Dale Gibbons

Business Breakthrough Advisors

We help experienced business advisors, consultants, and coaches systemize their business, scale income, and step back without sacrificing results.

CEO and Owner

The AI Powered Business Advisor

I write about how to build and scale a modern business consulting and coaching practice, showing you how to leverage both traditional and AI-powered strategies to acquire high-paying clients, command premium rates, and build recurring revenue streams that let you live a life of time freedom and prosperity.

Writer & Publisher

Continuous Improvement Center

We help you get things done better, faster, and cheaper by improving every process in every part of your business. We've successfully implemented Continuous Improvement programs at small companies and billion dollar behemoths.

Level 12: Software That Works

Level 12 was a client of my company, The Continuous Improvement Center. I served Level 12 as CEO, helped them realize a 100% increase in revenue, win new clients in new industries, and lay the foundation for a successful business development program.

Homeworks Properties

This real estate company renovated houses in Kentucky and Indiana way before all the cool kids were doing it, and helped many families get into their first home.

President

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America

Led the implementation of a Continuous Improvement (CI) culture. Facilitated strategic planning. Assembled and led a new department for the company focused on executing its most strategic projects. The team consists of several experts in continuous improvement, lean, six sigma and project management. Helped map the sales process and build a customer journey map to improve sales and the customer experience.

Vice President, Chief Operations Officer

Ebit Information Systems  (Now InfusionIT)

This is a company I purchased and turned around in 2005. Ebit Information Systems (Now InfusionIT) provides IT staffing and consulting services. It is now one of the top 5 IT services firms in the Greater Louisville area and has achieved the coveted Inc. Magazine list of fastest growing companies four years in a row.

Owner & CEO

EDS, an HP Company

Responsbile for marketing and selling information technology services to large corporations.

Sales Executive

Manpower

Took a new branch from start to $4M in revenue as the manager of the Louisville, KY area territory.

Director of Professional Services

GE Aviation

Helped support the Air Force and several commercial airlines in Asia, North America and South America to improve efficiency and lower their operating costs.

Field Service Representative

You’ve spent years building expertise.

Now it’s time to finally own your calendar.

I’m Dale Gibbons, and I help seasoned professionals turn their experience into high-ticket consulting businesses. 

I work with corporate escapees, exited founders and military veterans who know they’re capable of more than another 5 years in the corporate grind. 

You don’t have to be:

- At the mercy of an employer’s decisions
- Drowning in conflicting advice and tactics
- Chasing referrals that aren’t worth your expertise

You already have 90% of what it takes. My role is helping you reach that last 10%. 

Anyone who has a genius zone can build a consulting business that funds freedom and legacy.

Over the past 18 years, I’ve coached hundreds of consultants and coaches to: 

✅ Build premium consulting offers based on transformation, not time

✅ Fill workshops that generate qualified leads on autopilot

✅ Convert without pressure using my Benevolent Servant Leader™ sales framework

✅ Systematize delivery and scale through proprietary frameworks and group programs

The result: Businesses that create freedom.

I’ve built a solid, repeatable system that attracts qualified leads, clearly shows your value, and converts trust into premium, long-term engagements.  

Here’s what clients say:

- “Dale helped me replace my corporate income in 90 days.”
- “This system gave me my confidence, and pipeline, back.”
- “I finally feel like I’m running a business, not just doing client work.”

If you’re considering consulting as your next chapter and are:

❌ Unsure how to get consistent, high-value clients
❌ Struggling to explain to leads your premium pricing
❌ Drowning in tools but not seeing traction

I’d be glad to show you a better way. 

DM me if you’d like to hear more.

Or, if you’d prefer to see the system in action first, watch this quick video: 
https://bit.ly/businessbreakthroughadvisors_Video

Let’s build the consulting business that funds your freedom and gives you your life back.

We help business advisors (and those who want to be) use AI to create a reliable 6-figure+ income and leave the rat race forever.

Most consultants are treating AI like a magic button.

These prompts create results you can bill for.

AI becomes powerful when you use it to amplify your thinking and refine the core areas of your business.

I’ve been exploring how to do that inside my own consulting practice and sharing what works with my clients.

Here are some of the most effective prompts I’ve developed across each area of the business:

Strategy
"Evaluate the strategic implications of this market shift and propose three viable response options"
"Assess the attractiveness of entering [market] using a capabilities vs. opportunity fit analysis."

Marketing
"Analyze this customer data and produce insight-driven recommendations for demand generation."
"Map the customer journey and identify friction points that reduce conversion or retention."

Operations
"Design a future-state workflow that reduces cycle time and improves quality."
"Quantify the financial benefits of addressing process inefficiencies."

Finance & Analytics
"Develop a high-level financial model structure to evaluate this business opportunity."
"Perform a variance analysis and explain operational drivers behind the numbers."

People & Organization
"Create a change management plan with stakeholders, risks, and communication needs."
"Propose a succession planning approach for mission-critical roles."

I've put together 50 prompts across all five categories in the cheat sheet below.

Each one is designed to give you a structured starting point, not a finished product.

Try out a few, and save the rest for when you need a reference point.

If you're looking at how to grow your business to 7-figures,
I built a quiz that'll give you a personalized roadmap.

You can take it for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM with the word "ready."
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➕ Follow Dale Gibbons to turn your genius into a 7-figure consulting business.

Escape the rat race by turning your experience and skills into a 7-figure consulting income.

Are you willing to be seen as "too much" if it means saving someone's business?

Prospects don’t hire consultants for credentials.
They hire the person who understands their pain and cares enough to help them through it.

The problem is, many consultants focus so hard on looking polished that their real passion never shows.
They hold back to seem “professional” and end up sounding like everyone else.

Meanwhile, the consultant with less experience but more energy wins clients by making them feel understood.

That’s the difference. Clients choose the person who shows they care, not the one who’s afraid to stand out.

So instead of trying to look polished, focus on being authentic.
Here are a few actions you can do this week:

1. Find the fire.
What’s an injustice in your industry that makes your blood boil? How is it affecting the small business owners who deserve better?

2. Tell your story.
Share the real reason why you do this work. Tell the story of what you’ve been through and who you’re trying to help.

3. Light the match.
Send 10 DMs today. You don’t need a polished pitch. Tell them, “Hey, I saw your website and I think you might be leaving money on the table. Would it help to hop on a call and talk it through?”

Nobody in the world is better at being you than you.

When you stop playing it safe, you give people permission to trust you with their real problems.

That's when cold outreach becomes a public service.

If you’re struggling to pinpoint what’s holding back the next stage of your business growth, I’ve built something that could help.

My Consultant Archetype quiz gives you a detailed report on your current growth phase, your biggest blind spot, and how to fix things fast.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM with the word "ready."
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Prospects don't care about buzzwords.

They just want their problems solved.

A common problem I see is consultants trying to be too clever with their wording.

I've been in business for 40 years. If their positioning is unclear to me, it might as well be in another language for a prospect.

I always recommend reading "Why Business People Speak Like Idiots".

Then, to go back and tighten up your messaging.

In the meantime, here are a few phrases to avoid, and what to say instead:

1. When setting the agenda:
Instead of: "Let's align on strategic priorities for this engagement."
Say: "Let's start with what's most important to you right now."

2. When asking a prospect about their problems:
Instead of: "Can you identify the key pain points impacting your current performance?"
Ask: "What’s getting in the way of your business running the way you want it to?"

3. When talking about growth:
Instead of: "Our objective is to design scalable systems that drive sustainable growth."
Say: "Let’s build simple systems that help you grow without adding chaos."

4. When giving feedback:
Instead of: "Your current strategy appears misaligned with established best practices."
Say: "There’s an easier way to get the results you’re after."

5. When presenting results:
Instead of: "We’ve observed measurable improvement across multiple key performance indicators."
Say: "You’re up 18%. Here’s what’s working and where we can keep improving."

6. When facing resistance:
Instead of: "While I understand your concerns, our methodology has consistently produced results across similar client engagements."
Say: "I get it. Let’s look at how this would work in your situation?"

7. When selling the next step:
Instead of: "We offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to optimize profitability and performance."
Say: "I can help you find and fix the profit that’s already in your business."

8. When following up:
Instead of: "I wanted to touch base to confirm receipt of the proposal and inquire about your decision timeline."
Say: "Just checking in. Does this still feel like the right next move for you?"

9. When wrapping up a meeting:
Instead of: "Let’s recap the key takeaways and confirm action items for next steps."
Say: "Here’s what we agreed on and what happens next."

Prospects just want things made easy.

If your message feels like work, they’ll move on.

Keep it simple. That’s what gets people on side.

If you're trying to pinpoint how to grow your consulting business, I built a quiz that'll help.

It gives you a personal report of your consultant archetype, biggest blind spot, and a roadmap of your next steps.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu 

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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Expertise gets you in the room.
Change management keeps you there.

One of the biggest mistakes consultants make is thinking strategy is enough.

It’s not.

Unexecuted ideas don’t drive outcomes.
Without change management, strategy stalls before it starts.

Clients don’t just need a plan. They need help getting people to follow it.

That’s where change frameworks come in.

The right one cuts through resistance, brings clarity fast, and guides people through the messy middle.

Here are 6 that work:

Kotter’s 8-Step Change Framework
From building urgency to embedding new habits, this step-by-step roadmap helps lead large-scale transformation with momentum and clarity.

Lewin’s 3-Phase Model
Unfreeze, change, refreeze. A simple way to help people let go of old ways and lock in new behaviors.

Prosci Change Triangle (PCT)
Combines leadership, project management, and change strategy to align every part of the business around a shared goal.

ADKAR Model
Focuses on individual adoption—awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement. A great tool for spotting what’s holding change back.

McKinsey Influence Model
Change sticks when behavior shifts. This model emphasizes leadership example, shared meaning, skill-building, and reinforcement.

BCG’s Change Delta Model
A big-picture framework that aligns leadership, governance, execution, and employee engagement to drive long-term results.

Strong consultants don’t just deliver plans.

They help teams take action—and make it stick.

Which of these frameworks do you lean on when leading change?

If you're trying to pinpoint how to grow your consulting business, I built a quiz that'll help.

It gives you a personal report of your consultant archetype, biggest blind spot, and a roadmap of your next steps.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu 

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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Solving the wrong problem is expensive.

Here’s how to get it right the first time.

Consulting is not about giving advice. It’s about finding what causes a client’s pain and fixing it.

Clients often struggle to explain what’s wrong. When the problem feels overwhelming, they don’t know where to start.

Your job is to help them see it clearly and move forward with confidence.

A few good frameworks can turn a client's confusion into a clear path forward.

Here are six that deliver:

The PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
Identify the issue and plan an approach. Test on a small scale. Check the results. Standardize successful methods.

The 5 Whys Technique
Define the problem clearly. Ask "Why?" and record the answer. Repeat up to five times or until the root cause becomes clear.

Value Stream Mapping
Write down each step in a process. Identify where time, effort, or resources are wasted. Streamline the process and monitor results.

Impact vs. Effort Matrix
Map tasks on a 2x2 grid by impact and effort. Highlight high-impact, low-effort tasks as quick wins. Invest heavily in high-impact, high-effort tasks. Delete low-value, high-effort tasks.

Root Cause Analysis
Identify the symptoms of a problem and their effects. Trace the cause to the source. Validate your theory with data or testing. Solve the issue.

SWOT Analysis
List your internal strengths and weaknesses. Spot external opportunities and threats. Match your strengths to opportunities, and try to minimize weaknesses and external threats.

Every consultant has their own way of uncovering the real issue behind a client’s challenges.

Experiment with these frameworks until you find the ones that fit your style and industry. Combined with your experience, they’ll help you spot patterns faster, solve deeper problems, and build more trust with every client you meet.

If you're still struggling, there might be something in your consulting business that needs more clarity.

I built a Consulting Archetype Quiz to help. In a few minutes, it'll uncover your consultant archetype, your biggest blind spot, and the next steps you need to take.

You can take the quiz here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

Which one of these frameworks do you use? Are there any I've missed?

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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Most people overthink networking.

They show up hoping to impress the right person, say the right thing, and walk away with a new opportunity.

That’s not how it works.

If you want to build real relationships, stop trying to “network” and start acting like someone who belongs in the room.

I’ve always preferred to act like the co-host.

Even if it’s not my event, I walk in like I belong there. I find the bathrooms, check out the food, and look for ways to help people feel at home.

Because when people feel at ease around you, they start opening up—and that’s when real connection happens.

Here’s how to network well in any room:

Tell Your Story
Share a short and honest story that explains why you do what you do.

Pay Attention to Body Language
Stand with confidence, stay relaxed, and make eye contact to help others feel at ease.

Act Like a Co-Host
Focus on helping others feel welcome and connected as if you were hosting the event yourself.

Ask Real Questions
Move beyond small talk by asking thoughtful questions that invite real conversation.

Stop Trying to Impress
Focus on being present and curious instead of trying to prove your value.

Lead With Generosity
Set a simple goal to connect at least one person to someone else before you leave.

You don’t need to perform.
You just need to be helpful and yourself.

That’s what builds trust.
And trust is what leads to clients, referrals, and strong relationships.

If you're trying to pinpoint how to grow your consulting business, I built a quiz that'll help.

It gives you a personal report of your consultant archetype, biggest blind spot, and a roadmap of your next steps.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu 

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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➕ Follow Dale Gibbons to turn your genius into a 7-figure consulting business.

Most consultants want to become the go-to expert.

But few take the time to build the skills that actually make them hard to replace.

At some point, almost every consultant hits a wall.
Things might be working, but not enough to break through.

If you want consistent, high-ticket clients, there are 9 skills that make the difference.

Take a look and see which one might be holding you back.

1. Communicate Clearly
↳ Talking more doesn’t mean saying more. Make sure your message is clear and that people actually understand what you mean.

2. Assess Before You Act
↳ Slow down and really look at what needs fixing. The answer is often right in front of you.

3. Build Practical Strategy
↳ You don’t need something flashy. A good strategy is clear, practical, and tied to real results.

4. Understand The Clients World
↳ Do the work to learn about the person, the business, and the problems they face. That’s where real solutions come from.

5. Lead by Example
↳ Be prepared, follow through, and do what you said you would do.

6. Earn Trust Through Results
↳ Earn trust quickly with a small win, then keep it by doing consistent, valuable work.

7. Stay Flexible with Purpose
↳ Stay flexible when things change, but never lose your standards or sense of direction.

8. Negotiate Fairly
↳ Good negotiation isn’t about winning. It’s about finding a fair deal everyone can respect.

9. Create Meaningful Change
↳ It’s not about sounding smart. It’s about doing work that leaves the business better than you found it.

Mastering these skills is what changes your business from 6-figures to 7-figures.

If you're trying to break the ceiling in your consulting business, I created a resource to help.

My free Consultant Growth Archetype quiz gives you a detailed report on your growth phase and what to do next to make a breakthrough.

You can take it here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

Which skill do you think is most important?

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM and let's chat.
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We’re living in a trust recession.

And the only antidote is being authentic.

We’ve been in it for a while, but these days technology is moving faster than ever.

We’re using AI in more and more of our work, and people’s antennas are up (as they should be).

It’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s not.

I’ve seen this with my own friends and family. There have been times I’ve had to tell them that a video they were watching was AI-generated.

Look, I think AI is as exciting as it is concerning.

It’s here to stay, but it can strip the humanity out of what it creates.

(I’m still a bit sad about the poor em dash. It never stood a chance.)

The erosion of trust, both personally and professionally, is one of the biggest challenges we’re facing right now.

But I think we can close that gap the same way we always have.

Spend time talking with people face to face and have real conversations. Show up as yourself, not the version you think they expect to see.

AI might make the work faster or more efficient, but it can’t replace experience, empathy, or judgment. It can’t replace the human part of what we do.

We’ve gone through the struggles, and we have the human experience to say, “I know what you’re going through. Here’s how I can help.”

People are hungry for someone who actually understands their problems.

AI can help you find them faster, but it’s your personality, experience, and judgment that provide the real value.

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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I used to lose clients I should have kept.

Then I realized I was wearing the wrong hat.

I believe that every consultant has three different hats they need to use.

Coach: Where you help clients see things clearly and make strategic moves.

Consultant: Where you help clients with hands-on implementation.

Mentor: Where you help clients grow as leaders.

I've lost clients becuase at times, I was trying to solve problems while wearing the wong hat.
I'd consult when someone needed a coach, or coach when they needed mentoring.

But over time, I began to figure how where and when my expertise was needed.

Picture an NFL football team.

When you're the coach, you stand on the sidelines. 
↳ You spot what the players can't see and give a clear strategy, but you're not on the field with them.

When you're the consultant, you're in the huddle with the team.
↳ You've got the systems and the elbow grease to deliver.

When you're the mentor, you're not at the game.
↳ But you're a phone call away when a player needs guidance.

The best consultants master all three of these roles. But most never learn when to switch.

Typically, they build their identity around one particular role that they're comfortable with and try to solve the wrong problems.

When you're able to adapt and put on the right hat at the right time, you maintain the skills that solve high-ticket problems.

If a client can't see their blind spots, you put on the coaching hat.
If they're drowning in execution, you put on the consulting hat.
And if they're wondering if they're in the right game, you put on the mentoring hat.

If you can master that, you can accept any high-ticket client that comes your way.

The magic is knowing which hat to wear when.

Think about your current clients. Which hat are you wearing with each of them?

I've also created a quiz that helps uncover what other skills you might be weaker on and how you can move forward.

In a few minutes, you'll get a detailed report on what your consultant archetype is and a roadmap of what to do next.

You can find the quiz here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM and let's chat.
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Presenting is one of those skills that catches a lot of consultants off guard.

They know their material and have years of real experience behind them. But the moment they step into a room, the dynamics change.

I see the same issues show up again and again:
The equipment isn’t set up the way it should be.
The lighting makes it hard to see the slides.
The room layout works against the message.
And once the presentation starts, filler words, dense slides, or unclear transitions make it difficult for clients to stay with them.

None of this means they aren’t capable.
It simply means the presentation wasn’t set up for success.

Over the years, I’ve developed a set of principles I teach my consultants to help them avoid these pitfalls.

Here are eight of them:

Own Your Equipment and Environment
Don't rely on anyone else for equipment or supplies. Arrive early to test and confirm everything is working.

Tell a Client-Relevant Story
Use a short story that mirrors your audience's challenges. Problem, solution, impact.

Ditch Dense Slides
Have one concept per slide. Minimal text. If people are reading, they're not listening.

Make Numbers Meaningful
Translate data into something real. Don't say "12% attrition." Say "1 in 8 team members is leaving each year."

Use the Rule of Three
Structure your message around three key points. Our brains love patterns.

Rehearse Like a pro
Great presenters look spontaneous, but every word and beat is rehearsed. Practice your timing, pauses, and transitions.

Strengthen Delivery and Clarity
Be intentional with your language and avoid filler words that weaken your credibility.

Create a “Wait for It…” Moment
Save one insight, reveal, or recommendation for near the end. Pause before delivering it. Make it unforgettable.

Strong presenters don't wing it. They prepare, simplify, and deliver intentionally.

If your presenting skills are already strong, and you're figuring out your next step to grow, I built a quiz to help.

It gives you a personal report of your consulting archetype and a roadmap of what to do next.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

What would you add to this list?

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Top consulting firms don’t win projects because their slides look better.

They win because their message is easier to follow.

There is a structure behind it.

One that’s been proven in thousands of boardroom decisions.
And one that every independent consultant can learn to use.

It looks like this:

Front Page
Introduces the work, sets the tone, and makes it clear who it’s for.

Executive Summary
Tells the story in one slide so the decision-maker doesn’t need to dig for the point.

Body of Slides
Walks through the analysis one insight at a time, with only the information needed to back it up.

Recommendations
Lays out what needs to happen next in simple, actionable terms.

Appendix
Holds the detail for anyone who needs to see the work behind the work.

Each section has a purpose.
Each slide has a point.
Each title tells you what matters.

You don’t need a team of analysts or a big logo behind you to create high-trust presentations.

But the structure has to do the work.

Clear thinking, laid out the right way, earns attention.
It shows clients you’re serious, prepared, and ready to lead.

That’s how you compete.

Not by trying to match the big firms slide for slide, but by making it easier to say yes to your ideas.

If you want to break through your ceiling, I built the Consulting Archetype Quiz to help.

It'll show you your current growth phase and give you a personalized roadmap.

You can take the quiz here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM and let's chat.
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 How To Structure A Consulting Presentation

Decades of expertise don't guarantee job security.

I found that out after getting laid off.

For years, I stayed in corporate, climbed to the top, and believed my results spoke for themselves.

I thought my expertise mattered, but I was still fired for being "too entrepreneurial."

That's when I realized even great performance doesn't protect you from budget cuts, restructures, or a manager who doesn't see your value.

But all of that knowledge under your belt is still valuable. That realization led me to start consulting.

If you're thinking about making a similar change, here's what I suggest:

1. Start with what people turn to you for.
At this point in life, people are probably asking you for advice in one certain area. Focus on that. 

2. Start sharing what you know in public. 
You can do that through social media, speaking, or even a newsletter. The important thing is that you stay consistent.

3. Attract people who have expensive problems and the money to solve them.
Identify your ideal client avatar and talk to as many people as possible with no intent to sell (yet.)

4. Create an irresistible offer.
Make your solution easy to understand and the transformational journey clear. 

5. Think of sales as leadership.
It clears out the head trash you might have about your own offering, and makes it easier for clients to trust you.

6. Create a transformational experience.
Prospects want a solution to their pain. Show them how your work creates that change.

7. Share stories of how your clients' lives improved after working with you. 
Social proof is powerful. Show your prospects what they can expect from working with you.

8. Ask for referrals.
When a client is happy, tell them about your referral program and make it easy for them to share your name. 

9. Repeat steps 1 through 8
Refine the process as you go along. Focus on the 20% of work that creates 80% of results.

10. Live your life
Life isn't just all work. Build relationships that allow you to maximize the time you have with people in your inner circle.

You don't have to change everything at once. You build those consulting skills one step at a time.

There are people who'll pay for your insight because they need experience and perspective to solve their problems.

Don't wait for a round of layoffs to force you to bet on yourself.

Give yourself permission to try.

If you're ready to explore if consulting is the right step for you, I built a free Consulting Readiness Quiz.

You'll get a personalized readiness score across the 7 critical areas that determine consulting success.

You can take the quiz here for free: bit.ly/ConsultingQuiz 

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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10Steps To Turn Your Skills Into A 6Figure+ Income

Some everyday phrases can do real damage.

Start speaking like the expert you are.

How we speak to clients either builds trust or weakens it before we’ve had a chance to help.

I've made the mistake of saying the wrong thing before.

Some of it was leftover habits from corporate. Some of it was insecurity I hadn't fully shaken off.

But I learned that either way, it was fixable.

If you've ever self-edited when talking to a client, this post is for you.

Here are the phrases you ought to avoid, and what to say instead:

Instead of: “I think this might work…”
Say: “Here’s what I recommend based on similar situations.”

Instead of: “Just my two cents…”
Say: “From my experience, here’s what I’d suggest.”

Instead of: “Let me know what you’d like me to do.”
Say: “Here’s the next step I suggest we take.”

Instead of: “I’m probably wrong, but…”
Say: “This may challenge the current approach, but it’s worth considering.”

Instead of: “This might be a dumb question, but…”
Say: “I have a clarifying question.”

Instead of: “Sorry if this doesn’t make sense.”
Say: “Let me know if I should explain that differently.”

Instead of: “That’s not really my area.”
Say: “That’s outside my scope, but I can recommend someone who handles that.”

Instead of: “Hopefully this works.”
Say: “Let’s test this and adjust as needed.”

Instead of: “I’m just a solo consultant.”
Say: “You’ll be working directly with me. No delays or middlemen.”

Instead of: “Everyone’s doing it this way.”
Say: “That’s the common approach, but let’s decide what fits your situation best.”

The right language positions you as a guide, not just another vendor.

If your messaging already feels solid but you're not sure where the gaps are, I built a quiz that can help.

It shows you your consulting archetype, biggest blind spot, 
and gives you a roadmap for your next growth stage.

Take it for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM with the word "ready."
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If you're competing on price, you've already lost.

Here's how to fix it before 2026.

This is the season where consultants finish strong and set the tone for the year ahead.

And funny enough, a conversation with my nephew got me thinking about what it really means to start the new year right.

He’s been staying at my place, getting used to farm life.
One morning, he cracked an egg into the skillet and asked:

"Uncle Dale, why is the yolk so orange?"

I told him those eggs came from our friends who raise free-range chickens, not factory-farmed ones.

We had a whole conversation about the difference before he hit me with the big question:

"So why doesn't everyone just do free-range?"

The answer to that is the same reason most consultants are broke.

Everyone's trying to scale, productize, and compete on price.
That's factory-farmed thinking.

But the best consultants are free-range.
They've positioned themselves as a category of one.

If you're ready to do the same for 2026,
here are the steps to follow:

1. Identify Your Uncopyable Elements
Write down what makes you fundamentally different: Your lived experience, the patterns you see, and the lessons you've learned. 

2. Raise Your Prices Dramatically
Premium positioning requires premium pricing. Stop charging like a commodity. $10k-30k monthly retainers position you as an irreplaceable strategic partner.

3. Get Ruthlessly Selective
Fire your commodity clients. Keep and attract the ones who value wisdom over price.

4. Shift to Partnership Model
Stop selling projects. Start building strategic partnerships with your clients.

5. Use AI to Amplify Speed, Not Replace Value
AI compresses research from weeks to days, but that's not what clients pay for. They pay you to see opportunities they don't see yet.

2026 is coming fast, and the path you choose now will shape your pipeline for next year.

You can either keep competing as a commodity consultant,
or become a category of one and attract premium clients.

If you're serious about attracting premium clients in 2026 i'm hosting a free webinar on Thursday 👇

Secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/g-jEGn6S

Which one will you be choosing?

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM with the word "ready."
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Being a good communicator is table stakes.

Being a structured communicator is what makes you valuable.

Consultants often communicate from their own perspective instead of aligning with what the client actually cares about.

But as marketing copywriter Robert Collier once said, the key to influence is to "enter the conversation already going on in your prospect's mind."

That means getting out of your own head and focusing on what they care about.

Here are 7 communication frameworks to help you do that:

MOCAA Method
Shift focus from yourself to the prospect. Turns casual chats into lead-generating conversations.

Pyramid Principle
Start with the answer, then back it with logic and data. A go-to for clear, structured recommendations.

SCQA Framework
Frame problems the way clients experience them. Builds tension, then resolves it with your solution.

PREP Method
Stay calm and clear under pressure. Great for making your point when challenged on the spot.

COIN Model
Feedback without the awkwardness. Keeps it objective, actionable, and easy to hear.

What? So What? Now What?
Simplify complex data into insight and action. Keeps clients focused on what matters most.

RACI Matrix
Clarifies roles on messy projects. Everyone knows who’s doing what and who needs to be looped in.

Strong consultants don’t just share ideas.
They communicate them in ways that move people to act.

That’s what builds trust.
That’s what earns buy-in.
And that’s what gets you invited back into the room.

If you want to grow your consulting business, sharpening how you communicate is one of the highest-leverage places to start.

And if you're trying to pinpoint what phase of growth you're in and where to focus next, I built a quiz that will help.

Take the quiz here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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It's hard to keep going when nothing seems to move.

That's when daily 1% improvements make a difference. 

When you're starting out as a consultant, there are times when it feels like you're bumping your head against a glass ceiling.
And sometimes it doesn’t feel like glass at all. It feels like solid concrete. 

I've been there. And I've got the calloused forehead to prove it.
But there's a way to break through whatever obstacle you're facing. 

Let me tell you about Dave Brailsford.

He took the British cycling team, who'd never won the Tour de France, and turned them into world champions.

He didn't have some grand strategy. He focused on 1% improvements.

His team chose the best pillows and brought them to every hotel stop.
They identified the most effective massage gel.
And he instructed cyclists on the best hand-washing techniques to prevent infections. 

He called it the aggregation of marginal gains.

I call it the compounding of marginal gains.

The compound effect of those improvements turned the British cycling team into a force to be reckoned with.

In consulting, it's the same story.

You don't need to burn everything down and rebuild. 
You need to focus on what you can improve by 1% each day.

There are four clear steps to this:

Plan
Use what you know to map out your approach. Decide what steps you'll take and what a successful outcome should look like.

Do
Put your plan into motion on a small scale. This stage is about trial and learning, not launching something big, so keep it simple and controlled.

Check
Pause to review what happened. Did things turn out the way you expected? What worked, what didn’t, and what caught you off guard?

Adjust
If the test went well, build on it and start rolling it out more widely. If not, use what you learned to fine-tune your approach. Then run the cycle again with those improvements in mind.

Your time, multiplied by effort, creates big results. 

If you're looking for the next step of your plan,
I built a quiz that'll give you a personalized roadmap.

You can take it for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call, send me a DM with the word "ready."
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No one asks me, "How much does this cost?" anymore.

Here’s what changed.

When I meet a business owner for the first time, maybe at a networking event, the conversation always gets to the same question:

"So Dale, what do you do?"

Most consultants see that as a cue to start selling.
I see it as a chance to anchor value.

I use something I call the MOCAA Talk Track.

Whenever someone asks what I do, I'll say something like this:
"I'm just out here turning nickels into quarters."

There's a specific reason I say that.

It anchors value before we ever talk about price. And you have to do this early on in conversations.

By the time money comes up, I’ve probably used that nickels-to-quarters line two or three times.
So when pricing does come up, they already understand what it means.

I’ll ask, “If you give me a nickel and I give you a quarter, is that a fair exchange?”
The answer is yes.

Then I’ll ask, “If you give me a nickel and I keep giving you a quarter, do you ever want to stop doing that?”
The answer is no.

So later, when I find $500,000 in untapped profit in their business, that’s the quarter.
I only need the nickel.

By that point, it’s simple math.

But your words matter too.
Never say, “I take 20% of profit.”

Nobody wants to give anything away.
But if they give me a nickel and I hand them back a quarter, they’re fine with that every time.

And if someone pushes back, which doesn’t happen often, I’ll say, “I get it. $25,000 is a lot. It’s just not as much as $500,000.”

So when it comes to pricing, the work isn’t in the numbers.
It’s in how early you frame the value.

Do it before the question ever comes up.
If you wait until someone asks, you’re already too late.

That’s why I use the nickels-to-quarters line right from the start.
It keeps me out of price conversations and inside value conversations.

That’s where you want to be.

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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How To Talk About Price As A Consultant

The most successful consultants aren’t extraordinary.

They do ordinary things with relentless consistency while everyone else is busy getting distracted.

They’re not bouncing around.
They just keep doing the fundamentals again and again with discipline.

They know results take time.
Sometimes weeks.
But when you’re in a place of scarcity, those weeks feel like forever.

That’s where most people stop.
Not because they’re not capable.
But because they haven’t built the resilience to push through that gap.

Especially if they’ve come from a job where the paycheck just shows up.
They’ve never had to think about cash flow.
They’ve never had to manage the mental pressure of building something on their own.

But that’s what this work demands.
The ability to stay focused, keep moving, and let the results catch up.

And through it all, remember:

Nobody can do what you do the way you do it.
That’s what makes you valuable. Don’t forget it.

If you're trying to pinpoint how to grow your consulting business, I built a quiz that'll help.

It gives you a personal report of your consultant archetype, biggest blind spot, and a roadmap of your next steps.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu 

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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My webinar blueprint has generated $50M+ in sales.

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

Webinars and workshops can be tricky for many consultants to get right.

On one end of the spectrum, some people spend the whole session pushing their services.
On the other hand, some give away so much value that prospects think they can do it on their own.

But when you get it right, webinars are teaching sessions that naturally lead to your offer.

I've used this exact framework and shared it with other consultants because it gets results without the sleazy feeling.

Here's how it works:

1. Start with a Magnetic Hook & Bold Claim:
In the first few minutes, establish a time frame, state what you're going to teach, and present the ideal outcome for your audience.

2. Present Inclusive Authority & Who This is For:
Establish your credibility through results, experience, and social proof.

3. Share the Agenda & The Single Most Important Thing:
Give your audience clear expectations of what you'll cover. Share the single most important idea that makes your solution clear.

4. Challenge Identification via The Shift Method:
Call out the biggest false assumptions your audience has and show them a better way to think about their situations.

5. Share the Solution Framework via The Bridge Method:
Present your core process or system. Keep it simple. Name each step, explain why it matters, and how it connects to their desired outcome.

6. Present the Proof & Case Study Sandwich:
Share up to three case studies that tap into different audience segments. Tell them the setup, how you applied your framework, and specific results.

7. Natural Bridge Transition:
Present two paths. The audience applies the knowledge they've gained by themselves, or they receive your personal guidance and services.

8. Share Your Value Stack Offer:
Present your core services as an appealing offer. Let them know what support they have, exclusive bonuses, the total value, and the total investment.

9. Bring in Logical Urgency & Close:
Give people a real reason to act now. It could be limited spaces, bonus support, or a clear guarantee of work.

This method has proven to work for me. That's why I teach consultants to use it themselves.

When you lead with your expertise and a clear offering, the sale becomes a natural next step instead of an uncomfortable pitch.

I've built a quiz to help more consultants reach their next growth phase of their business.

In a few minutes, it tells you your consultant archetype, your number one blind spot, and the next steps you need to take.

You can take the quiz for free here: https://lnkd.in/gve8CjUu

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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You can say all the right things in all the wrong places.

That's where most consultants fail in lead gen.

Years ago, marketing legend Gary Halbert asked his students a simple question:
"If you could have any advantage when opening a restaurant, what would it be?"

Better food? A great location? A killer ad campaign?

Halbert's answer: A starving crowd.

Food, location, and marketing won't matter if there's no hungry audience to buy.

The same's true in consulting. 

A clear strategy and message won't matter if it's shown to the wrong people.

Choosing the best way to get your message across comes down to three things:

1. Your ideal clients actively engage with that media.
Find where your clients are already spending their time.

2. It allows for a direct response.
Look for platforms where people can comment on posts, send you a DM, or take a direct action.

3. It aligns with your strengths.
The media you choose to engage with should feel natural to you. It'll either be writing, speaking, or networking (or a mix).

To refine things more, here are the best media channels for consultants to generate quality leads.

LinkedIn & Email
These are the best routes for direct outreach, nurturing leads, and establishing authority. Personalize outreach messages and post useful content your ICP can take away. Use email to stay top-of-mind.

Webinars & Workshops 
These are opportunities to position yourself as an expert. Teach others what you do, have a clear call-to-action, and follow up with any attendees who might need more nurturing.

Podcasts & Guest Features
Use these as opportunities for long-term trust-building. Be a guest on industry podcasts to borrow credibility. Share your personal stories so your audience can connect with you.

Paid Ads 
Great for when you've got a clear offer and message. Test things on a small scale first and remember that ads only amplify success. They don't create it.

Cold Calls & Direct Mail
These are old-school and need persistence, but they can still be effective for certain markets. Send personalized direct mail to stand out from digital. Follow up any cold calls with useful emails.

In the carousel below, I've put in the most common mistakes consultants and coaches make with each media outreach. Take a look so you know what to avoid.

You don't have to be juggling every single platform out there. You'll land quality leads by being in the right place, at the right time, with the right message.

If you need more support in knowing how to reach your target clients, this Thursday i'm hosting a free webinar to help.

Secure your spot 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/g-jEGn6S

Which method do you prefer for generating leads: writing, speaking, or networking? 

📨 If you're ready to book a call send me a DM with the word "ready."
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How To Choose The Best Marketing Channels

Strategy & Finance Executive | Scaling Impact-Driven Companies Beyond $10M | Strategic CFO | Certified Scaling Up Advisor

Scaling Founders Beyond $10M with Strategy, Financial Clarity, and Leadership Expansion

Most companies stall not because of lack of effort—
but because the founder has outgrown the systems, strategies, and financial models that once worked.

At Ascend Growth Ventures, we partner with CEOs of $3M–$10M companies to implement Scaling Up, strengthen financial infrastructure, and elevate leadership teams—building businesses that scale profitably and predictably, without burning out the founder.

By integrating Scaling Up, Exponential Organizations, and CFO-level financial insights, we deliver a complete, battle-tested system for sustainable, high-performance growth.

🔹 We Work With CEOs Who Want To:
✔️ Scale revenue and profits without chaos
✔️ Build self-managing leadership teams
✔️ Unlock hidden cash flow and improve financial decision-making
✔️ Sharpen their strategy for exponential growth
✔️ Prepare for capital raises, acquisitions, or exits

🔹 Our Core Focus Areas:
  * Strategic Scaling Up Implementation

  * Financial Strategy & Cash Optimization

  * Leadership Team Development

  * Systems for Predictable Growth

  * Valuation Prep and Exit Strategy

✅ Why Work With Me?
25+ years of experience scaling businesses from the inside out:
➡️ Regional CFO, GE Gas Power (LATAM, +1.5GW record year)
➡️ Strategic finance and underwriting leadership at GE Capital
➡️ Business/project development for 8-figure ventures
➡️ Trusted advisor to founders scaling past $10M and beyond

✅ Industries We Specialize In:
✔️ Clean Energy & Decarbonization
✔️ Industrial Goods & B2B Services
✔️ Impact-Driven Companies
✔️ Scaling Coaching & Consulting Firms

🧠 If You're Ready to Scale Intelligently and Sustainably

Let's have a strategic conversation about where you are—and where you can go.

Easiest way to work with me?

Book a private power hour call and let's create your vision.
https://calendly.com/cruzagamboa/90-min-power-hour

Cruz Gamboa

Some companies don’t stall because of strategy.
They stall because of perception.

You can have the right model, metrics, and playbook—
and still struggle to scale
because trust isn’t in the culture.

We think scaling is about systems, KPIs, and offers.
But it’s really about energy, alignment, and belief.

Teams don’t reject initiatives.
They reject inconsistency.
They sense when the leader says one thing
and embodies another.

Every interaction in a growing company is a mirror—
it reflects the culture that’s actually being built.

Before you refine your next OKR,
refine your presence.

Because the best strategy in the world can’t fix a trust gap.

➡️ People follow clarity before they follow goals.
➡️ Integrity scales faster than intensity.


#leadership #scalingup #growth #trust #mindset

The market tells stories. Your financials & metrics tell truth.

In 2001, Amazon's stock cratered from $113 to $6.

Wall Street declared it dead.

Let's be clear: that had to be terrifying. Even for Bezos.

Watching 95% of your valuation evaporate. Hearing the whispers. Feeling the pressure from every direction.

But here's what separated him from founders who fold in those moments, he kept coming back to his dashboard:

Customer acquisition costs...improving. 

Fulfillment efficiency...improving. 

Contribution margin per unit...improving. 

Defect rates...declining.

The stock price reflected fear. 

The operating metrics reflected reality.

Confidence isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing to trust what you can measure over what you can't control.

This is Financial Intelligence: knowing which numbers actually predict your future, especially when everything around you is screaming that you're losing.

Watch the video. Bezos is calm. 

Not because he wasn't scared, but because he had clarity.

He knew exactly what was true inside his business.

That's how you survive what looks like a reversal, and come out the other side stronger.

That's how $6 becomes $1.7 trillion.

So here's my question for you:

What would it be worth to have that kind of clarity the next time everything feels like it's falling apart?

To know—not hope, not guess—that you're on the right track?

That's the game worth playing.

Check out comments for details

#founder #growth #ceo #scalingup

Helping Founders Break the $10M Ceiling | Strategy, Cash Flow & Leadership Systems | Scaling CFO

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Hamdi Ulukaya didn’t just build a yogurt brand, he redefined an industry.

No investors. No marketing budget. Just purpose, grit, and belief.

In 2005, he saw an ad.
An abandoned Kraft yogurt factory.

Everyone saw a money pit.
He saw possibility.

He didn’t have the money.
So he took a loan.

Bought the factory.
Kept 5 employees who believed when no one else did.

No income.
No sales.
No marketing.
Just faith, and a recipe from home.

Two years later, in 2007, Chobani was born.

No ads. Just bold packaging and pure taste.

Retailers hesitated.
But the people loved it.

Within 5 years, #1 yogurt in America.

Over $1B in sales.
The giants, Dannon, Yoplait, couldn’t catch up.

He stayed private.
Gave 10% of the company to his employees.

Hired refugees.
Put people before profit.

When asked why, he said:

👉 “Business is the strongest force for good, if it puts people first.”

From a shepherd in Turkey…
To a billionaire who still walks the factory floors.

Lesson?
You don’t need investors.
You need integrity.
You don’t need luck.
You need courage.

Because the dream still works, if you do.

Loved this story. Let me know your comments. 

What problem in your business keeps calling for your most creative energy?

#CEO  #FOUNDER #GROWTH #SCALINGUP

Two friends, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.

One dropped out.
One got rejected from med school.
But both wanted to build something.

First idea: bagels.
Too expensive.
So they pivot to ice cream.

No experience. No investors.
Just a $5 correspondence course from Penn State.
$2.50 each.

They find an abandoned gas station in Vermont.
Borrow $12,000.
Do the renovation themselves.

Ben can’t even taste properly, a condition called anosmia.
So he focuses on texture.
Big chunks. Wild swirls. Bold flavours.

What others saw as a weakness became their edge.

Within months, lines formed outside the door.
Free Cone Day became a tradition.
Word spread fast.

Few years later, they launched Cherry Garcia.
The brand took off across the country.
Soon, Ben & Jerry’s was making over $500M a year.

All from $12,000 and a $5 course.

Lesson?
You don’t need the perfect start.
You need creativity, courage, and the guts to turn constraints into leverage.

#scalingup #ceo #founder #growth

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁.

Steve Jobs said it best, the greatest people are self-managing.

They don’t need direction. They are the direction.

When you’re scaling, this is the difference between speed and stagnation.

You can’t build a $10M company micromanaging every move.
You build it by surrounding yourself with people who:

➡️ See the problem before you do.
➡️ Fix it without asking.
➡️ Then tell you how they made it better.

That’s who scales companies.
Not followers.
Not “yes” people.
Builders.

If you have to keep pushing your team to move, 
you don’t have a scaling problem,
you have a people problem.

The truth?
The best teams don’t need managing.
They need mission.

Hire those who act like owners.
Give them the target.
Then get the hell out of their way.

That’s how you scale.
That’s how you win.

#scalingup #ceo #founder #growth

They emailed eBay 200 times.
eBay ignored every single one.
Most people would’ve given up.

But Marc, Oliver, and Alexander Samwer weren’t “most people.”

They cloned eBay.
Launched it in Germany.
Executed with speed and perfection.
Within months… eBay bought it back for $43 MILLION.

Then the brothers doubled down.
They built Rocket Internet, the company that turned cloning into a billion-dollar machine.

They copied.
They improved.
They scaled.
And they sold again, and again, and again.

Here’s the truth:

👉 They weren’t chasing approval, they were chasing execution at scale.
👉 They didn’t wait to be discovered, they created their own leverage.
👉 They mastered the one principle most founders overlook:
Doing it better beats doing it first.

Critics called them “copycats.”
But behind the noise, the Samwer brothers built an empire worth billions.

Most people stop when they hear “no.”
The one who succeed?
They push when it’s uncomfortable.
They build when others hesitate.
They turn rejection into momentum.

If you want outsized results, do what most won’t:
Step past comfort.
Step past doubt.
Step past fear.

Because the biggest payoffs live right beyond the point where almost everyone quits.

#scalingup #growth #ceo #bostonfounders

He built a dating site that generated exactly zero activity.
No users. No traction. No revenue.

Most leaders call that a failed model.
I call it an early audit.

Three ex-PayPal employees launched “Tune In Hook Up,” expecting market fit.
What they got was silence.
Operational cost? Rising.
User acquisition? Non-existent.
ROI? Negative from day one.

But here’s what mattered:
They reviewed the data instead of reacting to the emotion.

They noticed users trying to upload videos
Not for dating, but for everyday moments.
Unintended behaviour, but real demand.

So they executed the smartest financial move any early-stage team can make:
A low-cost pivot.

Same infrastructure.
Same upload system.
Zero additional burn.
Just a shift in positioning:
Share any video.

And that decision changed their entire valuation trajectory.

Users scaled exponentially.
Cost per acquisition plummeted.
Engagement skyrocketed.
Suddenly, they weren’t running a dating site…
They were running the internet’s first true video platform.

By 2006, their risk profile had flipped
High growth. High virality.
And high legal exposure.

Enter Google.
They offered $1.65B in stock for a business that still had no established monetisation engine.
From a financial lens?
That’s called derisking the future.

Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim accepted.
Smart move.
They transferred operational liability…
And secured generational wealth.

Today, YouTube contributes over $40B in yearly ad revenue
and sits at a valuation north of $500B.

All from a product that started as a complete miss 
until the data told a different story.

Lesson:
You don’t scale perfection.
You scale what the market proves it wants.
Listen to the numbers, not the narratives.
And never underestimate the ROI of a well-timed pivot.

#CFOInsights #Leadership #Strategy #Scalingup

She sold her engagement ring for $10,000.
Ten years later, Vicky Tsai built a $500M skincare empire.

Most people call that crazy.
I call it commitment.

She walked away from a six-figure job…
Moved back into her childhood bedroom at 30…
Got rejected for 18 months straight…
And kept going anyway.

1,000 units.
Her last $5,000.
No safety net. No backup plan.

Month one? $2,000 in sales.
Most people quit here.
Vicky didn’t.

She packed every order by hand.
Wrote thank-you notes to strangers.
Built trust one customer at a time.

Then the internet found her.
Demand exploded.
Sephora called.
And the bedroom startup became one of the fastest-growing skincare brands in America.

In 2019, Unilever bought Tatcha for $500 million.
The $10,000 ring she sold?
It turned into 50,000x.

Lesson?
You don’t need permission.
You need conviction.
And the courage to burn Plan B. 

#ceo #founder #growth #scalingup

She was 20. A housewife. No experience. No degree.

Just a dream, and a recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

Everyone said it would fail.
“Cookies? That’s not a business.”

Banks said no.Experts laughed.

The market was ruled by Oreos and Chips Ahoy.

But Debbi Fields didn’t care.
She took a $50,000 loan with her husband.

Rented a small store in Palo Alto.

Rent: $800/month.
Failure wasn’t an option.

Opening day:
By noon, not a single sale.
She panicked. Grabbed a tray.
Walked outside.
“Try one. They’re free.”

That one line changed everything.
Crowds formed.

They sold out by evening.

She baked fresh every 2 hours.
Never sold day-old cookies.
If they sat too long, she gave them away.

Advisors hated it.
Customers LOVED it.

Year one: $200,000 in sales.
Then store #2.
Then San Francisco.
Then malls.
Then the world.

By the 1990s:

➡ 600+ stores
➡ $500M in annual sales
➡ And a new category: premium cookies

All from one woman who ignored logic and trusted her gut.

The takeaway:
If everyone says your idea is crazy,
you might just be onto something.

#scalingup #founder #growth #ceo

He got fired.
The company he built said, “We don’t need you anymore.”
Everyone forgot him.

But Steve Jobs didn’t stop.

He poured tens of millions into a failing company called Pixar.
Everyone thought he was crazy.
Most would have quit.

12 years later… that gamble sold for $7.4 BILLION.

Here’s the thing:

👉 He wasn’t chasing money. He was chasing vision.
👉 He embraced risk when others ran from it.
👉 He bet on what he believed in, even when the world said no.

Most people quit right before the payoff.
The real winners? They push through when it’s hardest.
They see opportunity where others see failure.

If you want massive results, you need to do what most won’t.
Step past comfort. Step past doubt. Step past fear.

Because the biggest payoffs live just beyond the point where almost everyone quits.

#scalingup  #growth #ceo

Steve Jobs

He built pole barns to pay for college.

Decades later, John Menard Jr. built Menards, an $18B home improvement empire.

Most people call that luck.

I call it financial discipline.

He opened a small lumber yard in 1964…

Kept prices rock-bottom by building his own factories…

And built every store with cash, not debt.

No investors. No loans. No noise.

While others chased speed and Wall Street, John chose control.

He knew his margins by product line. He tracked cash flow like a pilot tracks altitude. He made the numbers his single source of truth.

Store by store. State by state. Slow, steady, unstoppable.

When 2008 hit, he didn't scramble; he expanded.

Today?

340+ Menards stores. $13B+ revenue. 3rd third-largest home-improvement chain in America. Still 100% private.

The lesson?

You don't need to grow fast. You need to grow right.

That means: 
→ Knowing your profit margins by service line 
→ Tracking cash flow weekly, not just at tax time 
→ Building systems so the business works, not just you

Financial clarity isn't about being a "numbers person."
It's about building simple, repeatable habits that let you scale with confidence.

Have the courage to own every decision, starting with your numbers.
#founder #growth #businessmindset #financialclarity #scalingup

Most people think success comes from working harder, dreaming bigger, or thinking smarter.

Here's the truth: none of that matters if you don't act.

In one simple test, a $50 bill was up for grabs. 

Everyone wanted it. 
Everyone talked about it. 
Everyone wished they had it…

Except Debbie.

She stood up. She walked forward. She took it.

That's it. 

That's the difference between winners and everyone else.

While everyone else burns time and money chasing online strategies that become less effective every day…

The smartest entrepreneurs thriving in 2025 are walking away from their screens and adding an extra 7-figures through live events.

Real humans. In-person communities. High-profit partnerships.

The ultimate advantage in the age of AI isn't replacing humanity with efficiency; it's experiences that are deep, connective, transformative, and profitable.

Getting face-to-face with your ideal clients AND peers is the most consistent solution to the Trust Recession.

I'll be at Event Profit Engine in Austin (December 10-12)...and I still have 4 discounted tickets.

If you're ready to get clarity on the financial blind spots keeping you from scaling, this is your moment.

Don't sit in the room wishing. 

Be Debbie.

P.S. Stop waiting for perfect timing. The money, the deal, the break… it's waiting for the first person who moves. Will it be you? DM me AUSTIN for ticket details.
#scalingup #CEO #founder #growth

Most founders don't fail because of competition.
 They fail because of the blind spots they never see coming.

Cash looks fine… until it doesn't. Revenue grows… but profit disappears. You hire fast… and spend months fixing mistakes. You work harder… but scale refuses to unlock.

I spent 20+ years at GE Capital navigating these exact challenges at a corporate level.

Closing an $800M+ power plant deal? That taught me cash flow precision. Managing international transactions? That revealed the profit leaks most miss. Building high-performance teams? That showed me the cost of hiring fast vs. hiring right.

Those frameworks didn't just help me lead deals—they gave me the blueprint for scalable growth.

Now I help founders apply these same battle-tested systems to their businesses.

The 7 blind spots in this carousel? They're the ones holding 90% of founders back from predictable, profitable scale.

If you want to go deeper… Download my free ebook in the comments. 

Fix the blind spots. Scale with clarity. Build a business that runs like a pro—because you learned from one.
#scalingup #founder #ceo #growth

7 Blind Spots

𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

Most founders know Pinterest.

Almost no one knows Paul Sciarra, the guy who paid early salaries out of his own pocket, skipped taking income, and carried the company when no one else believed.

He wasn’t a “supporter.”
He was the architecture.

And then the quiet part of startup life happened.
Not a blow-up.
Not a fight.
Just… inches.

One meeting he wasn’t invited to.
One decision he didn’t have visibility into.
One board conversation that happened without him.

By the time Pinterest crossed millions of users and raised over $100M…
Paul was out.

He walked away with ~$15M.
Not nothing.
But painful when your original idea becomes a $25B enterprise.

This isn’t a story about betrayal.
It’s a story about leadership, governance, and identity.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆.
They lose it when:
 • they stop owning the financial strategy
 • they delegate governance without understanding it
 • they avoid hard conversations
 • they let investors define the path
 • they disconnect from the role of architect

You can build something extraordinary…
and still get written out of your own success if you don’t stay in the seat you were meant to own.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 $𝟯𝗠–$𝟭𝟬𝗠 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻.
The product works.
The company has traction.
Teams are growing.

 But governance, capital strategy, and leadership identity aren’t keeping pace.
That’s the real risk.

𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻:
Your idea can change the world,  but only if you stay in the role of architect as it scales.

Own your equity.
Protect your seat.
Upgrade your thinking.
Build with intention.
The threat isn’t being pushed out.
The threat is drifting out of your power.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
 Are you building like the founder…
 or leading like the architect?

#ceo #founder #scalingup #growth

He was dropped at an orphanage at seven.
No food. No money. No choice.

By 14, he was on a factory floor, making metal frames.
One wrong move crushed part of his finger. Permanent injury.

Most people would quit. Most people would settle.
He didn’t.

He watched. He learned.
Every machine. Every process. Every decision.
Night classes. Every penny saved. Knowledge accumulation.

At 26, he opened a tiny eyewear shop in the Italian Alps.
Nothing fancy. No connections. Just him, a few employees, and an obsession with understanding the craft end-to-end.

Most competitors sold parts. He had a different idea: make complete frames. Control the product. Own the market.

By the 1980s, he was making designer frames for fashion houses.
By 1995, he bought LensCrafters—suddenly he controlled both the product and the retail.

Then came Ray-Ban.
Everyone said he overpaid $640 million for a dying brand.
He didn’t see risk. He saw opportunity.

Ray-Ban wasn’t just glasses anymore.
Movies. Celebrities. Fashion statements.
Value multiplied. Brand exploded.

He kept buying. Oakley. Sunglass Hut. Prada. Versace. Chanel. Pearle Vision.
Vertical integration? Check. Market dominance? Check. Monopoly? Almost.

When he died in 2022, Leonardo Del Vecchio had $25.8 billion.
One orphan. One factory worker. One relentless learner.

Lesson:
You don’t need luck. You need mastery, observation, and relentless execution.
Start small. Learn everything. Then own the ecosystem.

#ceo #scalingup #growth #founder

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Passion isn’t happiness.
It’s pain.
It’s grinding when no one is watching.
It’s suffering through every mistake, every rejection, every late night, just to build something nobody thought was possible.

Jensen Huang didn’t follow the market.
He didn’t wait for AI to be big.
He invested 10,000 engineer-years ahead of demand.
He pivoted Nvidia from graphics chips to AI dominance.
That’s vision. That’s first-principles thinking. That’s suffering smarter than everyone else.

Breakthroughs aren’t born in comfort zones.
They’re born when you refuse to quit, when you embrace the grind, and when you’re willing to suffer today for what the world will celebrate tomorrow.

Extraordinary isn’t given.
It’s earned.
Through struggle.
Through relentless work.
Through being willing to do what everyone else won’t.

If you want to be great, get comfortable being uncomfortable.

#scalingup #growth #ceo #founder

Mastermind Scaling Dinner 

This past Wednesday night in Boston, twelve leaders got uncomfortably honest about their real constraints.

No pitch decks. No surface-level networking. 

Just the Hero's Journey framework and one question: 

"What's actually stopping you from scaling?"

Three principles guided the conversation:

🪞 Your Business is a Mirror 

The bottleneck in your business is a reflection of a constraint in your leadership. 

Stop fixing symptoms. Fix the leader, and the business scales.

🐉 Constraints are Your Greatest Leverage

 Your biggest constraint is not a problem—it's the dragon guarding your next treasure. 

The right constraint, once identified and solved, unlocks massive, non-linear growth.

⚖️ Not All Success Has the Same Price

 You can build a company that breaks you, or one that fulfills you. 

Alignment + Clarity = Sustainable Success.

🎯 What showed up:

Estate planning. Cybersecurity. Medical devices. Food distribution. Banking. Fractional sales leadership. IT services. M&A law. Green infrastructure. Urban revitalization. Job search acceleration.

Different industries. Same truth: Every business grows until it hits a constraint, then grows no further.

The magic wasn't in solving everything in one night. 

It was in naming the real constraint out loud - not the sanitized version we tell at networking events, but the 2am version that keeps us up.

Some constraints were about capital. Others about people, partnerships, or positioning. A few were about letting go of what got them here to embrace what gets them there.

🤝 The vulnerability created immediate value: Real partnerships forming. 

Actual introductions being made. Problems being reframed. Resources being shared.

Thank you to Adrian Mendoza and the Mendoza Ventures team for hosting us.

And to everyone who showed up: Marco A. Schiavo , Geoffry Gilton, Joshua Sigsworth, PT, DPT, Dominic Endicott, Jacques Cohen, Maud Dentico, Vasant Narayan, Raffi Yardemian, CSL, Paul Smith, Alex Khalarian, and Sam "Butch" Nigro.

This is what happens when you build community around truth instead of transactions.

The Mastermind dinner happens monthly ( but we are taking a break in December). If you're a founder or executive in Boston or Greater Boston working on something real and willing to get honest about your constraints, let's talk.

We are going to start hosting Metro West dinners as well. More to come.

P.S. - Curious about finding the constraint for your business? Drop a comment or DM.

Most founders don’t fail because they’re lazy.
They fail because their goals are small.

Small goals keep you grinding.
Big goals force you to rebuild the system.

When you raise the target to 10x, everything changes:
your strategy, your thinking, your standards, your circle.

You stop playing in the crowded middle
and start operating where very few people dare to go.

10x isn’t harder.

It’s cleaner. 
It’s clearer. 
It’s smarter.

Stop playing safe. Start playing big.

I learned this lesson the hard way.

I wanted to grow my LinkedIn presence to 100K in a year.
I had 2k followers. 

A few people said that it would take years and that I was unrealistic.

Maybe they would have been right - if I'd believed them

I tried anyway. 
I took a course to learn from others who were ahead of me.
I showed up here every day.
Continuously improved my content (and my mindset)
Hired people to help me.

Did I accomplish my goal?
NO. 

I am still at 72k followers today, a year into that challenge.
But I am still grateful for the results. 

Can you imagine what would have happened if I had played small?
I may be at 15K followers at best. 

And that's the whole point. 

Even if you miss the 10X mark, it beats linear thinking. 

This same principle is why I help founders identify the 7 financial blind spots killing their scale - because small thinking about money keeps you grinding, while 10x financial clarity forces you to rebuild the system.

Want to apply 10x thinking to your finances? 

I've identified the 7 blind spots most founders miss. 

Download the guide; link is in the comments. 

#founder #ceo #growth #scalingup

10X Thinking = 10 X Results

He bought a bankrupt textile factory for $15 million.
Forty years later, Bernard Arnault built a $500B luxury empire.

Most people call that impossible.
I call it vision.

He didn’t invent anything.
He didn’t design a product.
He didn’t chase trends.
He just saw what others couldn’t.

Buried inside that dying company was a forgotten gem: Christian Dior.
Everyone overlooked it.
Arnault didn’t.

He sold everything except Dior.
Bet the house on one iconic brand.
And rebuilt from zero.

Then he made an even crazier move
He went after LVMH.
Louis Vuitton. Moët. Hennessy.
The crown jewels of French luxury.

The elite hated it.
The media mocked it.
It was the most hostile takeover France had ever seen.
Arnault didn’t blink.

He bought the shares quietly.
Took control boldly.
And turned LVMH into a global machine.

One acquisition at a time.
Fendi. Tiffany. Givenchy. Sephora.
Dozens of brands reborn under one ruthless strategy:

Let creators dream.
But keep the business razor sharp.

While tech giants chased disruption…
Arnault chased timelessness.

While others discounted…
He raised value.

In 2023, he became the richest man on Earth.
Quiet. Precise. Unshakeable.
He outplayed every tech titan without writing a single line of code.

Lesson?
You don’t need to invent.
You need to see the hidden gem
And have the courage to bet everything on it.

#entrepreneur #growth #businessstrategy #founder #scalingup

𝗛𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀.
𝗛𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Back in the early 2000s, Jon Oringer wasn’t building empires, he was just trying to find affordable stock photos for his tiny online business.

But what he found instead… was an opportunity.

Stock images back then cost $300+ per photo, a luxury small creators couldn’t afford.

So Jon did something different:

▶ Bought a camera
▶ Took 100 photos a day
▶ Built his own website
▶ Uploaded 30,000 photos
▶ Charged $49/month for unlimited downloads

That’s how Shutterstock was born.

No fancy investors. No marketing team.

Just a subscription model, executed brilliantly.

He wasn’t selling images,
he was selling convenience, freedom, and access.

And the best part?

Every sale cost him nothing to reproduce.Pure passive income.

By the time Shutterstock went public in 2012,
Jon still owned 55% of it.

His net worth crossed $1 billion,
built from a camera, a simple website, and consistency.

That’s not luck.
That’s vision meeting execution.

Because the smartest entrepreneurs don’t wait for an opportunity,
they create it by solving a problem once
and selling the solution over and over again.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧:

Stop chasing “new.”
Find one problem.

Solve it better than anyone else.
Then systemize, scale, and sleep while your solution works for you.

#Entrepreneurship #ceo #BusinessModel #founder #scalingup

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