Insights from 7 Stage Advisors
At 7 Stage Advisors, we believe in sharing knowledge that empowers business leaders and entrepreneurs like you. Dive into our latest articles, case studies, and expert insights designed to help you navigate the complexities of business growth. Whether you’re looking to refine your strategy, enhance operational efficiency, or foster leadership skills, our blog is your go-to resource for advice and inspiration.
AI Isn’t Just a Toy for Tech Nerds Anymore
When I first wrote about how The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi lines up with my business philosophy, I explained the comparison in a LinkedIn article. It was typical of my LinkedIn articles: an easy read with a useful business lesson. Then I heard about...
Managing the Line: What Tennis Teaches Us About Leading Teams with Precision
In business, there’s a big difference between managing tasks and guiding people. Managers keep things organized; leaders inspire teams to think ahead and solve problems before they become setbacks. A strong leader doesn’t just check the boxes—they shape a culture...
The “Art of War” Book Offer Lessons for Today’s Business Negotiations
Successful negotiators establish control before discussions even commence. Sun Tzu, the esteemed strategist behind The Art of War, articulated this principle centuries ago: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” The most effective...
How to Leverage Economic Seasons
One of the few certainties in business is change. Economic cycles shift, bringing periods of growth and contraction that directly impact businesses of all sizes. While these fluctuations may seem unpredictable, they follow recognizable patterns that top-performing...
How to Sell Your Company Without Sacrificing Value
Are you considering selling your company? Perhaps your firm has evolved from a fledgling startup into a mature, efficient operation. If you've done it right, it now thrives independently, no longer requiring your constant oversight. When your company reaches this...
Growth Hacks or a Roadmap for Sustainable Growth?
People often ask where the 7 Stages of Business Success originated. Were they invented out of thin air? In a way, yes—but not without purpose. Rooted in a deep passion for business strategy, this framework emerged after countless hours of analyzing and refining growth...
Purpose as Competitive Advantage
Standing out in an industry takes more than great products or services. Today's top companies embrace a sense of purpose, what’s often called the “why.” It’s the story, the cause, and the values that show the world what the business stands for. The “why” matters more...
Go Big with a Guaranteed Offer
Want to make your company stand out? Do you want to communicate your excellent standards? Do you want to ensure your business is not lumped in with your substandard competitors? Then, it's time for you to develop a high-value, guaranteed offer. At first, offering a...
Is the Owner of a $1 Million Company Qualified to Run a $5 Million Company?
Owners and senior executives are well aware of the challenges of promotions. Promotions are commonly employed as rewards for hard work and dedication. However, this strategy comes with challenges. Consider, for instance, an exemplary young employee who consistently...
Customer Insights Helped a Very Young Carl Gould Grow His First Business.
Carl Gould started his first company, a commercial landscaping firm, in his early twenties. After working for other landscapers for a few years, he thought he knew a few things about hunting for new clients. He must have been right because he was hired for three big...
The Power of the Obnoxious Offer
I often talk to my clients about the incredible power of the Obnoxious Offer. I named it in honor of one of my customers’ reactions to such a deal. When my 19-year-old self placed a $30,000 estimate in front of him, he freaked out. “Your pricing is obnoxious!" he...
Get the Business Ready to Sell (Even if You’re Not Putting it on the Market)
If your business is profitable and well-run, people are considering buying it. So whether you've noticed it or not, outsiders are evaluating the worth of your company. And while you may not want to sell your business quite yet, it's still wise to stay ahead of the...
Luck vs. Skills: Understanding the Stages of a Successful Business
It's easy to look at other businesses and attribute their success to luck. We often think success is about being in the right place at the right time. But coincidence and luck are never enough. Luck is useless if you don't know what to do with it. Unless you have a...
Why Even the Best Sales Professionals Need Scripts
I’m one of the best salespeople I know. I’m a trained public speaker who has sold hundreds of millions in products and merchandise. But I always rely on scripts when selling. So, I have to roll my eyes when someone tells me, “I don’t need a script,” or “I want to do...
Create Predictability with a Strategic Plan
A company’s strategic plan is the foundation of predictable growth. After all, a solid strategic plan affects everything your firm does or doesn’t do. And these actions (or lack of actions) send a clear message to your current and future customers. It is a guide...
Build a Business That Can Take Advantage of Opportunities
When people talk about success, they often use words like luck, fortune, or chance. Most large firms can look back and spot a few key events that helped propel the company upwards quickly. That might seem like luck to outsiders, but encountering those kinds of...
Ready to Leave the Solopreneur Phase?
Many companies are started by one person. It’s cost-effective, and it minimizes risk. But once you’ve successfully created a one-person business, growing can feel intimidating or even impossible. However almost every enterprise, at some point, was started by just one...
Use Amazon, Costco, and Dollar Tree Success Strategies to Grow Your Business
Some of the world’s most successful companies, like Amazon, Costco, and Dollar Tree, grew into industry leaders by adopting a few reliable growth strategies. And even small startups can emulate these highly effective strategies to develop their own companies. Here are...
How to Measure Your Most Valuable Intangible Asset: Your Employees
A company’s assets can be sorted into two buckets: tangible and intangible assets. Tangible assets are things the firm can buy or sell, such as inventory, real estate, equipment, machinery, offices, or company vehicles. Most business owners are pretty comfortable...
Scripts are for Closers
Selling Your Business? Avoid These Mistakes! Selling a business is not as straightforward as selling a house. After all, a company is a complex organism, and only some (or maybe none) of the value lies in physical assets. I’ve built and sold multiple businesses in my...