Did you know nearly one in five small businesses doesn’t make it through the first year?
That’s not just a statistic—it’s a reality check. Whenever I see that number, I’m reminded of my own 25-year journey as a small business owner. It’s been a path filled with steep hills, sharp turns, and a few breathtaking views when I got to the top. In my book, The Small Business BIG EXIT, I share what I’ve learned about weathering storms, building resilience, the eight pillars of a healthy business, and ultimately making a successful exit.
When I launched my company, I had no shortage of passion or vision. What I didn’t have was capital. Like many entrepreneurs, I jumped in headfirst, thinking my determination would carry me through. But it didn’t take long for reality to set in. Cash flow issues came at me fast, and they were bigger and scarier than I’d expected.
I’ll never forget those first few years when payroll was a constant source of stress. There was one month when I had to call my team together and admit their paychecks would be late. It was one of the most challenging conversations I’ve ever had as a leader. Seeing the disappointment in their eyes was gut-wrenching. In that moment, I had a choice: retreat into silence and hope things blew over, or be honest and present. I chose the latter—and that decision shaped the leader I became.
That experience cemented a leadership principle I still hold today: “I was there when it sucked.” It’s a phrase I use, and it perfectly describes the mindset needed to survive tough times.
For me, it meant no sugarcoating — only grit, stick-to-itiveness, and a never-give-up mentality. I began holding regular team meetings where I openly laid out our challenges—our numbers, our struggles, and the steps we were taking to improve. Surprisingly, this transparency didn’t deter people. It built trust. It gave my team a sense of ownership and made us feel like we were navigating the storm together, not as isolated individuals.
Being there also meant showing up emotionally. I began to really listen to my team’s concerns, encourage their ideas, and create space for them to contribute solutions. This openness transformed our challenges from lonely burdens into collective efforts. We were in the fight together, and that bond became one of our greatest strengths.
As the years passed, we faced even greater threats—including bankruptcy. There were times I lay awake at night questioning whether I was cut out for this. I replayed decisions in my head over and over, wondering what I could have done differently.
However, the habit of “being there when it sucked” became my guiding principle. Instead of hiding my fears, I leaned on my team. We brainstormed creative solutions, tried new approaches, and stayed resilient even when the odds seemed stacked against us. We stopped seeing obstacles as dead ends and started treating them as stepping stones—opportunities to grow stronger and wiser.
One of the most transformative lessons from The Small Business BIG EXIT was about resilience and grit. It’s not just about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward. I encouraged my team to see our challenges as shared experiences. This mindset shift sparked a wave of collaboration and innovation. We began pivoting to new markets, testing innovative ideas, and exploring creative ways to deliver value. The more we did this, the more empowered everyone felt. It was incredible to watch team members step up, propose bold solutions, and take ownership of their roles in shaping the company’s future. That collective creativity became one of our most significant advantages.
learned how powerful it is to celebrate them. Whether it was landing a new client or finally having a profitable month, we made it a point to pause and acknowledge the moment.
I still remember the first time we covered all our expenses on time after months of financial stress. We threw a little celebration—cake, laughter, the whole thing. It wasn’t about the money; it was about honoring the hard work that got us there. Those small celebrations built morale, fueled motivation, and reminded us why we were fighting so hard in the first place.
After years of grinding, things started to shift. By focusing on our core strengths and tightening our strategies, we experienced a massive turnaround. Over the last four years of my ownership, we had grown by an incredible 370% and even earned 4X Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies.
That transformation wasn’t an accident. It was built on resilience, transparent leadership, and the eight pillars of business health we’d developed over time. Those pillars gave us a strong foundation, and the habits we’d formed—especially “being there when it sucks”—kept us steady as we scaled.
Eventually, all that hard work paid off. After 25 years, I was able to sell my firm for 17.5 times EBITDA—a milestone that marked not just a financial win, but a personal one. The exit was the culmination of everything I’d learned: resilience, transparency, and the power of showing up for your team when it matters most.
Looking back, I see clearly that the simplest leadership habit with the highest ROI wasn’t a fancy system or a cutting-edge strategy. It was the willingness to be there when it sucked. That one commitment built a sustainable business and a team that could weather any storm.
Entrepreneurship is never a straight line. It’s filled with moments that test your patience, your confidence, and your courage. But it’s also filled with moments of joy, camaraderie, and unexpected victories.
If there’s one thing I’d say to any business owner—whether you’re just starting or decades in—it’s this: success isn’t about avoiding storms. It’s about learning to navigate them. Show up when things are hard. Be transparent with your people. Celebrate the wins, big and small. And always, always be there when it sucks.
Your business will be stronger for it. Your team will be more loyal. And when you finally reach your “big exit,” you’ll know it was built on something more profound than profit—it was built on trust, resilience, and shared purpose.
Alan Wozniak, is President/CEO of Business Health Matters, an executive coaching business and MarketWell Solutions, a comprehensive digital marketing agency.
Mr. Wozniak grew his previous company by 370% a 12X increase in his last four years of ownership, and was awarded INC 5000, the 4X fastest-growing firms in the US. He subsequently sold his firm to an S&P Fortune 500 firm in an M&A.
Mr. Wozniak has published hundreds of articles related to business and the environment, is a Newsweek Expert author, a frequent guest on podcasts, and the author of The Small Business BIG EXIT, set for release on Amazon in November 2024.
