CSR Latest Articles

We’ve been asked on more than one occasion, “So what do you do?” (and even wrote about it here). We can tell you: We make our clients into higher-performing businesses that are better aligned to their owners’/stakeholders’ dream. And we can show you: Keep reading for our most recent case study. Like many business owners, the business owner in this case study found himself in the weeds of the day-to-day business functions. He was playing the role of both coach and player, cons

“That was a great strategic planning session – now what happens?” I get this a lot. Our clients finally take the plunge, have a great strategy session with us, we hit it off, and have presented the plan.  As we tell all of our clients, you can now do one of two things: 1)    Take the plan and implement on your own, or 2)    We go arm and arm and implement it together. The vast majority of our clients pick #2 (which makes sense – they already have full-time jobs; how the heck

“What’s your Magic Number?” As part of our approach to strategic planning, I offer the above phrase as the key motivator for many of our clients.  Though money should never be the primary reason anyone does anything, undeniably, it serves as a yardstick for progress, achievement and movement.  In many cases, our clients will say “I want to do this for X more years and pocket $Y when I leave.” We support our clients in their desires to achieve their dreams and thrive. As part

The last blog post about strategic planning discussed the ‘why’ of strategic planning and our philosophy in general terms – this installment is the next in a series that breaks the process down into easily understandable chunks that enable the business owner to engage and derive value. With the end in mind, CSR kicks off strategic planning sessions with a solid understanding and grounding of the needs and motivation of the owner(s). We go over current and ideal time managemen

We didn’t always do it this way. Playing to my strengths and desires, CSR used to come galloping in to save the day. Lots of adrenaline, exhausting, sometimes unsustainable, and – ultimately – not in the best interest of the client. Here’s what I’ve learned: Much like a child who has to eat his veggies and meat before getting to dessert, doing the planning piece HAS to preface the glory part; No one (at least no one should) gets into their car and randomly drives around and “

I recently went on my annual silent retreat, the type I started attending in high school. Modeled after the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, this​ is a weekend experience that I attend every year come hell or high-water. What is it, and why do I participate​? I think of this weekend as my “performance evaluation with God​.”​ I go over the past year, where I am today, and where I want to go the next year. I put a plan together that enables me to think of myself