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TPP OPERATING MODEL™

TPP OPERATING MODEL™

by Ian Smith | Sep 30, 2025 | Operational Blueprints, Operational Excellence, Operations For Exit, Scaling

As the owner/CEO of a private company we understand that scaling a business is hard. And everyone has a solution. Articles, blog posts, Private Equity models, Entrepreneurs’ Operating System (EOS) and more. LinkedIn is packed with the latest and greatest tricks...
That’s Not The Right Question

That’s Not The Right Question

by Ian Smith | Jan 31, 2024 | Execution Tips, Leadership, Operational Alignment, Operational Blueprints, Scaling

One of the best dialogues in the latest season of True Detective is when Jodie Foster, as Police Chief Liz Danvers says, “you’re asking the wrong question”! As the owner and CEO of your growing business, you will have many challenges in front of you. To solve these...
Scaling Private Companies – Challenges & Solutions 2000 to 2023

Scaling Private Companies – Challenges & Solutions 2000 to 2023

by Ian Smith | Aug 9, 2023 | Execution Tips, Exiting your business, Family Business, Grooming For Sale, Operational Blueprints, Positioning drives growth, Scaling

As an investment banker in London 23 years ago I wish I knew The Portfolio Partnership (TPP)! I would have said to many clients – you’re not ready for sale. You’re not ready for prime time. You need to scale to the next level to ensure that you and...
Operational Actions that Transform Value – Time Required 2 years

Operational Actions that Transform Value – Time Required 2 years

by Ian Smith | May 25, 2023 | Grooming For Sale, How To Build Shareholder Value, Operational Blueprints, Operational Tips

It’s very tempting to compare the buying and selling of houses with businesses. Be careful. For example, buying another business is like buying a house but only if you include the family inside it! Selling a business is similar to selling a house in some ways, such as...
Scaling Businesses Using Projects – 6 Step Tool

Scaling Businesses Using Projects – 6 Step Tool

by Ian Smith | Jul 19, 2016 | Execution Tips, Operational Blueprints, Problem Solving, Scaling

The biggest barrier to scaling a business is often the culture. Bad culture allows silo-thinking to dominate. Smart, successful cultures let dynamic, multi-departmental projects be defined and executed in a spirit of collaboration. Egos minimized. Results are key....
Problem Solving Playbook – A 6 Step Tool

Problem Solving Playbook – A 6 Step Tool

by Ian Smith | Feb 9, 2016 | Operational Blueprints, Operational Tips, Problem Solving

Last year at The Portfolio Partnership we embedded our operational playbooks across many sectors, to scale our clients. The most common symptom across all clients? Handing operational problems correctly to get them solved. Yes key operational blueprints regarding...
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The Acquirer

  • Valuation Myth

    Valuation Myth

    April 8, 2026
    Valuation models are useless unless they are buyer specific! Let’s look at the ingredients of most CPA type valuation models. …Read More »
  • Trigger Points

    Trigger Points

    March 31, 2026
    As the CFO of a lower middle market business with say Revenue in the $50m to $250m, what are your …Read More »
  • Simplify Your Thinking

    Simplify Your Thinking

    March 6, 2026
    As we scale our portfolio companies the thought of Simplicity vs Complexity came to mind this week. Entrepreneurs, private company …Read More »

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