March 2025

Winning by a Margin: What NCAA Stats Reveal About Business

Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Charts and Trends, Leadership, Management, market research, Podcast, Uncategorized, Video / Rick Slark

This week on Deep Dive, Sarah and James break down a sharp article by Rick Slark, Fractional Strategist and owner of Slark Consulting Group. Drawing from NCAA basketball stats, Rick shows how tiny margins—just 3 to 5%—separate top-performing teams from the rest.

What does that mean for your business? More than you think. From strategy to execution, this episode unpacks how small gains lead to big wins.

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When Business Partners Collide: How to Resolve Conflicts Over Core Values

AI/Tech, Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Leadership, Management, Partnerships, Quotes, Uncategorized / Rick Slark

Most business partnerships don’t fail because of poor strategy. They fail because of value collisions—when partners hold fundamentally different beliefs about what matters most. One partner wants rapid growth; the other prioritizes craftsmanship. One sees employees as human capital; the other sees them as a community.

These silent collisions erode trust, slow decision-making, and often lead to costly breakdowns. Clarifying core values early, building decision frameworks, and revisiting alignment regularly isn’t optional—it’s essential.

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Buyer’s Remorse in Retail: 3 Proven Strategies to Build Customer Trust and Increase Retention

Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Customer Service, Professional Development, Retail, Sales & Service, Uncategorized / Rick Slark

Buyer’s remorse doesn’t just impact customer satisfaction—it undermines your profitability, retention, and brand trust. In today’s competitive retail landscape, successful businesses must proactively build customer confidence beyond the point of sale. In this post, I share three proven strategies to eliminate buyer’s remorse, increase repeat purchases, and turn hesitant shoppers into loyal customers.

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Rick Slark | Helping Growth-Minded Businesses Overcome Growing Pains & Scale Smarter

Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Partnerships, Professional Development, Uncategorized / Rick Slark

Scaling Isn’t the Hard Part—Scaling Well Is.
You did everything right—your business is growing, sales are up, and you’re hiring. But instead of feeling in control, you’re drowning in unexpected challenges.

Rick Slark | Helping Growth-Minded Businesses Overcome Growing Pains & Scale Smarter Read More »

The Power of Getting 1% Better Every Day: How Small Daily Improvements Make You a Better Business Leader

Uncategorized / Rick Slark

This article explores the power of small, consistent improvements—getting just 1% better each day. Drawing on Stoic wisdom from Zeno and Marcus Aurelius, it highlights how daily actions and decisions, however small, compound over time to build stronger leaders and better businesses. Readers will find practical tips they can apply immediately to create meaningful progress.

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Scaling Up Isn’t Easy—Here’s How to Overcome Growing Pains and Keep Moving Forward

Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Professional Development, Uncategorized / Rick Slark

Scaling a business is exciting, but it brings growing pains—more complexity, more decisions, and more operational stress. Without a clear strategy, growth can stall. As a Fractional Growth Strategist, I help startups and mid-sized businesses cut through complexity, optimize operations, and strengthen leadership—so they can scale without breaking.

💡 In this article, you’ll learn:
✔ Why growth brings unexpected challenges
✔ How to manage complexity before it slows you down
✔ Why strong leadership is key to sustainable scaling
✔ How a fractional approach provides expert strategy without the cost of a full-time executive

📌 If your business is growing but feels stuck, let’s talk.
🔗 Book a Strategy Call Today

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