CEO Advisor Newsletter
August 2011

         Grow your business to the next level™           
 

In This Issue
 
 
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

Contact CEO Advisor, Inc. today for a FREE Initial Consultation on growing your business to the next level. Call us at (949) 759-8676 in CA, or (301) 580-8071 in the DC Metro area.

 

CEO Advisor, Inc. Advises Definitive Media on Business Strategy and Growth 

 

CEO Advisor, Inc. (www.CEOAdvisor.com), a leading business advisory firm serving the needs of CEOs, presidents and business owners of small and mid-size companies is providing business strategy and growth advisory services to Definitive Media, an interactive and print marketing and design firm in Lake Forest, CA. 

 

Definitive Media www.dmdifference.com is a marketing and design firm serving Orange County and the Southern California market.  The company provides branding, messaging and interactive and print marketing services to accelerate its clients in meeting their growth goals.  Jeff Frazier, President of Definitive Media states, "Our expertise in marketing, branding and messaging is a unique combination of services that reach into the core of our clients to best capture their

target markets."

 

Mark Hartsell, CEO of CEO Advisor, Inc. states, "Definitive Media is a strong design firm with both creative and innovative capabilities.  Our business approach to driving their strategy forward will enable them to expand and better serve their client base."  

 

About CEO Advisor, Inc.
CEO Advisor, Inc. provides business advisory services affordably and effectively to meet the specific needs of CEOs, presidents and business owners of small to mid-size companies in a wide range of industries, including technology, services and light manufacturing. 

 

CEO Advisor, Inc.'s mission is to advise business owners with the needed expertise and focus, coupled with hands-on advice and work performed to grow your business to the next level.  By specializing in the needs of CEOs, presidents and business owners, we focus on growth, opportunities and challenges that you and your business encounter every day. 

 

Contact CEO Advisor, Inc. today at (949) 759-8676 in So. California, or (301) 580-8071 in the Washington, DC Metro area, by email at [email protected] or visit us at www.CEOAdvisor.com for more information.

 

Contact Definitive Media at (949) 690-8444, by email at [email protected] or visit them at www.dmdifference.com for more information.

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

 

"The CEO Advisor Program is a great way to gain a CEO Advisor and be part of a dynamic process.  What I realized the most after taking on the services of CEO Advisor, Inc. was that just because I knew my industry inside and out did not mean I knew how to grow my business profitably.

 

Before I hired CEO Advisor I was growing my business, but not seeing any more money in my pocket. It almost seemed like I was running in place. My CEO Advisor helped me lay a foundation and create an immediate path to profitability. In a matter of months I was seeing an incredible velocity take place in my business. Mark helped me see opportunities that I never even dreamed of.

 

I can't believe how much money I was leaving on the table before CEO Advisor, Inc.  He showed me how to capture a lot more profit without expending more man-hours and capital.  The most exciting part is that I now have a very specific plan and forecast of my company's future. It looks very bright indeed. 

 

Thank you!"

 

CEO, Web Services Company

 

 


Words of Wisdom  
 

"Every day, you'll have opportunities to take chances and to work outside your safety net. Sure, it's a lot easier to stay in your comfort zone.. in my case, business suits and real estate.. but sometimes you have to take risks. When the risks pay off, that's when you reap the biggest rewards."


Donald Trump
Real Estate Investor


 

 


 
Quick Links

  • Member of Accredited Organizations:
    • Tech Coast Venture Network
    • Technology Council
    • OCTANE

     

     

     

    Visit us at

     

     

     

    Call (949) 759-8676 in CA or
    (301) 580-8071 in the DC Metro Area
     
    Greetings!

    At CEO Advisor, Inc., our mission is to provide CEOs, presidents and business owners of small to mid-size companies the needed focus and expertise, coupled with hands-on work and advice to grow your business to the next level.

    With over thirty-two years of business experience from corporate America to funding, growing and selling a software company to a large NASDAQ company, we have the experience to drive your company forward. I have attended the University of Maryland, achieved a Masters Degree in Business (MBA) from Loyola University and a certification in Mergers and Acquisitions from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

    To grow your business to the next level, contact Mark Hartsell, MBA, CEO at (949) 759-8676, by email at [email protected] or visit us at www.CEOAdvisor.com for more information.   

    Mark Hartsell, MBA
    CEO

     

    GREAT COMPANIES GROW IN
     
    GOOD TIMES AND BAD
    CEO Advisor, Inc. can help you grow your business  

    Strategy Yields Growth

     

    The economic recovery has been struggling to take hold, but it is slowly gaining momentum. As the rising stock market once again becomes all-too synonymous with a strong economy, one is prompted to ask: Did we learn nothing from 2005 - 2010?

     

    CEOs and small business owners know that they need to grow their businesses by executing a strategy that is right for their company. A.T. Kearney research reveals that 70 percent of the growth opportunities available to any company lie in internal factors that are under the CEO's control; only 30 percent are beyond the company walls.

     

    CEOs who achieve superior growth don't possess a covert script that others lack. Rather they simply know how to map out a course for all parts of the company, from the ground up, and then execute it flawlessly. The bottom line is that superior growth is within reach for all companies, in all industries, and in all phases of the economic cycle.

     

    Growth Model

     

    Most companies begin to grow by removing operational and structural barriers, and by focusing on their core strengths. Companies that achieve superior results are able to reach new heights in all aspects of their business: satisfying customers, delivering high-quality products or services, achieving a low-cost position, building a team of motivated top-performing employees, and, most importantly, making money.

     

    How do they do this?

     

    1. Operations: Cleaning House

    The first step on the growth path is to do some operational housecleaning. Companies that overlook the growth potential in operations do so at their own expense: A.T. Kearney's research indicates that the operations improvements can account for 60 percent or more of a company's future growth potential. At your next management meeting, raise these questions: Are you truly the low-cost competitor in your industry? Do you have the highest levels of product and service quality? If not, the operations step is critical to returning your company to a growth trajectory.

     

    The key areas to focus on include:

     

    Sourcing and Vendor Management. The decisions surrounding purchasing goods and services account for 20 to 60 percent of the cost structure of most companies. And when a company optimizes its sourcing process, it can reduce its total costs anywhere from 6 to 13 percent. 

     

    Product and Service Quality. During his tenure at General Electric, Jack Welch brought Six Sigma quality standards to the world. Yet companies continue to struggle to achieve consistently superior product and service quality.

     

    Sales Effectiveness. The sales team is the main link between products and customers, and having the people and the processes needed to consistently achieve your sales goals is critical. However, identifying potential lapses in this area is often as difficult as correcting them. Small companies can boost their bottom lines by revisiting and updating some of their key sales strategies, such as altering their compensation for their sales team or targeting new markets.

     

    Pricing Strategy and Execution. Gone are the days when the market determined prices. Companies are finding that they have considerable power and flexibility in setting price, and are seeing their profits rise as a result. Recurring revenue models are key for long-term growth and profits.

     

    2. Organization: Structuring for Success

    The next step is to create a solid, high-performing organization. Organizational growth improvements can account for another 25 percent of your company's future growth potential. The two key components of the organization step are customer focus and organizational speed. In the eyes of your customers, how responsive is your organization, and, in your own eyes, why do you lose customers? Can your company make faster, more effective growth decisions than your competitor?

     

    Eliminate Friction. In creating the best company, CEOs and business owners must not only find and eliminate existing points of friction or bottlenecks, but also create a structure that encourages potential and success. In other words, it's not just about fixing parts that are broken; it's about building a platform for growth.

     

    Break Down Growth Barriers. Ask any CEO who has dealt with organizational silos and barriers, and he or she will tell you they aren't the ideal way to grow. It is critical to remember that the key to growth is to develop processes that cut through or across a company to unleash the power of the businesses' most talented people.

     

    Improve Decision-making Processes. Clear and efficient decision-making processes, particularly in volatile situations, can mean the difference between profit and loss.  In a business climate where the potential risks and liabilities are increasing, the natural inclination for CEOs and business owners is to rein in the decision-making processes.

     

    3. Strategy: Pulling the Growth Levers

    When CEOs and business owners think about the role of strategy in growth, they often think of a big strategic breakthrough that will transform their industry and result in a sales jump of tens of percentage points. But our research suggests a different course of action. Most companies are already on the right overall strategic track. And rather than look for a miracle breakthrough, they should take a comprehensive look at their core business and identify specific growth opportunities within it.

     

    What's the right strategy for your company? The best answers always begin with the best questions:

     

    What is your customer growth strategy? Spending time with customers and learning more about what they need and how they use various products or services can yield a goldmine of information about good opportunities for growth. Customers should be at the center of your growth strategy. 

     

    What is the best product or service mix? Reshaping your products or services may sound like a tactical improvement, not a strategic one. But companies need to work from a more strategic perspective when deciding what products and services to offer and promote. How might your products and services be tailored to better meet customer needs? Do your products and services cannibalize each another? How well do you develop and launch new products and services?

     

    Where do mergers and acquisitions fit in?Acquisitions can be an important part of the strategy step. Companies such as GE Capital, HSBC and Teleflex use acquisitions to bolster the competitiveness of their core business by acquiring companies to enter new geographic markets or gain access to new technologies or complimentary products or services. A key success factor, however, is that they patiently wait for the right M&A opportunities to emerge and refuse to overpay. CEO Advisor has extensive experience in smaller, opportunistic acquisitions to fuel growth.

     

    4. Growth Breakthrough

    You might look at your product or service offerings for opportunities to expand your customer base, your customer service levels, or the level of convenience and customization you provide. You might extend your value chain or business model, your geographic reach, or your partnership and risk-sharing approach to accelerate growth. You might stretch the way you go to market through your distribution channel strategy or your branding. You might look to new technologies to change your entire company or get to the next level. 

     

    Top performing companies accelerate their growth along several dimensions simultaneously. And while many good companies are able to maximize their growth in interesting and innovative directions, being able to take that final step is what today's CEOs and business owners executives would do well to set as their goal. The path to getting there isn't flashy or quick, but with flawless execution and unwavering focus, sustainable, superior growth is a goal that any company can reach.

     

    CEO Advisor is an expert in helping companies grow to the next level. Contact Mark Hartsell today at (949) 759-8676 or email him at [email protected] for a free initial consultation. 

    Copyright 2011 CEO Advisor, Inc. All rights reserved.