1. Why consider the services of a Consultant?

2. Objective of today’s presentation.
To get you thinking about consultants and potentially your business a lit bit differently.
Demonstrate various ways in which a consultant – an outsider – can have a positive impact on your business.

4. The largest companies in the world have…
Highest paid CEO’s whose equity is part of their comp.
Arguably the best educated and experienced executive teams in the world with vast array of experience and skill sets
Significant access to capital to hire executive talent

7. The largest companies in the world…
with virtually unlimited access to talent and expertise…
…routinely utilize the services of consulting firms.
If it works for them…it might work for you!

8. Question for GNOEA Owners & Executives
Do you believe the CEO’s of Walmart, Apple, GE, Exxon, Wells Fargo, Samsung and AT& are:
more vested in
more passionate about
more dependent on the success of
their company than YOU are about your company?

9. Small to Midsize Businesses
Usually first or second generation owners.
Founders “grew up” in one industry….may times working for only one or two companies before starting their own.
Management team members earned their spot based on loyalty and tenure; often times “starting” with the founder – which often allow “weak spots” in terms of skills available vs required.
The Founder/CEO, more often than not, holds tight control over the management team; especially in family businesses.
The Founder/CEO has the mindset that “its MY company, it’s MY responsibility to make us successful, it’s MY responsibility to solve all the problems…MY family depending on ME…MY employees are relying on ME…etc. etc.

10. Being at the top- Good – Bad - Lonely

11. Have you ever felt like this?

12. TOP 5 Reasons not to use a consultant – or so you think.
There is no way someone who is not from my industry can understand my problems or my opportunities…and there is certainly no way they could help me without incurring a steep and long learning curve.
Why would I bring in an “outsider” into my business and share with them my financial information, my weaknesses, my business strategies, my customer lists. Why/how could I trust them??
My company is running just fine. Things couldn’t be better and I see no reason to change.
If I brought in a “consultant” my management team would revolt. What that means to them is an outsider coming in to tell them everything they are doing wrong, how to fix it…and the leave them with all the work.
I have problems, a lot of them, but I can’t afford to bring in someone to help.

13. What does a consulting firm provide?
A Fresh Perspective – unbiased and independent view to identify problems and opportunities
Access To Experience – cost effective way to bridge the gap of knowledge, experience and skill set of the existing management team.
Catalyst For Change – change is difficult and time consuming and at time there are “unpleasant tasks” to be done.
Facilitation – many management teams are often “timid” about challenging the CEO or each other for that matter. Having a experienced independent third party facilitate critical meetings can ensure the “difficult” questions are asked…as well as potentially providing a perspective very different from the teams
Validation of Concepts – frustrating but true I it often takes a “perceived” expert, from the outside, to validate ideas for managements acceptance.

14. When would you use a consultant?
You recognize you company has a specific problem or a specific growth opportunity….but your existing management team lacks the skills and/or experiences and/or the time to be able to tackle the project effectively.
You are experiencing the symptoms of a problem(s) i.e. lower G/M, an increase in employee turnover, increasing operating costs, declining sales growth, reduction in sales pipeline etc. etc. but you and your team cannot figure out what the root causes to the problem(s)
Things in your business are going well…but could they be better? Is the way you are running the business today going to be valid in 5 years. Have you “accepted” current performance or do you want better…going from good to great.

15. What’s the process……
Be 100% committed and open to the idea of improving your companies performance through the expertise of a consulting firm.
I strongly recommend that you include your management team in your decision making process. Even if they don’t “buy-in” to the idea they should be involved in the process.
Clearly layout your expectations and desired outcomes. (Recognize these may change during the process.)
Interview a number of consultants to ensure that there is a good “cultural fit”. Select a consultant that you believe is going to be strong enough to “stand up” to you and is not hesitant about raising difficult and sensitive issues. I believe it is extremely important to select a consultant that does not have a “god complex”….and is a believer in collaboration.

16. Implementation with the team
Stages of a project.
Improvement
Implementation with the team
Recommending solutions based on a collaborative process
Diagnosing the issue independently and collaboratively with company team
Understanding issue through presentation and questioning…lots of questioning

17. Hopefully my first objective is accomplished!
To get you thinking about consultants and potentially your business a lit bit differently.
Let’s move on and try to make what I have been talking about relevant to your businesses.

18. Primary Focus Areas of Expertise
Process
Culture
People

19. Processes Dashboard Reports – by department and company
Effective
Measured
Shared Results
Accountability
Recognition +/-
Dashboard Reports – by department and company
Use data as a daily management tool
Continuous Review
Do not accept status quo – continuous challenge to the organization

20. Skillsets and Experience
Cultural Fit
Alignment of Expectations
Review Process – Career Path
Retention Program

21. Do you have these in your company. Does anyone know besides you
Do you have these in your company? Does anyone know besides you? Are they “active” or “passive”?
Vision
Mission
Culture
What are your guiding principles?
How are you going to provide your services or product to the market you are serving.
What is your ultimate goal? Where are you taking your company?

22. Why Consider Blue Water Business Advisors?
Diverse experience in working for different types of ownership groups. 11 in Total
Direct hands-on experience in 12 different industries.
A member of 20 different management teams.
Resulting in a wide range of experiences and skill sets, across multiple industries, multiple states and multiple ownership groups.

23. Blue Water Founding Principles
The clients best interests will always be the singular focus of Blue Water Business Advisors
Complete candor and honesty at all times – no matter how uncomfortable a situation or sensitive the subject.
Foster trust at all levels of management through true collaborative relationships,

24. Client Testimonials and References

25. Objective of today’s presentation.
To get you thinking about consultants and potentially your business a lit bit differently.
Demonstrate various ways in which a consultant – an outsider – can have a positive impact on your business.

26. Blue Water’s Mission-Vision-Culture
Vision – Blue Water will become a highly respected business consulting firm in the greater New Orleans area. We will be known for taking a practical hands-on approach to solving problems abd/or taking advantage of opportunities by developing effective, executable and measured action plans.
Mission – To meet the needs of our clients by placing the clients best interest above all else, being candid in addressing the most sensitive and difficult issues and developing a collaborative relationship with our clients.
Culture – Blue Water will always be guided by the principles of Integrity, Honesty, Professionalism, Trust, Fun and Accountability in every aspects of its business.