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:
- identifies and groups the relevant pieces of each puzzle
- sorts the exterior framing pieces from the interior pieces
- 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.
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Programs
Business Performance
Our proprietary C.O.R.E. Business Ssytems™ program focuses your organization on the critical success factors. To grow strong and sustainable, you need to set goals, evaluate existing systems and processes, and make decisions on how you will do business in the future.
Organizational Change
As organizations grow, business processes, systems, and roles need to be consciously changed. The gradual adaptations that result from organic growth are usually not optimized for future, continued growth.
Start-up and Early Stage
The foundation you create for your business is crucial to your success. How you define your business, the market opportunity you pursue, and your business model are three key elements that impact your future.
Facilitated Mastermind Groups
The foundation you create for your business is crucial to your success. How you define your business, the market opportunity you pursue, and your business model are three key elements that impact your future.
Small Business Government Contractors and Grant Recipients
Small businesses engaged with government grant (SBIR, STTR, and other programs) and acquisition contracts must comply with for-profit regulations and requirements imposed by those programs. These rules impact every aspect of how business is done.
From the time the award is signed or the first dollar is spent, you have agreed to the terms and conditions. What are those terms and conditions? How do you meet the requirements affordably?
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Are you ready to transform your business?
Since its founding, F.O.C.U.S. Resources℠ has provided strategic business services to over 800 client companies. Our clients are located throughout North America and include some internationally recognized consumer brands, computer gaming companies, and technology innovators. We’ve worked with many of these companies to grow their revenues and to raise over $750 million in non-dilutive funding like grants and crowdfunding, as well as angel investors, venture capital, private equity, and IPOs.
Consulting Services
Clients and Colleagues Testimonials
I am honored to call Lea my friend and business associate. Lea and her team do exactly what they say, and this is rare in business. When she speaks, I listen and implement her design and plans in our company.
Some things are worth investing in because their value goes beyond initial projections and can’t simply be measured in just dollars. I have found the services of Focus Resources to be one of
those investments. It has been invaluable to the continued growth of my business.
Small business owners/executives wear lots of hats and usually are very good at creating the vision and goals for their organization. The challenge often times
is in translating the vision and goals into actionable steps and key measurable objectives that move the
organization forward.
F.O.C.U.S. Resources has the experience and skills to cut through the minutia and guide the road map process.They are fast, efficient financial and business experts that have helped us meet our goals.
Lea Strickland brought the knowledge and experiences we specifically needed for developing our Commercialization Plan for our Phase II SBIR proposal. This included expertise in the SBIR program, government accounting regulations and in-depth knowledge of finance and commercialization in general.”
Lea’s expertise helped make sure that the “free money” from SBIR funding truly came without too much costs in terms of time, effort, and compliance. There is no substitute for the experience of a world expert like Lea & we strongly recommend her.
I was recently introduced to Lea while working on a Federal grant proposal. Thank God! She is wonderful to work with because of her unique ability to translate dry, complex budget prep/accounting “must do’s” into easy to understand concepts. Just yesterday I was a participant in one of her workshops – it was down to earth, interactive, and interesting. Lea’s focus is altruistic. She’s willing to roll up her sleeves with you, answer and work on your firm-specific questions and solutions – giving you real action steps to take home and apply. I’d recommend her to anyone needing help with bookkeeping and accounting, especially if you’re entering the Federal grant/contract arena.
Lea is a great authority on small business government grants and has helped me gain mastery of such topics as allowability, audits, and investment considerations. She has been a reliable and confident resource for my company.
Smart businesspeople don’t just come up with ideas-they fill needs. Lea Strickland is one of those people who approaches everything she does to fill real, pressing needs for her clients. With a background ranging from accounting and financial guidance to a track record of spurring excellence in operations, customer service, marketing, and sales, Lea is the ultimate go-to resource for entrepreneurs who have incredible products and services but need that little something (or a lot) extra to make their businesses succeed in a fast-paced, ever-changing marketplace.
Lea is a great creative and strategic thinker and doer on business issues. I have used Lea as a resource on government contracting and other issues and always find her to be knowledgeable, helpful and well-networked. Through her writings and workshops, Lea has made valuable resources available … her clients are lucky to have her on their side.