We help businesses create first-time boards of advisors
Using a streamlined method to get you up and running quickly without getting bogged down in a long, complicated process
Does this sound like you …
Business Growth is Slowing
We’re successful, but we need the next new thing. We have the ideas but we need someone to help us validate them.
Too Many Decision Bottlenecks
We miss opportunities because we’re sensitive to other family members feelings when setting project priorities.
More Time for Planning
We lack strategic direction, because we’re too caught up in the day-to-day operations to spend time on planning.
Didn’t See That Coming
We’re often blindsided with a crisis, because we don’t have any experience in the later stages of growth.
Creating a board of advisors could perhaps be the best investment a business owner can make
Why Haven’t You Created a Board Yet?
You’re not alone
5%
of middle market companies have an advisory board
86%
of businesses with an advisory board say it has had a significant impact
Top Concerns for Creating a Board of Advisors
We’ve developed a program that streamlines the creation of a board into 10 steps. It’s that easy.
If we say anymore it will sound complex.
If you can’t make the time, you may not be ready. You might be too busy working “in” the business rather than “on” the business.
Forming a board takes about 6 months. Sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, depending on your availability. Once the board is up and running you will be meeting about 4 times per year with some meeting preparation time.
The increased success of your business from the initiatives the board implements is many times more than the compensation cost of the board members.
You don’t lose any control. An advisory board unlike a board of directors has no fiduciary or decision making power. They only provide advice. You choose whether you want to use the advice.
Our Approach
Our approach is different than most
We’ve worked with many family businesses and have even been involved in ones ourselves. Everyone needs a board of advisors, but the typical process for creating one seems flawed.
We’ve developed a streamlined process that you can use to get up and running on your own without a long complicated and expensive consulting engagement. We remove the mystery of creating a board by providing you with a clear and detailed guide to create an effective board of advisors.
This is not your typical newsletter. In addition to current news and trendy topics, we bring a regular dose of real-world business crises. Sometimes edgy, sometimes funny, but always relatable. We like to think of it as The Harvard Business Review meets The National Enquirer. Because we feel we often learn more from the mistakes than just the successes. Sign up to receive our online newsletter.
Our Take
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”
-Henry Ford
Great things never come from comfort zones. We believe in order to be successful you need to have a continuous improvement mindset. Always challenging the status quo and being open to fresh new ideas from professionals who have been there, done that.
An advisory board can bring that to you. Creating a board of advisors could perhaps be the best investment that a business owner can make.
Feel like you’re getting to know us.
Ted
Clark
Ted Clark is an Executive Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, and was the Executive Director of the Northeastern University Center for Family Business for over 15 years. He has over 20 years of experience developing programs for and working with family businesses.
Ted
Knowles
Ted Knowles was the VP of Marketing, and a member of the second generation in his family business, Potpourri Group, which was a specialty online retailer. He draws on the experience of growth challenges and successes from a small startup into a larger enterprise to help family businesses identify and anticipate future issues through real-life, practical solutions. He has over 20 years of experience working with family business, through the Northeastern University Center for Family Business.
THE DEFINITIVE HOW-TO GUIDE FOR FAMILY AND PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESSES
Developing a Board of Advisors
A 10-step approach for creating a board of advisors. The definitive how-to guide for family and privately-owned businesses.
Our no-nonsense approach removes the mystery of creating a board and provides you with a clear how-to guide, insight, tools and methodology.
