Getting our heads out of the weeds!

I refer to the syndrome of never getting out of the details as being “in the weeds.” Looking at the big picture every now and then is essential if you are going to develop good strategy and seriously consider the matter of future direction. Looking ahead is not a luxury which we do when there is nothing else to do – it is the main game! This is hard to accept when we are up to our necks in the proverbial SH1T.

Nethertheless….

We think strategy days should be built into the annual business calendar – shifting the focus to ‘what to do?’ (direction) from ‘how to do?’ (logistics/execution) is essential to help set direction and re-energise. Management teams love it when they understand that their company has a great and enduring future that has been thought about and carefully considered even better when they have been consulted and included in some part of the process.

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Recent posts

20 November 2024 . Michael McGrath

Confessions of a Bulldust Detector

James Thompson has written a piece in the AFR citing Gary Wiess' advice to CFO’s, suggesting, they focus on the numbers, “of course.” He goes on to say “At the very basic level, it is the accumulation of the financial data in a cohesive, coherent manner that can be understood.” Sounds simple but as Weiss says, “it’s not always a given.”

6 November 2024 . Michael McGrath

Our Thoughts on Leadership

Leadership is critical. The ability to guide, influence and have others follow you, carries great responsibility.

16 October 2024 . Michael McGrath

Mike’s Story

In my first experience with selling a business, I scaled up from a single pizza delivery shop to 84 stores, only to realize I had undersold the business. Here's what I learned during my first M&A deal and why you shouldn’t rush in without some help.

18 September 2024 . Michael McGrath

A Business Lesson from Mike: When a Giant Buyer Comes Knocking

Selling your business is likely to involve a major mismatch in terms of the scale and size of the likely buyer. Getting in the ring with them by yourself and without a clear strategy, might not work out so well for you.

4 September 2024 . Michael McGrath

10 Steps You Need To Follow Before Selling Your Business

Selling a business isn't like selling a house. A business is a dynamic asset—customers, management, staff, stock, IP, and goodwill all contribute. The key is to always run your business professionally and profitably, focusing on value creation and risk mitigation. So why wait until you’re ready to sell? Here are my top 10 tips to prepare your business before you sell.

28 August 2024 . Michael McGrath

The Hidden Dangers of Publicising Your Business Sale

Publicising your intention to sell makes your business vulnerable to perceptions of instability among staff, competitors, clients, and suppliers. Small to medium-sized companies are delicately balanced, and the last thing an owner needs is staff hearing rumours that the business is for sale.

8 August 2024 . Michael McGrath

Sell, Sell, Sell, The Media Overload

We are often asked at Oasis Partners, when there is market volatility or other geopolitical uncertainties, whether it’s still a good time to sell a business. The reality is that we are selling most of our clients to much larger corporate acquirers where there are strong synergies and reasons to do a deal.

23 July 2024 . Michael McGrath

The Rising Retirement Age: Implications for Business Owners

At Oasis Partners we are seeing about half our transactions are shareholders selling for age related reasons, retirement or health. The other half are selling for other reasons such as wanting a change or feeling that a merger would provide benefits at their particular stage of the business lifecycle.

17 July 2024 . Michael McGrath

The Boomers are Retiring: Opportunities for Business Buyers

It turns out the average retirement age for Australians is the highest it's been since the 1970s. With apparently 20% of new employment since 2019 being people aged 55 and above!

27 June 2024 . Michael McGrath

Top CEO reflects on his biggest mistakes

The co-founder and CEO of Koda Capital, Paul Heath, spoke on the ’15 Minutes with the BOSS podcast’ about the biggest mistakes he’s made in his career. He spoke often of change, and the impact that change can have on the people in your organisation.

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