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

A Success Story from the Trenches: Breedlove & Associates' Journey

Imagine beginning a small payroll business from your home office, self-funding its growth, and then, two decades later, selling it for an astonishing six times the revenue. This is not a Silicon Valley fairy tale but the real success story of Stephanie Breedlove and her company, Breedlove & Associates. Starting in 1992, Breedlove grew her company by an average of 20% annually, focusing on a niche market - payro...

By Cheryl Powers

Imagine your mid-market business, once a mere contender in your competitive industry, evolving into a dominant force with unparalleled market value. Your remarkable ascent won't be by sheer luck or a one-time market anomaly. Instead, the deliberate and strategic enhancement of customer capital will have propelled your transformation. Such a scenario is not a rarity; it demonstrates how astutely managed customer capital can drive substantial business growth, increased valuation,...

By Cheryl Powers

As a business growth advisor specializing in SMBs and mid-market companies, I've observed a common challenge among ambitious owners and founders: scaling their businesses while reducing their personal dependency. A compelling example of this is Jaclyn Johnson's journey with Create & Cultivate.

Unpacking the Founder's Challenge: The Story of Create & Cultivate

In 2012, Jaclyn Johnson embarked on an entrepreneurial venture, launching Create & Cultivate, a media platform aimed...

 By Cheryl Powers

Expanding a team is more than just adding bodies to your company—it's about finding the right kind of people who'll turbocharge your growth. As an owner, you need to be tactical and thoughtful about whom you bring into your fold. It's not just about filling positions; it's about enriching your team's dynamics and enhancing your company’s capabilities. 

The Complex Journey of Team Growth

When you're at the helm of a small or mid-market business, expanding your team is like ...

By Cheryl Powers

In today's fast-paced entrepreneurial world, the key to sustained success isn't just about having a groundbreaking idea or unparalleled talent. It's about something far more fundamental yet often overlooked: effective business processes and systematization. As a business advisor and coach to founders and owners, I've seen too many entrepreneurs and business owners inadvertently hurting themselves, their businesses, their customers, their employees, and ultimately, their persona...

by Cheryl Powers

Ever found yourself obsessing over Google Analytics, fretting every time there's a minor dip in your website traffic? You're not alone. We're living in an era where many businesses have become heavily reliant on Google for their lead flow. Here's why this is problematic:

Sole Reliance: Relying on a single lead source is risky. If there's an algorithm change or if your SEO falters, it could cripple your business.

Unpredictability: Algorithms are constantly changing. What works...

 By Cheryl Powers

There's an untold story in the bustling alleys of entrepreneurship, a tale of owner wealth. Often overshadowed by giant corporations and tech unicorns, these owners occupy a golden space. 

They're neither too small to be overwhelmed nor too big to be impersonal. And if you ever want to witness the art of growth and personal wealth generation, this is where the magic happens.

When I work with entrepreneurs and business owners, there's a notion I have always emphasized: the en...