WORKING TOGETHER FOR YOUR SUCCESS

F.O.C.U.S. Resources℠ (FOCUS) provides strategic insights for our client businesses. Too often, clients have experience one-dimensional advice from subject matter experts with a single lens perspective (legal, tax, etc.). The information is good advice, but it doesn’t go far enough. Clients need a business perspective that incorporates and assimilates the specialized advice into a cohesive strategic decision. They need an advisor with a comprehensive, holistic approach that takes into consideration the multitude of requirements and demands on the business, then provides options and analysis for the business owners, executives, and managers to make informed decisions. F.O.C.U.S. Resources is that integrative advisor with the big picture perspective and the ability to get into the details with subject matter experts on what needs to happen.

The how of doing business is a competitive advantage if you develop and use robust business systems and processes.  FOCUS on:

• Develop clear goals and performance metrics that align your organization and efficiently allocate your resources (people and capital).
• Design and implement cost-effective processes and internal controls that enable your team to know how to pursue goals and work on the right things at the right time.
• Monitor and adjust activities to ensure that as your environment changes and as you get more information, you can adapt.

The F.O.C.U.S. Framework℠ – A Holistic Business Approach

The Pareto Principle or the 80/20 rule, states that 80% of results (outcomes) come from 20% of efforts (inputs). Businesses need to identify and focus first on 20% of their business that has that 80% impact. At FOCUS, we think of that as the C.O.R.E.℠ of your business. The 20% is the part of the organization that makes you competitive, unique, adds value, and solves your customers’ problems. It is why you are in business and how you do business.

The F.O.C.U.S.℠ Difference

Customers and clients always want to know the difference between you and the competition. At FOCUS, our difference is customized solutions developed using our proprietary C.O.R.E.℠ Business System. FOCUS founder Lea Strickland, developed and used these tools with over 400 clients to improve productivity, increase sales and profit, generate positive cash flows, raise funds (over $500 million raised by our client companies), and reduce uncertainty and stress for our client leadership teams.

Comprehensive Vision and Strategy

Too many business advisors can’t envision the impact of decisions made today on the future of your business. Think of those business advisors as hammers. A hammer has the job of driving nails into other materials. As hammers, everything they see is a nail. Holistic business advisors, like FOCUS, are the entire toolbox! Sometimes you need the hammer, other times you need a measuring tape or a saw. You can’t build a house when your only tool is a hammer. You can’t build a business using a single tool, either.

Strategic Business, Operations, Finance, and More

Your business is built with details, but they have to be framed from a big picture, long-term perspective. How your frame your business is a significant factor in your success. Working from a strategic perspective enables you to put provide the framework for the detailed decisions that have to be made today to reach your long-term goals. Without the strategic framework, you may not get the details right.

Designed and Built for Success

One size doesn’t fit all or even most. The tools you use, the team you hire, the customers you pursue, come together to form your unique business. It will undoubtedly share characteristics, challenges, and opportunities that other businesses have. However, your business is different. There is another 80/20 rule. This rule states that 80% of your business may be just like every other business in your industry. The other 20% makes you different. You want the ability to optimize the 80% for efficiency and effectiveness. The unique 20% you want to maximize to make you stand out from the competition.

F.,O.C.U.S.℠ Your Business for Success

Isn’t it time to FOCUS your business on growth, efficiency, and value creation? Stand out from the crowd!

FOCUSed Perspective: Jigsaw Puzzles

Have you ever purchased a jigsaw puzzle that contains multiple puzzles in the same box? These dual puzzles share common elements. For example, you might purchase a Disney® character puzzle for your daughter that contains Mulan in both puzzles. Working with your daughter, you find that on the back of each puzzle piece is a symbol that enables you to sort the pieces into the two different puzzles. Once the pieces are sorted, you teach your daughter to find the outside pieces of the puzzle and put them together first. Starting with the exterior pieces creates a framework to fill in the interior.  So you have a process that:

1. identifies and groups the relevant pieces of each puzzle
2. sorts the exterior framing pieces from the interior pieces
3. enables you to fill in the detail pieces within the framework.

Your puzzle working strategy enables you to define the picture you will create, build the framework, and fill in the details.

Your business also needs a strategic approach to defining the picture (mission and goals). It also needs to build the framework (systems and processes) and ultimately fill in the details (policies, procedures, metrics, roles, and responsibilities). Your business doesn’t need the puzzle pieces of someone else’s business. It needs your puzzle pieces.