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in 🔶 general
May 04

The MasterPlan Advanced
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Over the last few years, we have released 3 programs as part of The MasterPlan universe:

  • The MasterPlan (Insiders and Legacy)

  • Implementing the MasterPlan (Insiders and Legacy)

  • A MidLife Strategy Update (Legacy)

Two consequential new programs are now being released for our members.

  • The MasterPlan Advanced (Insiders & Legacy)

  • The MasterPlan. Next Level (Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level)

The MasterPlan and Implementing the MasterPlan programs were and remain the most watched programs of all time on StrategyTraining.com. A MidLife Strategy Update is the most watched program among Legacy programs. These are also the programs that got the most rave reviews on how they changed members' careers and life plans. How it opened their eyes to things they never considered and nudged them to set up a path they never dared to follow before going through the programs. Many members and clients told me that they return to The MasterPlan program on at least an annual basis. 

This is from a recent call I had with a long-time client:

"The MasterPlan, I will review that again, because every year things change, and there are still some concepts in there that I have not embedded properly. And maybe there are some things that you forget that you need to pay attention to."

The MasterPlan and Implementing the MasterPlan programs summarized the critical skills and strategies we developed for our most successful executive coaching clients and gave you a blueprint to significantly alter your career. Maintaining a high level of performance is NOT about simply having the problem-solving skills of a McKinsey, KKR, Google, BCG, et al. senior leader that we teach our members. It's about MORE than communication and leadership skills. If you want to operate at the level of our most successful executive clients like Andrew, Abhishek, Richard, Fei, Chetan, and Tatiana, and CEO clients, The MasterPlan program was designed to help you with that. It literally changed people's lives.

But there is always the NEXT level. 

The MasterPlan covered how to live comfortably, and with a big focus on career success. What it doesn't cover, though, is how to become wealthy, how to build enduring relationships, how to invest, how to strategically retire, how to be healthy, retirement and the dreaded and often unplanned part of retirement. Wealth is more than comfort. When you can travel anywhere in the world. When you can dine at the finest five-star restaurants and not even bother to look at the price. That takes a whole new level of planning and execution, and that's why we go into wealth creation in The MasterPlan Advanced. Relationships are often ignored but as we get older, for many people, it becomes the biggest issue in terms of happiness and wealth creation/destruction. Yet, most clients do not have a strategy for building enduring intimate and professional relationships. They stumble into and out of them, not realizing the immense costs of loneliness and/or bad relationships. 

The MasterPlan Advanced is about how to go from well-off to wealthy. 

And we are taking it to the next level this year in two parallel tracks

Track One: The Insiders and Legacy members now have a new program, The MasterPlan Advanced (the first 5 episodes were released today).

Track Two: The Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level) members will have an in-depth exclusive members-only advanced book, "The MasterPlan. Next Level." It can only be accessible at the Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level. Think of that book as the bridge between The MasterPlan and The MasterPlan Advanced. The release of "The MasterPlan. Next Level" will start in a few days. We will discuss The MasterPlan. Next Level in a separate email.

The MasterPlan Advanced goes a few levels up in planning out your career trajectory, wealth accumulation, relationships, investment strategy, and life trajectory. It's built upon ten foundational pillars that should be in place. We are not going to be discussing basic investment advice like setting up brokerage accounts. That information can be easily found. We are going to explain the strategies that result in a true difference. Each pillar is meticulously crafted and explained to address some critical aspects of life, business, and career strategy. It is based on our personal experiences redoing our MasterPlans for the next few decades and based on working with some of our most successful executive coaching clients over the last ~15 years.

NOTE: Many parts of this program will go deeply into investing, retirement planning, relationship building, protecting and improving health. However, please keep in mind that we are not financial advisors, accountants, doctors, or lawyers, nor are we holding ourselves out to be. We are sharing with you our own experiences, the experience of working with many very successful clients over a period of almost 15 years (StrategyTraining.com / FIRMSconsulting is turning 15 this year!), and what we would do if we were in your place. This and any of our programs are not a substitute for financial, legal, health, or other specialized advice from a relevant professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.

Each pillar is an integral part of a comprehensive strategy that can help you build a very different future for yourself than what you would have if you just remained on your current trajectory.

Some, but not all, aspects that are covered include:

- How to set up the rules for investing to be better than the average.
- How to plan your retirement so you and your spouse can enjoy your golden years versus worry about money. How are you going to live when you are drawing down your wealth? 
- When the day comes when your or your spouse’s mental faculties are not as sharp or physical capabilities are not as enabling, are you ready for that time? How can you prepare?
- Relationships are like continents. They are always moving by three centimeters a year. And over a long enough time, they become unrecognizable. Are you slowly drifting apart? Or are you slowly drifting closer together? Have you built the skill set to develop close relationships, and keep close relationships? Do you pick the person you want or do you hope to get picked at all, and by anyone?
- You’ve been brainwashed to think certain things to be true but are not actually true. How do you figure out what is true and what is false for you, and not let false beliefs run your life and keep your wealth ceiling down?
- Setting up a passive income machine in the low tax bracket. 
- How to continue rising up in your career from the age of 45. Viewing the age of 45 as the ceiling is a significant trap.
- Adopting a few basic habits, which most people don't do, to protect your health as you reach your late 30s or early 40s, as your body gradually wears down.
- How can you be the professional who creates something new versus being a shifter of content and information?

Most people have lost that skill. The majority never had it. You need the cognitive ability to generate new ideas and physically create things, so you don't lose that capability. You don't want to become someone who can only shuffle others' information and content. A clear sign of deterioration is when you no longer recognize that you're just shifting content. For example, if you're only copying others' investment ideas, you're late to the game, and the value of the investment diminishes if someone else has already exploited it. Certain cognitive exercises and goals are necessary to maintain this ability.

Remember that we also have The MasterPlan Acceleration executive coaching program where you can work personally with me and Michael. Clearly, The MasterPlan is a major part of what we do, and it has changed many lives. 

We are committed to guiding you every step of the way as you start on this journey to progress even further in your career, set yourself up for a wealthier and more fulfilling life, and building your legacy.

The MasterPlan Advanced (Insiders & Legacy Members)

in 🔶 general
May 03

We have just released the third and final update (260 SLIDES) for Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 (total of 681 SLIDES) in the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level). This is a continuation of the Tech M&A study on StrategyTraining.com. This is Phase 2 when we are preparing for Day 1 to launch the business.

The third update of Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 covers crucial topics such as:

  • Appendix A Project Logic and charters

  • Appendix B ‘AS-IS’ Findings

  • OP IT Financial Statements Analysis

  • OT IT Financial Statements Analysis

  • OD IT Financial Statements Analysis

  • Review of OP IT Valuation

  • Review of OT IT Valuation

  • Review of OD IT Valuation

  • Approach

  • OP IT Technologies in a nutshell

  • The ring-fenced entities

  • Technical Operations

  • People and H&M

  • Optimal Capital Structure

  • Valuation Methodologies

  • Valuation Framework

  • Shareholding Allocation Methodologies

  • Appendix D - High-Level trend evaluation and IT requirements by market

  • Appendix F - Key technologies

  • Appendix G - Corporate identity and branding

HOW TO FIND THE TECH M&A MERGER STRATEGY STUDY PHASE 2 (202 + 219 + 260 SLIDES):

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "FULL ENGAGEMENTS" dropdown. 
3. Select "11 Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 (681 SLIDES)."
4. Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 consists of 57 parts for the updates 1, 2, and 3.

If you are The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, member, here is the direct link to this particular update (202 + 219 + 260 SLIDES).

If you joined an Advanced Level of the Strategy Control Room today, you would find the most powerful strategy, problem-solving, consulting, and results-oriented leadership reading library in the world. The resources include:

  • Michael's explanation slides for selected programs on StrategyTraining.com

  • 11 full engagements

  • Change Management Influence & Persuasion Center of Excellence 

  • Detailed Business Case Methodology Center of Excellence 

  • Encyclopedia of Strategy Analyses Center of Excellence 

  • One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding / Consulting Mastery Center of Excellence

  • 31 proposals

  • Flipcharts

  • Layout guides

  • 17 strategy and problem-solving books which we do not make available anywhere else

  • 2 brand new strategy and problem-solving books just released and not available anywhere else

  • 11 book drafts never before available and not available anywhere else

  • Case interview materials for Felix, Rafik, Samantha, and Sanjeev, case interview exhibits, case interview solutions

  • The evolution of corporate strategy

  • The business case toolkit

  • Implementation and operation toolkit

  • Corporate strategy toolkit

  • Strategy maps

  • And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

in 🔶 general
April 25

From Junior Consultant to Partner Material
(New to StrategyTraining.com)

This program is designed to help you expedite your professional development over a 21-day period. The path from junior professional to being viewed as partner material (or executive material if you are outside of consulting) requires a refined set of skills, leadership traits, and a strategic mindset that are often overlooked. 

Here are some of the things covered in this program:

- The most fundamental thing you need to succeed within a consulting firm (the same is applicable to any organization)
- How to approach changing things within your organization
- The mindset that makes someone a very successful consultant (the same mindset gives you a hard-to-copy competitive advantage outside of consulting as well)
- How to set yourself up for promotion (in consulting and outside of consulting)
- What are the skills consultants have to develop to be considered high potential by senior partners (the same skills are needed to be viewed as a high-potential leader within any organization)
- How to communicate with your principals, partners, and other senior decision-makers
- How to position yourself as a rising star worthy of advancement
- How to handle situations when your superior is upset
- What is one thing you should not do when a senior manager, principal, or senior partner on the team is upset about a situation related to your work
- How to ask senior people for help in a way that reduces the chances they get annoyed with you
- How to disagree with colleagues in a way that reduces the chances you will alienate them or make them not like you 
- Learning plan (a list of specific resources to focus on, step by step) for developing a strong foundation as a management consultant

Not just for consultants:

While the guidance in this program is given within the context of management consulting, the skills, characteristics, and mindset covered in this program can help you rise as a high-performing leader within any organization. Long-term members know that no matter which organization (whether you are in consulting or not) you are a part of, you can walk away from any of our programs with unique insights, understanding, and skills that can set you apart within your organization. The majority of our members are not in consulting. The skills we teach are even more powerful outside of consulting because they are so rare outside of consulting.

Accessing the Program:

If you are an Insider or Legacy member, here is the direct link to the program. Not a member yet and want NOT to miss another day? Enroll here (scroll down to membership options) and select either an Insider or Legacy membership:

www.strategytraining.com/

This
program and other StrategyTraining.com programs are your chance to become the high-performing leader your firm is seeking (and the world desperately needs). 

Take care,

Kris Safarova
CEO, FIRMSconsulting.com

P.S. StrategyTraining.com is the most powerful platform in the world to help you make your mark as a leader who moves the world forward.

in 🔶 general
July 09, 2022

We are so excited to see you in our brand-new community! Please read and follow these rules to have the best experience in this group.

1. Be kind, welcoming, and respectful to everyone.

We're here to create a friendly and professional environment. Make sure that no one would feel left out. Nobody is a stranger.

2. Keep everything positive.

This community should stay a safe place for everybody. We will not tolerate any kind of negativity, hate speech, bullying, and/or degrading/condescending comments. You are as valuable and important as everyone in this community.

3. Help others in the same way you want them to help you.

This is a place for community members to lift each other up. Ask the community questions. Answer questions posted. Give advice. Provide feedback. Don't hesitate to ask community members if you are unsure of something. This is not a Q&A community to ask questions for the FC team. This is an opportunity for Insiders to help each other and build bonds that last for years. Many Insiders have been friends for years, some have dated, and a few have married. This is because this is a community of ambitious and successful people.

4. Share your #wins and #lessons.

Success is not only about the grand victory at the end of the journey, but it is about every little step forward that you took toward your goal. Let others know about your #wins and #lessons to inspire them.

Feel free to share your stories by hitting “Write Post” button in the top right corner.

8
in 🔶 general
April 25

We have just released the second update (219 SLIDES) for Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 (total of 421 SLIDES) in the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level). This is a continuation of the Tech M&A study on StrategyTraining.com. This is Phase 2 when we are preparing for Day 1 to launch the business.

The second update of Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 covers crucial topics such as:

  • Role Descriptors for Newco’s Management Team

  • Base Case Scenario Analysis

  • Mapping existing businesses onto proposed strategic model

  • Business operations

  • Technical operations

  • Existing Customer IT Needs Assessment

  • Technology options and recommendations

  • Technical Options

  • Technical Infrastructure Priorities

  • System Integration Methodologies & Migration Model

  • People Processes and HRM in Newco - Approach, Reward strategy, & Conditions of service

  • POV on Share Option Schemes

  • People Processes and HRM in Newco - Proposed grading system

  • Communication and Change Management

  • Preparing for ‘Day One’ and beyond

HOW TO FIND THE TECH M&A MERGER STRATEGY STUDY PHASE 2 (202 + 219 SLIDES):

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "FULL ENGAGEMENTS" dropdown. 
3. Select "11 Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 (421 SLIDES)."
4. Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 consists of 36 parts for the updates 1 and 2.

If you are The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, member, here is the direct link to this particular update (202 + 219 SLIDES).

If you joined an Advanced Level of the Strategy Control Room today, you would find the most powerful strategy, problem-solving, consulting, and results-oriented leadership reading library in the world. The resources include:

  • Michael's explanation slides for selected programs on StrategyTraining.com

  • 10 full engagements

  • Change Management Influence & Persuasion Center of Excellence 

  • Detailed Business Case Methodology Center of Excellence 

  • Encyclopedia of Strategy Analyses Center of Excellence 

  • One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding / Consulting Mastery Center of Excellence

  • 31 proposals

  • Flipcharts

  • Layout guides

  • 17 strategy and problem-solving books which we do not make available anywhere else

  • 2 brand new strategy and problem-solving books just released and not available anywhere else

  • 11 book drafts never before available and not available anywhere else

  • Case interview materials for Felix, Rafik, Samantha, and Sanjeev, case interview exhibits, case interview solutions

  • The evolution of corporate strategy

  • The business case toolkit

  • Implementation and operation toolkit

  • Corporate strategy toolkit

  • Strategy maps

  • And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

in 🔶 general
April 18

We have just released the first update (202 SLIDES) for Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 in the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level). This is a continuation of the Tech M&A study on StrategyTraining.com. This is Phase 2 when we are preparing for Day 1 to launch the business.

Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 covers crucial topics such as:

  • Engagement Logic and Charters

  • Project Book and Executive Summary

  • Strategic Ambition and Business Model

  • Governance, Macro Organisation, and the ‘Executive Dashboard’

  • Finance, Funding, Shareholding and SEP criteria

  • Financial Model of the Merged Entity

  • People, H&M and Communication

  • Technical Options and Risks

  • Legal

  • Visualizing ‘Day One’

  • Conclusion and the Way Forward

  • Understanding the Hardware Segment

  • Understanding the Software Segment

  • Understanding the Professional Services and Support Segment

  • Competitor analysis

HOW TO FIND THE TECH M&A MERGER STRATEGY STUDY PHASE 2 (202 SLIDES):

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "FULL ENGAGEMENTS" dropdown. 
3. Select "11 Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 (202 SLIDES)."
4. Tech M&A Merger Strategy Study Phase 2 consists of 15 parts for the first update.

If you are The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, member, here is the direct link to this particular update (202 SLIDES).

If you joined an Advanced Level of the Strategy Control Room today, you would find the most powerful strategy, problem-solving, consulting, and results-oriented leadership reading library in the world. The resources include:

  • Michael's explanation slides for selected programs on StrategyTraining.com

  • 10 full engagements

  • Change Management Influence & Persuasion Center of Excellence 

  • Detailed Business Case Methodology Center of Excellence 

  • Encyclopedia of Strategy Analyses Center of Excellence 

  • One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding / Consulting Mastery Center of Excellence

  • 31 proposals

  • Flipcharts

  • Layout guides

  • 17 strategy and problem-solving books which we do not make available anywhere else

  • 2 brand new strategy and problem-solving books just released and not available anywhere else

  • 11 book drafts never before available and not available anywhere else

  • Case interview materials for Felix, Rafik, Samantha, and Sanjeev, case interview exhibits, case interview solutions

  • The evolution of corporate strategy

  • The business case toolkit

  • Implementation and operation toolkit

  • Corporate strategy toolkit

  • Strategy maps

  • And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

in 🔶 general
April 18

9 Reasons Leaders Are Ignored
https://www.strategytraining.com/programs/9-reasons-leaders-are-ignored?category_id=116316

We just released the first 5 episodes of a new 10-part video program available to Insiders and Legacy members. In this new program, you will discover the 9 key reasons why leaders are often ignored in meetings and other forms of communication. You will also learn the strategies to effectively address each of these issues. If you are being overlooked by your colleagues, you will be able to identify the root causes and learn how to start fixing them.

The overarching goal of this program is to show you that there are ways to meaningfully elevate your level of executive presence and gravitas. I want you to leave this experience with the conviction that you can build your executive presence and communication skills and command the attention and respect you deserve.

As some of you know, I have personally experienced the immense frustration of having credit for my work stolen or being dismissed in group settings. Those were often humiliating experiences. Through rigorous study, experimentation, testing, exploring various fields of study and pulling relevant pieces together, and working with some of the most elite voice coaches in the world, I was able to transform the way I present myself and command the attention of any audience. I also helped many people do the same. 

Drawing upon years of hard-earned expertise, this is a rare opportunity to learn from someone who has been in your shoes (and likely worse) and successfully transformed their speaking abilities. I encourage you to approach this program with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to promptly put the lessons into practice.

If you've ever felt sidelined or unheard, let this be the turning point. You have the power to change the narrative and emerge as a true leader within your organization and your industry.

If you are a Legacy or Insider member, you can access the "9 Reasons Leaders Are Ignored" series in your account on
StrategyTraining.com. And if you are not a member, you can enroll here (scroll down to membership options):

www.strategytraining.com

Thank you for being a part of the
StrategyTraining.com community. Your growth and success are our mission, and we are here to support you every step of the way.

Warm regards,

Kris Safarova 
Presiding Partner
FIRMSconsulting.com & StrategyTraining.com

P.S. This program gives you a glimpse into what is inside the Speak Without Limits coaching program. (Michael teaches his equally powerful and unique broad range of approaches as well.) If you want to work directly with me and Michael to develop Communcation and Executive Presence skills, you can apply to join the Speak Without Limits (Executive Presence and Communication) coaching program. Learn more
here and apply. I look forward to personally working with you to help you become a more confident, influential, and respected leader.

in 🔶 general
April 09

We have just released Part 2 of One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding / Consulting Mastery (334 SLIDES) in the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level), Center of Excellence.

Part 2 of One-Week Immersion is designed to equip you and your team with useful consulting tools before you deploy to the battleground. This particular update covers crucial topics such as:

  • Coaching and Feedback

  • Conducting Analyses in Strategy Projects

  • Conducting Focus Interviews for Strategy Projects

  • Conducting Telephone-Interview Based Strategy Research

  • Confidentiality, Consulting Guard, Operating Procedures, Mindset and Behaviours

  • Designing Slides in Strategy Projects

  • Financial Analyses Framework

  • High-Performance Organizations

  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • Managing a Strategy or Operations Engagement

  • Managing Research in a Strategy Engagement

  • Pairwise Feedback

  • PDR and Effective meetings

  • Roles and Responsibility Charting

  • Strategy Map — Process Mapping

  • Using Project Coordinators

  • Writing Effective Strategy Presentations

HOW TO FIND THE ONE-WEEK IMMERSION: CONSULTING ONBOARDING / CONSULTING MASTERY PART 2 CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (334 SLIDES):

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "CENTER OF EXCELLENCE" dropdown. 
3. Select "One-Week Immersion: Consulting Mastery Part 2."
4. One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding / Consulting Mastery Part 2 consists of 17 parts. 

If you are The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, member, here is the direct link to this particular update (334 SLIDES).

If you joined an Advanced Level of the Strategy Control Room today, you would find the most powerful strategy, problem-solving, consulting, and results-oriented leadership reading library in the world. The resources include:

  • Michael's explanation slides for selected programs on StrategyTraining.com

  • 9 full engagements

  • Change Management Influence & Persuasion Center of Excellence 

  • Detailed Business Case Methodology Center of Excellence 

  • One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding / Consulting Mastery Center of Excellence

  • 31 proposals

  • Flipcharts

  • Layout guides

  • 17 strategy and problem-solving books which we do not make available anywhere else

  • 2 brand new strategy and problem-solving books just released and not available anywhere else

  • 11 book drafts never before available and not available anywhere else

  • Case interview materials for Felix, Rafik, Samantha, and Sanjeev, case interview exhibits, case interview solutions

  • The evolution of corporate strategy

  • The business case toolkit

  • Implementation and operation toolkit

  • Corporate strategy toolkit

  • Strategy maps

  • And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

in 🔶 general
April 10
in 🔶 general
April 03