How Small Businesses Compete & Win w/ Sri Kaza
Tue Jan 27 2026
Sri Kaza is a business leader and small business advocate with a career spanning corporate strategy, entrepreneurial ventures, and dedicated support for small businesses. He is the author of Unconvention: A Small Business Strategy Guide.
Mentioned on the Show
Visit Sri’s website: https://sri-kaza.com/Connect with Sri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srikazaGet Sri’s book, Unconventional: https://a.co/d/d9swnpBO’Brien and Sri discussed the book The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: https://a.co/d/iDTdkFG (start with this book, not this one) Timestamps
(00:00:00) Sri Kaza joins People Business with O'Brien McMahon
(00:02:22) Could you connect your McKinsey background to writing a book on small business strategy?
(00:10:36) What's the minimum threshold for making something unique in positioning?
(00:12:09) Understanding lifestyle businesses vs. scalable businesses
(00:19:50) Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game
(00:22:29) How do small businesses with a deeper purpose make trade-offs between business and purpose?
(00:28:35) What is meant by customer “intimacy” or customer proximity?
(00:38:31) How can a business owner assess their own performance and sharpen your gut?
(00:40:31) What are some effective self-reflection practices?
(00:45:52) What are the best ways you've seen organizations scale purpose, proximity, and position while keeping the essence of those principles?
(00:52:02) Final thoughts from Sri Kaza
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Sri Kaza is a business leader and small business advocate with a career spanning corporate strategy, entrepreneurial ventures, and dedicated support for small businesses. He is the author of Unconvention: A Small Business Strategy Guide. Mentioned on the Show Visit Sri’s website: https://sri-kaza.com/Connect with Sri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srikazaGet Sri’s book, Unconventional: https://a.co/d/d9swnpBO’Brien and Sri discussed the book The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: https://a.co/d/iDTdkFG (start with this book, not this one) Timestamps (00:00:00) Sri Kaza joins People Business with O'Brien McMahon (00:02:22) Could you connect your McKinsey background to writing a book on small business strategy? (00:10:36) What's the minimum threshold for making something unique in positioning? (00:12:09) Understanding lifestyle businesses vs. scalable businesses (00:19:50) Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game (00:22:29) How do small businesses with a deeper purpose make trade-offs between business and purpose? (00:28:35) What is meant by customer “intimacy” or customer proximity? (00:38:31) How can a business owner assess their own performance and sharpen your gut? (00:40:31) What are some effective self-reflection practices? (00:45:52) What are the best ways you've seen organizations scale purpose, proximity, and position while keeping the essence of those principles? (00:52:02) Final thoughts from Sri Kaza