How Does This Work?
Together, we will define your business and personal goals. Then we’ll map out strategy and tactics, and you’ll begin implementation. I’ll stay close at hand, so we can alter our plan as your path unfolds.
Aim
Together, we will define your goals. I’ll be asking you in several different ways to define success, in your own terms. We need to know where we’re headed, and we need a way to recognize when we’ve arrived.
As you can probably understand, my experience is that personal background and personal issues… dramatically influence business success, both positively and negatively. So we can’t define your business goals without understanding your personal goals.
We won’t dive into “therapy” — but we will look to see where your personal goals for yourself and your family intersect with your professional aspirations. We’ll look for alignment and what makes you truly “happy”.
To do this, we’ll use a suite of structured tools that I’ve developed for entrepreneurs and busy executives — tools that leverage the insights of people smarter than me. Our tools tap the pragmatic aspect of research in behavioral economics, social science and even a touch of psychology and philosophy.
Why?
My job is to help you achieve your dreams. As obvious as it may seem, I can’t do this effectively unless you can tell me precisely what you want — and most people can’t. So we need to define your specific and personal goals. Don’t worry, I’ve got some tools we can use.
Using The Tools
Using the tools, we’ll run through a series of exercises in our initial meetings — a total of perhaps 4 to 8 hours together. You’ll do most of the work, and then you’ll own the results. Which we’ll use the results again in the coming months.
You can get a sense of what its like to use one of the tools in this article in the content section of this website.
Schedule
After an intense but brief period of defining what you think you want, we’ll quickly move to a pragmatic schedule of weekly meetings.
Most of my clients have found that weekly one-hour meetings are “about right” for keeping me informed about their progress, and for creating the space to discuss potential strategies. Meeting less often than weekly means that we’ll spend our valuable meeting time “catching up” — which leaves precious little time for proactive strategy and the occasional review of specific tactics.
Of course, “life happens”. I’m available to you on short notice, for unscheduled meetings and conversations. The founder, CEO, and sole adventurer is a lonely position. You’ll want an on-call partner. I understand.
Your Board of Directors
Most of my clients institute a monthly or quarterly schedule of “Board Meetings” with me, in advance of the real thing.
It may come as a surprise that real Board meetings are not a “review” of the founder’s performance; they are not a fascimile for a an annual job review — oh, that they were.
In fact, specific feedback on the founder’s performance and accomplishments is usually nowhere in the agenda. No, Board Meetings have a very different purpose — and they are worth holding, and worth preparing for, for the priceless value they can provide. One way to prepare is to hold proforma Board Meetings before you need them. Which is why most of my clients institute periodic “Board Meetings” with me.
Leveraging board members and advisors is a skill that can be acquired, and essential to success.
One More Thing…
I’m not your boss, I don’t even set your goals (you do) but I provide structure to restore order in the executive’s constant storm of interruptions and opportunities. Despite my candor, this only works if you set the goals.
When Does This End?
We will have identified your goals in our early work, and when we reach those goals, we’ll re-evaluate my role as your coach. Some clients continue on an on-call basis, others meet regularly but less frequently.
I may even ask you if you can transition to a less frequent schedule, in order to make room for a new client. I generally keep my active client roster to about 15 people.
And What Do I Want?
I choose my clients based on several factors, including important characteristics such as: integrity, intelligence, and passion.
Above all, an ongoing sense of curiosity and an intention to be mindful.
I do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, geography, or industry. In fact, the more varied, the better. After all, I’ve got an incurable case of curiosity myself.