Episode notes
What if the biggest mistake a small business can make is trying to operate like a big company?
In this episode of the Deep Leadership podcast, I’m joined by Sri Kaza, seasoned business leader, former McKinsey advisor, entrepreneur, and author of Unconvention. After studying thousands of small businesses and examining which ones survived major disruptions, Sri discovered something surprising: the companies that endured weren’t necessarily following conventional business wisdom.
They were doing things differently.
Sri explains why small businesses have advantages that large corporations struggle to replicate, including close relationships with customers, a clear sense of purpose, and the ability to make fast, unconventional decisions. We also discuss why chasing growth can actually weaken a business, how knowing which customers not to pursue can make you stronger, and why resilience often comes from staying true to what makes your business unique.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Why small businesses shouldn’t try to operate like big corporations
• What Sri learned from studying thousands of businesses during COVID
• The three Ps of resilient businesses: positioning, proximity, and purpose
• Why knowing your ideal customer is critical to long-term success
• The danger of chasing growth at the expense of your identity
• Why small businesses have a natural advantage in uncertain environments
• How an underdog mindset helps entrepreneurs compete against larger companies
• Why purpose and community can make a business more resilient
• The customers your business should be willing to lose
• Why leaders should role model their values instead of relying on policies
Sri Kaza is the author of Unconvention, a book that challenges traditional corporate thinking and shows entrepreneurs how to build stronger, more resilient businesses by embracing what makes them different.
Connect with Sri Kaza:
Website: https://sri-kaza.com/
Book: https://amzn.to/3Ue2Ypx