At GPS, we have built our referral program around a simple idea: the people who are closest to business owners should be rewarded in ways that actually mean something to them. _________________________ Not only a check or gift card. We are talking about all-expenses-paid golf trips to Pebble Beach, Riviera Maya, or other Ambassador destinations. … Read more »
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From $11M to $20M: A Real Deal Story About What Preparation Actually Looks Like
Most business owners believe their company will sell itself when the time comes. The product is strong, the customers keep coming back, and revenue has been growing for years. What more could a buyer want? __________________________________ The answer, as one of our clients discovered, is quite a lot more. This is the story of how… Read more »
The Business Owner’s Guide to Not Getting Robbed at Closing
The same traits that made you a great owner may be quietly destroying your sale price. Here’s what buyers actually see – and what to do about it. ✦ ✦ ✦ Nobody tells you this when you’re building your business. There’s no chapter in the entrepreneurship books about it, no mentor who pulls you aside… Read more »
Most Business Owners Have No Idea What Their Company Is Worth
They have a rough idea. A ballpark figure. And it’s costing them millions at the closing table. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Fifteen years. That’s how long the average private business owner spends building before they ever seriously think about selling. Fifteen years of early mornings, missed weekends, payroll stress, and the slow grind of turning an idea into… Read more »
When Should You Start Prepping for a Sale?
One of the most common questions I hear from owners is: “How long before I sell should I start preparing?” My answer – one that surprises most people – is simple: If you plan to sell any time in the next 1–10 years, you should begin preparing now. That might sound early. But the reality… Read more »
Alignment or Bust
A few months ago, we worked with a company that had all the right ingredients – great people, plentiful clients, and a team that genuinely cared. But they couldn’t seem to grow beyond a certain point: Staff didn’t trust ownership. Profit margins were razor-thin. Quality control was slipping. And tension lingered just beneath the surface…. Read more »
How GPS Doubles The Value of Every Client
GPS guides engineering firm owners through a simple but proven process: fix the people systems, grow with intention, and Double Your Value. When I first began working exclusively with engineering firms in the fall of 2001, most of our work focused on helping fast-growing firms scale through organic growth and acquisitions. Over time, I discovered… Read more »
Leadership Isn’t a Cookie-Cutter Process
Leadership Isn’t a Cookie-Cutter Process If you manage multiple people, here’s one truth you can’t afford to ignore: leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all role. Every person on your team is an individual…with unique strengths, weaknesses, ambitions, wants, and desires. And if you truly want to lead effectively, you can’t treat them all exactly the same. In… Read more »
Trust and Fair: The Two Words That Make Great Leaders
Trust and Fair: The Two Words That Make Great Leaders When I coach leaders or work with executive teams, I often find that most leadership challenges boil down to two simple—but powerful—words: trust and fair. Start with Trust From a top-down leadership perspective, trust is foundational. So I ask leaders this: Do you truly trust… Read more »
Stop Pitching Fluff: The Real Purpose of Your USP
Most business owners have been through some version of the “define your Unique Selling Proposition” exercise. And most of them miss the point entirely. They brainstorm big ideas, workshop language, and eventually land on something polished, customer-focused, and often… completely useless. Here’s the truth: your clients don’t care about your USP. Not the way you… Read more »