June 21

June 9 - June 15, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

Most organizations don’t fail for lack of strategy. They fail because the strategy isn’t operationalized, because there is no structured way to align daily decisions with long-term objectives.

We just released a full study for the Strategy Control Room Advanced members: 207 slides, detailing how to build a Business Management Process (BMP) using the Balanced Scorecard and Plan-Do-Review (PDR) approach. It’s the same structure we’ve used with global clients to drive meaningful value that earns you trusted advisor reputation.

For Insider members, we continue our deep-dive series on building a consulting practice (Level II), managing promotions, and shaping a life that is not only successful but also has meaning and where you feel happy. As Albert Einstein said, "Do not strive to be successful. Strive to ensure that your life has meaning."

Legacy members receive additional training on communicating under pressure, navigating uncertainty in career direction, and finding sponsors, not by asking, but by becoming the kind of leader people want to support.

If you're focused on execution, leadership, and career acceleration, these new releases are directly relevant. They are designed to support important decisions, even under severe pressure.

Here’s what was released for StrategyTraining.com members:

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

A major update, a whole new study (207 slides released altogether), is available to the SCRA members.

Sunday
Balanced Scorecard Implementation - A major update to the SCRA. 207 SLIDES. Business Management Processes (BMP) remain an essential way to run a business. They cannot be ignored. So we released a full new study showing how we created a BMP using the Balanced ScoreCard (BSC) and the Plan-Do-Review (PDR) process. You will see the entire scorecard, KPIs, and development process, an effective way of translating strategy to action.

For Insider Members

These new training episodes were released.

Friday
The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 14 of 18
This 18-part Insider program challenges the conventional wisdom of career growth, helping ambitious professionals rethink promotions, leadership roles, and long-term wealth creation.
Episode title: Action Next Step #9

Saturday
(NEW) Building a Consulting Practice. Level II – Episode 4 of TBD
Building a Consulting Practice (Level 2) picks up where Building a Consulting Practice (Level 1) left off. While Level 1 lays the foundational principles of setting up or rebuilding a consulting business, whether as an independent firm or as a practice within a major consulting firm, Level 2 takes you into the advanced art of turning routine client work into an engine for long-term growth.

Michael opens the door to rarely discussed skills: how to reframe client conversations away from low-value, transactional tasks and into high-impact, strategic engagements. How to uncover hidden opportunities even when no obvious “problem” exists, and how to position yourself as a trusted partner invited into the most critical issues, not as a vendor chasing projects.

Through the lens of a real-world operations strategy study, you will see how an unglamorous project became the seedbed for a completely new consulting practice. You’ll learn how to apply sharp strategic thinking in operational contexts, how to triangulate discussions toward your strengths, and how to scale a practice that thrives beyond any single engagement.

Level 1 teaches you the business of consulting. Level 2 shows you how to expand that business into a powerhouse. Together, in addition to a few other programs on StrategyTraining.com, such as Partnership. Memoir, Rebuilding a Consulting Practice, How to Build an Innovation Division, these programs provide a roadmap for consultants at every stage who are ready to master not just delivery, but sustainable, long-term growth.
Episode title: Second take on the issue

Sunday
Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 10 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy and how to stop them.
Episode title: Memories are often wildly misleading

For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Friday
Communicating Details - Episode 4 of 5
In every organization, there comes a moment when doing exactly what was agreed leads to frustration, disappointment or even blame. This program, Communicating Details, unpacks one of the most common but costly management traps: when plans are executed as approved, but shifting realities demand a different response.

Through the real-world case of one of our executive coaching clients, Michael explores why excessive upfront detail and rigid adherence to plans can backfire, even when managers explicitly sign off. You’ll learn the critical difference between following a plan and managing evolving priorities, why both employees and leaders share responsibility for context shifts, and how to apply a flexible problem-solving model that protects outcomes while maintaining trust.

This program equips consultants, managers, and senior leaders with the mindset and tools to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, where communication, adaptability, and strategic judgment matter far more than simply “doing what was agreed.”
Episode title: So, how do you communicate?

Saturday
I Don't Know If This Is What I Want to Do - Episode 7 of 7
Many clients are not certain that the work they are currently doing, or the industry they are currently in, is in fact the space where they want to continue building their career. If this is your situation, what is the way to decide a way forward?
Episode title: Always be advancing and...

Sunday
(New) Why You're Unlikely to Get the Sponsor You Really Need - Episode 1 of 4
It is important to find the right sponsor, but what if the real power lies in becoming someone worth sponsoring? This program shows you why the path to sponsorship begins not with who you know, but with how visibly you create value.
Episode title: Focus on the correct question

Insiders can move to Legacy anytime and back to Insider without losing Insider status. Email us at team@firmsconsulting.com so we can manually restore your Insider status.

Ask Us a Question — Get Tailored Feedback

Legacy members are invited to submit one personal or professional question twice per month. We’ll respond with a custom answer recorded by a partner.

Deadlines: Submit by the 15th and 30th of each month
Format: One paragraph emailed to team@firmsconsulting.com
Include: Context and details so we can provide tailored guidance for your unique situation
Subject line: Legacy Question

Strategy Skills Podcast (top 5-10 for careers in many countries)

Monday
The Core Leader of McKinsey’s Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice on Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies - with Tim Koller

In this episode, our returning guest, Tim Koller, co-author of Valuation, the core leader of McKinsey’s Strategy and Corporate Finance practice, offers a substantive examination of capital allocation decisions under real-world constraints. The discussion moves beyond theory to explore how CEOs and CFOs should approach resource deployment in mature, capital-rich companies, where investment opportunities are limited not due to lack of ambition but due to economic reality.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Wednesday
Professor of Finance at London Business School on Why ESG and DEI Data May Contain Lies – with Alex Edmans

In this episode, our returning guest, a finance professor at London Business School and author, Alex Edmans, offers a rigorous examination of the narratives surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate strategy. Drawing on his critique of widely cited studies, including those from McKinsey and BlackRock, Edmans illustrates how flawed data interpretations and confirmation bias contribute to the persistence of questionable claims. He warns against relying on correlation-based research that lacks causal rigor, especially when such findings are used to justify high-stakes decisions in boardrooms and policy circles.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com / Kris Safarova YouTube Channels:

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

The Systems Behind Sustained High Performance with ADHD - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Ready to begin?

Kristina Safarova

June 01

May 26–June 1, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

There is a simple principle that often separates those who make steady progress in their career from those who stall.

They are impatient with their actions but patient with their results.

It is easy to do the opposite. To want the promotion, to want to sell a new project, but to hesitate or postpone the small, consistent steps that make those outcomes possible.

The members in this community who advance the most are not necessarily working longer hours or chasing every opportunity. They set time aside, even in the margins of their day, to work through the StrategyTraining.com materials and Strategy Control Room Advanced resources. They deliberately consider how to apply what they are learning so that by Monday morning at 8 a.m., they are ready to move with focus, new insights, and a new perspective.

They understand that outcomes take time, but that time is well used only if actions continue steadily.

This week, we have prepared new resources to help you take thoughtful steps forward.

There are three membership levels you should pay attention to. They are as follows:

Our reading library:

Strategy Control Room Advanced (SCRA) members gain access to our internal knowledge management system (our read-only library), including studies, proposals, Centers of Excellence, advanced books not available anywhere else, flip charts, slides from some of the video programs, notes from The Consulting Offer, and more.

Our video/audio training library:

Insider membership is designed for long-term clients who want to deliver meaningful impact while accelerating their careers.

Legacy members are mostly long-term Insiders who receive everything in Insider, plus access to additional advanced programs and personalized guidance opportunities.

As you probably know, we add additional training and resources weekly. New training episodes and resources are now live and available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and ROKU.

Here is what is new this week:

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

You’ll receive this exclusive update:

Sunday
New IT, Digital, AI, and Cloud Center-of-Excellence – Update 8 (133 SLIDES) of TBD

For Insider Members

These new training episodes are being released this week.

Friday
(NEW) Building a Consulting Practice. Level II – Episode 2 of TBD
Building a Consulting Practice (Level 2) picks up where Building a Consulting Practice (Level 1) left off. While Level 1 lays the foundational principles of setting up or rebuilding a consulting business, whether as an independent firm or as a practice within a major consulting firm, Level 2 takes you into the advanced art of turning routine client work into an engine for long-term growth.

Michael opens the door to rarely discussed skills: how to reframe client conversations away from low-value, transactional tasks and into high-impact, strategic engagements. How to uncover hidden opportunities even when no obvious “problem” exists, and how to position yourself as a trusted partner invited into the most critical issues, not as a vendor chasing projects.

Through the lens of a real-world operations strategy study, you will see how an unglamorous project became the seedbed for a completely new consulting practice. You’ll learn how to apply sharp strategic thinking in operational contexts, how to triangulate discussions toward your strengths, and how to scale a practice that thrives beyond any single engagement.

Level 1 teaches you the business of consulting. Level 2 shows you how to expand that business into a powerhouse. Together, in addition to a few other programs on StrategyTraining.com, such as Partnership. Memoir, Rebuilding a Consulting Practice, How to Build an Innovation Division, these programs provide a roadmap for consultants at every stage who are ready to master not just delivery, but sustainable, long-term growth.
Episode title: Part 2: Know the, usually, boring context

Saturday
Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 8 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy and how to stop them.
Episode title: Part 8: The pursuit of happiness

Sunday
The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 12 of 18
This 18-part Insider program challenges the conventional wisdom of career growth, helping ambitious professionals rethink promotions, leadership roles, and long-term wealth creation.
Episode title: Action next step #8

For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Friday
(New) Communicating Details - Episode 2 of 5
In every organization, there comes a moment when doing exactly what was agreed leads to frustration, disappointment or even blame. This program, Communicating Details, unpacks one of the most common but costly management traps: when plans are executed as approved, but shifting realities demand a different response.

Through the real-world case of one of our executive coaching clients, Michael explores why excessive upfront detail and rigid adherence to plans can backfire, even when managers explicitly sign off. You’ll learn the critical difference between following a plan and managing evolving priorities, why both employees and leaders share responsibility for context shifts, and how to apply a flexible problem-solving model that protects outcomes while maintaining trust.

This program equips consultants, managers, and senior leaders with the mindset and tools to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, where communication, adaptability, and strategic judgment matter far more than simply “doing what was agreed.”
Episode title: Why you become detail-oriented

Saturday
I Don't Know If This Is What I Want to Do - Episode 5 of 7
Many clients are not certain that the work they are currently doing, or the industry they are currently in, is in fact the space where they want to continue building their career. If this is your situation, what is the way to decide a way forward?
Episode title: How are you evolving?

Sunday
(New) Taking On New Clients - Episode 1 of 2
What do you do when new clients are reaching out, but your capacity is already maxed out? In this program, Michael lays out a practical framework for managing growth, client demand, and team development, so you’re ready when success shows up early.
Episode title: Capacity constrained to take on new work

Insiders can move to Legacy anytime and back to Insider without losing Insider status. Email us at team@firmsconsulting.com so we can manually restore your Insider status.

Ask Us a Question — Get Tailored Feedback

Legacy members are invited to submit one personal or professional question twice per month. We’ll respond with a custom answer recorded by a partner.

Deadlines: Submit by the 15th and 30th of each month
Format: One paragraph emailed to team@firmsconsulting.com
Include: Context and details so we can provide tailored guidance for your unique situation
Subject line: Legacy Question

We also released these free resources:

Strategy Skills Podcast (top 5-10 for careers in many countries)

Monday
Microsoft’s Dean Carignan on Using AI to Boost Joy, Focus, and Productivity at Work - with Dean Carignan

This week on the Strategy Skills podcast, I spoke with Dean Carignan, a senior leader at Microsoft with over two decades of experience across AI, Xbox, research, and product innovation.

He discussed how AI is reshaping work today, not just by providing answers, but by acting as an agent to handle routine tasks, freeing people to focus on higher-value activities. Dean emphasized that leaders who experiment with AI agents (beyond simple chatbot use) will gain a meaningful edge.

Two areas where AI’s global impact may be most profound over the next 3 - 5 years:
1 - Bringing critical services (like healthcare support) to under-resourced areas through mobile and voice AI.
2 - Accelerating scientific discovery by reading thousands of papers, proposing experiments, and automating lab work.

AI will take away the drudgery of many jobs and enable people to focus on the aspects of the work that excite them.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Wednesday
How a Billion-Dollar CEO Thinks and Leads – with Bill Canady

I welcomed back Bill Canady, CEO of OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products, overseeing $2.5 billion in annual sales and 3,600+ employees.

Bill shared a practical approach to driving profitable growth, centered on focusing resources where they matter most. He described how applying 80/20 analysis revealed that just 200 customers accounted for over 90% of OTC’s revenue, and that focusing on expanding value with existing top customers outperformed efforts to chase entirely new markets.

He also emphasized the disciplined use of AI tools: not just automating tasks, but using them to surface patterns and insights in large datasets. As Bill put it, “A robot can do the basic math, but it can’t give you the insights.”

His new book, From Panic to Profit, lays out the profitable growth operating system (PGOS) built on five pillars: segmentation, strategy, deals (M&A), talent, and disciplined execution. Bill stressed the importance of leadership focus: “So many of us try to be fair all the time. We think we should be fair to everyone. We think we should treat all opportunities the same. We try to say yes to everything. But you know, that’s not leadership, that is the absence of leadership. And when you peanut-butter everything, on the best cases, you get mediocrity. When you actually start focusing, you can change the world.”

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com / Kris Safarova YouTube Channels:

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

The Systems Behind Sustained High Performance with ADHD - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Ready to begin?

Kristina Safarova

May 25

May 19–May 25, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

Clients remember one thing long after the consulting project ends:

How much they trusted you.

And that changes everything.

Every client relationship starts the same way. But the best ones evolve into something more.

The goal from the very first project is not only to deliver results. It is to build a long-term relationship that naturally leads to more work and long-term partnership.

A relationship where you are not trying to sell more work.

Instead, client is drawing you into the issues.

That is when things shift.

You are not pitching anymore. You are partnering.

You are not chasing projects. You are being invited into them.

And those projects?

They can be anything from smaller strategy or operations work to change management or digital initiatives.

Or, if that is what you are aiming for, even large-scale transformations and turnarounds, the type we covered in our 200+ videos Corporate Strategy & Transformation study program within the Strategy Training app.

The scope expands when trust is built.

Clients do not need another consultant. They need someone they trust enough to invite in.

Members who fully engage with StrategyTraining.com change the course of their careers and lives.

And, over time, some long-term members and clients send us letters of appreciation, like the one Michael received this month.

There are three membership levels you should pay attention to. They are as follows:

Our reading library:

Strategy Control Room Advanced (SCRA) members gain access to our internal knowledge management system, including studies, proposals, Centers of Excellence, advanced books not available anywhere else, flip charts, slides from video programs, notes from The Consulting Offer, and more.

Our video/audio training library:

Insider membership is designed for long-term clients who want to deliver meaningful impact while accelerating their careers.

Legacy members receive everything in Insider, plus access to additional advanced programs and personalized guidance.

As you probably know, we add additional training and resources weekly. New training episodes and resources are now live and available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and ROKU.

Here is what is new this week:

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

You’ll receive this exclusive update:

Sunday

New IT, Digital, AI, and Cloud Center-of-Excellence – Update 7 (125 SLIDES) of TBD

For Insider Members

These new training episodes are being released this week.

Friday
The MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 30 of TBD
The MasterPlan Advanced builds on the most transformative career strategy work we’ve done to date. Based on Michael’s and Kris’s personal experiences and decades of coaching senior executives, it covers how to move from well-off to wealthy, across career, relationships, investing, health, and more. This is the next step for members who are working toward building a richer, more fulfilling life, not only a career that looks successful to people around.
Episode title: Creating a Viable Business Model

Saturday
Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 7 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy and how to stop them. Members can submit questions for the next 7 days to shape future episodes/related programs.
Episode title: The Trap of Finding Happiness Alone

Sunday
(NEW) Building a Consulting Practice. Level II – Episode 1 of TBD
Building a Consulting Practice (Level 2) picks up where Building a Consulting Practice (Level 1) left off. While Level 1 lays the foundational principles of setting up or rebuilding a consulting business, whether as an independent firm or as a practice within an elite organization, Level 2 takes you into the advanced art of turning routine client work into an engine for long-term growth.

This is not about surface techniques or standard operations work. Michael opens the door to rarely discussed skills: how to reframe client conversations away from low-value, transactional tasks and into high-impact, strategic engagements; how to uncover hidden opportunities even when no obvious “problem” exists; and how to position yourself as a trusted partner invited into the most critical issues, not as a vendor chasing projects.

Through the lens of a real-world operations strategy study, you will see how an unglamorous project became the seedbed for a completely new consulting practice. You’ll learn how to apply sharp strategic thinking in operational contexts, how to triangulate discussions toward your strengths, and how to scale a practice that thrives beyond any single engagement.

Level 1 teaches you the business of consulting. Level 2 shows you how to expand that business into a powerhouse. Together, in addition to a few other programs on StrategyTraining.com such as Partnership. Memoir, Rebuilding a Consulting Practice, How to Build an Innovation Division, these programs provide a roadmap for consultants at every stage who are ready to master not just delivery, but sustainable, long-term growth.
Episode title: Know the, Usually, Boring Context

For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Friday
A Mid-Life Strategy Update – Episode 44 of TBD
What if your health, relationships, wealth, and life’s work all demanded urgent attention at the same time? In this real-time program, Michael shares the exact strategies he’s using to rebuild every major area of his life. It’s rare to get this level of access. Even rarer to see it in real time.
Episode title: The Root Cause of an Issue is Rarely Known, Acknowledged, or Even Discussed

Saturday
I Don't Know If This Is What I Want to Do - Episode 4 of 7
Many clients are not certain that the work they are currently doing, or the industry they are currently in, is in fact the space where they want to continue building their career. If this is your situation, what is the way to decide a way forward?
Episode title: The Most Important Decision You Need to Make 2.0

Sunday
(New) Communicating Details - Episode 1 of 5
In every organization, there comes a moment when doing exactly what was agreed leads to frustration, disappointment or even blame. This program, Communicating Details, unpacks one of the most common but costly management traps: when plans are executed as approved, but shifting realities demand a different response.

Through the real-world case of one of our executive coaching clients, Michael explores why excessive upfront detail and rigid adherence to plans can backfire, even when managers explicitly sign off. You’ll learn the critical difference between following a plan and managing evolving priorities, why both employees and leaders share responsibility for context shifts, and how to apply a flexible problem-solving model that protects outcomes while maintaining trust.

This program equips consultants, managers, and senior leaders with the mindset and tools to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, where communication, adaptability, and strategic judgment matter far more than simply “doing what was agreed.”
Episode title: A Common Problem

Insiders can move to Legacy anytime and back to Insider without losing Insider status. Just email us at team@firmsconsulting.com so we can manually restore your Insider status.

Ask Us a Question — Get Tailored Feedback

Legacy members are invited to submit one personal or professional question twice per month. We’ll respond with a custom answer recorded by a partner.

Deadlines: Submit by the 15th and 30th of each month
Format: One paragraph emailed to team@firmsconsulting.com
Include: Context and details so we can provide tailored guidance for your unique situation
Subject line: Legacy Question

We also released these free resources:

Strategy Skills Podcast (top 5-10 for careers in many countries)

Monday
From Ditch Digger to 9-Figure CEO: Building a Business That Runs Without You - with Ken Rusk

In this episode, Kris speaks with Ken Rusk, nine-figure CEO and bestselling author of Blue Collar Cash, on building and scaling a successful business.

Key insights:

- True growth comes from empowering entrepreneurial employees and building autonomous teams aligned with the company’s mission and motivated to perform.
- Rusk’s approach emphasizes the alignment of personal goals and corporate objectives, using a system of “timed pathways” where employees publicly commit to and pursue personal milestones, creating accountability and shared momentum.
- Strategic reinvestment in marketing, reputation, and customer experience fueled steady expansion, while maintaining a clear long-term vision kept the organization resilient during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
- His leadership philosophy centers on building decision-makers, not just making decisions, and staying focused on time as the most valuable asset, balancing business success with personal well-being, family, and purpose.
- Rusk’s recent move to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) reflects his commitment to sharing long-term value and ensuring that the team that built the company benefits from its future growth.

Rusk’s message is that sustainable business success stems from developing others, aligning incentives, and ensuring that leaders stay focused on the long view, both in business and in life.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Wednesday
Founding Partner of DCM Insights on What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently – with Matthew Dixon

In this episode, Kris speaks with Matthew Dixon, founding partner of DCM Insights and bestselling author, about his latest research on business development in professional services. Drawing on a global study of 3,000 partners, Dixon outlines five distinct sales profiles and highlights the “Activator” as the only approach consistently linked to higher revenue performance.

Key insights:

- Traditional models of client loyalty are eroding, with fewer clients returning automatically to the same firm.
- Top performers distinguish themselves by proactively delivering value, leveraging internal and external networks, and consistently committing time to business development.
- Effective firms drive adoption of these behaviors not through mandates, but by enabling teams with tools, mentorship, and a culture of collaboration.
- Technology, including AI and network management tools, reduces the time required to execute these strategies, but success ultimately relies on human relationships and judgment.

Dixon’s upcoming book, The Activator Advantage, provides a practical guide for partners and leaders seeking to future-proof client engagement strategies in a more competitive and fast-changing market.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com / Kris Safarova YouTube Channels:

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

The Systems Behind Sustained High Performance with ADHD - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Ready to begin?

Kristina Safarova

May 18

• Edited (May 18, 2025)

May 12–May 18, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

The wrong partner can cost you more than a failed strategy.

I was asked:
When is the right time to marry?

Before success, so you can grow together?
Or after success, once life feels more stable?

My answer to the question was:
Marry when you meet the right person.

This may sound like only a personal question. It’s not.

I’ve seen talented professionals stall not because they lacked vision or discipline, but because their environment made every step heavier. A partner who questions your priorities, undermines your time, or adds instability can quietly sabotage years of progress.

On the other hand, the right partner becomes a force multiplier.
They create space for you to focus.
They carry more when you need to carry less.
They stay when things get hard.

Some of my clients were left behind during health challenges, financial pressure, or periods of uncertainty.
Others were supported in difficult times beyond what most people would think is expected.

Years from now, it won’t be the awards, metrics, or milestones that stay with you the most.
It will be the hand you held through it all.

Whether you’re choosing a life partner or a training platform, choosing the right partner matters.

One client and his wife went through our training together. They used StrategyTraining.com programs to learn critical thinking, strategy, problem-solving, business-building skills, and went on to build an AI engineering firm.

There are three membership levels you should pay attention to. They are as follows:

Our reading library:

Strategy Control Room Advanced (SCRA) members gain access to our internal knowledge management system, including studies, proposals, Centers of Excellence, advanced books not available anywhere else, flip charts, slides from video programs, notes from The Consulting Offer, and more.

Our video/audio training library:

Insider membership is designed for long-term clients who want to deliver meaningful impact while accelerating their careers.

Legacy members receive everything in Insider, plus access to additional advanced programs and personalized guidance.

As you probably know, we add additional training and resources weekly. New training episodes and resources are now live and available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and ROKU.

Here is what is new this week:

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

You’ll receive this exclusive update:

Sunday

New IT, Digital, AI, and Cloud Center-of-Excellence – Update 6 (115 SLIDES) of TBD

For Insider Members

These new training episodes are being released this week.

Friday
The MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 29 of TBD
The MasterPlan Advanced builds on the most transformative career strategy work we’ve done to date. Based on Michael’s and Kris’s personal experiences and decades of coaching senior executives, it covers how to move from well-off to wealthy, across career, relationships, investing, health, and more. This is the next step for members who are working toward building a richer, more fulfilling life, not only a career that looks successful to people around.
Episode title: Don't Negotiate a Prenup on the First Date

Saturday
The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 11 of 18
This 18-part Insider program challenges the conventional wisdom of career growth, helping ambitious professionals rethink promotions, leadership roles, and long-term wealth creation.
Episode title: Have You Grown and Become a Better Professional Through Your Promotions

Sunday
(New) Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 6 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy and how to stop them. Members can submit questions for the next 2 weeks to shape future episodes/related programs.
Episode title: Society Has Not, Does Not, and Will Never Teach You to Pursue Happiness. We Do.

For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Friday
A Mid-Life Strategy Update – Episode 43 of TBD
What if your health, relationships, wealth, and life’s work all demanded urgent attention at the same time? In this real-time program, Michael shares the exact strategies he’s using to rebuild every major area of his life. It’s rare to get this level of access. Even rarer to see it in real time.
Episode title: The Most Important Audit You Will Ever Do

Saturday
How We Plant the Seeds of Relationship Turmoil – Episode 1 of 1
How We Plant the Seeds of Relationship Turmoil examines the often-overlooked link between cultural assumptions and long-term relational breakdown. Drawing on a real case of a high-performing medical professional, the program dissects how unspoken expectations, particularly around intergenerational roles, sacrifice, and filial obligation, can quietly erode trust and emotional connection over decades. Rather than focusing on dramatic conflict, the episode explores how rational planning, cultural rigidity, and absolute thinking can create an invisible system of strain that only surfaces when a child chooses a divergent path. For leaders navigating family dynamics, legacy planning, or complex cultural transitions, this is a case study in how emotional disconnection is often structured long before it is recognized.
Episode title: How We Plant the Seeds of Relationship Turmoil

Sunday
(New) I Don't Know If This Is What I Want to Do - Episode 3 of 7
Many clients are not certain that the work they are currently doing, or the industry they are currently in, is in fact the space where they want to continue building their career. If this is your situation, what is the way to decide a way forward?
Episode title: Do You Have: Own Vision?

Insiders can move to Legacy anytime and back to Insider without losing Insider status. Just email us at team@firmsconsulting.com so we can manually restore your Insider status.

Ask Us a Question — Get Tailored Feedback

Legacy members are invited to submit one personal or professional question twice per month. We’ll respond with a custom answer recorded by a partner.

Deadlines: Submit by the 15th and 30th of each month
Format: One paragraph emailed to team@firmsconsulting.com
Include: Context and details so we can provide tailored guidance for your unique situation
Subject line: Legacy Question

We also released these free resources:

Strategy Skills Podcast (top 5-10 for careers in many countries)

Monday
Artist, Leader, and Yale Fellow Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir on Rethinking Leadership Through Intuition and Inner Clarity - with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir

In this episode, Icelandic author and global leadership advisor Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir offers a thoughtful synthesis of lived experience, scientific insight, and deep reflection on the role of intuition in high-stakes decision-making. Drawing from her early leadership in post-conflict Kosovo and a pivotal health crisis that redefined her trajectory, Hrund presents intuition not as mystical abstraction, but as an embodied, trainable form of intelligence, critical for navigating uncertainty, complexity, and personal transformation.

Listeners will walk away with tangible tools: how to use an “attention journal” to map unconscious signals, why sleep and silence outperform over-analysis in moments of pressure, and how leaders can systematically create space for intuition within teams. With a voice that blends strategic clarity and human depth, Hrund reminds us that the ability to listen inward, when trained, is structural. And it may be one of the few true advantages.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Wednesday
Microsoft Director on How to Empower Anyone to Innovate – with JoAnn Garbin

JoAnn Garbin has spent her career proving that breakthrough ideas come from structure. As former Director of Innovation at Microsoft Cloud and co-author of The Insider’s Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, she reveals how innovation really works inside one of the world’s most complex organizations.

In this episode, JoAnn unpacks what many leaders get wrong about innovation and how to do it right. She explains how orchestrated collaboration, disciplined experimentation, and the courage to email a CEO can unlock opportunity others miss. From building political capital without playing politics, to reshaping your network across decades, she shows how innovation becomes a repeatable craft when powered by conviction and community.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com / Kris Safarova YouTube Channels:

The Systems Behind Sustained High Performance with ADHD - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Ready to begin?

Kristina Safarova

April 29

[New Insider Program] Why am I not happy?

I want to highlight the beginning of the release of a new 14-part program "Why am I not happy? How can I be happy?" available to Insiders and Legacy members. The first 2 episodes can be accessed here.

Also, only during the next 4 weeks period we will be taking questions for this program. As an Insider or Legacy member, you are welcome to email us a question for this program. If there will be some common questions that will be helpful for all Insiders and Legacy members, we may add additional episodes addressing these questions.

If you are a Legacy member, your question is guaranteed to get answered as an audio recording, taking into account your unique situation. Please ensure you submit it on 30th of April or 15th of May, including "Legacy question" as an email subject line. Those are the next 2 days during the upcoming 30 days when we will be taking Legacy members' questions.

For Insiders, those questions that would be most relevant to the broader community will be considered, and we may create follow-up episodes addressing them.

---

If you have ever stopped to ask yourself, “Why am I not happy while others assume I have everything?" ... you might find these reflections relevant.

Over the years, I have worked with senior partners from major consulting firms, private equity leaders, and CEOs of small, medium and large organizations. Some came right out and told me they felt stuck in a rut. Others never said it aloud, but small details, like needing 3 packs of cookies to get through the day, every day, hinted at a deeper discontent. They had all the outward signs of success (big expensive house, beautiful car, prestigious background, millions in their bank accounts), yet it was clear they weren't happy.

Perhaps you have sensed something similar. Relentless achievement does not always translate into a genuine sense of contentment, let alone sustainable feeling of wellbeing and happiness.

Happiness is a feeling. It cannot be easily rationalized, it cannot be analyzed, deconstructed, or reconstructed. You are either happy or you are not.

We live in a world where everything is measured and scrutinized, yet our feelings rarely respond to that kind of analysis.

I recall someone in one of our results clinics (part of the executive coaching program) asking, “How can I be happy? Why am I not happy?” and realizing that dissecting happiness into data points led nowhere.

It is like trying to enjoy a certain food just because it is popular. As Michael mentioned in one of the recent programs:

“If I do not like pizza in America (deep dish, thick crust, processed cheese), I do not torture myself asking, ‘How do I make myself like it?’ I just stop eating it.”

The same principle applies to a role, a project, or an entire career path. If you are forcing yourself to stay in an environment that never felt right, tolerance will eventually turn into frustration.

And if you are like me, before you know it, you will start getting signals from life, nudges at first, then stronger and stronger signals, indicating that something must change.

Yet, the decision to walk away is not always so straightforward.

A slight variation in what you do and how you do it, as well as in your perspective, can make an enormous difference. Some of the most talented people I know left investment banking after one difficult experience, only to discover later there was a different niche where they could have done very well. They felt regret and that they had wasted an opportunity to create generational wealth and have a more successful career.

Others believed they were not suited for leadership, simply because they tried one rigid style. A minor shift made being a leader enjoyable for them.

We often attempt to measure what, by its nature, cannot be measured.

A feeling often cannot be explained easily.

It cannot be easily:
- rationalized
- analyzed
- deconstructed

Some choose to ignore it. You can mute it for a while, but then it comes back with a greater force.

So, it is important to listen to what feels right and what does not.

And, the change required is not always radical. Sometimes, it is a shift in perspective and then small adjustments.

In many situations, the answer is not, “Quit your job and head to a beach.”

Instead, we guide clients to look more carefully at the patterns and assumptions that might be steering them away from genuine sense of wellbeing without them realizing it.

Reflect on this key insight:

Moving on does not necessarily mean abandoning everything you have built. Sometimes, it is about finding a better fit within the same broad space.

One small variation can reveal a new sense of alignment you did not know you were missing.

And sometimes it is about changing perspective.

If any of this resonates with you, there is an opportunity to explore these ideas at a deeper level with the new "Why am I not happy? How to be happy?" program for Insiders and Legacy members.

It is possible to blend ambition and drive with the kind of satisfaction you cannot measure on a spreadsheet. You do not have to choose between success and contentment. You can have both, once you recognize that happiness is not something you force. It is something you discover by recognizing your own natural preferences. As Steve Jobs said, find what makes your heart sing.

---

The first 2 episodes of the 14-part program was released for Insiders and Legacy members. Don’t let another program pass you by. The insights we share are unique, powerful, timely, and battle-tested. There is a reason we have many members who have been with us for years and years. As one of the long-term Insiders said in a recent conversation with me:

"The content is getting better every time... The thing with all the content here is that we kind of have to go through them. When you are put into that situation, you kind of like, okay, I picked up this concept from here. I review it because each person's situation is different. But I know where to find them, and I always get results when I apply what I’ve learned."

If you're an Insider or Legacy member, this program is now available in your account on StrategyTraining.com.

Not a member yet? Enroll here: www.strategytraining.com (scroll to membership options and select Insider or Legacy level to immediately access this and other advanced Insider programs).

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at team@firmsconsulting.com.

Thank you for being a part of the StrategyTraining.com community.

Kristina Safarova

May 11

May 5–May 11, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

Finding the Root Cause: Start at the Source

When diagnosing complex problems, most professionals begin too far downstream.

The visible metrics (declining revenue, missed targets, stalled progress) are merely symptoms. The actual issues typically reside several layers deeper in the organization. Without tracing problems to their origin, we are trying to fix symptoms rather than implement a solution that will remove the root cause of the problem.

During my time in consulting, I witnessed this pattern repeatedly. For example, when I joined the research division, there was no formal path to client work or partnership. But I found out that an important study was going on, helping a crown jewel client enter an Eastern European market.

I asked the partner in charge if I could help in my free time (nights, weekends, and public holidays). He said yes. The study was not going very well. The fundamental issue was in the baseline assumptions. The team lacked critical context: sufficient understanding of the local market and regulatory guidelines, as well as cultural nuances that had to influence decision-making.

I studied key materials like government guidelines for market entry and explained cultural nuances. This shift in perspective redirected the entire study and led to my transition into the consulting team just a few weeks later.

The key was identifying where the thinking first broke down and rebuilding from there.

This approach should be used not only for problem solving but also for positioning yourself within your organization. When your colleagues get lost trying to fix symptoms, you can make yourself more valuable and harder to replace if you focus on diagnosing and fixing the root causes.

This week's releases, like all our programs, continue to focus on developing this essential skill: systematically tracing problems to their source, disentangling flawed logic, and constructing solutions founded on solid first principles.

As you probably know, we refresh the library weekly. New training episodes and resources are now live and available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and ROKU.

Strategy Control Room Advanced (SCRA) members gain access to our internal knowledge management system, including studies, proposals, Centers of Excellence, advanced books not available anywhere else, flip charts, slides from video programs, notes from The Consulting Offer, and more.

Insider membership is designed for long-term clients who want to deliver meaningful impact while accelerating their careers.

Legacy members receive everything in Insider, plus access to additional advanced programs and personalized guidance.

Here is what is new this week:

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

You’ll receive this exclusive update:

Sunday
New IT, Digital, AI, and Cloud Center-of-Excellence – Update 5 (102 SLIDES) of TBD

For Insider Members

These powerful new episodes are being released this week.

Friday
The MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 28 of TBD
The MasterPlan Advanced builds on the most transformative career strategy work we’ve done to date. Based on Michael’s and Kris’s personal experiences and decades of coaching senior executives, it covers how to move from well-off to wealthy, across career, relationships, investing, health, and more. This is the next step for members who are working toward building a richer, more fulfilling life, not only a career that looks successful to people around.
Episode title: M&A Does Not Happen in a Spreadsheet

Saturday
The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 10 of 18
This 18-part Insider program challenges the conventional wisdom of career growth, helping ambitious professionals rethink promotions, leadership roles, and long-term wealth creation.
Episode title: Action Next Step #7

Sunday
(New) Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 5 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy and how to stop them. Members can submit questions for the next 2 weeks to shape future episodes/related programs.
Episode title: The Trap of Grand Generalizations

For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Friday
A Mid-Life Strategy Update – Episode 42 of TBD
What if your health, relationships, wealth, and life’s work all demanded urgent attention at the same time? In this real-time program, Michael shares the exact strategies he’s using to rebuild every major area of his life. It’s rare to get this level of access. Even rarer to see it in real time.
Episode title: A Powerful Lens to Understand Phobias, Depression, Disorders, etc.

Saturday
The Existential Mistake Made When Immigrating – Episode 11 of 11
This 11-part program helps you think through relocation the same way top investors assess risk. The cost of getting it wrong is rarely visible until it’s too late.
Episode title: Your Calculations are Way Off, Ignoring the Risk Premiums

Sunday
(New) I Don't Know If This Is What I Want to Do - Episode 2 of 7
Many clients are not certain that the work they are currently doing, or the industry they are currently in, is in fact the space where they want to continue building their career. If this is your situation, what is the way to decide a way forward?
Episode title: The Fantasia of Bambi...is a Bomb

Insiders can move to Legacy anytime and back to Insider without losing Insider status. Just email us at team@firmsconsulting.com so we can manually restore your Insider status.

Ask Us a Question — Get Tailored Feedback

Legacy members are invited to submit one personal or professional question twice per month. We’ll respond with a custom answer recorded by a partner.

Deadlines: Submit by the 15th and 30th of each month
Format: One paragraph emailed to team@firmsconsulting.com
Include: Context and details so we can provide tailored guidance for your unique situation
Subject line: Legacy Question

We also released these free resources:

Strategy Skills Podcast (top 5-10 for careers in many countries)

Monday
Over $10B in Assets Under Management: Experiencing The American Dream with Mark Matson

What if the financial advice you trust is actually hurting your future?

Mark Matson believes it is, and he has the data to prove it.

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Matson, founder of Matson Money with over $10 billion in assets under management. But Mark didn’t start in finance. In fact, he nearly gave up on the entire industry until a few key realizations reshaped his approach to wealth entirely.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Wednesday
Anesthesiologist and Reality TV Star on How to Stop Chasing Perfection – with Dr. Tiffany Moon

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Moon, board-certified anesthesiologist, founder of Aromasthesia, and former cast member of Bravo’s Real Housewives, opens up about what she learned from balancing ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and public scrutiny.

This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about self-awareness, hard work and the courage to define success on your own terms.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com / Kris Safarova YouTube Channels:

The Systems Behind Sustained High Performance with ADHD - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Ready to begin?

Kristina Safarova

May 04

“I get no joy in consulting anymore.
I don’t know if this is what I should do."

That’s not a casual thought.
It’s not something you say when everything is running smoothly.

It’s the quiet sentence that only surfaces when something deep inside feels really off.

And that’s exactly what came through from a client recently, a very successful executive in a tech space.

(Note: Some details have been changed to protect the client’s privacy.)

Here’s what he shared with us:

"I was having an afternoon in Barcelona... went to my usual places… visiting watchmakers and car dealers I know well.
And I noticed… I get joy doing this. When I offer gifts. When I create meaningful experiences.
But... when it comes to my work, I don't feel it's what I should be doing."

This is the real question many leaders quietly wrestle with.

Not "How do I grow my practice?"
Not "How do I scale adjacent services?"

But — "Am I doing what I’m supposed to do anymore?"

And here’s where it gets complicated.

You may still be successful.
Selling the largest projects you have ever sold in your career.
Adding new services to the consulting practice you are leading.
Launching successful products in a large tech firm.

But there’s no joy anymore.

And that’s dangerous in ways most never talk about.

“I didn’t feel I should do the call.”
“I was feeling that... discomfort.
The feeling when you know you should do something… but you really don’t want to.”

At first, it’s subtle.

You forget a call here and there.
You avoid certain meetings.
You push aside the new ideas.

But quietly, under the surface, something is breaking down.

It’s like what happened in the show The Office.

Remember when Jan, after that Jamaica trip with Michael Scott and the embarrassment of her private photo being forwarded across the organization, decided she deserved to be happy?

It didn’t fall apart instantly. But once that decision was made, her life slowly, and then suddenly, started to unravel.

Same idea here.

"If you're unhappy… at some point you are going to find the unhappiness intolerable.
And all your wheels will fall off."

That’s reality.

And this is why the story of Walt Disney, which we unpack in detail in the program, is so revealing here.

“Disney lost everything. The intellectual property. The team. The dream.”

And yet...

“Out of necessity, Disney and his colleague created Mickey Mouse.”

So what does that mean for people like us: senior leaders responsible for businesses and teams?

Is that deep frustration a sign to push harder and break through…
Or is it a signal that it’s time to let go and shift?

"You can have a vision.
You can have a business.
But unless there’s congruence... you’re going to struggle."

That’s the real decision point.

And in a new Legacy program, we go into this.

Not surface-level.

But real, candid examples of what happened behind the scenes when world-class leaders faced this exact moment.

"The business model may not work with the vision.
And unless you have congruence… you are going to struggle."

We go deep into this inside Should I Invest in This New Business, a new Legacy program.
And if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “Is what I am doing still right for me?” — this is for you.

Kristina Safarova

April 27

April 21-27, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

The biggest reward of being a great team member is not just the immediate sense of fulfillment and a sense of success. It's that you'll always have a team that wants you. Someone will always want you in their corner, for the rest of your life.

And this is applicable both at work and in your personal life.

This fundamental truth drives our training releases this week.

Whether exploring 18-part series "The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted," listening to our new 14-part series "Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy?", or examining how to balance work and health in "My Work is Destroying My Health," each program helps you become not just more successful, but a more valuable team member (at work and at home) who others seek out.

Most professionals don't have access to the kind of training that produces lasting, meaningful results. Instead, they focus on surface-level skills, chase tactics, and hope that success will eventually follow.

If quick tips, hacks, and shortcuts were sufficient, we would see far more people achieving extraordinary levels of personal health, financial wealth, professional success, and lifestyle freedom. But we do not, because these methods alone are inadequate.

Shortcuts and hacks may offer occasional, short-term gains. Relying on AI to do the thinking may produce results in isolated instances. However, neither approach builds the deep capabilities required for sustained, exceptional performance.

Standing out today requires structured, advanced training that develops rare and durable skills, skills that distinguish you from the many others reading the same books and using the same AI tools.

StrategyTraining.com offers the most powerful library of video and audio-based training available in strategy, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, executive presence, leadership, case interviews, and consulting business building.

This is not theory. It is practical, high-impact training designed for individuals who are serious about becoming exceptional at what they do. And it is not limited to management consultants: more than half of our members and clients are outside of consulting, with no plans to enter the field.

As you probably know, we refresh the library weekly. New content is now live and available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and ROKU.

Insider membership is designed for long-term clients who want to deliver meaningful impact while accelerating their careers.

Legacy members receive everything in Insider, plus access to additional advanced programs and personalized guidance.

Strategy Control Room Advanced (SCRA) members gain access to our internal knowledge management system, including studies, proposals, Centers of Excellence, advanced books not available anywhere else, flip charts, slides from video programs, notes from The Consulting Offer, and more.

🔹For Insider Members

These powerful new episodes are being released this week.

Friday
The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 8 of 18
This 18-part Insider program challenges the conventional wisdom of career growth, helping ambitious professionals rethink promotions, leadership roles, and long-term wealth creation.
Episode title: Action Next Step #5

Saturday
MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 26 of TBD
The MasterPlan Advanced builds on the most transformative career strategy work we’ve done to date. Based on Michael’s and Kris’s personal experiences and decades of coaching senior executives it covers how to move from well-off to wealthy, across career, relationships, investing, health, and more. This is the next step for members who are ready to build a richer, more fulfilling life, not only a career that looks successful to people around.
Episode title: Advisors, Who Often Implement

Sunday
(New) Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 3 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy, and how to stop them. Members can submit questions for the next 3 weeks to shape future episodes/related programs.
Episode title: Your Love of X is Someone Else's Hatred

🔹 For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Wednesday
Mid-Life Strategy Update – Episode 40 of TBD
What if your health, relationships, wealth, and life’s work all demanded urgent attention, at the same time? In this real-time program, Michael shares the exact strategies he’s using to rebuild every major area of his life. It’s rare to get this level of access. Even rarer to see it in real time. This is a critical episode to not miss.
Episode title: What is Your Identity Costing You?

Thursday
(New) My Work is Destroying My Health – Episode 3 of 4
There’s a point where stress stops being fuel and starts being poison, to the point that it impacts your health. Most people don’t act until the symptoms can’t be explained away. Yet, there is a way to recover your health and performance.
Episode title: This Plan Has a 0% ROI

Sunday
(New) Should I Invest in This New Business Episode 1 of TBD
This program addresses a challenge at the core of what many high-performing professionals face: how to know if the work they are doing is the work they should be doing. Drawing on real-world examples, including the early journey of Walt Disney, the program unpacks the subtle but critical signals that indicate whether you are forcing yourself to stay in a field or pursuing something you genuinely believe in. Rather than giving surface-level advice, the program walks through counterintuitive insights, helping participants map where their energy, momentum, and personal fulfillment align, and where they do not. It is about understanding how to know, not what to do.
Episode title: Part 1: The First Rule of Investing

Insiders can upgrade to Legacy at any time and back to Insider without losing Insider status. Just email us at team@firmsconsulting.com so we can manually restore your access.

Ask Us a Question — Get Tailored Feedback

Legacy members are invited to submit one personal or professional question twice per month. We’ll respond with a custom answer recorded by a partner.

Deadlines: Submit by the 15th and 30th of each month
Format: One paragraph emailed to team@firmsconsulting.com
Include: Context and details so we can provide tailored guidance for your unique situation
Subject line: Legacy Question

🔹 For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

You’ll receive this exclusive update:

Sunday
New IT, Digital, AI, and Cloud Center-of-Excellence – Update 4 of TBD

We also released these free resources:

Strategy Skills Podcast (top 5-10 for careers in many countries)

Monday
Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review on the Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift – with Kevin Evers

What can a $2B concert tour teach us about business strategy? Quite a lot.

We often speak about innovation and reinvention in the corporate world. Yet, few embody it as consistently and successfully as the artist and strategist Taylor Swift.

In this episode, I spoke with Kevin Evers, Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review and author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift.

Kevin brings a rare perspective, someone who has quietly shaped the voices of influential business thinkers over nearly two decades, now stepping into authorship himself.

Kevin shares insights from his new book on Taylor Swift, noting her strategic decision-making and marketing tactics that led her to where she is today. He stresses the value of trust and consistency in building a brand, citing Taylor Swift's $2 billion Eras Tour and her 2% market share in 2024. Kevin also underscores how Taylor treats her fans, leveraging fan engagement for marketing success, and how we can adopt it in the business world.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Wednesday
CIA Hacker to Tech Entrepreneur: How Cybersecurity Can Make or Break Your Business – with Dr. Eric Cole

From CIA hacker to cybersecurity advisor to a U.S. President.

Now trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international banks, and leaders like Bill Gates.

(And he almost missed the CIA meeting... because it was raining.)

"Something told me, it was a Thursday afternoon. ... and something told me, you have to go to the co-op office today. You have to go today. ... I believe there’s this inner voice and ... this thing came over me, and I get out of class at 3:30. It’s raining. It’s a 10-minute walk... So the universe is testing me."

In this episode of the Strategy Skills podcast, Dr. Eric Cole — former CIA hacker, Cyber Wingman for the U.S. Air Force, and Commissioner on Cybersecurity for the 44th President of the United States — shares lessons from a career built on discipline, pattern recognition, trusting your instincts, and letting data — not emotions — drive decisions.

Today, his expertise is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international banks, and some of the world’s most influential leaders, including Bill Gates.

If you're serious about operating at the highest levels, you’ll want to study this episode carefully.

We cover:

- Why cybersecurity is a competitive advantage when used properly
- How to build $7M companies that sell for 9–10x revenue
- Why protecting your intellectual property early can create millions in extra value
- Why minimizing exposure — in business and in security — is key to surviving long term
- How real entrepreneurs use data, not emotions, to make decisions
- Why building businesses in "Blue Oceans" (no competitors) is critical
- Why ethical sales beat high-pressure tactics every time

Plus:

→ The simple morning routine he uses to stay sharp
→ How he protects his personal AI to avoid being replaced by it
→ How to build companies designed for high-value exits — not 30 years of exhaustion

If you’re thinking long-term about leading, building, and protecting real value, you will find this episode helpful.

Listen to the episode here (you can also watch or read the transcript).

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com YouTube Channel:

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
Access here.

Ready to begin?

Kristina Safarova

April 21

April 14–20, 2025 releases on StrategyTraining.com

Most professionals never get access to the right kind of training.

They focus on surface-level skills. They chase tactics. They hope things will eventually fall into place.

But to stand out requires structured, advanced training built by people who have actually done the work at the highest levels.

That’s why we built StrategyTraining.com, the most powerful library of video and audio-based training in strategy, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, executive presence, leadership, case interviews, and consulting business building.

This is not theory. It’s not motivational content. It’s effective training for people who want to be exceptional at what they do. Here is what some of our members say:

We refresh the library weekly. New content is now live and available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and ROKU.

Insider membership is designed for long-term clients who want to deliver meaningful impact while accelerating their careers.

Legacy members receive everything in Insider, plus access to additional advanced programs and personalized guidance.

Strategy Control Room Advanced members gain access to our internal knowledge management system, including studies, proposals, Centers of Excellence, advanced books not available anywhere else, flip charts, slides from video programs, notes from The Consulting Offer, and more.

For Insider Members

These powerful new episodes are being released this week.

Friday
The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 7 of 18
This 18-part Insider program challenges the conventional wisdom of career growth, helping ambitious professionals rethink promotions, leadership roles, and long-term wealth creation.
Episode title: Being Promoted Into a New Role is Not a Reward for Past Work, But We See It That Way + Action Next Steps #3 & #4

Saturday
MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 25 of TBD
The MasterPlan Advanced builds on the most transformative career strategy work we’ve done to date. Based on Michael’s and Kris’s personal experiences and decades of coaching senior executives it covers how to move from well-off to wealthy, across career, relationships, investing, health, and more. This is the next step for those ready to build a richer, more fulfilling life.
Episode title: Identity Shifting vs. Shaping

Sunday
(New) Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 2 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy, and how to stop them. Members can submit questions for a limited time to shape future episodes.
Episode title: Tolerance Always Becomes Intolerable

For Legacy Members

In addition to all Insider episodes, Legacy members receive these exclusive episodes:

Wednesday
Mid-Life Strategy Update – Episode 39 of TBD
What if your health, relationships, wealth, and life’s work all demanded urgent attention, at the same time? In this real-time program, Michael shares the exact strategies he’s using to rebuild every major area of his life. It’s rare to get this level of access. Even rarer to see it in real time.
Episode title: When Your Life Experiences a Prison Break

Thursday
(New) My Work is Destroying My Health – Episode 2 of 4
There’s a point where stress stops being fuel and starts being poison, to the point that it impacts your health. Most people don’t act until the symptoms can’t be explained away. Yet, there is a way to recover your health and performance.
Episode title: You're Living in Ayn Rand's World

Sunday
(New) I Don't Know if This Is What I Want to Do - Episode 1 of 7
Many clients are not certain that the work they are currently doing, or the industry they are currently in, is in fact the space where they want to continue building their career. If this is your situation, what is the way to decide a way forward?
Episode title: We Will Always Fail at Analyzing Happiness

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Sunday
New IT, Digital, AI, and Cloud Center-of-Excellence – Update 4 of TBD
Most IT projects fail, not because of bad technology, but because of poor thinking. This Center-of-Excellence shows you exactly why projects go off track and how to prevent it.

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Strategy Skills Podcast

Monday
Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price on the Psychology of Leadership – with Sébastien Page.
Sébastien shares lessons drawn from 20 years of experience and in-depth research in positive and sports psychology. Sébastien introduces the PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) and explains how it can be applied to leadership and organizational success. He also shares insights from studying billionaires and what drives their success beyond money.

Co-founder of Peak 360 Wealth Management on Understanding Embodied Wealth – with Elizabeth Husserl.
We explore how fulfillment, stability, and meaning factor into what it really means to be wealthy. Elizabeth explains how our “scarcity brain” influences money decisions, why understanding your financial DNA matters, and how daily practices like journaling and meditation can change your relationship with money.

Additionally, here are the recent releases on FIRMSconsulting / StrategyTraining.com YouTube Channel:

IT Strategy vs. Corporate Strategy: Microsoft - with Kris Safarova
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How to Build Consulting Storyboards in 3 Weeks (This is How McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte Do It) - with Kris Safarova
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How to Feel Comfortable on Camera - with Kris Safarova
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Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al. - with Kris Safarova
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McKinsey’s Rise to Prominence Under Marvin Bower - with Kris Safarova
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Kristina Safarova

April 15

How to Perform Above Average with a Brain That Works

Nothing Like Most People's

When I worked in consulting and banking, the open-plan layout (endless desks, no offices except for the most senior leaders) was pure torture.

For example, having a conversation with a colleague while someone else was speaking loudly next to me was a constant test. My attention would lock onto the louder voice, and I would miss a lot of what the person I was speaking to was saying.

I did well, getting accelerated promotions, despite all of this because I built systems that allowed me to do well.

I constantly looked for quiet places to get work done.

I found the best noise-blocking headphones you can buy. The kind that allow you to block noise completely. When possible, I would position my chair so I was facing the wall, even if it is just a cubicle wall, and that would help me focus better. The only issue is that if someone tried to talk to me, I would get startled.

I also utilized the following:
- Unbooked boardrooms.
- Deserted corners of the office building.
- Coming at 6 am.
- Staying long after everyone else had left.
- Doing a lot of the work on weekends and at nights from home.

Most people don’t see what it takes to get through a day when your brain isn’t wired like that of most people.

In consulting, we value structured thinking. We often expect linear thinking.

I’ve built a career in a profession where clarity, speed, and polish are the currency.

There’s tension in that.

I process differently. I work differently.

It doesn’t mean I’m unfocused or difficult.

Sometimes, I need more time, but I get a better answer than most people.

I test more paths than most before committing.

I need quiet to think.

Over the years, I have become better at being able to perform above average while having a brain that works differently from most people.

Here’s what helps me:

- Music that helps me stay focused
- I get up to 10x more done if I work at night (9 pm to 5 am). This is not possible or healthy on an ongoing basis but when needed, the option is there
- My mind switches on as soon as the sun sets, so while many people rest in the evening, I work until it is time to sleep. And if you look at my calendar, I have meetings and podcast recordings all the way to 9 pm. And some solitary work is done well after 9 pm.
- I have to work in a quiet space with no one talking around me. Ideally, it needs to be a room with a closed door. An open-space office is pure torture for me
- Fresh air helps, so my windows are often open, even during the depths of winter or in the peak of summer
- It helps me focus if I work in a larger room
- I get good work done in a quiet space outside. In fact, if I work outside without any people around, I can get up to productivity level of 9 pm to 5 am (up to 10x)
- If my mind spaces out during a discussion, it is ok to ask a person to repeat. I am doing everything I can to stay focused. That is all I can ask of myself. And I know that what my mind produces (solutions, ideas, insights) is well worth the trouble for everyone involved
- Planning for what should be accomplished in a day must happen the night before, not the morning of
- I keep categorized to-do lists for a day, a week, a month, plus the main list with everything else. I also have a separate column for the highest priority tasks where I can’t drop the ball
- I have people on my team who are highly organized and keep the “trains” moving on time
- My main business partner, Michael, is the most organized person I have ever met. He is also the most talented person I have ever met. If I had to describe him in one word, it would be Godsend. And I don’t use that word lightly
- I leverage the power of my mind to see what others don’t see by regularly spending time in spaces (such as solitary walks in nature) where my mind can most effectively come up with new ideas and solutions. I am diligent about it because I get very important insights not just for my life but for our clients (e.g. for our executive coaching clients)

Neurodivergent consultants and leaders bring something unique. Not just one strength but a constellation of abilities that often show up in unexpected, high-impact ways.

1. A unique lens on the same data
Neurodivergent leaders often approach problems from non-traditional angles. This can lead to insights others overlook.

2. Focus others can’t sustain
This is characteristic of ADHD. While the focus is generally difficult to initiate or sustain on not engaging tasks, once interest and clarity are present, many experience "hyperfocus," an intense, sustained concentration that can last hours. In my particular case this also shows up as being able to remain regularly hyperfocused on the same topics for decades.

3. A natural resistance to groupthink
Many neurodivergent thinkers are less influenced by social pressure or convention. They may ask uncomfortable questions, raise red flags early, or propose contrarian ideas. This strengthens decision-making.

4. Creativity shaped by constraints
Working around neurotypical systems often forces creativity. The need to build workarounds often translates into sharper creative problem-solving.

5. Precision with language or logic
Some neurodivergent people are extremely sensitive to ambiguity, unclear phrasing, or flawed reasoning. This can elevate the rigor of a team’s thinking and the quality of the team's output. This is one reason I sometimes struggle in meetings. If a question involves a lack of clarity because of a lack of understanding of what the situation demands to be asked, I will first adjust what the question should be before I can answer it. For someone who is not paying as much attention as I do to unclear phrasing or flawed reasoning this can be frustrating.

6. Pattern recognition and systems thinking
Many neurodivergent thinkers may notice relationships across concepts, data points, or systems that others miss. In consulting, this ability to “see the whole chessboard” is a significant advantage.

7. Unusual memory strengths
Some neurodivergent people have strong episodic memory (remembering past experiences vividly), or working memory (keeping many ideas in mind simultaneously). This helps in synthesis, client conversations, and complex analysis. For example, when I was editing courses with Kevin P Coyne, such as How to Solve Big Problems, I pulled insights from all takes, not just from one selected take of a particular episode. And I stitched them together into one episode to ensure our members would not miss out on additional insights and examples. That means keeping in mind about 3-4 takes for each module. Each module has multiple episodes. If there are 10-12 modules in just one program, and I was editing multiple programs, that is a lot and most people would not do it.

8. A deep sense of fairness or principles
Many neurodivergent leaders are extremely values-driven. They may resist political games, hold teams to high ethical standards, and be unafraid to voice dissent when something feels wrong. Personally, this trait has gotten me into trouble more than once. But it’s one I deeply respect in myself and in others.

9. Relentless curiosity
An intrinsic drive to understand can lead to better questions and better answers. This curiosity often drives deep expertise in specialized areas.

But to benefit from all that, we need to make room, not just in principle, but in how we actually work.

If you want your team, family member, a friend, or whoever you have in your life who has ADHD to deliver the value they can deliver, make it possible for them to do well.

That’s the part most people miss.

If we only reward those who perform a certain way, who think in a certain way, who come across in a certain way, we lose out on the outsized value others can bring.

Quietly. Deeply. Differently.

And if you are the one who is neurodivergent, embrace your strengths. In my experience, they far outweigh the weaknesses if you are willing to put in the work, and what you can produce is well worth the trouble. What you can create is something the world really needs. And only you can deliver that unique work. No one else can.