Increase Your Corporation’s Value

Even as a part-timer, I can help a private company CEO improve cash flow and corporate value. With an aptitude blending business, science, math, economics, psychology, coaching, etc., experience with business turnarounds, growth, and improvement, and alertness to advances in the world of business, I will share insights learned from years of playing this “greatest game,” to help a CEO do his best to reap the consequences of circumstances and timing. In “the fog of war,” generals make the best of what they’re facing, using a variety of past experiences, seeing more clearly in hind sight than in the maelstrom of the moment, providing valuable insight to do better under fire. Accumulated wisdom helps identify the few most important decisions made out of the many – improving leadership and culture, trusting, but verifying, questioning collaboratively, challenging supportively, experimenting and failing fast, focusing laser-like on what matters most.

I have worked closely with technologist geniuses, physicists, chemists, biologists, mathematicians, electrical and mechanical engineers, and a host of other professionals and all kinds of workers. Mindful of widespread prospects for software and Internet enabling, but not wedded to any industry, I offer fresh and creative thinking to almost any business. While preferring to work with the flexibility of private companies, the opportunity for improvement and resultant potential outweigh other considerations. I welcome association with private equity firms where I can help portfolio companies solve problems, produce better results, and generate more cash – where improvement can be substantial.

My role is to focus ON the business, to improve how the business works, to improve its value. People working at or in the business usually know where it hurts, but can use help with clarification, diagnosis, treatment options, and follow through to make things better. I will help the team get everyone more focused and motivated (incentives) to generate more cash and increase overall value – selling better, fulfilling better, improving quality, reducing costs – doing more to bring out the best in each person, improving capabilities and contribution. I will foster thoughtful problem-solving for improvements in the business model, strategy, marketing, sales, fulfillment, operations, products, services, quality, finance, and every other vital part of the business. I will help clarify and instill an updateable improvement vision in the minds and hearts of everyone needed to bring it about, for the benefit of all participants. Like in sports and medicine, vital core metrics will be selected to set goals, measure progress, and fulfill the vision.

The improvement vision may include one or more bold strokes, a series of vital drives, and/or many small advances. Effectively instilling the vision will stimulate actions to fulfill it. Focused persistence on what matters most brings it about. Leadership can always be improved, operations strengthened, organization developed and staff better trained, products improved and better ones developed, sales and profit increased, all to increase cash flow and corporate value. Putting combined insight and energy to productive and efficient use produces desired results.

As a facilitating, expediting leader adviser, I will help or get help to follow through to improve things, to achieve goals, and bring about the desired vision. In the process, our team will:

1. Review the business model, cash flow, P&L, balance sheet, etc. to pinpoint focus points, explore options, and follow through with positive action.

2. Clarify what is needed to improve confidence, credibility, communication, and innovation for mutually improved relationships with customers, employees, and suppliers to increase the financial value of the company.

3. Connect the dots on how each person affects results, using vital metrics to achieve goals; improve business through better information sharing, problem evaluation, research, planning, target setting, incentives, etc. – to fire better on all cylinders.

4. Clarify priorities and how better to organize and follow through to achieve them.

We will look for areas of frustration or vagueness, and other red flags, to clarify and prioritize improvement opportunities. We will spark initiative by asking: “What would you change or improve? What help do you need? What’s the next step?” Like a team of business doctors bent of getting the best results, we will start with careful observation, listening, questioning, and root-cause diagnostics, with an eye to prevention as well as cure, to achieve specific goals for greatest gain. Each situation is unique and the approach customized according to discernment of need and opportunity, based on combined experience and judgment, adapted to changing circumstances and priorities.