Multiple studies show that over 50% of all UK business owners are stressed at an unhealthy level.
Data from Gallup last year highlights that only 10% of all UK employees are motivated at work.
Every year over 300 thousand UK businesses close down and 80% of all UK businesses that are listed for sale never sell.
Why is it so common that businesses are stressful for owners and their teams...
And so many owners find themselves not being able to sell their businesses?
It all comes down to owner dependency. When a business is dependent on the owner for too long it becomes stressful for everyone involved, can't scale and can't sell.
Fix the owner dependency issue and you have a happy owner, an empowered team and a business that can scale or sell.
Fixing owner dependency isn't complicated... it's as simple as moving through four levels.
Not only does a business go though predictable stages of growth, but so do you, the owner.
If you navigate recognise and navigate through each of the stages you will enjoy your business and significantly increase your chances of selling it for a healthy sum (which should always be the goal with a business).
But if you stay stuck at a stage when you and the business are ready for the next stage things are going to go downhill.
What we learnt was that the majority of owners get stuck at the end of stage 2, the Success to Slog Phase.
The Startup Stage lasts typically 12-18 months and this is where the owner does pretty much everything to get the business off the ground.
You don't mind doing this because you're excited for the future and to be getting stuck into something new.
Around 12-18 months you move into the Stage 2, Success To Slog. This stage can last anywhere from 2 years and upward.
It's called Success to Slog stage because you've got something that works. You build a steady base of customers and a small team.
The business, team and customers are reliant on you and at the start you enjoy this. But at some point, when you start to crave freedom and tire of being pulled into day to day operations the business starts to feel like a Slog.
It's important to understand that this doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you or your business, it's just natural progression.
You didn't start your business just to make yourself a job after all! You started it for a combination of Fun, Fulfilment, Finances and FREEDOM.
I've written more about these stages in my Amazon no1 Best Seller 'The Happy Business Revolution'. You can get a free copy using the link below.
The key thing to know now is that for you, your team and business to continue to grow and actually be enjoyable, you have to move into the systems phase.
Business systems free up you, the owner, empower your team and enable your business to reach the stage of Sale or Scale.
But... even though you know this is the right thing, you might still not do it. Why on earth would that happen?! Let's find out.
Owners hate trying to systemise their businesses.
As we just discussed in the last section, if you don't systemise you're stuck.
Bad for you, bad for your team, bad for your business.
But why do so many owners hate or resist systemising?
Well it's probably just not what you're good at or what you enjoy.
Business owners are great at starting, innovating and leading. That's why you ENJOY the Startup phase and the initial part of the Success to Slog phase.
During these stages you were creatively solving problems, doing new things all of the time, inspiring and leading people.
Systemising your business is about building processes, improving efficiency and management.
If you're like most business owners you probably hate that stuff and... please don't take offence, you're probably not very good at it either.
So you don't do it.
The business and team remains reliant on you.
You end up feeling bored, trapped and eventually resentful.
Your team don't feel empowered so they lose motivation.
And, because your business is reliant on you it's unlikely you'll ever be able to sell it.
Urgh.
Recognising this we've built and refined a combination of results guaranteed services that make the transition from owner dependent to system and team grown business painless... and quick.
Mike has opened up the eyes of my colleagues to the unlocked potential we have in our business. His no nonsense approach is refreshing. He contributes to the growth of the business, whilst coaching the team through there growth journeys and boosting their well-being.
Malcolm - Owner - SuperRod
Superb working with Mike - As a business owner with multiple team I have seen the impact Mike and the Better Happy system has made. Trust is truly important and Mike bring boatloads of that to the party - Thanks Mike - we look to an amazing 2024 with you by our side.
Pierre - Owner - Art of Clean
Mike and the Better Happy team are simply outstanding and the work they have done with Travelodge has been transformational. I highly recommend Better Happy to anyone who cares about their people enough to make a difference that really matters.
Dan - Head of Talent - Travelodge
Learn the entire 5 step system we developed from 5 years of helping UK business owners and their teams go from stressful to effortlessly successful.
Grab our done-for-you drop in your business systems that lead to award winning levels of employee motivation, owner freedom and growth on autopilot.
Let us do it for you with our results guaranteed fraction integrator partnership. We'll work with you and your leadership weekly to systemise your business, quickly.
Hi, I’m Mike Jones.
After five years in the military, including two tours of Afghanistan attached to special forces, I spent three years living in monasteries in Southeast Asia.
When I started my first business, I was clueless but determined. Five years later, just as COVID hit, I experienced burnout. I remember thinking, How could running a business burn me out when I handled 20-hour days in Afghanistan?
That’s when I realised business comes with unique challenges that, if unaddressed, lead to burnout—and everyone loses.
Since then, I’ve built two businesses (without burnout) by combining the right mindset and systems.
My mission with the Better Happy Business Club is to help 10,000 business owners transition from owner-dependent to team-run businesses they can sell—all while enjoying the process!
Mike Jones
Better Happy Founder
Learn the entire 5 step system we developed from 5 years of helping UK business owners and their teams go from stressful to effortlessly successful.
Grab our done-for-you drop in your business systems that lead to award winning levels of employee motivation, owner freedom and growth on autopilot.
Let us do it for you with our results guaranteed fraction integrator partnership. We'll work with you and your leadership weekly to systemise your business, quickly.