Monday, November 09, 2026

US owners lose 33 working days a year to financial stress (Xero, 2026). Sean Ellis's North Star Metric shows SME owners how to grow without it costing their evenings.

Short answer: Making It Happen is a self-paced online masterclass for a one-time US$297 payment. It is built for owners who already know roughly what to do and keep not doing it. If your real problem is that you do not yet know where the business is heading, start with Know Your Future instead. If you need a quick sales lift, look at Quick Wins.

A disclosure first: Simple-Growth publishes this guide and sells Making It Happen, so read it with that in mind. Everything about the program below comes from its live sales page, opened on 10 November 2026.

What is in Making It Happen?

The sales page describes self-paced video training, pre-made templates, a key points summary, real-world examples from large and small businesses, and Kevin D'Ambros-Smith's practical tips. A workbook is mentioned in an image caption only. The page lists six modules:

  • Beat procrastination
  • Master productivity systems
  • Prioritize what matters
  • Implement strategy
  • Build accountability
  • Get it done

The page does not state a total running time, video count or module length, so we cannot tell you how many hours it takes. Payment is $297 once, and the page offers a 30-day money-back guarantee: if it is not useful, you can ask for a refund.

Why implementation is the part worth fixing

Planning is rarely the bottleneck. The U.S. Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey (data collected 14 December 2025 to 3 May 2026) found that AI use among US businesses stayed between 17% and 20%, and that firms with four or fewer employees were below 20%. Our reading, which is a judgment and not a Census finding: a tool that exists but is not being used is an implementation gap, and that gap is common in small firms where the owner is also the person doing the work.

How does Making It Happen compare with your other options?

  • Making It Happen ($297, self-paced). Suits you if you know what matters but stall on follow-through and want a system and templates. Watch out: you must do the work, and no one chases you.
  • Quick Wins ($97). Suits you if you want fast ideas to lift sales. Watch out: it is about sales ideas, not personal systems.
  • Know Your Future ($497). Suits you if you are unclear on direction and need a roadmap first. Watch out: time spent on vision before action.
  • A productivity book or free content. Suits you if you want a low-cost start. Watch out: it is easy to read and not apply.
  • One-on-one coaching. Suits you if you want someone to hold you to account and to diagnose your constraint. Watch out: higher cost; the free 30-minute call shows if it fits.

Who should skip Making It Happen?

  • Owners who want someone to do the work for them. This is training, not done-for-you service.
  • Owners whose problem is a missing strategy. Do that first.
  • Owners with no time. If you cannot find an hour or two a week, nothing here will stick.
  • Owners who need a person to hold them accountable in real time. Consider a coaching call.

A 90-day way to use it

  • Week 1: write down the one outcome that matters most this quarter and one number that shows progress.
  • Weeks 2 to 4: work through the modules in order and complete each template as you go.
  • Weeks 5 to 12: choose one habit from the accountability module, review the number weekly, and drop anything that does not move it.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Making It Happen cost? US$297 as a single payment, with a 30-day money-back guarantee according to the sales page.

How long does it take? The sales page does not say. It is self-paced, so you set the speed.

Is it the same as coaching? No. It is recorded training with templates. Coaching adds a person who diagnoses your constraint and holds you to account.

Can I talk to someone before buying? Yes. Kevin offers a free 30-minute call, and there is no obligation.

Results vary and depend on the work you put in; nothing here is a guarantee.

Checked 10 November 2026. Last updated 10 November 2026.

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