Business Turnaround podcast
Welcome to ”Business Turnaround,” your go-to podcast for insightful strategies on managing companies in decline or distress. Hosted by Marek Niedzwiedz, a leading hands-on turnaround investor in SMEs, this podcast delves into the critical aspects of business recovery. Tailored for blue-collar industries, this podcast is ideal for business owners, consultants, and aspiring entrepreneurs. ”Business Turnaround” provides the knowledge and tools you need to navigate challenging times and drive your company toward success. Tune in to discover actionable insights and inspiring stories of business transformation in the blue-collar sector.
Episodes

42 minutes ago
Finding the Cut: Never let a good crisis go to waste.
42 minutes ago
42 minutes ago
Running a business comes with a constant balancing act: you’re always weighing costs, managing resources, and trying to keep growth on track. But what happens when the tide turns—when revenue dips, margins shrink, and cash flow becomes a trickle? That’s when the tough decisions come into play. It’s not easy, but finding where to cut isn’t about simply slashing expenses indiscriminately. It’s a disciplined, strategic process that lays the foundation for recovery and future success.

7 days ago
4 Steps to Rescue a Capsizing Company
7 days ago
7 days ago
No company is immune to trouble. Whether you’re running a blue-collar SME or managing a larger enterprise, the first sign of distress is often liquidity issues—not enough cash to cover your bills. This is the moment when decisive action is needed, and as a turnaround expert, I’ve seen firsthand how these four steps can help steady the ship.

Thursday Jan 23, 2025
Overcoming Your Fear of Financials
Thursday Jan 23, 2025
Thursday Jan 23, 2025
For many business owners, the numbers side of the business feels like a foreign language. Maybe it’s overwhelming, or maybe it feels like something you’d rather leave to the accountant. But here’s the truth: understanding your financials isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential, especially during a turnaround. Your profit and loss statements, balance sheet, and cash flow reports are the compass that tells you where your business stands and how to move forward.

Thursday Jan 16, 2025
Building a Fortress Balance Sheet: Your Business’s Best Defense
Thursday Jan 16, 2025
Thursday Jan 16, 2025
When we talk about turning around a struggling business, it’s easy to focus on immediate fixes like cutting costs or boosting sales. But a long-term turnaround isn’t just about survival—it’s about building a business that can with-stand future challenges. And that starts with your balance sheet. Let's talk about your fortress balance sheet.

Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Navigating the Hardest Decision: Letting Employees Go During a Turnaround
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Letting employees go isn’t just a financial decision—it’s a deeply personal and emotional one. People are the heart of your company, and having to say goodbye to some of them can feel like you’re tearing apart that heart. But when your business is in survival mode, tough decisions are inevitable. The key is to approach this process with clarity, fairness, and humanity—balancing the needs of the business with respect for the people involved.

Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Fighting the Dragon with a SWOT Analysis
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Imagine you’re in the middle of a battle, facing a fire-breathing dragon. The heat is unbearable, the flames are closing in, and all you can see is the monster in front of you. That dragon represents the immediate crisis your business is facing—whether it’s a cash flow problem, mounting debt, or plummeting sales. It’s easy to become so fixated on the monster that you lose sight of everything else around you. SWOT analysis can help you fight the dragon of business distress and come out on top.

Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Managing the Emotional Rollercoaster of a Business Turnaround
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Running a business in crisis is not just a test of strategy or execution—it’s a test of emotional resilience. The highs can be euphoric, like landing a critical deal or seeing cash flow improve. But the lows—missing payroll, dealing with tough employee decisions, or facing criticism—can feel like the weight of the world on your shoulders. Let’s talk about how to navigate the highs and lows effectively.

Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Raising Capital During a Business Turnaround
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Raising money during a turnaround is different than raising money in a growth phase. Investors are wary, and you’ll need to prove that your business has the potential to recover and thrive. Can you raise money during a turnaround? Yes. Is it easy? No. But with the right strategy and focus, it’s absolutely possible.

Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Boosting Labor Efficiency During a Business Turnaround
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
When a business is in trouble, one of the first places to look for improvement is in how efficiently labor is being utilized. Labor costs are often one of the largest expenses for a company, especially in blue-collar industries. If your team isn’t operating efficiently, it could be draining resources and holding the business back from profitability. Let’s explore how you can approach this strategically in your turnaround.

Thursday Dec 05, 2024
Knowing When to Call It Quits in a Business Turnaround
Thursday Dec 05, 2024
Thursday Dec 05, 2024
No one starts a business with the intention of walking away. We pour our hearts, energy, and resources into our companies, and when things start going downhill, we fight tooth and nail to save them. But sometimes, despite all the effort, the best decision for the future of the business—and for you as an owner—is to step away. The key is recognizing when that time has come.