The Real Reasons Small Mistakes Kill Businesses Today

Have you ever wondered why so many promising businesses quietly fail—not from catastrophic mistakes, but from tiny, often overlooked missteps?

In this eye-opening episode, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith reveal the small things that slowly erode business success: lack of purpose, scattered focus, and the avalanche of overwhelming opportunities.

Through candid conversation, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights, they dissect why even the most driven entrepreneurs can lose their way without a clear vision and decisive action.

If you're tired of feeling stuck or distracted in your business journey, this episode will challenge your thinking and reignite your determination. Discover how pausing for clarity could be the most powerful tool for business survival. And why sometimes, the things you ignore are the ones killing your dreams.

This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started.

3 Key Takeaways:

• Define your purpose early and let it guide every major business decision.
• Don’t let opportunities turn into distractions—capture ideas, but finish your current race first.
• Take intentional time to reflect, focus, and see beyond today’s fires toward long-term success.

FAQ's

What small habits or decisions are causing businesses to fail today?

Glenn Harper and Julie Smith explain that a lack of purpose, unclear decision-making, and constantly chasing new opportunities without direction are small but critical reasons businesses struggle or fail. Entrepreneurs often lack awareness around profit, inventory, and their actual goals, leading to poor daily decisions.

How can entrepreneurs avoid getting distracted by too many opportunities?

Glenn Harper suggests entrepreneurs should clearly define their main goal, make intentional decisions, and set aside new opportunities for later instead of jumping on every idea immediately. Staying focused helps ensure consistent progress toward the primary objective rather than being derailed by distractions.

Why is having a clear purpose so crucial for business success?

According to Glenn Harper and Julie Smith, a clear purpose allows entrepreneurs to answer every other business question and make better decisions. Purpose acts as a guiding star, helping teams prioritize actions and avoid decision paralysis or distraction by less important opportunities.

Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.

Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.

Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success

Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.

Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account.

Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year. 

An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast. 

Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree.

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Copyright 2026 Glenn Harper

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Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus

Running a business takes vision, grit… and the right financial partner. At Harper & Company CPAs Plus, we don’t just crunch numbers—we empower entrepreneurs. From proactive tax strategy and accounting to business advisory services, our team helps you keep more of what you earn and scale with confidence. Whether you’re launching, growing, or preparing for exit, Harper & Company is in your corner with expert guidance built for business owners like you. Visit www.harpercpaplus.com to book a complimentary discovery call today - or call us at 614-456-7222.

Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus