Please, your revenue problem can't be solved in 2 months

There's a dangerous misconception inhabiting some C-suites in the start-up world nowadays. They believe that legacy revenue problems can be magically solved in 2 months. Thanks to this, we decided to discontinue an engagement with a Malaysia-based start-up immediately. This was 5 months ago. This kind of unrealistic expectation reveals a fundamental flaw in how they are operating their business. That explains why they continue relying on their investors’ money rather than focusing on growing the revenue. 

Through his executives, the CEO of this start-up complained to us, saying that our marketing advisory somehow didn’t produce any tangible results after 2 months. In short, there is no sales growth. FYI, this legacy problem has been with the company for more than 3 years. He expected a quick fix to turn the situation around by engaging us. This short-sightedness is something we’re not able to tolerate. We didn’t see it coming that a seemingly modern, forward-thinking tech startup seems to have shallow thinking, focused solely on instant gratification, and fails to grasp that real, lasting change requires time, dedication, and a willingness to invest in the long-term success of the company.

After the complaint, we pull the plug immediately and walk away. An entrepreneur should know better that legacy problems, such as sales growth, are not merely surface-level issues. They are deeply rooted in the business DNA, intertwining with the very foundation of the business. 

There’s no quick fix here. It takes time to find the root cause and establish the solution. They should know that a true transformation requires a deep understanding of why these problems persist. They could be the marketing strategy is terrible, the incapable marketing team, the product has no quality, inaccurate pricing structure, the outdated technologies being used, unfriendly user experience or perhaps the entire business model itself has flaws. 

True leaders, in contrast, recognise that tackling this sort of legacy problem is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands a commitment to long-term strategies, investment in their people, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about their business. Anything less is a disservice to their employees, their customers, and their company's future.

We promise you that all questions will be answered. Have a question you’d like us to answer for the next article? Submit them here.