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Journey to Extreme Productized Services through a First Principles Checklist

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I firmly believe that great productization of services stems from deliberate alignment with First Principles. Put another way: Great productization is forged through past experiences and mistakes. However, only the most committed founders—those who can say “no, we don’t” to buyers countless times—will succeed in achieving Extreme Productized Services. Productization is a commitment to First Principles. Let me share my experiences and mistakes along the way.

Pro Serv Blogs

Why Sabbaticals Could Be the Key to Unlocking Your Firm’s Scalability and Value

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Since college, I have been a hustle-and-grind professional. It only got worse when I became an entrepreneur and ran my own show. I’d never taken more than a week-long vacation. Then recently, in September 2024, I took a huge leap and embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime journey: hiking the Camino de Santiago, a medieval pilgrimage route spanning 500 miles from the Pyrenees in France to northwest Spain. My wife and I hiked it in 26 days, carrying everything we needed on our backs. While it started as a personal adventure, it became a transformative experience for me and unexpectedly for my company.

Pro Serv Blogs

Back-Office Transformation: A Professional Services CEO’s Journey to Unified Operations

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As the CEO of a boutique professional services firm providing outsourced finance, accounting, and HR consulting services, I’ve always advised clients on operational excellence. Yet, like many professional services leaders, I found myself managing a complex web of disparate systems in our own back office. This is the story of how transforming our technology stack not only streamlined our operations but also delivered unexpected benefits that have revolutionized how we serve our clients.

Pro Serv Blogs

Why You’re Not Getting Paid On Time and What to Do About It

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As an owner-operator of a small service firm, whether it’s a consultancy, marketing agency, IT service provider, or any other service-oriented business, you’ve likely faced the frustrating challenge of chasing down late payments. It’s a widespread issue that disproportionately affects small service firms, and it can significantly hinder your cash flow and business growth. In this blog post, we’ll explore why this happens, how to diagnose and measure the extent of your collections problem, and offer both proactive and reactive strategies to improve your payment timelines. Plus, we’ll show you how joining a mastermind community like Collective 54 can make a difference.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Power Of Perspective: How Creating An Ad Board Can Accelerate Results

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Most leaders relate to the occasional insecurity that comes with entrepreneurship. While feeling alone in moments of uncertainty is uncomfortable, turns out it’s a normal part of the growth process.

I never would have come to this conclusion without the help of my firm’s Advisory (Ad) Board – a group of pros who have helped turbocharge my journey as Founder and CEO of Waterhouse Brands.

Pro Serv Blogs

Risk Management for Professional Services Firms

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In today’s unpredictable environment, ensuring risk is thoughtfully managed is a critical yet often overlooked component of the grow/scale journey. While large firms have dedicated risk management teams, small business owners/operators often juggle multiple roles, leaving limited time to design and implement a risk management framework. This guide walks you through a rightsized approach to risk management, making it easier to protect your business and its stakeholders.

Pro Serv Blogs

Government Contracting and the New Administration

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Politics and parties aside, the US Federal Government will continue to operate as Fortune 1 and procure more “stuff” from industry than any single purchaser in the world.

What does the future hold? What should you expect? What are the trends and considerations?

The future looks bright. The next four years should be beneficial for companies looking to sell their wares in the government space. Whether a Professional Services / Management Consulting firm or a services company specializing in product support you should consider expansion and investment in this space.

Pro Serv Blogs

From Cash-Strapped to Cash-Flow Positive: The Transformation of an IT Consulting Firm Owner

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Once upon a time, in the competitive landscape of boutique professional service firms, there was an owner of an IT consulting firm who became a cautionary tale of rapid growth without the backbone of sound financial management. This is the story of Alex, whose journey from the brink of financial ruin to a model of fiscal responsibility embodies the adage, “Growth is not just about numbers; it’s about sustainable strategies.”

Pro Serv Blogs

Lessons Learned to Avoid the Dumb Tax

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Running a boutique firm is not for the faint of heart. For years, there were not great resources to guide us, so we did what we do as pioneers; we figured it out. Many boutique firms start as smaller, leaner versions of larger firms. Often with the idea that we can improve on the traditional approach of “big business.” Yet, a boutique has its own distinct challenges and requires a unique mindset. It’s essential to know the differences between a boutique and a large consulting firm. What follows are eight key lessons I’ve learned. My friend Greg Alexander uses the term “dumb tax” a lot. Most of my recommendations come from paying that tax too often.

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