When I started my CFO and controllership practice in 2001, I was lacking a critical tool–a financial modeling application that I could feel good about. And not the dumbed-down versions that are on the market today. I wanted horsepower. But it didn’t exist yet for the price I was willing to pay. So I used…
The biggest frustration of leaving the corporate world to start a CFO practice is leaving behind all the great resources we had easy and quick access to. We’re not just starting over in terms of building a new career. We’re also having to create a network of experts from the ground up–no easy task. Meet Jake Taylor…
If you are a Certified Gazelles Coach, an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) implementer, or some other executive business coach, I almost envy you. In contrast, the part-time CFO for small businesses has one of the most difficult consulting roles on the planet. You read this right. They don’t serve one, but two vital roles. The…
One of the great truisms with many financial professionals is that they do not like to write. That’s fine. Don’t write. But if you do pick up the pen, please do not succumb to some temptations that could short-circuit your authority, credibility, and integrity. I Understand the Daily Pressures of Part-Time CFOs You have one…
A funny thing happened at the office of my first couple of clients (er, more like most of them). Mark: “The first thing I’d like to do is look at your sales data.” Karen Client: “Sales, what?” Mark: “Uhhhhhhh, sales, uhhh, sales information. Where can I get sales information by client, by rep, and, you know,…
I want to address competition primarily for prospects and rookies. But let me pull in the Pros, MVPs, and All Stars–if you moved to a new city, would you worry about competition? That’s what I thought. And I’m right with you. The competition is not who we think it is. The better we understand that,…
When I started my CFO and controllership practice in 2001, I included the CPA designation after my name. Besides, I earned those 3 letters the hard way. Little did I know that one of the most recognizable credentials in the world could unfavorably impact my brand image, or so that was my perception. Wearing Those 3 Letters…
If you had asked who my ideal client was in 2001, my first year as a practicing Free Agent CFO™, I would have said, “That’s easy – they can talk, they can breathe, they can certainly write a check.” Talk, breath, write a check. That was my ideal client. Was I ever naive. My Ideal Client…
You may think your most important asset is your personal intellectual property–the stuff right between your two ears. That’s a tough argument to counter. If that’s right, the second most important asset is your domain name. But I’m going to say it’s your most valuable asset. And with the right business model, you might be able…
One of the most gifted and creative consultants I’ve ever met is Mike Schrader who is based in Columbia, Missouri. Mike once said the first thing he asks a new client/owner is how they spend their time. He’s even had them track it for a week or two allowing him to be a better coach to them. When…
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