“Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” – Dwight Eisenhower

by Guy Whitcroft | Mar 1, 2021 | BusinessFitness, Leadership, Strategy

Although this might, at first glance, seem contradictory, it does in fact make great sense. The point Eisenhower made so eloquently is that although plans invariably need changing during implementation, and so are useless if you stick rigidly to them, the act of...

Boards Accelerate Success & Increase Value for Small Companies, Too

by Guy Whitcroft | Feb 24, 2021 | Board & Governance, BusinessFitness, Growth, Strategy

I was reading an article the other day about how companies that successfully IPO typically show much higher valuations when they have a history of a proper board. If you think about it, this is not surprising. After all, a board can add immense value to a company in a...

“People who fail focus on what they will have to go through; people who succeed focus on what it will feel like at the end.” – Tony Robbins

by Guy Whitcroft | Feb 22, 2021 | BusinessFitness, Growth, Leadership, Strategy

This quote from Tony Robbins is so true – so often, we focus on the potential difficulties of what they will have to go through to reach their goals and, like the proverbial rabbit in the headlights, are stunned into inaction. Focus instead on how you’ll feel at the...

Proper Preparation for Productive Boards

by Guy Whitcroft | Feb 19, 2021 | Board & Governance, BusinessFitness, Leadership, Strategy

One of the things I’ve learnt in my 25+ years of board meetings is that effective company boards are those properly prepared for their meetings. Conversely, unprepared boards make for unproductive companies. As I’ve discussed before, a well-constructed board can add...

“The one path that never works is the most common one: doing nothing at all.” – Seth Godin, Tribes

by Guy Whitcroft | Feb 8, 2021 | BusinessFitness, Leadership, Strategy

Why is it that so many leaders – business and political – seem afraid of taking action? As Seth Godin says, doing nothing at all seems to be the most common path, but it’s is the one almost guaranteed to end badly. We see daily reports of inactivity leading to chaos,...

Board Meetings not Bored Meetings!

by Guy Whitcroft | Feb 4, 2021 | Board & Governance, BusinessFitness, Leadership, Strategy

I’m surprised at how many people – even company owners/CEOs – find board meetings boring, something to be avoided if possible. This simply shows how few understand the real benefits of a vibrant board to a business. A good board is key to a successful business. It...