Dr. Craig West, the founder of Capitaliz, has been working with business owners on succession and exit strategies for over 20 years. He believes that value acceleration is a powerful approach to building a successful and significant company. By identifying and leveraging your business’s key value drivers, you can accelerate growth and profitability, delivering exceptional value to customers, employees, and stakeholders.
According to Dr. West, owners who focus on building equity value in their businesses over the long term achieve the best exits at the highest value. While it is important to focus on day-to-day operations, profitability, and cash flow, the real game-changer is focusing on the equity value of the business. This approach can make a substantial difference in achieving better financial outcomes for the business.
Scott Snider, the president of the Exit Planning Institute, spoke at their annual summit about the importance of having a significant, transferable, ready, and attractive business that aligns with the owner’s goals. Value acceleration is one way to help build a significant company. By focusing on understanding customers’ needs, creating an engaging work environment for employees, optimizing operations, embracing innovation, and having a clear vision for the future, owners can accelerate value and make a lasting impact.
Dr. West outlines five steps to value acceleration, including understanding customers’ needs, focusing on employee engagement, optimizing operations and processes, embracing innovation, and having a clear and compelling vision for the future. He emphasizes the importance of overcoming common roadblocks such as reluctance to invest in building future value, short-term decision making, and not having a clear exit strategy in mind. By asking key questions before making decisions, owners can ensure that they are focused on building equity value.
In conclusion, owners can accelerate growth and profitability by focusing on key drivers such as value for customers, employees, and stakeholders. With a clear understanding of customers’ needs, a focus on employee engagement, optimized operations, innovation, and a compelling vision for the future, owners can build a company that delivers exceptional value and stands out in the marketplace. The Forbes Business Council, a prominent networking organization for business owners and leaders, offers resources and opportunities for growth and development.
