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Are You a Driver or a Passenger?

Are You a Driver or a Passenger?

by Ian Smith | Nov 8, 2023 | Compelling Stories, Competitive analysis, Saleability Test

As the owner of a private company, are you in charge of your own destiny or are you sitting in the passenger seat? Perhaps you’re tired? Or perhaps you have lost interest in the cause that got you so excited, all those years ago? Whatever the reason it is never too...
How to Get Traction from Your Story

How to Get Traction from Your Story

by Ian Smith | Jun 22, 2011 | Communication, Compelling Stories, Marketing

So you have successfully repositioned your business. You have created a compelling story but how do you bring the message to market, or as we call it in the business world – marketing! Slowly but surely most management teams are waking up to the fact that interruption...

How To Reposition Your Company To Make Money

by Ian Smith | Jun 17, 2011 | Building Business Value, Compelling Stories, Marketing

“Know-how is what separates leaders who perform – who deliver results – from those who don’t” Ram Charan. Downtimes are a great opportunity to reposition your business….To ask yourself – what business am I in? When trading is...

The Magic Years – Revisited

by Ian Smith | Jun 10, 2011 | Building Business Value, Compelling Stories, Strategy

Back in January, I introduced you to the concept of The Magic Years. A period of time when you can really build value in your company. A period of time when your objective is to define and dominate your space. The timing of the Magic Years is decided by you and your...

The Surprising Value of Being the Best in the World

by Ian Smith | Apr 15, 2011 | Being the Best, Compelling Stories, Exiting your business, Management Help, Repositioning

“Our culture celebrates superstars. We reward the product or the song or the organization or the employee that is number one. The rewards are heavily skewed , so much so that it’s typical for #1 to get ten times the benefit of #10, and a hundred times the...

New Strategies You Need to Embrace

by Ian Smith | Feb 25, 2011 | Compelling Stories, Operational Tips, Repositioning, Strategy

As a leader within an SMB or a large public group, reading the latest WSJ or books  from Seth, Bill Taylor, Hugh MacLeod, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson, you might believe the world has changed forever. Add crazy valuations like $60Bn for a social network...
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The Acquirer

  • The Deal Is Being Negotiated Long Before You Discuss Price

    The Deal Is Being Negotiated Long Before You Discuss Price

    November 13, 2026
    Lessons from decades around the negotiating table. Imagine sitting across the table from someone who has spent 30 years building …Read More »
  • Are You Buying Growth — or Buying Complexity?

    Are You Buying Growth — or Buying Complexity?

    November 6, 2026
    Why acquisitions fail—and why the operating model matters more than the deal model. An acquisition can make your business bigger …Read More »
  • Doing More Deals Doesn’t Make You a Better Acquirer

    Doing More Deals Doesn’t Make You a Better Acquirer

    October 30, 2026
    Why the post-mortem may be the most undervalued stage of the acquisition process. The company has completed its tenth acquisition. …Read More »

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