On January 1st many people make New Years’ resolutions to lose weight, exercise regularly, or save money. Unfortunately, many abandon these resolutions shortly after making them. We stop going to the gym and end up blowing our budget on a shiny new widget. The new year is also a time when companies set their own […]
Strategy and Company Growth
Explore how to craft a robust and actionable strategy for the future.
With the holiday season in full swing, chances are you’ve sent or received packages from Amazon. Over Thanksgiving and Black Friday, Amazon brought in 45% of all online transactions. Although we don’t have numbers for Christmas yet, you can bet Amazon sales are making up a huge share of the sales. Amazon’s dominance as an […]
All business leaders face the stresses of leading an organization; but owners of privately-held, family-owned businesses are in a unique position. Not only do they need to balance the rigors of running a company, defending market share, and dealing with regulatory issues, they must also simultaneously deal with family dynamics. Imagine having the dynamics of […]
Think back to a time before we all had smartphones and could look up any piece of information on the fly. Not so long ago, we had to plan our trips by doing research ahead of time and using paper maps for directions. Even now, if you travel somewhere without cell service, for example, a […]
How is your company growing? In business, remaining static is impossible, and if you’re not growing, you are dying. I recently spoke on the concept of “Grow or Die” at the Association for Dressings and Sauces Annual Meeting in Nashville, in light of the trends and evolving market dynamics of the industry. The food and […]
Acquisition can be an exciting tool for growing your company, but before pursuing a deal, it is important to ask, “What outcome do you hope to achieve from M&A that you would not realize otherwise?” There are a variety of reasons to acquire and although each company’s situation is different, most deals fall under one […]
Innovate, Collaborate, Succeed! The theme for the New Jersey Credit Union League’s (NJCUL) 83rd Annual Meeting & Convention could not be more exciting or more closely aligned with Capstone’s values of helping organizations’ grow. John Dearing, Capstone Managing Director was invited to speak at the NJCUL Convention on October 23 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His […]
Many companies may miss out on growth opportunities, including acquisitions, if they do not reassess their strategy in light of today’s economic environment. According to an article in CFO Magazine, a number of companies are not executing acquisitions because they maintain a high hurdle rate, even though the cost of borrowing capital is relatively low […]
I recently the opportunity to speak about my experience as a CEO and company founder on the High Level Wisdom Podcast with Chris Williams. During our conversation, we discussed how companies can grow through strategic mergers and acquisitions and as well as tips for success for leaders. Listen to my interview on the High Level […]
Should you acquire a company or develop your own solution? This is a question many leaders wrestle with when considering the best path forward for their company; however, there’s no one answer since every company’s situation is unique and each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a moment to explore these two pathways […]
96 percent of businesses fail within 10 years. 80 percent of consumer products fail annually. Statistically, it’s obvious that launching a new product or service is challenging. Entrepreneurs pour their lives into starting their companies and while some of the lucky ones become the next Facebook, most struggle to succeed. Even large established corporations face […]
When it comes to pursuing strategic growth, one of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is to simply keep doing something because that’s the way it has always been done. It’s important to reevaluate processes and methods with today’s business environment in mind. The very nature of business is change. New technologies, capabilities, and […]
As we’re nearing the end of summer, I hope you’ve had a chance to hit the pause button and take some time for yourself. Far too often, as leaders, we can get caught up in the day-to-day operations of running a business or become too focused on accomplishing the task at hand that we forget […]
Many executives don’t always give enough pause and thought to the foundational aspects of M&A. The focus is often on doing, not thinking. Of course, it’s natural to get excited about an acquisition, but before you jump into the action, take a step back and think about the “why” of a deal. Why are you […]
Get ideas for how to deploy cash to further your credit union’s short-term and long-term growth in Capstone’s upcoming webinar with NCB. An approach that addresses both the day-to-day and on the long-term are critical to your success. We are excited to following up on the success of last year’s webinar with a panel discussion “Got […]
Companies that grow in meaningful ways always take on a highly strategic approach to growth. This is because focus produces results. Lack of focus is like wandering around without any purpose or any clear direction of where you want to go. While you may walk for many miles, you’ll never reach your destination. On the […]
All companies, even those that are profitable, face pressure from today’s economic environment. Whether its regulatory hurdles, increased competition, geopolitical risk, or new technology, the world today is constantly changing. Unfortunately, many companies realize this too late and “suddenly” find themselves in an impossible situation that is incredibly difficult to reverse. The best way to […]
“I’m not interested in selling my business right now.” “We already have a strategic plan in place.” “We are already talking to another buyer.” “Why should I listen to you? I get asked to sell all the time.” “I may sell in a few years when my company has a higher value.” “Who are you????” […]
There’s a myth that acquisitions are only executed by huge, publicly-traded, Fortune 500 companies, but that’s simply not the true. In reality, there are many acquisitions conducted by small and middle market firms that are private transactions and are not reported to the media. There are many reasons to consider acquisitions, regardless of the size […]
The possibilities may be endless, but your resources are not. For many business owners with limited time and money, deciding which ideas to pursue can be a challenge. Here are three ways to prioritize your options for growth: 1. Start with your company vision The best way to make sure you’re moving in the right direction […]
