The Agile Scaleup

Quitting; Bomber Jackets; Best Bars; Aug 6 Freebie

Giving up is a waste. Quitting, on the other hand, is a fine thing to do.
                     Seth Godin

Everything was just hard
                     Dana Tatana, Journey

An invitation to invest 2 to 22 minutes in your executive education this week.

NZ-based Digital Agency Triples Revenue Since 2019 (Scaling Up Case Study)
…and the firm tripled revenue with the same number of staff. This Scaleups.com article details how Journey’s Managing Director Dana Tatana, with the help of coach Adrian Pickstock starting in 2019, has rapidly scaled his digital agency using the tools/techniques of Scaling Up. Notes Tatana in the article:

“Everything was just hard,” recalls Tatana. “We were constantly firefighting. There were client issues, people issues, trying to find profit, working month-to-month on sales, making sure we hit the wage bill, and chasing debtors.”

Scaling doesn’t have to be this hard. Let us help you scale up easier with less drama as we have Dana and his team at Journey.

Giving Up vs. Quitting – Important Distinction
One of the daily posts I read every day is from marketing guru Seth Godin. This post on the distinction between giving up and quitting is simple yet profound. Where are you giving up? What do you need to quit? Please take 10 seconds to read – then a lifetime to ponder – Seth’s insightful post. Thank you, Seth.

Important Supreme Court Ruling – Lyft and Uber
Giving people the “freedom to work when and how they want” has been supported by California’s state Supreme Court when they ruled yesterday that Lyft and Uber can continue to treat drivers as independent contractors, capping a year-long case. It’s an important ruling for all small to mid-sized firms and gig workers. This NBC News video reports the details.

Golden Bomber Jackets and Bonuses
This Fortune article details how CEO Sundar Pichai has gone back to basics hosting fun, yet vital, competitions inside Google using golden bomber jackets and bonuses to prompt (pun intended) winning “golden prompts” to make their AI tool Gemini more user-friendly. What fun, yet critical, competitions are you hosting inside your firm this last half of 2024?

Winning Prompts – Highlights Practical Uses
Quoting from the same Fortune article:

The winning prompt in this scenario, BI reported, was: “Every time I get a new Google review from a customer, add it to my Reviews Sheet, and suggest a response. Let me review the response before publishing to Google Maps.”

Seven winners of the competition were chosen, with their prompts spanning examples from tracking and following up on business leads to flagging customers who need an urgent response. Other cases included keeping track of invoices and receipts, as well as helping users find research on leads.

Driving Sustainable Growth: The Critical Four Decisions of Scaling Up
On the fence whether Scaling Up can help you like it has Journey (featured above) and 102,000+ other firms, please join us on August 6th at 2 PM ET for an enlightening free live webinar where we delve into the four pivotal decisions every business must master to achieve sustainable growth: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. Daniel Marcos, Co-Founder and CEO of Growth Institute will share practical insights and actionable strategies to help you build a high-performance team, craft a winning strategy, ensure operational excellence, and manage your finances effectively. Save your seat here: https://hubs.li/Q02HCG_s0

Fun Facts – World’s Best Bars
Notes Forbes this morning:

Farm-to-bar Cartagena, Colombia cocktail lounge Alquímico was named World’s Best Bar at the 18th annual Spirited Awards in New Orleans, (Forbes is the official media partner). Denver’s Yacht Club won Best U.S. Cocktail Bar, and New York’s Superbueno was named the Best New Cocktail Bar in America.

Thank You Immensely – Reviews MRH 22^nd Edition
Thank you to all who took a moment to write a quick Amazon review for Mastering the Rockefeller Habits 22^nd Edition released in April – your support is appreciated as I was getting killed by a bogus 1 rating claiming the book was written by AI. Your support means a great deal to me.

Order a box of 20 books
Save 50% over the price on Amazon for Scaling Up, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits, and 12 Habits of Valuable Employees books here for less! 

Additional Books 
Scaling Up Compensation, a quick read helping you get much greater impact and outcomes from one of your largest expenses; and The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, which provides you with some great ideas to borrow/steal for your own business are available on Amazon.

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive Scaling Up workshops. Here's our list of workshops

Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Dhaka, India – Jul 31, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Jul 31, 2024 (Virtual)
Adelaide, Australia – Aug 13 & 14, 2024 (2 Day, In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Aug 15, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA –  Aug 28, 2024 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Aug 29, 2024 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia –  Aug 29, 2024 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia – Sep 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada – Sep 12, 2024 (Virtual)
Denver, CO – Sep 17, 2024 (In-Person)
Columbus, OH – Sep 20, 2024 (In-Person)
San Francisco, CA – Sep 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 1, 2024 (In-Person)
Brisbane, Australia – Oct 2, 2024 (In-Person)
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Oct 7, 2024 (In-Person)
Phoenix, AZ – Oct 10, 2024 (Virtual)
Ontario, Canada - Oct 10, 2024 (Virtual)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Oct 14, 2024 (In-Person)
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Oct 15, 2024 (In-Person)
San Francisco, CA – Oct 16, 2024 (Virtual)
Melbourne, Australia – Nov 12, 2024 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 14, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Nov 14, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Nov 19, 2024 (Virtual)
Franklin, TN – Dec 5, 2024 (Virtual)
San Antonio, TX – Dec 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Dec 12, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Dec 18, 2024 (Virtual)
Washington, DC – Jan 28, 2025 (In-Person)

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].

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard is AI-enabled and 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!) with a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of the Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Scaling Up Free Mini Course

COACHING: Unlock Explosive Growth with a Scaling Up Coach
Is your business hitting a growth ceiling? Break through with a Scaling Up Certified Coach™. Our elite coaches master the Scaling Up methodology to reignite growth, align your team, and chart a clear scalability path. From day one, we provide a custom-tailored approach - conducting a comprehensive diagnostic, hand-picking your perfect coach match, and providing dedicated support. Whether a $5M or $250M firm, invest in coaching to propel your business to extraordinary new heights.
Schedule a complimentary 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 >

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.

Never Enough; Sunscreen Dangers; MacArthur Park; Complimentary One Hour

It’s good to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistakes.
                     Charlie Munger

…sunlight in a pill has turned out to be a spectacular failure
                     Rowan Jacobsen

…low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased rates of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression, osteoporosis, and many other diseases.
                     Rowan Jacobsen

An invitation to invest 2 to 22 minutes in your executive education this week.

Never Enough by Andrew Wilkinson
Looking for a summer biz read (winter down south) that catches you with its first sentence, this Fortune article provides an excerpt from Andrew Wilkinson’s July 8 release Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire. Love the title and enjoying the book immensely. I quote Charlie Munger above because he was of help to Andrew and his partner in scaling Tiny, modeled after Berkshire Hathaway.

Free 5-Day Online Scaling Up Mini-Course
Take time this summer (winter in Southern Hemisphere) to transform your business with our free 5-day online Scaling Up mini-course. Each day, when you start, you'll engage with a 5-15 minute video session that covers essential principles and actionable steps in the four critical areas of Scaling Up: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. Invest an hour and review/learn at your leisure (while in the sun?) the fundamentals for scaling easier with less drama. Sign up here.

MacArthur Park – Jimmy Webb’s Genius
This latest cover of Jimmy Webb’s classic MacArthur Park by Micah McLauren and Amber Riley and made famous by Donna Summer is one of the first biopic songs in history. “Someone left the cake out in the rain…and I’ll never have that recipe again” are some of the memorable lines/imagery in this song recounting lost love. Enjoy 6+ minutes of a 60-piece orchestra and Amber’s amazing vocals (while in the sun?).

As Chief Energy Officers (CEOs)…
…it starts with our own energy and health. Health is the KEY constraint to scaling, which is why I’ve been a part of the Riordan Clinic for 39 years and on their board the past two decades. And key to our health is time in the sun.

Please Get Some Sunlight Without Sunscreen…
…but please don’t get burnt. In this 56-minute interview, Rowan Jacobsen, a science journalist who has spent years investigating the health impacts of sunlight, unpacks the underappreciated benefits of sun exposure, and that, crucially, they’re not primarily a function of the production of vitamin D and can’t be replaced with a pill.

Vitamin D is a Hormone
UV-B is the one that makes Vitamin D – essential bone mineralization – better metabolism, and less cancer. The Vitamin D supplements fail – while we know that Vitamin D indicates lower rates of all kinds of diseases – but it’s only what you get from sun exposure. And UV-A is key to lowering blood pressure – increased sun, decreased blood pressure – with high blood pressure being the number one risk factor to lowering your life expectancy. Sunlight also improves immune function and it’s important to get sunlight outside in the morning – a cloudy day outside is better than inside by a factor of 50x. Makes you feel much better when you catch rays. Please be informed and have your family listen to this 56-minute podcast.

Those Who Get BCC Are Quite Healthy!
Basal cell carcinoma is mislabeled cancer, freaking people out. Rowan shares the precise statistics and why the people who get BCC is generally a sign of health and BCC is easy to treat. It is melanoma which is the deadly form of skin cancer that is rare and mainly shows up among very fair-skinned people with extended exposure to sun causing severe burns. The point – the deadly health effects of NOT getting sun exposure without sunscreen blocking the benefits outweigh the risks of melanoma – though, again, don’t get burned. The lack of people (especially Americans) getting unscreened sunlight is a huge health crisis – something even the Australian government has learned. Please grab a few rays and listen to Rowan’s interview.

Please Help Me – Report Bogus Review
Please “report” a bogus review on Amazon – it’s just one click to do it. A review claiming my Mastering the Rockefeller Habits 22^nd Edition is generated by ChatGPT, etc. is the dominating review. This book is the updated version (2024) of my original book published in 2002 that garnered almost 4000 reviews averaging 4.7. Please scroll down, see the bogus review by “Sky” and click the “Report” link under it. And if you left a review for the original book, a quick additional review is appreciated. Amazon changed its rules this year in porting over reviews for a revised edition. Thank you immensely.

Enjoy the Sun!

Order a box of 20 books
Save 50% over the price on Amazon for Scaling Up, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits, and 12 Habits of Valuable Employees books here for less! 

Additional Books 
Scaling Up Compensation, a quick read helping you get much greater impact and outcomes from one of your largest expenses; and The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, which provides you with some great ideas to borrow/steal for your own business are available on Amazon.

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 >

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive Scaling Up workshops. Here's our list of workshops

Chile – Jul 23, 2024 (Virtual)
Boulder, CO – July 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Hong Kong – Jul 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Dhaka, India – Jul 31, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Jul 31, 2024 (Virtual)
Adelaide, Australia – Aug 13 & 14, 2024 (2 Day, In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Aug 15, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA –  Aug 28, 2024 (Virtual)
Brussels, Belgium – Aug 29, 2024 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia –  Aug 29, 2024 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia – Sep 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada – Sep 12, 2024 (Virtual)
Denver, CO – Sep 17, 2024 (In-Person)
Columbus, OH – Sep 20, 2024 (In-Person)
San Francisco, CA – Sep 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 1, 2024 (In-Person)
Brisbane, Australia – Oct 2, 2024 (In-Person)
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Oct 7, 2024 (In-Person)
Phoenix, AZ – Oct 10, 2024 (Virtual)
Ontario, Canada - Oct 10, 2024 (Virtual)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Oct 14, 2024 (In-Person)
London, England – Oct 15, 2024 (In-Person)
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Oct 15, 2024 (In-Person)
San Francisco, CA – Oct 16, 2024 (Virtual)
Melbourne, Australia – Nov 12, 2024 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 14, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Nov 14, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Nov 19, 2024 (Virtual)
Franklin, TN – Dec 5, 2024 (Virtual)
San Antonio, TX – Dec 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Dec 12, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Dec 18, 2024 (Virtual)

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].

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard is AI-enabled and 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!) with a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of the Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Scaling Up Free Mini Course

COACHING: Unlock Explosive Growth with a Scaling Up Coach
Is your business hitting a growth ceiling? Break through with a Scaling Up Certified Coach™. Our elite coaches master the Scaling Up methodology to reignite growth, align your team, and chart a clear scalability path. From day one, we provide a custom-tailored approach - conducting a comprehensive diagnostic, hand-picking your perfect coach match, and providing dedicated support. Whether a $5M or $250M firm, invest in coaching to propel your business to extraordinary new heights.
Schedule a complimentary follow-up or check out our FAQs. Additional questions can be sent to [email protected].

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.

Key Question; Charisma Keys; Four Seasons CEO; July 11

Tactics before strategy is the noise before defeat.
                     Sun Tzu

If someone else can do it, it’s not for me to do. Being fully present in each interaction is also very important and I’m intentional about it.
                     Alejandro Reynal, CEO Four Seasons

An invitation to invest 2 to 22 minutes in your executive education this week.

Try This Question
“What’s the chance…” is an effective way of influencing someone to do something – give it a try.

Alejandro Reynal’s Zero “In-box”
First, I didn’t know Bill Gates owned the Four Seasons hospitality chain of luxury hotels, resorts, experiences, etc. This Fortune article shares insights into Four Season’s CEO Alejandro Reynal’s leadership style and approach – including maintaining “inbox zero” so he’s not a bottleneck to others. Up at 5 am to meditate and exercise, his precision sets the tone for the kind of personalized service Four Seasons provides its customers. And because a CEO is the Chief Energy Officer, the book he’s reading now is Young Forever by Mark Hyman and endorsed by Wim Hof. The article is worth 1-minute to read.

Charisma = Warmth + Competence
Vanessa Van Edwards is the author of Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. Brett McKay’s 44-minute interview with Vanessa provides an excellent summary of some simple things you can do to come across as warm and competent – approachable and credible.

Voice Control and Head Nods/Tilt
I’ve been practicing several of Vanessa’s techniques since learning about them a few months ago – and they seem to work. Some of the easier:

• Simplest is leaning in slightly when someone is talking – in person or on Zoom
• A slow triple nod and a tilt of the head exposing your ear
• Go from no expression to a slow smile
• End sentences with a downward inflection of your voice when giving your name, price, timelines, etc.
• Relax shoulders to give maximum length between head and shoulders.
• Share a piece of good news when first meeting someone

Overall, simply slowing down everything – hand gestures, entering a room, talking (with pregnant pauses), slow nod and slow grin. Please take 40 minutes to listen to her interview and read her book. I’ve only touched on a few of many ideas that help you connect with people.

Afaya Plus – Important Cancer Treatment/Middle Eastern Plant
Dr. Ron Hunninghake, our Chief Medical Officer at the Riordan Clinic (I’m Vice Chair of the board), interviews Jason West of Hyatt Life Sciences in this Real Health podcast. They discuss what might be referred to as the “Chicken Noodle Soup of the Middle East” – a plant called Arum Palaestinum known locally as “loof.” Doc Ron includes a cancer patient who benefitted from the effects of this supplement. Some of these old-time remedies are the best.

Upcoming Scaling Up Master Business Course - July 11th, 2024.
Even experienced business leaders can find scaling their companies without drama challenging. What often holds back their success? Drawing on years of experience and the principles of Scaling Up, this course focuses on mastering the four critical pillars: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. Learn from top industry experts and gain access to practical tools and resources designed to transform your business growth journey with less stress and drama. Download the course outline and discover how mastering these pillars can lead your business to success. Learn more here: https://hubs.li/Q02DkrYc0

Order a box of 20 books
Save 50% over the price on Amazon for Scaling Up, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits, and 12 Habits of Valuable Employees books here for less!

Additional Books 
Scaling Up Compensation, a quick read helping you get much greater impact and outcomes from one of your largest expenses; and The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, which provides you with some great ideas to borrow/steal for your own business are available on Amazon.

COACHING: Unlock Explosive Growth with a Scaling Up Coach
Is your business hitting a growth ceiling? Break through with a Scaling Up Certified Coach™. Our elite coaches master the Scaling Up methodology to reignite growth, align your team, and chart a clear scalability path. From day one, we provide a custom-tailored approach - conducting a comprehensive diagnostic, hand-picking your perfect coach match, and providing dedicated support. Whether a $5M or $250M firm, invest in coaching to propel your business to extraordinary new heights.
Schedule a complimentary 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 >

SCALING UP WORKSHOPS:
Engage your team with interactive Scaling Up workshops. Here's our list of workshops

Ontario, Canada – Jul 11, 2024 (Virtual)
Boulder, CO – July 12, 2024 (Virtual)
Chile – Jul 23, 2024 (Virtual)
Boulder, CO – July 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Hong Kong – Jul 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Dhaka, India – Jul 31, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Jul 31, 2024 (Virtual)
Adelaide, Australia – Aug 13 & 14, 2024 (2 Day, In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Aug 15, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA –  Aug 28, 2024 (Virtual)
Sydney, Australia –  Aug 29, 2024 (In-Person)
Melbourne, Australia – Sep 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada – Sep 12, 2024 (Virtual)
Denver, CO – Sep 17, 2024 (In-Person)
Columbus, OH – Sep 20, 2024 (In-Person)
San Francisco, CA – Sep 24, 2024 (Virtual)
Nottingham, UK – Oct 1, 2024 (In-Person)
Brisbane, Australia – Oct 2, 2024 (In-Person)
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Oct 7, 2024 (In-Person)
Phoenix, AZ – Oct 10, 2024 (Virtual)
Ontario, Canada - Oct 10, 2024 (Virtual)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Oct 14, 2024 (In-Person)
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Oct 15, 2024 (In-Person)
San Francisco, CA – Oct 16, 2024 (Virtual)
Melbourne, Australia – Nov 12, 2024 (In-Person)
Sydney, Australia – Nov 14, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Nov 14, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Nov 19, 2024 (Virtual)
Franklin, TN – Dec 5, 2024 (Virtual)
San Antonio, TX – Dec 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Ontario, Canada - Dec 12, 2024 (Virtual)
San Francisco, CA – Dec 18, 2024 (Virtual)

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].

TECHNOLOGY:
Scaling Up Scoreboard is AI-enabled and 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!) with a real-time visual dashboard of cascading priorities and metrics. Get a personalized tour of the Scaling Up Scoreboard to see how you can use it to better implement Scaling Up in your business.

EDUCATION: 
Scaling Up Master Business Course
Scaling Up Free Mini Course

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.