Posts by Kim Browne
7 signs your startup is outgrowing your identity
There’s a moment in the founder journey that doesn’t get talked about enough. Your metrics are improving, your team is growing, maybe even your investors are leaning in. But internally, something feels off. You’re operating at a level your past self couldn’t have imagined, yet you still default to the same instincts, habits, and identity…
Read MorePK9 Gear Challenges ‘Fast Fashion’ Pet Market With New Guide to Durable Dog Collars
Image courtesy of PK9 Gear Australia’s $14 billion pet industry sees dog owners spending about AU$1,627 annually, but much of that goes toward inexpensive accessories that wear out quickly. Melbourne-based PK9 Gear believes consumers want alternatives. The company has released its guide to the best dog collars in Australia, supporting its broader push for a…
Read More7 ways to talk about money with co-founders without blowing up the partnership
Talking about money with your co-founder is one of those moments every founder knows is coming and still hopes to avoid. Equity splits, salaries, runway decisions, who gets paid first when cash is tight. These conversations feel loaded because they are. Money is never just money in a startup. It is control, trust, sacrifice, and…
Read MoreEntrepreneurship Means Fires—Stop Wishing For Calm
I’ve built and sold companies, grown sales fast, and run Hawke Media. People often think that means smooth sailing. It doesn’t. My view is simple: if you’re building something real, you’re always managing fires. That’s not failure. That’s the job. This hit me hard after a rough day when a partner almost tanked a major…
Read More7 ways delaying your first full-time hire might cost you years
There is a phase every founder goes through where doing everything yourself feels efficient, scrappy, even necessary. You tell yourself you are saving cash, staying lean, protecting runway. But underneath that logic is often something else: hesitation. Maybe it is fear of managing people, or uncertainty about what to delegate first. The hard truth is…
Read More7 signs you’re reinvesting wisely instead of avoiding hard choices
There’s a quiet tension most founders feel but rarely say out loud. You tell yourself you’re reinvesting in growth, doubling down on product, or building long-term value. But somewhere in the back of your mind, there’s a nagging question: are you actually making smart strategic bets, or just postponing the uncomfortable decisions you know you…
Read More7 Best Free QR Code Generators in 2026 (No Expiration)
You’ve probably scanned a QR code this week without thinking twice about it. It might’ve been on a menu, a package, or a flyer. What matters more is what happens after you scan it: you expect it to work. That expectation is part of why QR codes have stuck around. With over 41.7 million scans…
Read More6 ways to build credibility when you have zero track record
If you are early in your founder journey, this tension probably feels familiar. You have conviction, maybe even a solid product, but no one seems to take you seriously yet. Investors want traction. Customers want proof. Partners want history. And you are sitting there thinking, how do I get any of that without already having…
Read More7 reasons disciplined founders win when talented ones burn out
If you’ve spent any time in startup circles, you’ve seen it play out. The brilliant founder with a standout product idea flames out after 18 months, while the less flashy operator quietly builds something sustainable. It feels unfair at first. Talent should win, right? But in early-stage startups, the game is not won by raw…
Read More7 early money habits that make or break first-time founders
You probably didn’t start your company because you love spreadsheets or obsess over burn rate. But at some point, every founder hits the same moment. You open your bank account, do the mental math, and realize your runway is shorter than you thought. That quiet tension shapes more decisions than most founders admit. Early money…
Read More7 ways chasing productivity hacks makes you less productive
If you’ve ever spent an afternoon tweaking your Notion setup, testing a new morning routine, or watching yet another “how I get 10x more done” video, you already know the feeling. It feels like progress. It feels like you’re leveling up. But at the end of the week, your actual business hasn’t moved much. That…
Read MoreWhy Many Companies Overspend (And the Simple Cost Control System That Fixes It)
A lot of businesses only realize that they have overspent when they review their financial reports at the end of the month or, worse, at the end of a quarter. By then, the money is already gone, and the focus shifts from prevention to damage control. Oftentimes, a deeper look into many of these situations…
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