Why SMEs don’t grow

IT was a fantastic experience to sail the Atlantic on the penultimate crossing of the old Cunard Liner RMS Queen Mary in 1966.

Under the command of Commodore John Treasure Jones, the great ship rode the mighty waves like a Friesian War Horse taking a king to battle. When in millpond-calm, a day before reaching her destination, her power and majesty seemed even greater. From the bow, you would soon see the lights of Rhode Island, then New York. At the stern, the calming wake waters of an ocean proudly sailed.

On one of the occasions when I was talking to the Commodore I asked him how running the ship was split between him, as Captain, with overall control, and his Staff Captain. He outlined their jobs. His Staff Captain looked after everything as far as I could tell – passengers, crew, victualling, health, entertainments. Was there much left for the Commodore to do?