Here’s something I’ve noticed over many years of working with business owners.
Most people know what they need to do to improve their business.
- They know they should be reviewing their prices.
- They know they need better systems, stronger management, improved cash flow and more effective marketing.
- They know they should be spending more time working ON their business rather than IN it.
So why don’t they do it?
Why do intelligent, hardworking and capable business owners continue doing the same things year after year, even when they’re unhappy with the results?
It’s a fascinating question.
And it’s something that internationally renowned business strategist and motivational speaker Tony Robbins has explored extensively throughout his career.
The uncomfortable truth about change
One of the central themes in Tony Robbins’ work is that lasting change requires more than simply knowing what to do.
It requires changing our patterns, decisions and behaviours.
And I believe this is particularly relevant to business owners.
Knowing what to do and actually doing it are two completely different things.
Think about it.
How many times have you attended a seminar, read a business book, listened to a podcast or received advice and thought:
“That’s a great idea. I really need to do that!”
You leave feeling motivated.
You promise yourself things are going to change.
Then Monday morning arrives.
The phone starts ringing.
Emails pile up.
A staff member calls in sick.
A customer has a problem.
And suddenly, you’re back doing exactly what you’ve always done.
Another week passes.
Then another month.
Then another year.
And nothing changes!
Why do we resist change?
Because change is uncomfortable.
It’s easier to continue doing what we know than to challenge ourselves to do something different.
Even when our current approach isn’t working particularly well, at least it’s familiar.
Changing your pricing might mean having difficult conversations with customers.
Delegating responsibilities means trusting other people.
Introducing new technology means learning something unfamiliar.
Reviewing staff performance means having conversations you’d rather avoid.
And making major business decisions means accepting responsibility for the outcome.
So instead of changing, we make excuses.
- “We’re too busy.”
- “Now isn’t the right time.”
- “The economy is terrible.”
- “We can’t find good staff.”
- “Our customers won’t pay more.”
- “We’ll look at it next year.”
Some of these challenges are very real.
But here’s my question…
Are these genuine obstacles, or have they become convenient reasons for not taking action?
The cost of doing nothing
Let’s look at a simple example.
Imagine your business generates $3 million in annual revenue.
Your net profit margin is 5%.
That means you’re making $150,000 in annual profit.
You’ve been told that by improving your pricing, reviewing costs, increasing productivity and introducing better systems, you could potentially increase your net profit margin to 8%.
That would increase annual profit to $240,000.
An additional $90,000 every year.
But you don’t make the changes.
- You’re too busy.
- You don’t want to upset customers.
- You don’t have time to review your systems.
- You’ll get around to it eventually.
Five years later, nothing has changed.
At the same revenue and margins, that’s potentially $450,000 in additional cumulative profit you could have generated over those five years.
And that’s before considering the possible impact on the value of your business.
Of course, these improvements aren’t guaranteed, and the example assumes the higher margin could have been achieved and maintained.
But it illustrates an important point.
Sometimes the most expensive business decision you make is the decision to do nothing.
Your comfort zone could be your biggest competitor
We spend a lot of time worrying about our competitors.
- What are they charging?
- What new services are they offering?
- How are they attracting customers?
- What technology are they using?
But perhaps the biggest obstacle to your business becoming more successful isn’t your competition.
Perhaps it’s your unwillingness to change the way you’ve always done things.
Think about the businesses that have embraced new technology, developed strong management teams, improved their marketing and invested in better systems.
Now compare them with businesses that are still operating exactly as they did 10 years ago.
Which ones are more likely to thrive over the next decade?
The world is changing rapidly.
Artificial intelligence alone is creating extraordinary opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce repetitive work, enhance customer service and increase productivity.
But those opportunities mean very little if you’re unwilling to investigate them and take action.
You cannot expect tomorrow’s results using yesterday’s thinking.
Stop waiting until you’re forced to change
Here’s something else I’ve observed…
Many business owners only make significant changes when they have no other choice.
- Cash flow becomes critical.
- A major customer leaves.
- A key employee resigns.
- The bank starts asking questions.
- Profitability deteriorates.
Suddenly, the changes that were supposedly too difficult become absolutely essential.
Why?
Because the consequences of doing nothing have become greater than the discomfort of changing.
But why wait until there’s a crisis?
- Why not make those changes while your business is still performing reasonably well?
- Why not improve your profitability before margins deteriorate?
- Why not strengthen your management team before you’re completely exhausted?
- Why not build a better business while you still have the time, resources and flexibility to do so?
The difference between successful business owners and everyone else
After years of advising business owners, one thing has become very clear to me:
The businesses that achieve the greatest success aren’t necessarily those with the best ideas. They’re the ones prepared to make decisions, embrace change and actually implement those ideas.
- They identify problems.
- They seek advice.
- They make decisions.
- They implement changes.
- They measure the results.
And if something doesn’t work, they adjust and try again.
Meanwhile, others are still talking about what they’re going to do.
There comes a point when you need to stop talking about improving your business and actually start improving it.
That’s exactly why we created Global Business Camps
One of the reasons we established Global Business Camps was to help business owners break out of the day-to-day demands of running their businesses and start thinking differently.
Because I know how easy it is to get caught up in the daily grind.
You become so busy running your business that you rarely have the time to step away, challenge your thinking, learn new strategies and develop a plan for the future.
And that’s where Global Business Camps can make a real difference.
For three days, we bring together forward-thinking business owners, entrepreneurs, key managers and business advisers who want to achieve more.
People who aren’t prepared to accept that the way they’ve always done things is necessarily the best way.
People who want to improve profitability, strengthen their systems, embrace new technology, develop their people and build more successful businesses.
At GBC, we focus on practical strategies covering business growth, marketing, sales, finance, leadership, systems, artificial intelligence and much more.
But here’s what I believe is most important.
It’s not simply about what you learn over those three days. It’s about what you decide to do differently when you return to your business.
And that’s why we encourage business owners to bring their key people with them.
Because change becomes much easier when your team understands the vision, learns the strategies and is committed to implementing them.
What could three days away from your business be worth?
Think about that $3 million business we discussed earlier.
If the owner could identify and successfully implement changes that increased annual profitability by $90,000, what would that be worth over the next five years?
Potentially $450,000 in additional profit.
Now imagine discovering strategies that improve your sales, productivity, customer retention, cash flow or management systems.
What could those improvements mean for your business?
The real question isn’t whether you can afford to spend three days working ON your business.
It’s whether you can afford to spend another year doing exactly what you’ve always done.
Of course, no event can guarantee increased profits or business success.
But I firmly believe that giving yourself the opportunity to learn, challenge your thinking and develop a practical plan is an investment worth seriously considering.
My challenge to you
I want you to think about one thing in your business that you know needs to change.
Not 10 things.
Just one.
- Perhaps it’s your pricing.
- Your debtors.
- Your marketing.
- Your staff productivity.
- Your systems.
- Your profitability.
Or perhaps it’s simply the amount of time you’re spending working in the business instead of building it.
Now ask yourself three questions…
- How long have I known this needed to change?
Has it been three months? Twelve months? Three years?
- What has not making this change already cost me?
Think about lost profit, wasted time, missed opportunities and unnecessary stress.
- What am I going to do differently over the next seven days?
Not next month. Not next year.
Within the next seven days.
Because the difference between where your business is today and where it could be in three years may come down to the decisions you make right now.
The bottom line
Tony Robbins’ work on personal change provides a valuable reminder that information and motivation alone are not enough.
Real progress requires action, consistency and a willingness to challenge established habits.
And in business, I believe that’s absolutely critical.
Your business won’t improve simply because you want it to.
- Your profitability won’t increase simply because you hope it will.
- Your cash flow won’t improve simply because you’re working harder.
- And your business won’t become more valuable unless you deliberately build it that way.
You need to change something.
If you keep doing what you’ve always done, why would you expect a different result?
Here’s my final question
Twelve months from now, will you still be talking about the changes you need to make, or will you be enjoying the results of having made them?
The choice is yours.
Your opportunity to make that change starts at GBC 2027
Global Business Camps — 1–3 March 2027
Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast
Three days dedicated to helping you think differently, discover opportunities, improve performance and develop practical strategies for your business.
And here’s something important…
Don’t just come on your own. Bring your key people.
- The people who will help you implement the changes when you return.
- The people who can help turn good ideas into measurable results.
Because the best strategies in the world mean nothing if nobody implements them.
Exclusive VIP registration: $2,365 per person (normally $3,300).
That’s a saving of $935 per person.
You can register online
https://globalbusinesscamps.com.au/camps-events/register-for-the-2027-camp/
Enter VIP code: VIP-1 to access the special rate.
Alternatively, call 08 8423 6177 and we’ll help you register, or email john@globalbusinesscamps.com.au and simply say, “We’re in!”
Don’t wait for your business to force you to change. Make the decision to change before you have to.
I look forward to seeing you and your team on the Gold Coast.
John Tsoulos
Director
Global Business Camps
This article draws inspiration from the general teachings of Tony Robbins on personal growth, behavioural change and taking action. The business examples, commentary and recommendations are original. Tony Robbins is not represented as being affiliated with or endorsing Global Business Camps.
