Reach out to our friendly team at Atlas Broker who will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Reflecting on a Tough Year and the Lessons We Took With Us
As another year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past 12–18 months, which have been undeniably challenging for many, especially family businesses like ours. We’ve ridden the highs and lows alongside our clients, often forgetting to share that we, too, are navigating the same turbulent waters. September ’24 in particular tested our resilience, but instead of letting setbacks hold us back, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work, focusing on three key strategies: reviewing our costs, engaging with more people, and setting a template for success.
We began by ensuring that our business was resilient enough to face any storm by meticulously reviewing our cash flow. Thanks to our strong disciplines in budgeting, planning, and performance reviews, we quickly realised that we were in a stable position. This process sharpened our focus and helped us make some tough decisions. During this period, I turned to my mentors, whose independent and experienced perspectives provided my partners and me with the confidence to continue making critical decisions, even if they were not always popular. Our transparency and honesty with our staff ensured their unwavering support, which was crucial during these testing times.
Returning to what we do best: service, growth and new capability
Once we stabilised our cash flow, we redirected our efforts towards what we do best: serving our clients. We ramped up our activities and marketing efforts, welcomed three new brokers since March, and even acquired a small competitor. These actions revitalised our energy, transforming the company’s mojo. With the economy showing signs of recovery, we are now well-positioned to seize new opportunities.
Investing in the future: people, process and tech
Looking back, 2025 was both a year of challenge and opportunity. Instead of turning inward and becoming negative, we reflected on our solid business foundations, which allowed us to see opportunities everywhere. We invested in our processes, technology, and AI, brought in new talent and gave opportunities to existing staff, restructured our business, and signed agreements with several new partners. While this doesn’t guarantee success in 2026, it certainly sets us up to be the best versions of ourselves.
From Our Family to Yours
I hope that by sharing our journey, we inspire others in our community to be brave in their decisions and recognise that adversity can create opportunities if you’re willing to find them.
From all of us at Atlas Broker, we wish you a joyful Christmas and a 2026 full of opportunity, growth, and great memories.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together next year!
Matt Atkin and the Atlas Broker team.
Reach out to our friendly team at Atlas Broker who will be able to guide you in the right direction.
