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5 Lessons Josh Delaney Learned in Building a $25.8 Million Business in 4 Years

January 4, 2022

The word “optionality” comes up a lot these days, and you may wonder what exactly it means. In the context of business building, optionality is creating a company where you have lots of different avenues for reaching your goal(s).

Having optionality is the opposite of putting all of your eggs in one basket and is a common vein that runs through all of the value drivers we measure over at The Value Builder System™.

How to Bootstrap Your Business into a Valuable Company

December 21, 2021

If you sell a service, my guess is you’ve fantasized about owning a product company.

Service companies often trade at low multiples because their biggest asset is usually the people, who are free to leave at any time. This means service businesses typically trade at low single-digit multiples and are often limited by the number of hours in the day.

How to Keep Employees Happy

December 14, 2021

Have you ever considered sharing equity with key employees? Making employees owners can help you create alignment and act as a hook to keep people around, but it may not be necessary or even desirable, as Nick Leighton found out the hard way.

Less Thinking, More Doing

December 7, 2021

Are you ever approached by people wanting your advice on how to start a business? They see you running a successful company and think, “Wow, I’d like to do that.”

Their only stumbling block is that they don’t have an “idea” for a business. They refer to an idea like it’s this mythical creature that comes along every thousand years. They mix up the role of inventor with that of entrepreneur. They spend months thinking about starting a business but never get around to pulling the trigger. They blame their inaction on their lack of an idea.

Yet the idea is the easy part.

The Downside of Being a “One-Stop Shop”

November 30, 2021

Before Jeff Bezos & Co. blew up traditional distribution channels, there was some value in being the local “guy” or “gal.” Being the local product retailer was a good business, and being a regional distributor of a popular line could make you a mint.

Those days are almost over.

One Personality Trait Most Successful Entrepreneurs Share

November 23, 2021

Survey a group of founders about the personality traits that made them successful, and they will be quick to use words like determination, sacrifice, and hard work. Others will show more humility and chalk their success up to personality traits like curiosity. Still, others will credit dumb luck.

However, I believe there is another personality trait that many of the most successful founders have in common…

The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Turning a Service Into a Product

November 9, 2021

Turning a service business into a product or software company can be tempting. While a typical consulting company may trade at a modest multiple of EBITDA, a fast-growing software company with sticky subscribers could sell at a double-digit multiple of revenue.

The difference is hard to ignore.

The Downside of “Foxhole Leadership”

November 2, 2021

Basketball coach Don Meyer is famous for something he calls “The Foxhole Test.” He encourages players to imagine themselves in a life-or-death battle and asks them to pick the teammates they would want in the trenches with them. The test is designed to break down the inevitable cliques and friendships that evolve on a team and identify the true leaders that players trust with their lives.

Foxhole leaders are often known for getting in the trenches with their teams. They typically lead by example and never delegate a task they are unwilling to do themselves. As a result, Foxhole Leadership produces disciples willing to do just about anything for their leader.

3 Ways to Make Your Business Turnkey

October 26, 2021

In the real estate business, agents refer to a home that has been renovated recently as “turnkey.” A buyer can turn the key on the front door and start enjoying the home immediately. Equally, a turnkey house is one that can be rented out without much fuss, making it a valuable asset to the real estate investor.

Run Your Business Like You’re Going on Maternity (or Paternity) Leave

October 12, 2021

How well does your company run when you don’t show up for work? The answer to this question has a

Why Your Employees Don’t Get It

September 3, 2021

Do you ever find yourself so frustrated with your employees it causes you to step in and do their jobs?
You realize that it will take much longer to train them to do something than it would for you to do it yourself, so you ask them to step aside and take over.

Why Service Businesses Are Less Valuable (And What To Do About It)

August 13, 2021

Why are service businesses often less valuable than companies that sell products? The answer comes down to how well your

It looks like there is no more content available.

5 Lessons Josh Delaney Learned in Building a $25.8 Million Business in 4 Years

January 4, 2022 No Comments

The word “optionality” comes up a lot these days, and you may wonder what exactly it means. In the context of business building, optionality is creating a company where you have lots of different avenues for reaching your goal(s).

Having optionality is the opposite of putting all of your eggs in one basket and is a common vein that runs through all of the value drivers we measure over at The Value Builder System™.

How to Bootstrap Your Business into a Valuable Company

December 21, 2021 No Comments

If you sell a service, my guess is you’ve fantasized about owning a product company.

Service companies often trade at low multiples because their biggest asset is usually the people, who are free to leave at any time. This means service businesses typically trade at low single-digit multiples and are often limited by the number of hours in the day.

How to Keep Employees Happy

December 14, 2021 No Comments

Have you ever considered sharing equity with key employees? Making employees owners can help you create alignment and act as a hook to keep people around, but it may not be necessary or even desirable, as Nick Leighton found out the hard way.

Less Thinking, More Doing

December 7, 2021 No Comments

Are you ever approached by people wanting your advice on how to start a business? They see you running a successful company and think, “Wow, I’d like to do that.”

Their only stumbling block is that they don’t have an “idea” for a business. They refer to an idea like it’s this mythical creature that comes along every thousand years. They mix up the role of inventor with that of entrepreneur. They spend months thinking about starting a business but never get around to pulling the trigger. They blame their inaction on their lack of an idea.

Yet the idea is the easy part.

The Downside of Being a “One-Stop Shop”

November 30, 2021 No Comments

Before Jeff Bezos & Co. blew up traditional distribution channels, there was some value in being the local “guy” or “gal.” Being the local product retailer was a good business, and being a regional distributor of a popular line could make you a mint.

Those days are almost over.

One Personality Trait Most Successful Entrepreneurs Share

November 23, 2021 No Comments

Survey a group of founders about the personality traits that made them successful, and they will be quick to use words like determination, sacrifice, and hard work. Others will show more humility and chalk their success up to personality traits like curiosity. Still, others will credit dumb luck.

However, I believe there is another personality trait that many of the most successful founders have in common…

The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Turning a Service Into a Product

November 9, 2021 No Comments

Turning a service business into a product or software company can be tempting. While a typical consulting company may trade at a modest multiple of EBITDA, a fast-growing software company with sticky subscribers could sell at a double-digit multiple of revenue.

The difference is hard to ignore.

The Downside of “Foxhole Leadership”

November 2, 2021 No Comments

Basketball coach Don Meyer is famous for something he calls “The Foxhole Test.” He encourages players to imagine themselves in a life-or-death battle and asks them to pick the teammates they would want in the trenches with them. The test is designed to break down the inevitable cliques and friendships that evolve on a team and identify the true leaders that players trust with their lives.

Foxhole leaders are often known for getting in the trenches with their teams. They typically lead by example and never delegate a task they are unwilling to do themselves. As a result, Foxhole Leadership produces disciples willing to do just about anything for their leader.

3 Ways to Make Your Business Turnkey

October 26, 2021 No Comments

In the real estate business, agents refer to a home that has been renovated recently as “turnkey.” A buyer can turn the key on the front door and start enjoying the home immediately. Equally, a turnkey house is one that can be rented out without much fuss, making it a valuable asset to the real estate investor.

Run Your Business Like You’re Going on Maternity (or Paternity) Leave

October 12, 2021 No Comments

How well does your company run when you don’t show up for work? The answer to this question has a

Why Your Employees Don’t Get It

September 3, 2021 No Comments

Do you ever find yourself so frustrated with your employees it causes you to step in and do their jobs?
You realize that it will take much longer to train them to do something than it would for you to do it yourself, so you ask them to step aside and take over.

Why Service Businesses Are Less Valuable (And What To Do About It)

August 13, 2021 No Comments

Why are service businesses often less valuable than companies that sell products? The answer comes down to how well your

It looks like there is no more content available.

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