How to Scale Your SME: A Note To My Younger Self

If I could go back and whisper a few words of wisdom to my younger self, staring down the journey of 10 years in business, here’s what I’d say ...

Close up of a businessman drawing diagram of progress on a glass wall.

2min read

Published 16 October 2025

ByNic Harman

Founder & Creative Director, Serotonin Creative

If I could go back and whisper a few words of wisdom to my younger self, staring down the journey of 10 years in business, here’s what I’d say ...

1. Don’t mistake busyness for growth

In those early years, I wore every hat. Sales, marketing, finance, HR. I thought long hours meant progress. Truth was, I was working in the business, not on it. Growth came when I learned to let go, delegate, and create repeatable systems.

2. Hire for tomorrow, not just today

I used to look for people who could plug the gap right now. Yet the hires that truly made a difference were the ones who could grow with the business, who thought bigger than the role I gave them.

3. Marketing isn’t a cost, it's your loudspeaker

I treated marketing like a tap I turned on only when I needed sales. But scaling requires consistency: building a brand, telling your story, and being visible even when you’re “too busy.” The customers you win tomorrow are the ones who see you today.

4. Know your numbers

It took one sleepless night staring at my cash flow forecast to realise that growth eats cash. Get across your financials, not just your sales pipeline. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what keeps the lights on.

5. Keep your product evolving

What got you here won’t get you there. Customer needs shift, competitors move fast. Invest in research and development (R&D), listen to your customers, and never assume your product or service is “finished.”

6. Sales is everyone’s job

It’s not just the sales team. Every conversation, every interaction is a chance to reinforce value. Train your whole team to be ambassadors, and scaling becomes easier.

A group of business people gathered around a table discussing an accounting presentation

7. Don’t be afraid of funding, but consider it wisely

I once thought external funding was selling out. In reality, the right funding at the right time accelerates growth. The wrong funding? It becomes a handbrake. Choose partners who share your vision.

8. Growth means travel. Plan for it

Scaling isn’t just about what happens in the office. It’s about getting out there, meeting partners, suppliers, and customers face-to-face. Whether it’s a trade show in Singapore, a client pitch in Sydney, or opening your first overseas office, travel becomes the connective tissue of growth. And just like finance or HR, it needs a proper strategy. The right travel partner will save you time, money, and stress, so your focus stays on scaling, not scrambling for the cheapest fare.

9. Protect your energy

Scaling a business is exhilarating and exhausting. But burnout helps no one, not you, not your customers, not your team. Guard your time, find perspective, and remember why you started.

Scaling an SME isn’t about chasing size for the sake of it. It’s about building something resilient, valuable, and - if you’re lucky - something you’re proud to hand over one day.

So, younger me, relax ...

... You’ll get there. And when you do, you’ll realise that scaling isn’t a destination at all. It’s the journey of learning to think bigger, while never losing sight of what made you small but mighty in the first place.

At Flight Centre Business Travel, we know growth brings new opportunities and new challenges. If scaling your SME means taking your people further, we’re your centre for business travel.

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