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Ali Aydan: We do not manufacture SKU numbers
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We build castles. In the hardware industry, products are usually defined by codes. XS4, S-Pro, X-Series. These codes are efficient. They are logical. But they are also cold. They tell the engineering team that this object is a commodity. It is just another unit on a spreadsheet to be cost-optimised and shipped. We wanted…
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Ali Aydan: My CFO asked if we should run a Christmas promotion.
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I said NO. The argument for a December sale is seductive. A 20% discount spikes Q4 volume. It pads the cash flow statement before the year ends. It clears inventory. But it destroys something that is much harder to build. Brand equity. At DORIX, we are not in the volume gadget business. We are…
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Ali Aydan: I stared at my screen yesterday and realised something was missing.
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For two years, I have shown up here every single day. I wrote about leadership. I shared lessons from over 20 years of building companies across the globe. My goal was always to help professionals grow faster and avoid the mistakes I made in the past. But recently, I felt a disconnect. The advice…
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Ali Aydan: Think you’ve got it all figured out?
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Early in my career, I was convinced I had the answers. I’d seen what worked, what didn’t, and I truly believed I knew how to build the perfect cross-functional team. Then reality kicked in. Like many others, I hit the peak of Mount Stupid — high confidence, low actual understanding. And as I tumbled…
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Ali Aydan: Running a business or just running yourself into the ground?
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Most small businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because the structure is broken from day one. Michael Gerber said it best:People start businesses thinking they’ll have more freedom, but end up trapped in a job they built for themselves. So how do you break that cycle? Here are 3 shifts that…
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Ali Aydan: Got a clear direction for your business?
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Most businesses don’t fail for lack of effort. They fail because they’re busy moving without knowing where they’re going. A solid roadmap doesn’t just show you the path. It keeps you focused when things get noisy. Here’s how to build a roadmap that actually works: 1. Get clear on your vision Where are you…
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Ali Aydan: Learning a lot but not seeing results?
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Knowledge isn’t power. Applied knowledge is. I’ve met plenty of people with impressive credentials and endless ideas, but they stay stuck. Then there are those who take what they know and put it into action. Guess who makes progress? Here’s what separates action-takers from information collectors: 1. Execution beats endless learning It’s tempting to…
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Ali Aydan: Want to grow faster?
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Here’s something most people avoid talking about — mistakes. I’ve made plenty. Some were minor slip-ups. Others came with a heavy cost in time, money, and stress. But without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Mistakes have taught me more than any course, book, or win ever has. Here’s why they matter:…
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Ali Aydan: Leading through change?
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Change is part of business. Progress isn’t. That takes leadership. After 20+ years in senior roles, one truth stands out, how a CEO shows up during change can either stall progress or accelerate it. You don’t need every answer, but you do need to keep the direction clear and the team steady. Here are…
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Ali Aydan: Still Learning as a team?
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The pattern has been clear over the last 20 years. The organisations that grow, adapt and stay ahead are the ones that never stop learning. Change doesn’t just happen. It’s fuelled by how often your people learn, stretch, and challenge their thinking. Here’s why continuous learning really moves the needle: 1. Your team becomes…