From Chaos to Clarity: The Foundations Every Small Business Needs to Grow

From Chaos to Clarity: The Foundations Every Small Business Needs to Grow 

Early-stage ventures don’t stall because of weak ideas — they stall because the business isn’t yet built to support them. This session breaks down the structural foundations innovative founders need to commercialize successfully: offer focus, a clear business model, cash visibility, leadership clarity, repeatable operations, and team rhythm. It’s a practical, systems-first look at how to move from creative chaos to consistent traction. 

What to Expect (3-Bullet Version) 

• Clarity on what’s really holding you back. Learn why early-stage businesses stall and how missing foundations — not marketing or hustle — create the chaos. 
• Simple systems that create traction. Get practical tools for focus, cash visibility, and repeatable operations so your business stops relying on heroic effort. 
• A weekly rhythm that drives momentum. Install small, sustainable habits that reduce firefighting and create consistent forward progress. 

About the facilitator:

Mick Pennington is a Fractional COO and Systems Strategist who helps founder-led companies build the clarity, structure, and operating rhythm they need to scale. With more than two decades in ERP, manufacturing, aerospace & defense, logistics, and tech-enabled services, Mick specializes in the early growth stage where a business has real traction—but the internal systems haven’t caught up. 

As the founder of Get UnLooped, his fractional COO practice, Mick works with technical and mission-driven founders to translate complexity into clean handoffs, clear roles, simple KPIs, and a steady weekly cadence. He draws on proven frameworks like EOS, Lean, and practical 

decision-support tools to help teams install just enough structure to grow confidently without adding unnecessary overhead.

Rooted in systems thinking, Mick believes businesses don’t stall randomly—they’re doing exactly what their current systems are designed to do. His work focuses on redesigning those systems so founders can step out of firefighting mode and back into leading with intention. 

Now based in Tucson, Mick collaborates with regional innovation partners to support the next generation of growth-minded companies. Whether he’s working with a lab-born technology or an early-stage services firm, Mick helps founders build the operational backbone that investors, customers, and teams can consistently rely on.