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I love reading research studies that help me drive businesses forward. As a contract COO I’m always worrying how to optimize the performance of the team in a fun and productive way. Over the next few posts I’m going to dive into my favorite business authors who use research to make a point. Read More

You may have heard of the term zero-based budgeting. The basic thesis is to look at your business through the eyes of a start up. If you were starting today from scratch, what would you spend money on? Let's take that thinking into roles within yout business. Read More

I built two investment banks in London both focused at small to mid-market transactions, working approximately, in the $10m to $100m deal range. So what does an investment bank do and what does it not do? Read More

But they can make great leaders! In this current chapter of my business career I’m getting invited into many businesses. Here is what I’m finding. Read More

Every company is different. Every business has a lifecycle. Hopefully you will recognize some or all of your company's profile in these graphs. The question that needs to be asked is always where do I go from here? But first you need to do a deep dive to understand what caused that profile? Read More

Is there a difference between running a business to ensure you can exit and cashing out one day Vs. running it to keep it forever? Yes there is, the last 24 months. Every owner needs to run a business as if they wanted to cash out one day. Read More

We all know how important a good question is. The incisive interrogation of Richard Nixon by David Frost. Ronald Regan’s question for the nation prior to voting in 1980 – Are you better off than you were four years ago? Questions define you. Read More

It seems so obvious why wouldn’t you have done it already? Well, rolling out a services business on the back of your product business requires careful consideration. I’ve done it several times and I’m currently helping a client execute the strategy for 2014. Here are some pointers to consider. Read More

It sounds plausible. You focus your marketing story on outcomes you deliver for companies. Your sales team’s chatter is all about how they can improve prospect company X. They’ve improved similar companies. It’s a slam-dunk! Read More

In the non-VC world, businesses that make a loss are called products not businesses. To be called a business you really need to make a profit and convert most of that to cash to survive. But how do we align our scaling plans with our balance sheets? Read More