While a leader’s years of experience may be invaluable, companies should not make decisions based on instinct alone. We are human and biases can influence the judgement of even the most “objective” leader. In today’s information world it is important to pair real-time data with analytical skills in order to arrive at the best decision. […]
Strategy and Company Growth
Explore how to craft a robust and actionable strategy for the future.
Developing and implementing a strategy requires multiple skills and successful growth requires multiple perspectives. Other people in the company have a different level of skillset or expertise that can be beneficial. A leader’s team should be a brain trust or a mastermind forum for decision making that develops a collective understanding of the strategic plan. […]
When it comes to strategic growth, most leaders tend to focus on organic growth – hiring more sales staff, building a new branch or internally developing a new product. While there are many benefits to organic growth, there are times when relying on organic growth alone will not move the needle. When markets are saturated […]
How many of you have ever purchased a home? Thinking back on your experience, did you sit around waiting for a seller to come to you or did you spend time looking for just the right house? My guess is that most of our experiences fall into the second scenario. In fact, if I waited […]
Before you can determine where you want to go as a company, you have to have an understanding of where your business stands today. Who exactly are you as a company? This is easier said than done. Over time, even founders of companies can lose sight of their strategic vision and get caught up in […]
As a leader, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to simply keep doing something because that’s the way it has always been done. It is easy to fall into this trap without even realizing it. Everyone is busy and it can be tempting to default to autopilot and keep going about “business […]
On the wall of my company office there is a large inscription: We Help Clients Implement Their Dreams Note that the inscription refers to dreams, not goals. There is a difference. Goals are essential, the very stuff of successful business growth. But goals are the junior partners of something bigger. When Bill Gates founded Microsoft, […]
Are you weighed down by stress from problems you just can’t seem to crack? As leaders, every day we are faced with new challenges that keep us up at night, fortunately it doesn’t have to be this way. One of the most important components of effective decision-making is accurate data, which in today’s information age […]
Athletes from around the world have gathered for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which officially kicked off with the opening ceremonies on February 9 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. As you watch the games and cheer on your favorite team, here are three leadership lessons to consider. 1. It takes a team Expectations were high for American […]
Knowing when to say “no” to opportunity is just as important as knowing when to say “yes.” Growing your company is exciting and it’s tempting to pursue a good opportunity when you see it. Saying “no” does not come naturally to most of us. While you might be afraid to turn down an opportunity because […]
Many companies struggle to execute successful deals because they lack a strong M&A strategy. In a survey conducted by the National Center for the Middle Market, 38 percent of middle market companies said that developing the right strategy was their biggest challenge in M&A. That number may actually be higher because often companies react to opportunities […]
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 […]
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 […]
