The Agile Scaleup

Power of Handles; Alondra’s Music; Jobs’ Seat; Dec 5 - 8

Stop fighting me on this!
                                 Elon Musk re: Tesla door handles

Design is the fundamental soul of a man-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers.
                                 Steve Jobs re: Mac’s handle

CEO Boot Camps -- Canary Islands and The Keys, FL
Join me for some fun in the sun – and 3 intense days and nights of designing a highly valuable business. We just hosted L Catterton ($40 billion fund); one of their $300+ million portfolio firms; a $400 million compounding pharmacy; an Aussie with a chain of gyms; a structural architectural concrete firm; an IT firm providing Amazon-like e-commerce services for B2B firms; etc. in Lake Tahoe. If you have a growth mindset, no matter the size firm, please join me for two newly listed CEO Boot Camps in Marathon, FL Dec 5 –and the Canary Islands Jan 9 – 12.

Tesla and Apple – Role of Design 
I continue to enjoy Elon Musk’s biography by Walter Isaacson – I hope you read and absorb all the lessons, good and bad! Today I’m reading about the importance of design. Notes Isaacson, commenting on the role of design as articulated by Steve Jobs and chief designer Jony Ive:

…design is not just about aesthetics; true industrial design must connect the looks of a product to its engineering. “In most people’s vocabularies, design means veneer,” Jobs once explained. “Nothing could be further from the meaning of design. Design is the fundamental soul of a man-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers.”

Tesla and Apple – Recessed Handles
Isaacson continues:

When Jony Ive conceived the candy-colored, friendly iMac in 1998, he included a recessed handle. It was not very functional, because the iMac was a desktop computer that was not meant to be carried around. But it sent a signal of friendliness. “If there’s this handle on it, it makes a relationship possible,” Ive explained. “It’s approachable. It gives you permission to touch.”

Likewise, Tesla designer von Holzhausen sketched a way to do door handles that were flush with the car and popped out and lit up like a happy handshake when the driver approached with a key. It did not add any great functionality. A regular extruding door handle would work just as well. But Musk immediately embraced the idea. It would send a chirpy signal of friendliness. “The handle senses your approach, lights up, pops out to greet you, and it’s magical,” he says.

Engineers and Production Fought Musk
Yet, as Isaacson notes:

The engineers and production teams fought the idea. There was little space inside the door for the mechanisms, which would have to work thousands of times in various weather conditions. One of the engineers flung back at Musk one of his favorite words: “stupid.”

But Musk persisted. “Stop fighting me on this,” he ordered. It ended up being a signature feature of the cars, one that sealed an emotional bond with the owner. Where would thoughtful design of proposals, invoices, products, and services provide a signature feature that seals an emotional bond with your customers?

Provoking, Iconic, Covetable Design -- Keilhauer
Steve Jobs sat in one; Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and Barack Obama sat in one; as does Steve Kearley, co-founder of the EO Plus chapter (members over $20 million in revenue) of EO Toronto. This Azure magazine article details how the Keilhauer brothers have scaled one of the most recognized office furniture designers in the world. I keynoted Kearley’s EO Plus Chapter meeting a few weeks ago (topic: Pricing and Compensation) and met the other co-founder of the chapter Steve Keilhauer who shared photos of well-known people enjoying his furniture designs including the late Steve Jobs. Keilhauer’s Canadian-made chairs also adorn the US White House’s situation room. Seems critical decisions are best made in a Keilhauer!

Designing Strategy
Referencing McKinsey’s latest podcast on the role of a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Fortune 500 firms, the CEO of mid-market firms is the default CSO. Like Musk and Jobs, as CEO you’re the Strategist (vs. the egotistical “visionary” term). This is where a Scaling Up Coach is critical as you prepare your strategy for the 4^th qtr. and 2024. This 1-minute video by Kevin O’Connor who helped scale a firm to its exit at 14x earnings details how you can leverage a coach to support your leadership team with strategy.

Leadership Design Personified -- Alondra de la Parra
This 1-minute video personifies design, passion, imagination, and energy – and the role an orchestrator (vs. stale “integrator”) plays in assembling an A-Player team and designing beautiful music in a beautiful way. Alondra de la Parra is one of 8 women conductors listed among the 100 top conductors who connect orchestras and audiences in a unique way. For an additional 10 minutes of her magic, watch her orchestrate Bolero. And for an inspiring portrait of her life, enjoy this 52-minute documentary. This is what great leadership looks and feels like! Thank you to Mitchel Faulkes, Décor Systems in Australia, for turning me on to her.

Strategist and Orchestrator
Pairing a Strategist with an Orchestrator is a powerful combination!! Score a beautiful sheet of music then orchestrate it’s delivery to the world.

Order a box of 20 Scaling Up and Mastering the Rockefeller Habits books
Want to save 50% over the price on Amazon? Get the box of 20 Scaling Up books here and the box of 20 MRH books here for less!

Planning to Exit – Critical Whitepaper
Selling your firm, for its maximum value, is the most important negotiation in which a business owner will participate. You are typically negotiating with sophisticated buyers who have done hundreds of acquisitions whereas this is often your first rodeo. And these buyers have a formula for ripping you off – and it works, stealing tens of millions from you. Seeking help, owners discover the big M&A firms, especially those specializing in your industry, are more beholden to the buyers than the sellers (they will tell you otherwise). Email me to get a whitepaper on how to maximize your valuation and avoid the psychological games buyers play [email protected].

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive workshops to optimize your company’s performance.
(list of workshops below)

Brisbane, Australia – Oct 4, 2023 (In-Person)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 9, 10 & 11, 2023 (3 Day Workshop - In Person)
Toronto, Canada - Oct 12, 2023 (Virtual)
Madrid, Spain – Oct 16, 2023 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Oct 17, 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Oct 25, 2023 (In-Person)
Nashville, TN – Oct 26, 2023 (Virtual)
Denver, CO - Oct 30, 2023 (Virtual)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 2, 2023 (In-Person)
Hong Kong / Beijing / Singapore – Nov 8, 2023 (Virtual)
Nashville, TN – Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Wellington, NZ – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Grand Rapids, MI – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia - Nov 14, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Nov 15, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
London, UK – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
Perth, Australia – Nov 29. 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Dec 6, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Dec 7, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – March 11, 2024 (In-Person)
Christchurch, NZ – May 30, 2024 (In-Person)

Better Book Club –
What's your team reading? Increase your books read per team member. Easy, Proven, and in the Cloud at http://www.BetterBookClub.com.

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard Integrated with Salesforce, Slack, and Zapier (allowing it to connect with 1000s of systems), use Scoreboard to provide your team (working remotely even more important!) a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Growth Institute Online Executive Education:
Master of Business Dynamics
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Exponential Organizations Master Business Course
Topgrading Master Business Course

COACHING:  
Does it feel as if your business has hit a wall? If you don't see a clear path forward, it's a good time to bring in a coach.  All of our Scaling Up Certified Coaches™ are masters at guiding you and your leadership team through the implementation of the Scaling Up Performance. Our promise is a custom diagnostic approach from Day 1, including how we match you with a coach. We even have a team member dedicated to helping you find the perfect Scaling Up Certified Coach.™ Schedule a complimentary, personal follow-up. Or check out our FAQs. Additional questions can be sent to [email protected]

Have you considered becoming a Certified Scaling Up Coach?
Learn more about what it takes to certify and what being a coach is like. Pop into our Coach Office Hours to talk with our coach certification coordinator and a certified Scaling Up Coach. Learn More & Register for Office Hours here >

Did you miss previous insights? - read here

Follow Verne on Instagram: @scalingup2.0

Connect with Verne on LinkedIn: Verne Harnish

Follow Verne on Twitter: @agilescaleup

Read Verne's Insights on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SX13YI

Sign up for Verne's Weekly Insights  

*This email newsletter may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

#1 CEO Job; Orchestrator vs. Integrator; Marshall Goldsmith Sept 27 Webinar

There are no longer swim lanes. There’s one road map, and no one ships anything unless it’s on the roadmap.
                                 Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO

Expectations are the source of all suffering.
                                 Buddha

Developing Yourself and Others w/Marshall Goldsmith - Sep 27th, 2PM ET
Want to be a better human and a top-notch leader? Marshall Goldsmith, a leading executive coach globally, has got the insights you need. In a straightforward and accessible way, he'll share practical strategies that bring joy and effectiveness to your leadership style. Join us on Tuesday, September 27th @ 2 PM ET to learn how to enrich not only your career but your daily life. Don’t miss out on transforming your approach to leadership and life. Sign up here: https://hubs.li/Q022RKQH0

Brian Chesky Eliminated Fiefdoms and Re-Engaged
Coming off its first profitable year, this Fortune article details how Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky took a page from Steve Jobs’ turnaround of Apple and has eliminated all divisions and fiefdoms. Notes Fortune:

Instead of giving people “different priorities,” he (Chesky) explained, the top 30 people in the company “work on everything together. We’re not gonna do anything we cannot personally focus on. So if I can’t personally focus on it, we won’t do it. And that means instead of pushing decision-making down, I pull it in.”

He noted he was not advocating for a CEO to become a tyrant. “I’m not there to micromanage as much as I’m there as an orchestra conductor to make sure it plays one cohesive sound,” he said. 

Please take 2 minutes to read this insightful article. It’s time to simplify strategy and focus on one thing for 2024!

CEO Owns Strategy, Period
The CEO is the strategist (vision being a part of strategy, but don’t call yourself a visionary – that’s creepy) – that’s what Chesky is representing. You can’t have multiple strategies running through your firm. It must be one cohesive plan – and it’s decided by the CEO, period! Everyone can weigh in – and it’s especially important that the CEO immerses themselves in the market – but the final decision is not made by a committee. Chesky spent six months on the road living and working from Airbnbs, discovering the ONE thing they needed to change to propel the company forward, which he did. As a result, Airbnb has seen its revenue grow to the point that they have joined the Fortune 500.

Orchestrator vs. Integrator
And I love that Chesky used the orchestra conductor analogy. Like most of what our competitors teach (swim lanes, integrators, etc.), it’s outdated language and imagery from the last century. What your firm needs is a Strategist and Orchestrator – someone to set the overall strategy and then a conductor to assemble the A-Players, set the tone and rhythm, and orchestrate some beautiful music with everyone on the same sheet of music – on the same page. Google the images of Orchestrator and Integrator and see which ones resonate with you – I did and here are the first images that came up. Which represents what you want to convey? Language matters – give it serious thought.

  

ChatGPT Better Ideator Than MBA Students
This Wharton paper details how ChatGPT outperformed MBA students at this elite school when it came to ideation. In summary:

ChatGPT-4 can generate ideas much faster and cheaper than students, the ideas are on average of higher quality (as measured by purchase-intent surveys) and exhibit higher variance in quality. More importantly, the vast majority of the best ideas in the pooled sample are generated by ChatGPT and not by the students.

Innovation is the #1 driver of valuation. Put ChatGPT to work for you.



Order a box of 20 Scaling Up and Mastering the Rockefeller Habits books
Want to save 50% over the price on Amazon? Get the box of 20 Scaling Up books here and the box of 20 MRH books here for less!

Have you considered becoming a Certified Scaling Up Coach?
Learn more about what it takes to certify and what being a coach is like. Pop into our Coach Office Hours to talk with our coach certification coordinator and a certified Scaling Up Coach. Learn More & Register for Office Hours here >

Planning to Exit – Critical Whitepaper
Selling your firm, for its maximum value, is the most important negotiation in which a business owner will participate. You are typically negotiating with sophisticated buyers who have done hundreds of acquisitions whereas this is often your first rodeo. And these buyers have a formula for ripping you off – and it works, stealing tens of millions from you. Seeking help, owners discover the big M&A firms, especially those specializing in your industry, are more beholden to the buyers than the sellers (they will tell you otherwise). Email me to get a whitepaper on how to maximize your valuation and avoid the psychological games buyers play [email protected].

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive workshops to optimize your company’s performance.
(list of workshops below)

Brisbane, Australia – Oct 4, 2023 (In-Person)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 9, 10 & 11, 2023 (3 Day Workshop - In Person)
Toronto, Canada - Oct 12, 2023 (Virtual)
Madrid, Spain – Oct 16, 2023 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Oct 17, 2023 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia – Oct 19 & 20, 2023 (2 Day Workshop – In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Oct 25, 2023 (In-Person)
Nashville, TN – Oct 26, 2023 (Virtual)
Denver, CO - Oct 30, 2023 (Virtual)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 2, 2023 (In-Person)
Hong Kong / Beijing / Singapore – Nov 8, 2023 (Virtual)
Nashville, TN – Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Wellington, NZ – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Grand Rapids, MI – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia - Nov 14, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Nov 15, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
London, UK – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Dec 6, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Dec 7, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – March 11, 2024 (In-Person)
Christchurch, NZ – May 30, 2024 (In-Person)

Better Book Club –
What's your team reading? Increase your books read per team member. Easy, Proven, and in the Cloud at http://www.BetterBookClub.com.

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard Integrated with Salesforce, Slack, and Zapier (allowing it to connect with 1000s of systems), use Scoreboard to provide your team (working remotely even more important!) a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Growth Institute Online Executive Education:
Master of Business Dynamics
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Exponential Organizations Master Business Course
Topgrading Master Business Course

COACHING:  
Does it feel as if your business has hit a wall? If you don't see a clear path forward, it's a good time to bring in a coach.  All of our Scaling Up Certified Coaches™ are masters at guiding you and your leadership team through the implementation of the Scaling Up Performance. Our promise is a custom diagnostic approach from Day 1, including how we match you with a coach. We even have a team member dedicated to helping you find the perfect Scaling Up Certified Coach.™ Schedule a complimentary, personal follow-up. Or check out our FAQs. Additional questions can be sent to [email protected]

Did you miss previous insights? - read here

Follow Verne on Instagram: @scalingup2.0

Connect with Verne on LinkedIn: Verne Harnish

Follow Verne on Twitter: @agilescaleup

Read Verne's Insights on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SX13YI

Sign up for Verne's Weekly Insights  

*This may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Everything Elon; Key Lessons; Isaacson’s Biography

I am wired for war.
                                                Elon Musk, biography

While other entrepreneurs struggled to develop a worldview, he developed a cosmic view.
                                                Elon Musk, biography

He developed a fervor that cloaked his goofiness, and a goofiness that cloaked his fervor.
                                                Elon Musk, biography

Elon Musk’s Biography
Published Tuesday, I’m plowing thru author Walter Isaacson’s latest tome of the only other entrepreneur, besides the late Wayne Huzenga, to scale three (or more) multi-billion-dollar companies in different industries. Not yet all public companies, like Wayne’s, Elon has also raced ahead as the wealthiest person on the planet (next to Putin!). Two clear takeaways:

• Elon was not “licked as a cub” making it difficult for him to connect with others.
• Elon’s upbringing made him anti-fragile – stronger at the broken places.

We all have our wounds, it’s what you choose to make of yourself, moving forward, that counts. Though some of the book seemed contrived, so does Elon’s massive success – so maybe form and function align!

Battery Business
What I find amazing is that most articles fail to mention Elon’s battery business. Batteries are the key constraint in scaling up solar power and electric vehicles. If he can become the “Intel Inside” of every vehicle, home, company, and country, that business will be bigger than all the others combined. To date:

• January of this year he invested another $3.6 billion into his Nevada battery plant.
• April of this year he announced a battery factory being built in Shanghai.
• His South Australia battery array has already saved Australians over $116 million.

And the list goes on. Smart that he keeps that business out of the news. What is the ultimate constraint in your industry and how do you control it?

Controlling the Constraints in an Industry
A critical lesson for all biz leaders/owners: Elon’s brilliance in identifying and controlling the constraints in an industry.

• His 12,000+ Supercharger network is one – something he recently licensed to Ford.
• Reusable rockets removed a huge cost constraint in space travel. SpaceX is 10X cheaper with 30X lower cost overrun than NASA in lifting payload into space. 
• His relentless focus on cost structure in everything he’s pursued.

What are the constraints in your industry? Where do you have a 10x to 30x advantage? Reading his biography should spur some important insights.

One Business Leads to Another – $70 Billion Dojo Supercomputer
The iPod led to the launch of iTunes. Tesla (computer on wheels) has led to building supercomputers. Announced earlier this week, Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer added $70 billion to Tesla’s market cap, equal to BMW’s valuation! This Fortune article details what it is. How might you leverage your core competencies to launch yet another business?

Contrarian Review
The Guardian’s review of Elon Musk’s biography is quite biting (and somewhat accurate) – hence this opening line:

Who or what is to blame for Elon Musk? Famed biographer of intellectually muscular men Walter Isaacson’s dull, insight-free doorstop of a book casts a wide but porous net in search of an answer.

As I read the rest of the review (and many others) I was reminded of Jim Collins’ revelation that some of a firm’s true core values might be viewed as negative. Disney’s need for total control of the experience is one that comes to mind. It’s why our children didn’t like Disney as much as Legoland where they could actually steer the cars and boats and bounce off barriers. It's worth 2-minutes to read The Guardian’s review before you spend hours reading or listening to the book.

Demon Mode
This Fortune article, published in late June, does an excellent job of describing what has been labeled Elon Musk’s demon mode, something Isaacson saw with other leaders like Steve Jobs. Notes the article:

By tapping into their “dark streak”, Isaacson said that leaders were less weighed down with empathy and were able to focus on bigger-picture issues.

If it can be controlled, top coaches know the power a burst of anger can have at the right moment. But is it ever acceptable? Are there other ways? I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes, “no one is worthless, they can at least serve as a bad example” – a quote I’ve represented several times in my business and personal life. Elon’s biography has brought up these questions for me – maybe useful?

Order a box of 20 Scaling Up and Mastering the Rockefeller Habits books
Want to save 50% over the price on Amazon? Get the box of 20 Scaling Up books here and the box of 20 MRH books here for less!

COACHING:  
Does it feel as if your business has hit a wall? If you don't see a clear path forward, it's a good time to bring in a coach.  All of our Scaling Up Certified Coaches™ are masters at guiding you and your leadership team through the implementation of the Scaling Up Performance. Our promise is a custom diagnostic approach from Day 1, including how we match you with a coach. We even have a team member dedicated to helping you find the perfect Scaling Up Certified Coach.™ Schedule a complimentary, personal follow-up. Or check out our FAQs. Additional questions can be sent to [email protected]

Have you considered becoming a Certified Scaling Up Coach?
Learn more about what it takes to certify and what being a coach is like. Pop into our Coach Office Hours to talk with our coach certification coordinator and a certified Scaling Up Coach. Learn More & Register for Office Hours here >

Planning to Exit – Critical Whitepaper
Selling your firm, for its maximum value, is the most important negotiation in which a business owner will participate. You are typically negotiating with sophisticated buyers who have done hundreds of acquisitions whereas this is often your first rodeo. And these buyers have a formula for ripping you off – and it works, stealing tens of millions from you. Seeking help, owners discover the big M&A firms, especially those specializing in your industry, are more beholden to the buyers than the sellers (they will tell you otherwise). Email me to get a whitepaper on how to maximize your valuation and avoid the psychological games buyers play [email protected].

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive workshops to optimize your company’s performance.
(list of workshops below)

Denver, CO - Sept 18, 2023 (Virtual)
Brisbane, Australia – Oct 4, 2023 (In-Person)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 9, 10 & 11, 2023 (3 Day Workshop - In Person)
Toronto, Canada - Oct 12, 2023 (Virtual)
Madrid, Spain – Oct 16, 2023 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Oct 17, 2023 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia – Oct 19 & 20, 2023 (2 Day Workshop – In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Oct 25, 2023 (In-Person)
Nashville, TN – Oct 26, 2023 (Virtual)
Denver, CO - Oct 30, 2023 (Virtual)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 2, 2023 (In-Person)
Hong Kong / Beijing / Singapore – Nov 8, 2023 (Virtual)
Nashville, TN – Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Wellington, NZ – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Grand Rapids, MI – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia - Nov 14, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Nov 15, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
London, UK – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Dec 6, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Dec 7, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – March 11, 2024 (In-Person)
Christchurch, NZ – May 30, 2024 (In-Person)

Better Book Club –
What's your team reading? Increase your books read per team member. Easy, Proven, and in the Cloud at http://www.BetterBookClub.com.

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard Integrated with Salesforce, Slack, and Zapier (allowing it to connect with 1000s of systems), use Scoreboard to provide your team (working remotely even more important!) a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Growth Institute Online Executive Education:
Master of Business Dynamics
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Exponential Organizations Master Business Course
Topgrading Master Business Course

Did you miss previous insights? - read here

Follow Verne on Instagram: @scalingup2.0

Connect with Verne on LinkedIn: Verne Harnish

Follow Verne on Twitter: @agilescaleup

Read Verne's Insights on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SX13YI

Sign up for Verne's Weekly Insights  

*This email newsletter may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Beware EC; Parrotheads; 4Bs; Oct 12

…companies with an executive chair underperformed those without one.
                                                Jason Baumgarten, Spencer Stuart

I’m not about to apologize for being a good businessman…Too many people in music have ruined their lives because they weren’t.
                                                Jimmy Buffett, billionaire musician, RIP

Scaling Up India – Oct 12, Mumbai
With one of the finest leaders in the world and a wicked smart English-speaking young population, India is projected to be the largest economy in the world. Oct 12 I’ll be leading a one-day Scaling Up workshop held at Taj Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai. I’ll also tour a half-dozen EO chapters throughout India and Bangladesh and you’ll meet our growing group of coaching partners ready to help scaleups capitalize on this opportunity.

Beware the Executive Chair
Has your founder and/or former CEO stepped up to an Executive Chair role in the firm? Often useful for up to a year in transition, but after a year, the track record isn’t good. This Fortune article details research showing that firms with executive chairs underperform than those without the confusion about who is running the firm – the executive chair or CEO! Pls take 1 minute to read this Fortune CEO Daily summary of the article – then pls take another 2 minutes to read the article if you face this situation.

Biz Lessons from a Legend – RIP Jimmy Buffett
This AL.com article highlights the business savvy of the late Jimmy Buffett who passed away at age 76 last Friday. Not the best singer or guitar player, he simply outworked everyone and was a savvy businessman. His projects included a nationwide restaurant chain, a record label, retirement communities, the Land Shark beer brand, and more—while also finding time to author multiple bestselling books. Buffett's holdings were valued at more than $1B, and he was routinely placed high on Forbes' list of wealthiest celebrities. Here are some of the lessons we can all learn from “the other Buffett (thx to Paul Berman for sharing the article)"

Margaritaville -- Own a Word – Create One Even Better
The name of his first hit song (1977), Buffett knew how to name and brand. Capitalizing on its popularity, he formed Margaritaville Holdings based in Palm Beach, FL and launched his first Margaritaville restaurant in Key West in 1987. Notes the article:

The chain grew to 16 outlets and Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., teamed up with Buffett to develop the $700 million Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, near where he was raised…and The Margaritaville cafe on the Las Vegas strip was said to be the top grossing restaurant in the nation.

What word(s) do you own? Are they a brand? How are you fully capitalizing on these word(s)/brands?

Job to be Done/Purpose
The article goes on to note: Buffett’s legacy will be, in his words, “helping people forget their troubles for a couple of hours.” In one phrase Buffett articulates his purpose and “job to be done” strategy for all his ventures – and his legacy. It's so much easier to scale when there is this underlying one-phrase driving decisions. What is your phrase? “Helping biz owners scale the valuation of their business” is ours – or shorter “Scaling Up Valuation.” Hagerty Insurance insures collectible and expensive cars; but their broader job-to-be-done is celebrating the thrill of driving which has made them as much a media firm as an insurance firm.

Parrotheads -- Brand Your Customers
Yes, Buffett has millions of fans. More importantly, they have a brand -- Parrotheads. The Riordan Clinic has patients they call Co-Learners. Have you branded your customers? The more fun and memorable, the better!

Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads – Strategic Anchors
Notes the article:

Buffett’s 1992 collection titled “Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads” became one of the best-selling box sets ever and his annual summer concert tours with his Coral Reefer Band became major events…

What a brilliant alliteration – and provides a way to frame what is Margaritaville, making design and product extension decisions much easier. What are the design elements of your brand?

Start with the Parrotheads – Steve Jobs’ Thoughts
This short Instagram clip featuring Steve Jobs sums up the starting point for all strategic decisions – start with the customer not the technology!

MRH Audiobook Released – 20^th Anniversary Edition
This week the audiobook version of the 20^th Anniversary Edition of Mastering the Rockefeller Habits (MRH) was released – in my voice. The much better book for the rest of your employees to read/listen to (quick, fun, easy), it’s half the pages of Scaling Up. Made current to 2022, it provides the perfect context for implementing our Performance Platform inside your firm. Start everyone with MRH and then have your leadership team advance to Scaling Up.

Order a box of 20 Scaling Up and Mastering the Rockefeller Habits books
Want to save 50% over the price on Amazon? Get the box of 20 Scaling Up books here and the box of 20 MRH books here for less!

EDUCATION: 
Growth Institute Online Executive Education:
Master of Business Dynamics
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Exponential Organizations Master Business Course
Topgrading Master Business Course

COACHING:  
Does it feel as if your business has hit a wall? If you don't see a clear path forward, it's a good time to bring in a coach.  All of our Scaling Up Certified Coaches™ are masters at guiding you and your leadership team through the implementation of the Scaling Up Performance. Our promise is a custom diagnostic approach from Day 1, including how we match you with a coach. We even have a team member dedicated to helping you find the perfect Scaling Up Certified Coach.™ Schedule a complimentary, personal follow-up. Or check out our FAQs. Additional questions can be sent to [email protected]

Have you considered becoming a Certified Scaling Up Coach?
Learn more about what it takes to certify and what being a coach is like. Pop into our Coach Office Hours to talk with our coach certification coordinator and a certified Scaling Up Coach. Learn More & Register for Office Hours here >

Planning to Exit – Critical Whitepaper
Selling your firm, for its maximum value, is the most important negotiation in which a business owner will participate. You are typically negotiating with sophisticated buyers who have done hundreds of acquisitions whereas this is often your first rodeo. And these buyers have a formula for ripping you off – and it works, stealing tens of millions from you. Seeking help, owners discover the big M&A firms, especially those specializing in your industry, are more beholden to the buyers than the sellers (they will tell you otherwise). Email me to get a whitepaper on how to maximize your valuation and avoid the psychological games buyers play [email protected].

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive workshops to optimize your company’s performance.
(list of workshops below)

Grand Rapids, MI – Sep 12, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Sep 13, 2023 (Virtual)
EMEA – Sept 14, 2023 (Virtual)
Toronto, Canada – Sep 14, 2023 (Virtual)
Denver, CO - Sept 18, 2023 (Virtual)
Brisbane, Australia – Oct 4, 2023 (In-Person)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 9, 10 & 11, 2023 (3 Day Workshop - In Person)
Toronto, Canada - Oct 12, 2023 (Virtual)
Madrid, Spain – Oct 16, 2023 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Oct 17, 2023 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia – Oct 19 & 20, 2023 (2 Day Workshop – In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Oct 25, 2023 (In-Person)
Nashville, TN – Oct 26, 2023 (Virtual)
Denver, CO - Oct 30, 2023 (Virtual)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 2, 2023 (In-Person)
Hong Kong / Beijing / Singapore – Nov 8, 2023 (Virtual)
Nashville, TN – Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Wellington, NZ – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Grand Rapids, MI – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia - Nov 14, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Nov 15, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
London, UK – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Dec 6, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Dec 7, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – March 11, 2024 (In-Person)
Christchurch, NZ – May 30, 2024 (In-Person)

Better Book Club –
What's your team reading? Increase your books read per team member. Easy, Proven, and in the Cloud at http://www.BetterBookClub.com.

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard Integrated with Salesforce, Slack, and Zapier (allowing it to connect with 1000s of systems), use Scoreboard to provide your team (working remotely even more important!) a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

Did you miss previous insights? - read here

Follow Verne on Instagram: @scalingup2.0

Connect with Verne on LinkedIn: Verne Harnish

Follow Verne on Twitter: @agilescaleup

Read Verne's Insights on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SX13YI

Sign up for Verne's Weekly Insights  

*This email newsletter may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Zhang Yong; CEO Remote; Outback Co-Founder; Necker Cup

If you are finding life is hard, you are doing it wrong.
                                                Rabbi Stephen Baars, author of Win!

The solution was straightforward: they simply removed all the middle management layers.
                                                Chinese firm HaiDiLao, hot pot restaurants

Mastering the Complex Sale – Webinar Sep 7th, 2PM ET

In this environment, all sales are complex! Jeff Thull, author of Mastering the Complex Sale (I named one of the top biz books the year it came out) is leading a webinar next Thursday. More info here and below.


Life is Hard (not)!
This two-minute video shares a counter-intuitive idea: Motivation doesn’t bring success; success brings motivation. Enjoy and then pick up a copy of Stephen Baars book Win! Many of you will recognize Rabbi Baars voice – he brought his quick-witted wisdom to our Summit stage for years. If you are finding life is hard, you are doing it wrong!

Famous Chinese Hot Pot Restaurants – Team of Teams
With 900 outlets, the billionaire owner of HaiDiLao moved to a “team of teams” approach to managing his hot pot restaurants. This Corporate Rebel article details how founder Zhang Yong adopted the famous Japanese guru Kazuo Inamori’s amoeba management philosophy, first restructuring his functional divisions into autonomous companies serving his restaurants and others; then he stripped out all the district and regional managers so restaurant leaders reported directly to HQ. What is left are 900 autonomous restaurants, headquarters, and coaches. Please take 3 minutes to read through the details of how all this works (brilliantly). Thank you to Scaling Up coach Jeremy Han for sharing this article.

CEO in Office Once a Quarter  
This Fortune article details how Scott Farquhar, co-CEO of Atlassian, has stuck to their “Team Anywhere” policy implemented in 2020 (notice they’ve given it a name!). Note’s Scott, whose firm was #7 on the Best Places to Work ranking:

…flexible work allows employees to manage increasing cost-of-living pressures by choosing to live in a cheaper location without worrying about how it might affect their work.

The key is having clear output measures. Atlassian has not seen any drop in productivity. Airbnb also notes in the article that rather than requiring x days in the office, which is a random requirement, employees are only required to come to the office when collaboration is needed – and that could be for a five-day stretch. And for Scott, he’s in the office maybe a day a quarter. The goal of Scaling Up, which Scott still promotes, is to free up the CEO so they can do the market-facing activities key to scaling.

Necker Cup 2023 – Richard Branson’s Island
Hope you’re enjoying the US Open (Go Gauff and Alcarez!). Last year I had a once-in-a-lifetime blast attending Richard Branson’s favorite event he hosts – the Necker Cup. A 6-day / 5-night world-class pro-am tennis event and charity dinner hosted on Sir Richard Branson's private island Necker, it’s this November 13 – 18, 2023. Here is the brochure with the 2023 pricing (I get no commissions, just the joy of sharing this opportunity).


Tim Gannon Co-Founder Outback Steakhouse
At last year’s Necker Cup, I spent quality time with so many wonderful people, including lunch with Outback Steakhouse co-founder Tim Gannon (he always attends the Necker Cup). Since I featured Outback in my book Scaling Up Compensation, I asked Tim how important their unique comp plan was to the success of Outback, helping it become the best-performing chain in the world. Without hesitation, he shared “much more than people know.” It was THE key to their success. Read about it in my book – then check a box off your bucket list and attend the Necker Cup. My time with Tim (and Richard Branson) was worth the price of admission!
 
Mastering the Complex Sale Webinar -- Sep 7th, 2PM ET
Selling in today’s environment calls for a different approach, and there are 3 main challenges you need to be aware of. To show you exactly what those are and how to overcome them, we've invited world-class sales expert Jeff Thull to spill his secrets. Jeff is the man behind helping high-level businesses like Shell, 3M, Siemens, Boston Scientific, and HP scale to become some of the biggest brands in the world. On Thursday, September 7th @ 2PM ET, he'll dive deep into the exact process he used to make this happen. So, if you're ready to separate from your competitors, then don't miss this training. Sign up here

Order a box of 20 Scaling Up and Mastering the Rockefeller Habits books
Want to save 50% over the price on Amazon? Get the box of 20 Scaling Up books here and the box of 20 MRH books here for less!

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard Integrated with Salesforce, Slack, and Zapier (allowing it to connect with 1000s of systems), use Scoreboard to provide your team (working remotely even more important!) a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Growth Institute Online Executive Education:
Master of Business Dynamics
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Exponential Organizations Master Business Course
Topgrading Master Business Course

COACHING:  
Does it feel as if your business has hit a wall? If you don't see a clear path forward, it's a good time to bring in a coach.  All of our Scaling Up Certified Coaches™ are masters at guiding you and your leadership team through the implementation of the Scaling Up Performance. Our promise is a custom diagnostic approach from Day 1, including how we match you with a coach. We even have a team member dedicated to helping you find the perfect Scaling Up Certified Coach.™ Schedule a complimentary, personal follow-up. Or check out our FAQs. Additional questions can be sent to [email protected]

Have you considered becoming a Certified Scaling Up Coach?
Learn more about what it takes to certify and what being a coach is like. Pop into our Coach Office Hours to talk with our coach certification coordinator and a certified Scaling Up Coach. Learn More & Register for Office Hours here >

Planning to Exit – Critical Whitepaper
Selling your firm, for its maximum value, is the most important negotiation in which a business owner will participate. You are typically negotiating with sophisticated buyers who have done hundreds of acquisitions whereas this is often your first rodeo. And these buyers have a formula for ripping you off – and it works, stealing tens of millions from you. Seeking help, owners discover the big M&A firms, especially those specializing in your industry, are more beholden to the buyers than the sellers (they will tell you otherwise). Email me to get a whitepaper on how to maximize your valuation and avoid the psychological games buyers play [email protected].

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive workshops to optimize your company’s performance.
(list of workshops below)

Johannesburg, South Africa – Sep 4, 2023 (In-Person)
Brussels/Paris/Geneva – Sept 5, 2023 (Virtual)
Melbourne, Australia - Sep 5, 2023 (In-Person)
Barcelona, Spain – Sep 6, 2023 (Virtual)
Hong Kong / Singapore – Sep 6, 2023 (Virtual)
Grand Rapids, MI – Sep 12, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Sep 13, 2023 (Virtual)
EMEA – Sept 14, 2023 (Virtual)
Toronto, Canada – Sep 14, 2023 (Virtual)
Denver, CO - Sept 18, 2023 (Virtual)
Brisbane, Australia – Oct 4, 2023 (In-Person)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 9, 10 & 11, 2023 (3 Day Workshop - In Person)
Toronto, Canada - Oct 12, 2023 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Oct 17, 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Oct 25, 2023 (In-Person)
Denver, CO - Oct 30, 2023 (Virtual)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 2, 2023 (In-Person)
Hong Kong / Beijing / Singapore – Nov 8, 2023 (Virtual)
Wellington, NZ – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Nov 9, 2023 (Virtual)
Grand Rapids, MI – Nov 9, 2023 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia - Nov 14, 2023 (In-Person)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad, India – Nov 15, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
London, UK – Nov 16, 2023 (In-Person)
Dallas, TX – Dec 6, 2023 (In-Person)
Toronto, Canada - Dec 7, 2023 (Virtual)
Auckland, NZ – March 11, 2024 (In-Person)
Christchurch, NZ – May 30, 2024 (In-Person)

Better Book Club –
What's your team reading? Increase your books read per team member. Easy, Proven, and in the Cloud at http://www.BetterBookClub.com.

Did you miss previous insights? - read here

Follow Verne on Instagram: @scalingup2.0

Connect with Verne on LinkedIn: Verne Harnish

Follow Verne on Twitter: @agilescaleup

Read Verne's Insights on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SX13YI

Sign up for Verne's Weekly Insights  

*This email newsletter may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.