Measurable Results Tied to Original Goals

“Reporting of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) became a real thing instead of a chore. Creating a safe place for my leadership team allowed them to be vulnerable and improve communication. By committing to the strategic planning and goal planning processes, we were able to start what is a never-ending journey to great results.”

Surprising and Unexpected Results

“We discovered the need to raise our prices. It happened because of Paul’s coaching. He said, ‘Let’s discuss what your value proposition means by taking into account your cost and the perceived value of your services to your customers.’ We were able to execute a thirty percent price increase while maintaining our goal to grow by twenty-five percent per year. This means better customers and better margins. Our sales team loves our new selling proposition, which focuses on the value of what we offer and less on the worth of what we do. We brought in a financial director to help us organize our financials and help with goals. Culture wise, we’ve been able to refine our purpose and vision while adhering to our core values. By establishing these things, we’ve been able to grow our team by adding more amazing people. During the organizational chart exercise, it was clear I needed a full-time executive assistant, which I hired.”

How I Have Improved as a Leader

“I’ve made space for the things that matter, and by making space, I freed up a lot of room for others on my team to become leaders in their own right. It takes repeated, concerted effort to adapt and implement strategic planning.”

Some Future Goals

“I’d like to identify and split out the COO function from my CEO responsibilities and be able to pay for it!”

Challenges that Lie Ahead

“First is prioritizing resources and energy. We decided to launch a couple pieces of proprietary software, which takes a lot of time and resources. At times, we have space challenges and cash flow issues. Next, we need to find and hire great people who can and want to support our strategic goals. Finally, we need to keep our team engaged and able to fund tangible rewards.”

Paul’s Advice to Business Leaders

“It’s never what you thought it was going to be, and if you allow that level of flexibility, innovation comes easy. Never be afraid to examine and challenge what you think you know as a belief. You may need to change it. Oh, and stop working on Fridays and weekends.” 