When the Numbers Don’t Add Up: How to Handle Costly Mistakes Without Blame

What would you do if one of your core product lines was actually losing money - and the problem had been signed off by senior leaders, missed by finance, and hidden in plain sight?That’s the situation I faced when I stepped into a new role. A factory shift had left labour costs underquoted by 400%, and on one SKU we were giving away 50 cents per unit.The obvious answer - just raise the price - wasn’t that simple. With a competitor effectively locking the category, advertising spend already committed, and egos on the line, navigating the fix meant solving more than just the numbers.In this episode of Busting Roadblocks, I share how I: ✅ Uncovered the true issue buried in the COGs ✅ Built the case for a two-step price increase ✅ Took it all the way to the board ✅ Executed the plan without losing market share ✅ And fixed the problem - without exposing the leaders who had made the mistakeThis story is a reminder that leadership isn’t just about commercial acumen - it’s about protecting relationships while driving results.If you like this podcast subscribe and share it with your network.If you'd like to follow [email protected]