By Cheryl Powers

In a notable transaction last year, Darden Restaurants, the entity behind Olive Garden, disclosed its acquisition of Ruth's Chris Steak House for $715 million. This figure pegged the valuation at approximately one times the preceding year's annual revenue, translating to around ten times the adjusted EBITDA for 2022. While impressive for a corporation of its stature, the valuation metrics for Ruth's Chris may have been somewhat constrained by its absence of a recurring revenue ...

By Cheryl Powers

In business, bigger often seems better. We applaud companies bursting with staff and swelling their revenues year over year. But if you're steering your business toward the day you can sell it for a healthy profit, you'll need more than just piling on sales. You could be growing, sure, but not in ways that actually up your company's worth. Sometimes, this kind of growth could even hurt your value.

The Real Deal About Growth and Value

Let's get straight to the point: When th...

By Cheryl Powers

Creating a customer journey map for sales is an essential strategy for understanding your prospects and customers, as well as their needs, experiences, and pain points at various stages of the buying process. Your customer journey map will help you craft a more effective sales process and build a robust sales pipeline.

Here are the top 10 tips for building an effective customer journey map for sales:

1. Define Your Buyer Personas: Start by identifying and understanding you

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By Cheryl Powers

As discussed in Parts 1 and 2 of this series, understanding and leveraging customer capital has become a cornerstone for sustainable growth and competitive advantage. In this article, I delve into the quantitative realm and hope to shed light on the important data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for measuring customer capital.

Understanding Customer Capital

As an owner, customer capital is the bedrock of your company. It includes the total value your business receives...

By Cheryl Powers

In Part 1 of this series, I defined customer capital as the intangible value a company gains from its customer relationships. It encompasses trust, loyalty, and the overall customer experience, which, when managed effectively, can significantly enhance your company's market valuation.

Personalization at Scale: Crafting Unique Customer Experiences

In the age of information overload, personalization is the key to capturing your customers' attention. Tailoring your products, s...

By Cheryl Powers

Ever found yourself wishing, “If only I had a team full of [Best Employee's Name]s?” 

I’ve been there, and I totally get you.

Imagine this: A company where everyone is as knowledgeable, skilled, and efficient as your star employee. 

Sounds like a dream?

But what if I told you it's achievable? Even kind of simple?

I'm thrilled to invite you to a masterclass that I believe could revolutionize the way you look at building and managing teams: "How to Ethically Clone Your Bes...

By Cheryl Powers

In a constantly evolving global economy, business owners often find themselves on a rollercoaster of highs and lows.

And let's be real: riding that coaster isn't always fun, is it?

Just as sailors must skillfully navigate stormy seas, business owners need to cross the unpredictable waves of economic turbulence.

But here's the silver lining: economic volatility isn't simply a challenge—it's an opportunity.

I often find myself remembering, the most breathtaking views come...

by Cheryl Powers

As a business owner, it can be difficult to know how to prepare in the face of the looming economic downturn of 2023. But with the right focus and strategies and network, you can not only survive but you can thrive in the challenging environment ahead. 

Here are some key areas that will help you find success in 2023:

• Identifying your company’s unique strengths and differentiators and leveraging them to create an edge over your competitors.
• Developing a clear strategy that ...