Brad Poulos

Small biz prof 🇨🇦 Author of The Small Business Operator’s Manual. Startup and strategy consultant. Keyboard player. I help folks make sense of chaos.

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

In 1995, I pitched the Bell Canada board for $2M to launch a new business.
I had zero customer interviews, no MVP—just a business plan and a slide deck.
Here’s how entrepreneurship has changed.

https://t.co/ZOwucXW9xG

#entrepreneurship #startups #smallbusiness #strategy

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

In 1995, I raised $2M from Bell Canada’s board—with zero customer interviews.
That would never fly today. And for good reason.
Here’s how entrepreneurship has changed—and why it’s better for everyone.
https://t.co/ZOwucXW9xG
#startups #entrepreneurship #leanstartup

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Most entrepreneurs never go beyond a gut feel when it comes to competitors.
What if you mapped them?
This week’s post: 2 simple tools that show you where you stand—and where the opportunity is.
https://t.co/xohK4xC8Jg

#SmallBusiness #CompetitiveStrategy #EntrepreneurTips

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Guest post by Denise Fekete of Gore Mutual:
Change management isn’t optional. It’s how you survive—and grow.
🧠 Read: https://t.co/vPeKFQaZBm
#ChangeManagement #Leadership #GuestPost #SmallBusiness

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Most small biz owners fixate on competitors — but what about suppliers, buyers, new entrants & substitutes? Learn how Porter’s Five Forces can give you the full picture & protect your profits.
https://t.co/eAFPbrtKYB #PortersFiveForces #SmallBusiness #Strategy

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

A raise might fix disengagement—for a month.

If you’re trying to buy motivation, you’re solving the wrong problem.

💡 This week’s Idea Worth Stealing: Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene theory.

#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Motivation #Herzberg https://t.co/G7uSdB0BTS

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Customers don’t buy products.
They hire them to get jobs done.
Your competition isn’t always who you think—and your best prospects may be doing nothing at all.
Learn how JTBD thinking changes everything: https://t.co/QWxkOy86aL
#SmallBusiness #JobsToBeDone #MarketingStrategy

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Calling yourself “CEO” when you’re a one-person shop?

It might feel legit, but it can make you look out of touch. Here’s what to call yourself instead.

#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #Founder #BizTips #StartupLife
https://t.co/8yrc0Rf2wD

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Deciding isn’t doing.

The gap between intention and action kills more small businesses than bad ideas ever will.

Here’s how to build a bias toward action—starting today.

🔗 https://t.co/aJOpSmgByC

#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Execution

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Fiber glut.

Cannabis overbuild.

Now AI.

Every cycle: real tech, wrong timelines. I’ve seen it before—and I believe we’re in another overshoot. #AIOverbuild

👉 [Link]

https://t.co/W9pmU4RyEp

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

The CEO’s #1 job? Building a company that can’t be brought down by one bad decision. Learn how to spot risks like customer concentration and key person dependency — and build real resilience. #SmallBiz #RiskManagement https://t.co/TR1QxeUXiC
#Entrepreneurship #Bootstrapping

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Bootstrapping is fuel for takeoff, not your whole flight plan.
Build lean, build strong, then scale on your own terms. 🚀
Read more: https://t.co/TR1QxeUXiC
#bootstrapping #startups

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

I"Decision fatigue hitting hard? 😩 Stop chasing 'the best' & embrace 'good enough.' My new post explains how satisficing can transform your small business decisions. #SmallBiz #Productivity #Leadership #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #DecisionScience
https://t.co/PRpnYRY6sd

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Your biggest competitor isn’t who you think.
It’s the disruptor you don’t see coming.

That’s creative destruction—and small biz owners need to watch for it.
https://t.co/bMb09K3L79

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Most small business owners undercharge.
Not because of the market.
Because of fear.
Raise your prices.
Lose the worst customers.
Make more money.
New post: “Tell Me Right Now—Why Can’t We Raise Your Prices?”
https://t.co/jRl7r5pKAZ

#smallbusiness #pricing #profit #entrepreneur

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

3 ways small businesses can use AI TODAY:
• 📧 Draft newsletters in minutes
• 📊 Summarize 100+ survey responses instantly
• 📝 Beat blank page syndrome every time

Full guide + prompts → https://t.co/P14Z2ttSgB

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

If you’re not profitable at the unit level, scaling just multiplies your losses.
Know your numbers. Know your margin. Then grow.
A quick guide to unit economics for smart founders:
🔗 https://t.co/tTm3GHZrGi
#Entrepreneurship #SmallBiz #UnitEconomics
#SmallBusiness #StartupTips

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

The smartest leaders know when to play dumb.
✔️ Gather info
✔️ Manage egos
✔️ Defuse tension
✔️ Get underestimated (on purpose)
Columbo knew it. Ted Lasso too. Do you?
https://t.co/5AByRF3qXD

#Leadership #Strategy #SmallBusiness

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Habits start light, and grow heavy.
“The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
Good or bad, repetition shapes your future. Here’s why habits (and systems) matter:
https://t.co/1itJcyjJLM

#SmallBusiness #Habits #Leadership

[Brad Poulos @bradpoulos]

Just because a client is big doesn’t mean they’re safe.

I learned that the hard way with Nortel — here’s how to spot the signs your biggest customer is in trouble.

https://t.co/KUxqLCHMdW
#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #CashFlow #CustomerRisk