Sunday, November 08, 2026
A free clinic, a $295 + GST mentor, half-funded training or a paid coach: which rung suits your business, and how to avoid paying for the same thing twice.
The short answer: Making It Happen is a self-paced online masterclass for owners who already have a plan and are not finishing it. It costs US$297, one payment, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It is not the right first step if your problem is finding customers, or if you want a person checking in on you every week.
A disclosure first: Simple-Growth publishes this program, so this is a vendor's description. The facts below come from the live sales page, read on 11 November 2026. Market: United States. Last updated 11 November 2026.
The sales page lists video training, pre-made templates, a key points summary, real-world examples from big brands and small businesses, and Kevin D'Ambros-Smith's hard-learned tips, with instant digital access. It does not state a total running time or lesson count, so ask before you buy if that matters to you.
| Option | Cost | Best for | Weak point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making It Happen | US$297, one payment | Turning an existing plan into routines and accountability | Self-paced, no live coach |
| A productivity book | Low | Ideas and inspiration | No templates built for your business, no support |
| A peer group or an operating system such as EOS | Quoted on request | Structure and outside accountability | Bigger commitment; ask for twelve-month costs in writing |
| One-to-one coaching | Quoted after a free call | A plan built around your constraint, with regular review | Larger investment |
Many owners use a program to get moving, then add coaching for more accountability. That is a choice, not a rule. If you are weighing a peer group, read how to choose between a peer group and a coach.
The US Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey found that about 17% of US firms with fewer than 20 employees said they use AI, against about 30% of firms with 250 or more employees, as reported by the Minneapolis Fed (29 May 2026). The gap is not only about price or access. Smaller teams have less time to set tools up and make them stick, which is why a routine and a named owner for each priority matter as much as the tool.
The sales page gives no total running time. It is self-paced, so you set the speed.
Yes. The page states a 30-day money-back guarantee: if it is not useful, ask for a refund.
It is written for ambitious SME owners in New Zealand and the USA.
Book a free 30-minute call with Kevin and talk through one-to-one options.
Pick the one priority you keep postponing. If you can name it and the plan is clear, Making It Happen is built for you. If you cannot name it, take the free call first.
Sources: Minneapolis Fed on US Census Bureau BTOS data (US firms by size, April 2026 supplement, reported 29 May 2026). Price, modules and guarantee from the live sales page, 11 November 2026. Results vary. Back to the growth tips hub.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Revenue is climbing and you feel like you're winning — until you check what's actually left over. Here's the simple two-number habit that stops growth from quietly eating your margin.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Your accountant, a podcast, a mastermind group and a mate all just told you something different about your business. Here's how to audit that noise and consolidate around one voice that actually knows your numbers.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Every new hire without a system takes twice as long to become productive, and you end up re-explaining the same things forever. The 90-Day Ramp Map fixes that in four steps.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Your best salesperson might be the one quietly eating your margin. Here's how to audit and rebuild your commission structure so it rewards the sales that actually grow your business.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Most SME owners quietly go quiet on marketing right when customers are buying the most. Here's the simple plan to hold your ground through Nov-Jan without burning out your team or your budget.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
That pricing review, that org chart, that product line nobody will kill — they're not neutral. Learn how to spot and pay down the strategic debt quietly taxing every decision you make.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Most business owners survive the slow season and wait for trading to pick up. The ones who grow fastest use the quiet to fix last peak's bottlenecks, cross-train their teams, and renegotiate supplier terms.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
When coaching starts feeling comfortable, most owners think they've outgrown their coach. Usually they've just outgrown the scope. Here's how the Scope Reset Conversation keeps a great coaching relationship producing great results.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
At five people, the founder is the system. At twelve, that system breaks. The Ten-Employee Wall is a predictable structural failure — and here's the Systems Reset framework that gets you through it.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
January is the hardest month to sell in — and the work that prevents the January gap needed to start in September. Here's the 90-Day Pipeline Bridge framework that fills the gap before it opens.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Category managers at major retailers are making their Q1 2027 ranging decisions right now. Most FMCG founders find out too late. Here's the Buyer-Ready Proof Pack framework that gets you into the conversation.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Most businesses plan for Q4 in January — after it's already over. The owners who consistently outperform their peers write their Q4 plan in September, while there's still time to act on what they find.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
A new survey shows the average small business owner is running five jobs at once — and burning 200+ hours a year proving it. Here's the two-hat framework that gets your time back within 90 days.
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
New 2026 consumer data shows most shoppers are value-seekers, not bargain hunters — yet 95% still rate brand trust as important. Here's the six-point test your FMCG brand must pass to earn the sale without discounting.
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
New 2026 grocery data shows branded FMCG products are being promoted twice as often as private label — and still losing share and loyalty. Kevin D'Ambros-Smith on why discounting harder is the wrong fix, and what pricing architecture looks like instead.