This week, I’ve been out dropping off flyers to spread the word about a small business I co‑own, and it’s been a mix of slow steps and small sparks of excitement. Meeting our audience face‑to‑face has been eye‑opening—there’s something grounding about real conversations, real reactions, and real people engaging with what you’re building.
It’s also been a reminder of how hard it can be to keep momentum in the marketing process. Some days feel like forward motion; others feel like you’re inching along. But every stop, every chat, every tiny connection becomes part of your compass—pointing you toward what resonates, what needs refining, and where the next bit of growth might come from.
So, I thought I’d focus this week’s blog on some of Canada’ business leaders. These leaders have built successful global companies while still keeping a strong Canadian focus on community, resilience, and long‑term value.
Five quotes from top Canadian business leaders on maintaining startup momentum
“One of the most important tasks as a leader in a startup is to pick the right metric to track. This is often referred to as the ‘compass metric’ because it will be your compass for growth.“ —Tobi Lütke, Founder & CEO of Shopify
Lütke’s point is simple: moving fast isn’t enough. Without a clear direction—a “compass metric”—you can hustle all day and still go nowhere. Real momentum comes from knowing exactly what you’re trying to move forward.
“Innovation comes from iteration. It’s about failing 80% of the time and constantly trying to leverage the 20% of what’s working to build something bigger.” —Michele Romanow, Co-founder of Clearco
In a startup, you’re going to run into problems. Momentum doesn’t mean you avoid those walls — it means that when you hit one, you quickly adjust, keep the part that worked, drop what didn’t, and get moving again before things stall out.
“Life is so much easier when you are selling something that a large number of people need… When you get it right, it removes friction in accelerating the growth of your business.” —Joanna Griffiths, Founder & President of Knox
Griffiths is basically saying that nothing slows a startup down more than friction. If you’re trying to push a product that people don’t truly need, every bit of progress feels like an uphill battle. But when your product fits what customers actually want, momentum starts to feel natural — the market almost pulls you forward because people are eager for what you’re offering.
“Action fuels hope—not the other way around. In uncertain times, taking action can be a springboard for hope.” —Dax Dasilva, Founder & CEO of Lightspeed Commerce
Dasilva is saying that when a startup feels stuck or the market looks bleak, it’s easy to freeze and wait for some perfect plan or sign to move forward. His point is that taking any small action—even something tactical and imperfect—creates a sense of progress. That little bit of movement gives you the hope and energy you need to pick up speed again.
As a small business just starting out, we know success won’t come overnight. Maintaining momentum will help us stay positive and focused! I’m off again today to carry out my promotional campaign!
What leadership quotes help you drive your business.
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