to apply those 3 A’s to get better at sales
Feeling stuck? Inertia can be devastating to small business owners. Here’s a straightforward equation to jumpstart change and squash resistance.
Everything you want in live (and business) is outside your comfort zone. Just beware of the panic zone, danger zone, and dying zone. This article explains the difference.
Too many business owners focus their attention in their circle of concern instead of their circle of control. Here’s how to spot the difference
6. Getting Support
If you want to develop yourself as a business owner, an experienced guide can help you do so faster and with fewer mistakes.
What does a business coach or advisor do? How do you choose the right one? How do you know if coaching is right for you.
Hit a wall on your own? Thinking of partnering with a business coach? Here are 7 signs that you and your business are ready for coaching.
Coaching gives you a safe space to think out loud, solve problems, and step back from daily chaos—while adding structure and accountability to move your business forward.
John Nieuwenburg joins the Titans of the Trades podcast to share practical insights for business owners on hiring, mindset, and building a self-managing business.
Can AI replace a coach? Not quite. AI is a powerful assistant, but coaching brings clarity, structure, and accountability. Here’s how using both together can accelerate your business growth.
When business is down, it might seem inappropriate to consider increasing expenditures by hiring a coach. Here are 5 ways a coach can help you turn things around.
Struggling to grow your business? Discover how the “Five Steps to Freedom” framework can help you overcome time, team, and money challenges. From mastering marketing and delegation to improving cash flow and leadership, learn actionable strategies to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
If you’ve ever thought about working with a business coach, I bet you have questions. So it’s a good thing I have answers. Here they are…
What is coaching? What will we work on during our sessions? What will we do first? How long does it take? Answers to these questions and more!
Thinking about getting a business coach? The things that hold us back from coaching are the reasons we need a coach in the first place!
What business coaching is, how it differs from consulting and life coaching, what to expect from your coach, and how a business coach can help you take your business to the next level.
6. Getting Support
If you want to develop yourself as a business owner, an experienced guide can help you do so faster and with fewer mistakes.
What does a business coach or advisor do? How do you choose the right one? How do you know if coaching is right for you.
Hit a wall on your own? Thinking of partnering with a business coach? Here are 7 signs that you and your business are ready for coaching.
Coaching gives you a safe space to think out loud, solve problems, and step back from daily chaos—while adding structure and accountability to move your business forward.
John Nieuwenburg joins the Titans of the Trades podcast to share practical insights for business owners on hiring, mindset, and building a self-managing business.
Can AI replace a coach? Not quite. AI is a powerful assistant, but coaching brings clarity, structure, and accountability. Here’s how using both together can accelerate your business growth.
When business is down, it might seem inappropriate to consider increasing expenditures by hiring a coach. Here are 5 ways a coach can help you turn things around.
Struggling to grow your business? Discover how the “Five Steps to Freedom” framework can help you overcome time, team, and money challenges. From mastering marketing and delegation to improving cash flow and leadership, learn actionable strategies to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
If you’ve ever thought about working with a business coach, I bet you have questions. So it’s a good thing I have answers. Here they are…
What is coaching? What will we work on during our sessions? What will we do first? How long does it take? Answers to these questions and more!
Thinking about getting a business coach? The things that hold us back from coaching are the reasons we need a coach in the first place!
What business coaching is, how it differs from consulting and life coaching, what to expect from your coach, and how a business coach can help you take your business to the next level.
Our proven business coaching program has delivered results to over 300 clients
Business coaching can help you:
- Improve operations, implement systems and remove bottlenecks so that you get your time back
- Hire and train the right team and eliminate people problems
- Grow your business with bigger and better clients
- Overcome cash flow issues and improve your financial management
- Make better decisions and become more profitable
When your business runs well, you get your life back.
Services are confidential.
Return on your investment is guaranteed.
Click here for full details or click the red button to schedule a complimentary 15-minute call.
Coaching only works when there's a good fit between coach and client. If you'd like to explore coaching, book a confidential 15-minute call so we can get to know each other.
If you want a better business, you need to become a better owner – and this guide shows you how. The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Better Business Owner covers the five most important areas for personal growth as a business owner:
- Mindset: How to start thinking like a successful owner and see the bigger picture of your business. The right mindset is the foundation for all other improvements.
- Planning: How to decide what you really want, set clear goals, and make actionable plans to achieve them. Owners who plan well can drive their business with purpose.
- Habits: How to change your daily behaviors to align with your goals. Small habit changes can lead to big results over time, helping you get what you want from your business.
- Learning: How to continually acquire new information and skills. Great owners are always learning – whether it’s business finance, leadership techniques, or industry knowledge – to stay ahead of the curve.
- Growth: How to face your fears and step outside your comfort zone. True growth happens when you challenge yourself; this section is about pushing beyond what you think is possible to create the business of your dreams.
Each section of the guide provides in-depth content, including articles, tips, and examples, to help you improve in that area. It’s like a crash course in up-leveling yourself as a business owner. By working through these mindset shifts, planning techniques, habit changes, learning opportunities, and growth challenges, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the kind of owner whose business thrives. (And remember, if you ever want to fast-track this process, you can always book a chat with John – he’s helped many owners accelerate their personal and professional growth!)