The Four Decisions™ for driving growth.
Today's business environment can be an unforgiving place with all its uncertainty and distractions it is hard to focus on what is really important. At First & Main we bring a practical and concise process to help CEOs and their executive teams make the right decisions when it comes to four key areas: people, strategy, execution and cash. It may not sound sexy, but it is about getting important things done!.
Where ulcers begin?
- Would you enthusiastically rehire every one of your employees?
- Do you know what percent of your people are performing at an “A” level?
- How do you consistently attract top talent?
- Do you have a hiring system that will ensure 90% “A” players, on all levels?
Top Line Fading?
- Is your company different? If so, how does it diverge from your competition?
- Great Strategic planning process, but then nothing happens?
- How well do your priorities for the quarter, year and three years align?
- Do your long term corporate goals influence day to day decisions?
- Is execution built into your strategy?
Getting Things Done
- Our strategy had created an advantage in the market, but we still can’t make money.
- Is the management aligned around the top 3 priorities?
- Are your scheduled meetings focused on achieving the priorities or the latest problem?
- Does your staff know what the MOST important priority is and how it is measured?
- Is someone accountable for this priority and supported by the management team?
Where is it going?
Fast growing companies eat up cash. We encourage you to track how long it takes to spend a dollar and then get it back. Think about how long the cycles are for sales, creating and delivering product, then billing and collecting. The responsibility to shorten these cycles is not only for the CFO, Comptroller or Owner, but for everyone involved in these processes.
First & Main in the News
Bob Shannon summarizes a book by Zappos.com founder Tony Hsieh for his discussion group. Each month, Shannon reads a business book and provides a summary of it so group members can get the key points.
Results
Since we started working
with Bob, we have not had anyone resign or wanted to
let go in more than 2.5 years. We have hired 16 people
in that time period.
