• EP35 Your 1-Page marketing plan, with Allan Dib
    Sep 23 2024

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    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    56 mins
  • EP34 Building a systems lead business with David Jenyns
    Sep 9 2024

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    The conversation explores the importance of systems and processes in businesses, with a focus on the book 'Systemology' by David Jenyns. The main themes include the definition of systems and processes, the ideal businesses for systemization, the role of systems in reducing dependency on individuals, and the starting point for systemization in a business. The conversation also touches on the balance between systemization and creativity, the value of capturing tasks and processes, and the role of a systems champion in larger organizations. In this conversation, Mike Scott and David Jenyns discuss the importance of having a single point of accountability for systemization in a business. They emphasize the need for someone who has the most knowledge about a particular system to be responsible for documenting it. They also discuss the challenge of getting people to follow systems and offer strategies for overcoming resistance. David explains that Systemology is different from other process improvement methodologies because it focuses on capturing and making processes repeatable, rather than improving them. He encourages business owners to fall in love with the results that systems and processes bring to the organization.


    Takeaways

    • Clear and timely reporting on numbers and metrics is essential for businesses.
    • Strong systems and processes can solve reporting problems and reduce dependency on individuals.
    • Systemology is a valuable resource for understanding and implementing effective systems.
    • The definition of systems and processes can vary, but they are interchangeable for the purposes of this discussion.
    • Systemization works best in small to mid-sized businesses with involved business owners.
    • Building a systems-driven culture is important for long-term success.
    • Systems are the most valuable asset in a business, as they are not dependent on individuals.
    • Systemization should aim to create consistent outcomes and cultivate a systems-driven culture.
    • Systemization is not about over-optimization, but about capturing the most probable outcomes.
    • Great talent is important, but businesses should not rely solely on individuals.
    • Systemization can increase the value of a business and reduce risk.
    • The starting point for systemization is to record and capture tasks and processes.
    • Creating a culture of recording and documenting tasks is crucial.
    • In larger organizations, a systems champion can drive the systemization process.
    • The role of a systems champion is to make it easier for team members to document and capture processes. Having a single point of accountability is crucial for successful systemization in a business.
    • The person with the most knowledge about a system should be responsible for documenting it.
    • Resistance to following systems can be overcome by celebrating wins, showcasing successes, and recruiting team members who are receptive to the systems-driven approach.
    • Systemology focuses on capturing and making processes repeatable, rather than improving them.
    • Business owners should fall in love with the results that systems and processes bring to the organization.

    Chapters

    00:00
    Introduction and Common Problems in Businesses

    01:33
    Introduction to Systemology and Guest Introduction

    03:32
    Defining Systems and Processes

    09:13
    Reducing Dependency on Individuals through Systemization

    15:04
    Building a Systems-Driven Culture

    19:19
    Systemization: From Survival to Sellable

    23:15
    Star

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    53 mins
  • EP33 Gaining alignment where it matters
    Aug 26 2024

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    In this conversation, Mike discusses the importance of gaining alignment within organizations and provides practical tools to achieve it. He emphasizes that without alignment, organizations lack clarity and become leaderless, resulting in inefficiency and poor performance. Scott introduces the concept of creating a vision, using the Jim Collins and Jerry Porras framework, to establish core values, purpose, big hairy audacious goals, and vivid descriptions of the desired reality. He also explores the idea of essential intent, where organizations focus on becoming excellent at one thing within a specific timeframe. Additionally, Scott highlights the Stockdale Paradox, which involves acknowledging brutal truths while maintaining a deep conviction that the organization will overcome challenges. He concludes by discussing the importance of constructive conflict and the concept of asking for support rather than agreement.

    Takeaways

    • Alignment is crucial for organizations to achieve clarity and avoid inefficiency and poor performance.
    • Creating a vision, including core values, purpose, big hairy audacious goals, and vivid descriptions, helps establish alignment.
    • The concept of essential intent focuses on becoming excellent at one thing within a specific timeframe.
    • The Stockdale Paradox involves acknowledging brutal truths while maintaining a deep conviction that the organization will overcome challenges.
    • Constructive conflict and asking for support rather than agreement are essential for effective decision-making and alignment.

    Chapters

    00:00
    Introduction and the Need for Alignment

    01:20
    Creating a Vision for Alignment

    04:06
    The Concept of Essential Intent

    07:48
    Embracing the Stockdale Paradox

    12:48
    The Role of Constructive Conflict

    20:55
    Asking for Support, Not Agreement

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    25 mins
  • EP32 Know Your Numbers! With Chris Wheldon.
    Aug 12 2024

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    In this conversation, Mike interviews Chris Wheldon, an investor and entrepreneur, about the importance of understanding and analyzing numbers in small and mid-sized businesses.
    Chris shares his experience in acquiring and investing in businesses and highlights the key metrics he looks at, including cash flow, profit, margin, cost structure, and return on capital. He emphasizes the need for business owners to have a strong grasp of their numbers to make informed decisions and ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
    The conversation also touches on the value of data transparency and the benefits it brings during the acquisition process. Understanding and analyzing financial metrics is crucial for business owners and managers. It is important to measure the inputs that contribute to revenue and profit on a weekly basis, such as sales, marketing, and customer retention metrics. Monthly measurements should focus on understanding sales trends, cost structures, and budgeting for future expenses. Quarterly analysis should provide a full picture of financial performance, including working capital changes and cash flow generation. Annual reviews allow for a deeper understanding of the balance sheet and the true financial profile of the business.
    The key takeaway is that while the numbers are important, they are a reflection of the decisions and actions taken by the business in serving its customers and stakeholders.

    Takeaways.

    • Understanding and analyzing numbers is crucial for small and mid-sized business owners to make informed decisions and ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
    • Key metrics to consider include cash flow, profit, margin, cost structure, and return on capital.
    • Having a strong grasp of numbers allows business owners to negotiate better deals and demand higher prices when selling their businesses.
    • Data transparency and access to high-quality information are indicators of a well-run business and can attract potential investors.
    • Focusing on both input metrics (e.g., lead generation, customer activity) and output metrics (e.g., financial performance) is important for monitoring business performance.
    • Regularly reviewing and analyzing numbers on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis provides a comprehensive view of the business's health and progress. Measure the inputs that contribute to revenue and profit on a weekly basis
    • Monthly measurements should focus on sales trends, cost structures, and budgeting
    • Quarterly analysis provides a full picture of financial performance
    • Annual reviews allow for a deeper understanding of the balance sheet and financial profile
    • The numbers are a reflection of the decisions and actions taken by the business

    Chapters

    00:00
    Introduction of Chris Weldon

    03:04
    Chris's Background and Current Venture

    07:37
    The Problem: Lack of Understanding of Numbers

    13:08
    The Importance of Knowing the Numbers

    15:56
    Key Metrics for Assessing a Business

    22:21
    The Owner's Understanding of Numbers

    24:58
    Metrics to Monitor Weekly

    27:10
    Metrics to Monitor Quarterly

    32:20
    Understanding Sales Trends and Cost Structures

    36:46
    Analyzing Financial Performance Quarterly

    44:04
    Deepening Understanding of the Balance Sheet Annually

    46:08
    The Numbers Reflect Business Decisions and Actions

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    52 mins
  • EP31 Negotiation tools that work
    Jul 29 2024

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    In this conversation, Mike shares practical tips and tools for negotiation. He emphasizes the importance of finding leverage and using it to create a win-win outcome. He discusses the power of anchoring, where starting with a higher price or set of terms can reposition the negotiation in your favor. He also suggests using the phrase 'Is there any flexibility on this?' to negotiate better terms. Lastly, he recommends using the question 'How am I supposed to do that?' to challenge unreasonable requests. These practical techniques can be applied in various negotiation scenarios.

    Takeaways

    • Negotiation is about finding leverage and creating a win-win outcome.
    • Anchoring is a powerful technique where starting with a higher price or set of terms can reposition the negotiation in your favor.
    • Asking 'Is there any flexibility on this?' can lead to better terms in a negotiation.
    • Using the question 'How am I supposed to do that?' can challenge unreasonable requests and shift the negotiation in your favor.


    Chapters

    00:00
    Introduction to Negotiation

    02:33
    Understanding Leverage

    10:56
    The Power of Anchoring

    15:17
    Flexibility

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    22 mins
  • EP30 The three hats you wear as a founder
    Jul 16 2024

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    In this conversation, Mike discusses the three different roles that entrepreneurs play in a small and mid-sized business: shareholder/investor, director, and employee. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and separating these roles to avoid overwhelm and maximize productivity. Scott provides a delegation framework, the 70% rule, and introduces the Eisenhower matrix as tools to prioritize tasks and focus on high-value activities. He also encourages entrepreneurs to determine the value of their time and delegate tasks that can be done at least 70% as well by someone else.

    Takeaways

    Entrepreneurs in small and mid-sized businesses play three different roles: shareholder/investor, director, and employee.
    Understanding and separating these roles is crucial to avoid overwhelm and maximize productivity.
    The 70% rule can help entrepreneurs determine which tasks to delegate by asking if someone else can do it at least 70% as well.
    The Eisenhower matrix is a useful tool for prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance.
    Entrepreneurs should determine the value of their time and focus on high-value activities.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction
    08:08 Shareholder/Investor Role
    14:15 Director Role
    19:23 Determining the Value of Your Time
    25:32 Delegating and Prioritizing Tasks
    28:07 Conclusion

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    29 mins
  • EP29 Who should be on your leadership team?
    Jul 3 2024

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    In this episode, Mike discusses who should be on a leadership team. He emphasises the importance of a strong and disciplined meeting rhythm, including annual planning, quarterly planning, weekly leadership team meetings, and daily huddles.
    He breaks down the primary functions of a business into operations, sales and marketing, and finance, and explains that the heads of these functions should be part of the leadership team. Mike also advises framing the invitation to join the leadership team as an experiment to allow for flexibility and evaluation.

    Takeaways
    A strong and disciplined meeting rhythm is crucial for a leadership team.
    The heads of the primary functions of a business should be part of the leadership team.
    Inviting team members to join the leadership team as an experiment allows for flexibility and evaluation.
    Investing in developing leaders within the organization is essential for scaling and reducing reliance on the founder.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction

    02:05 Identifying the Primary Functions of the Business

    04:03 Determining Who Should Be on the Leadership Team

    05:48 Bringing Team Members into the Leadership Team

    08:41 Inviting Team Members as an Experiment

    09:39 Investing in Developing Leaders

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    12 mins
  • EP28 Creating and Using a Company Scorecard
    Jun 19 2024

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    In this episode, Mike discusses the importance of creating a company scoreboard or scorecard to increase accountability, improve data quality, and drive results.
    He emphasises the need for a clear artifact that defines what winning looks like and what needs to be done to achieve it. Mike explains the difference between leading indicators and lagging indicators and focuses on the former for the scorecard. He provides examples of leading indicators such as revenue, profit, LinkedIn posts, podcast episodes recorded, in-person meetings with leads, new referrals, cash runway, and employee and client satisfaction scores. Mike outlines the process of creating and using the scorecard, including assigning accountability, setting targets, and conducting weekly scorecard reviews.

    Takeaways
    Creating a company scoreboard or scorecard helps increase accountability and drive results.
    The scorecard should focus on leading indicators, which are metrics that can be influenced and impact future results.
    Examples of leading indicators include revenue, profit, LinkedIn posts, podcast episodes, in-person meetings, new referrals, cash runway, and employee and client satisfaction scores.
    The scorecard should have a small set of metrics, ideally between 5 to 15, that are critical to the business.
    The scorecard should be reviewed weekly in a leadership team meeting, with a focus on accountability and action plans to address any metrics that are off track.

    Chapters

    00:00 Creating a Company Scoreboard
    06:23 Focusing on Leading Indicators
    09:47 Examples of Leading Indicators
    12:10 Keeping the Scorecard Simple
    15:32 Reviewing the Scorecard Weekly

    Find out more about working with me. mike@smbmastery.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/

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    25 mins