CEO Focus

Rainmakers’ myCOUNCIL is an invitation only peer advisory consulting group of 8-14 small business owners, presidents and CEO’s that meets monthly to confidentially discuss and gain insight on their challenges and opportunities. Do YOU:

• feel uncomfortable discussing business issues with employees or partners?
• spend too much time putting out fires rather than focusing on the big picture?
• do well with the operations but could use some help with sales and marketing?
• work too hard for the money you’re making?
• need someone you trust to keep you accountable?
• worry while on vacation?

Through the group facilitator and their peers, members’ progress extends far beyond improved financial results into areas of personal development and a balanced lifestyle.

Who is CEO Focus?

Rainmakers has partnered with CEO Focus to facilitate it’s nationally-recognized peer advisory board format for our myCOUNCIL membership of business owners and CEOs.  CEO Focus comes to Austin from Jim Muehlhausen, CPA, JD, and author of 51 Fatal Errors and How To Avoid Them.  CEO Focus’ program now flourishes in over 20 cities across the nation in part because it’s tailored specifically for the smaller and established entrepreneur needing proven and modern answers without the sales agendas.  CEO Focus’ no-nonsense approach delivers different and compelling results for each member:

• Increased accountability
• Business owners with similar backgrounds with whom to bounce ideas
• A strong support network
• Access to professionals with complimentary strengths
• Improved delegation skills
• Higher quality of living
• Increased profitability
• Business coaching input
• Improved level of business expertise
• Why should I spend my time and money to belong?

What’s needed to make membership successful for ME?

We typically find that four things must be present to justify belonging.  A member must have commitment, desire, humility, and justify the ROI.  If you are not committed to working on the tough issues facing your business, myCOUNCIL is not for you.  If you do not have a strong desire to do all the uncomfortable things that will accompany your commitment, myCOUNCIL is not for you.  If you do not have the humility to say “I don’t know all the answers.” as well as the willingness to get outside input, myCOUNCIL .  Lastly, you must be able to justify that the expense is less than the gain.  If the first three are present, the ROI takes care of itself.  Many members stay for many years. They do this because the cost of membership comes back in profits many times over.

What types of businesses belong?

Every variety of business.  Service, manufacturing, sales organizations, minority-run businesses, female-run businesses.  It is this diversity that adds to the value.  The government defines a “small” business as under $50 million in sales.  Most CEO group members are searching for a small business coach and a CEO group of peers to drive their business to the next level.

Shouldn’t I want a group with people in my industry?

No!  Your industry has inbred thinking.  What it takes to break things loose is ideas from people who don’t know all the “unwritten rules” of your industry.  We have seen it over and over, all the great ideas are from the people far outside your industry.

How often are the meetings?

Each group meets once per month.  Each group’s facilitator, or myCouncil Guide, also meets monthly with each member individually.

Aren’t the groups full of people who are struggling?

Absolutely not.  Every business has the occasional crisis.  However, the typical group member is the successful CEO who wants to be even more successful.  Our groups are full of bright, driven men and women.  For instance, in just one of CEO Focus’ smaller markets, members include three MBAs, a PhD., an attorney/MBA, two Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists, and a Statewide Blue Chip Award Winner, and a publicly traded company (NASDAQ)

Best Practices

One of the benefits of participating in is learning the best practices of other successful businesses.  Over the years, the sharing of best practices has saved millions of cumulative dollars for our members.  Below are some idea generators for best practices.  If you would like more information on best practices, sign up for our newsletter...Drumbeat.

• Do you have a 3-5 year business plan?
• Are you running your business from that plan?
• Do you set objectives and reach them (accountability)?
• Do you manage your business from a “dashboard?”
• Do you know your non-financial, critical performance measures?
• Is your purchasing function getting you the best deals from your preferred vendors?
• Are you using creative measures to deal with health care costs?

Interested?

Call or us!