“Well, Mr. Collins, according to GAAS…” That’s how an auditor tried to shut down a conversation with a client last year. We recognized the intent immediately. His quoting a standard wasn't meant to clarify or add value. Rather, it was a move to end the conversation, keeping questions and input at arm’s length. And in […]
Jordan and Pippen. Brady and Gronk. Lasso and Beard. The greatest leaders don’t go it alone. They find the right partner. The kind who understands their rhythm. Finishes their sentences. And, knows when to say, "Not yet." And, in business, that partner is often your CFO. But, not just any CFO. At a certain level, […]
They walked into the budget meeting with a request for five new positions—and another $450,000 of annual payroll burden. More AP staff. More AR staff. More staff accountants. The justification? The team was "buried" and needed help. But as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that the issue wasn’t bandwidth. It was structure. Process. Systems. […]
“Have you ever been asked to… do something… wrong?” the new, inexperienced CFO asked. I smiled. “Of course.” Let’s talk about the quiet moments—the ones that don’t make it into highlight reels or polished company updates. Not the public win.Not the press release.Not the successful raise or the high-profile client win. The moments that matter […]
“He's been here since he graduated. He helped us build this thing. I just don’t understand how we got here.” That’s what the CEO said—quietly, after a long meeting. The executive in question wasn’t just a hire. He was a foundational member of the team. Loyal. Hardworking. Deeply invested. For years, he showed up, figured […]
We’ve all heard it before: you can’t outrun a bad diet. No matter how many spin classes you sweat through, if you’re pounding milkshakes and mozzarella sticks like it's your full-time job, you’re not going to see real progress. And guess what?Business works the same way. Everyone loves to talk about revenue.Revenue feels exciting. It […]
There are few things that erode trust faster between a business owner and their strategic partner than the dreaded hourly invoice. You know the kind —Surprise charges for vague line items like: "Thought about strategies for cash flow improvement (0.75 hrs)" "Internal discussion on possible client initiatives (1.0 hr)" As a business owner myself, I […]
You’ve seen it before. That certain kind of swagger. The over-the-top confidence. The loud declarations of growth: “We’re doing $100 million this year.”“We just signed a $25 million deal.”“We're the fastest-growing in our space.” Let’s call it what it is: Big Revenue Energy. You know the type. A lot of top-line bravado, with very little […]
Entrepreneurs are built differently. They start with nothing—no playbook, no guarantees, no safety net—and they build something. Through hustle. Grit. And, intuition. They take an idea and will it into a real business. But somewhere between $5M and $50M, everything changes. The systems that worked? Stop working.The instincts that got the business this far? Start […]
Everyone loves a big transaction. The revenue. The market share. And, of course, the press releases. But, closing the deal is just the beginning. And, a successful acquisition isn’t just about getting the deal done—it’s about seamlessly integrating operations, teams, and financial systems to ensure long-term success. So many business owners underestimate this critical […]
