July 16

SCRA New: (249 SLIDES) Sales Force Effectiveness Study for an Industrial Concern

We released another significant update: Sales Force Effectiveness Study for an Industrial Concern (249 slides). It is accessible within the Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level.

These internal strategy documents were developed from actual executive-led projects and are now shared to support consultants, executives, and business leaders working to strengthen commercial performance under pressure.

Each document provides a structured analysis of how large sales organizations adapted their models, redefined customer engagement, and recalibrated coverage to maintain competitiveness during periods of market volatility. Readers will gain a grounded, detailed understanding of what drives sustainable sales productivity across business units, geographies, and industries.

Inside these materials, we’ll explore:

A systems approach to diagnosing sales underperformance, how one team improved quota attainment by 9% without increasing headcount simply by correcting coaching protocols, KPIs, and incentive clarity.
A method for re-segmenting strategic accounts using behavioral data rather than revenue tiers, which led to a 3x increase in conversion rates.
A “red zone” diagnostic framework for analyzing pipeline delays, enabling teams to support lagging reps rather than replace them, resulting in a 17% increase in sales velocity.
A dynamic coverage model where territories are reassigned quarterly based on demand and product priorities, improving both efficiency and frontline engagement.
Enablement strategies that tie directly to field scenarios, replacing generic training with sales simulations based on current commercial obstacles.

By reviewing this study, you will learn how to:

Identify and close systemic performance gaps in your sales organization
Refine customer segmentation strategies to improve resource allocation
Design diagnostic tools to inform coaching, not just reporting
Shift to agile coverage models that reflect real-time priorities
Equip teams with relevant tools and training that drive adoption and results

Whether your focus is revenue stabilization, accelerated growth, or operational clarity, this series offers rigorously tested frameworks that can be adapted to your environment.

HOW TO FIND SALES FORCE EFFECTIVENESS STUDY FOR AN INDUSTRIAL CONCERN:

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "Full Engagements" dropdown.
3. Select "14 Sales Force Effectiveness Study for an Industrial Concern (249 SLIDES)"

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

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
14 full engagements
Change Management Influence & Persuasion Center of Excellence
Detailed Business Case Methodology Center of Excellence
Encyclopedia of Strategy Analyses Center of Excellence
Corporate Training Center of Excellence
One-Week Immersion: Consulting Onboarding/Consulting Mastery Center of Excellence
36 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 Advanced Member

And if you are not yet an Insider or Legacy member and want to gain access to video and audio advanced programs on StrategyTraining.com, we invite you to explore membership options (scroll down). We recommend to start with Insider or Legacy membership as a base membership and add the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level) as an add-on when the time is right for you.

Take this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future. StrategyTraining.com resources can be transformative for your career, but it's up to you to make time to study the resources and focus on quick integration. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at team@firmsconsulting.com.

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 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

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

June 27

June 16 - June 22 releases on StrategyTraining.com

Your financial outcomes are shaped by an internal system you didn’t design, but continue to follow.

Long before you earned a cent, that system was already in place.

Installed by well-meaning voices (parents, teachers, other adults) who left behind phrases like:

“Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
"What am I made out of money?"
"Who cares what you want?"
“You have to work hard to make money.”
“We can’t afford that.”
“Money is the root of all evil.”
“Rich people are selfish/arrogant/lucky.”
“Save every penny.”
“Be realistic.”

Your impressionable mind quickly internalized those beliefs. You don't even think about them. They are just running in your mind in the background, like an operating system of a computer.

Your operating system for making decisions about money, work, and worth was designed by people who probably don't have the results you want for your life.

And that system still runs to this day, determining what feels possible, how much you earn, the goals you set, and whether you're seen as someone to follow.

This week’s new releases, as all our programs, are designed not just to teach, but to help you rebuild your internal architecture for making high-stakes decisions and setting goals.

To replace old programming that, while got you this far, will not get you where you want to go.

Because the most important system in your business or career is cognitive.

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

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

Another major update, a new proposal was released.

Pandemic Forecasting & Quantification Proposal - A major proposal on pandemic forecasting. 43 SLIDES.

This new proposal outlines a comprehensive methodology to forecast and quantify pandemics. Using a mix of probability modeling, scenario planning, and response tracking, we built a system that predicts pandemic trajectories and helps governments and businesses plan responses across sectors. See the full model, risk frameworks, and quantification logic in action.

For Insider Members

These new training episodes were released.

The Real Reason You Are Not Being Promoted – Episode 15 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: Sometimes the world is unfair

The MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 31 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: Perils of family business acquisitions

Why Am I Not Happy? How Can I Be Happy? – Episode 11 of 14
Practical insights to help you recognize the patterns that are draining your energy and how to stop them.
Episode title: Do you understand the gamble you are taking

For Legacy Members

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

Communicating Details - Episode 5 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: The email sent folder test

(New) Why You're Unlikely to Get the Sponsor You Really Need - Episode 2 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: Sponsors do not improve your performance

(New) Identity Determines Your Wealth - Episode 1 of 1
Your income isn’t only limited by your skills but also, in large part, by the identity you’ve chosen. This program reveals how the roles we adopt silently cap our wealth, and what it really takes to break out of your orbit financially.
Episode title: Identity determines your wealth

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)

We just released 2 podcasts hosted by Michael.

Johns Hopkins University's Steve Hanke, on Rewriting the Rules of Our Financial System - with Steve Hanke

In this episode, economist and professor Steve Hanke presents a provocative critique of modern central banking. He argues that institutions like the Federal Reserve have repeatedly misread inflation by ignoring a foundational concept: the money supply. Drawing on historical data and current trends, Hanke explains why the quantity theory of money, a model with centuries of predictive power, is notably absent from mainstream macroeconomic models, leading to flawed policy responses.

“They don’t think there’s much of a relationship between changes in the money supply and changes in economic activity and inflation, which is just utter rubbish.”

Hanke disputes the common view that inflation stems from temporary external disruptions like supply chain shocks or geopolitical events. Instead, he argues it is a monetary phenomenon, typically driven by decisions made one to two years prior.
“There’s never been a significant inflation... that hasn’t been preceded by a significant increase in the money supply.”

He discusses the consequences of both overexpansion and contraction of money supply, contrasting U.S. policy missteps with China’s current deflationary pressures resulting from an overly restrained growth in money supply.
“In China, [money supply] is only growing at about 7% per year... Bingo, magic, they have no inflation. They have deflation.”

The conversation also explores the overlooked role of commercial banks, which create the majority of money in circulation. Following the 2008 financial crisis, regulations such as Dodd-Frank and Basel III significantly constrained these institutions, reducing their ability to support economic growth.

“Most of the stock of broad money held by the non-bank public is actually produced by commercial banks, not the central banks.”

Hanke calls for restoring commercial banks to the center of the financial system and reintroducing money supply metrics into central bank models.

5 key insights from the episode:

1) Inflation results from shifts in the money supply, not from isolated shocks, which only affect relative prices.
“Inflation is always caused by changes in the money supply.”
“Oil prices, supply chains, wars, those are ad hoc explanations to get the monkey off their back.”

2) Most central banks use models that exclude money entirely, leading to flawed forecasts and reactive policymaking.
“For the last 30 years... the macroeconomic models don’t include an aggregate measure for money. It’s absurd.”

3) U.S. monetary growth is currently below the level required to sustain stable prices, increasing the risk of recession, not inflation.
“The money supply is growing at 4.1%, that’s well below the 6% we need. That’s why inflation keeps coming down.”

4) Policy uncertainty, what Hanke terms “regime uncertainty,” undermines business investment, drawing a historical parallel to the New Deal era.
“Investment stopped during the New Deal. It just stopped, and that dragged the Depression out longer than it needed to be.”
“Right now, we have regime uncertainty again. Businesses are waiting to see what the rules will be.”

5) About 80% of broad money is created by commercial banks, yet they’ve been sidelined by overregulation.
“Since the great financial crisis... [commercial banks] have been squeezed out of the game.”

Taken together, Hanke’s analysis urges a return to first principles: placing money supply at the center of macroeconomic policy and recognizing the systemic role of commercial banks.
“We need to get the quantity theory of money back in the picture, and get commercial banks back in the game.”

For business leaders and policymakers, this discussion offers a sharp and timely reevaluation of what truly drives inflation and economic cycles, and what needs to change.

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

Harvard’s Bill George on Leading Authentically in Today's Workplace – with Bill George

In this wide-ranging and direct conversation, Bill George, former Medtronic CEO and Harvard Business School professor, offers a disciplined framework for leading in conditions of persistent volatility. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and research, George emphasizes that leadership today is no longer about managing processes.

He argues that future-ready leaders must confront ambiguity, enable experimentation, and sustain purpose across shifting conditions. Five themes stand out:

1. Opportunity Must Be Created, Not Awaited
George urges emerging leaders to act before they are promoted.

“Raise your hand. Say, I can do it. Don’t ask for the promotion. Look where you can do right in the role you’re in right now.”

“They’re not asking, ‘Oh, I need more money. I need a promotion, a bigger title.’ No, they say, ‘Hey, give me the opportunity.’”

He challenges senior leaders to stop suppressing emerging talent:

“I’m urging the baby boomers… step aside and open the doors for these fantastic new leaders… Organizations really need their energy, their enthusiasm, their ideas.”

2. Innovation Begins at the Front Lines
George reflects on his early days at Medtronic and the need to cancel a pacemaker program:

“I asked… what’s the benefit to the customer, to the patient? And they said, well, it’s got all this great technology. I said, no, no. So we canceled.”

He also stresses the importance of firsthand observation:

“I saw over 700 procedures… I sure was learning what the problems were… It was very different than you think. This is not a circuit problem. This is a human problem.”

And warns leaders against becoming disconnected:

“Executives were spending 72% of their time in their offices and conference rooms, only 5% of their time with employees, and 3% of their time with their customers. This is a disaster.”

3. Risk Tolerance Determines Strategic Renewal
George explains how Medtronic fostered innovation through structural insulation from corporate resistance:

“At any one given time, we owned part interest in two to three dozen venture companies… I was quite willing to let them fail.”

“We actually had to change the structure… We put all these creative new things… under [our Vice Chairman]… and when they came to market, then we would transform [them] to the mainstream business.”

He warns of middle managers who block change:

“We have too many people in middle management that are pushing back… it’s time for them to either change or to go away.”

4. Culture Must Reward Learning Over Defensiveness
George contrasts Silicon Valley with more failure-averse regions:

“The one beautiful thing about Silicon Valley, it’s almost a badge of honor. ‘What did you learn from that experience?’”

“Switzerland was just ranked number one… in innovation. [But] we don’t form any new companies. That’s what America does so well.”

He believes innovation requires structural freedom and cross-functional collaboration:

“It’s not going to come out of a giant company… It’s going to come out of allowing them to have freedom to go produce whole new ideas.”

5. AI Is a Strategic Imperative, Not a Cost Play
George cautions against viewing AI through an efficiency-only lens:

“An awful lot of people are looking at [AI] as efficiency. How can I cut out the frontline workers? … That’s the wrong way of looking at it.”

Instead, he sees AI as a platform for new growth models:

“How do you think about new business models? … That’s what we need to think about.”

“Don’t let the blockers get in your way. Bust your way through the system… If you take a couple of hits, a few arrows along the way, that’s okay.”

He encourages boldness in applying AI:

“Be creative inside large companies. Push the limits.”

George’s message is:

“Stay true to your purpose and values. Don’t be motivated by external acclimation and adulation. Be motivated by… making a difference in the world and leaving a mark.”

His leadership call-to-action is:

“If you don’t do it now, you won’t do it when you’re 50 or 60. So take those risks and do it, and you’ll have a great career.”

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

July 01

June 23 - June 29 releases on StrategyTraining.com

This week’s update includes one of the most substantial releases we’ve made to date: a complete 249-slide sales force strategy study, alongside advanced new episodes on consulting growth, leadership, and long-term career design.

Each release is a structured system, built for immediate application and long-term impact.

Here’s what’s now available for members on StrategyTraining.com:

For Strategy Control Room Advanced Members

Another major update: a new comprehensive 249-slide study was released this week.

Sales Force Effectiveness Study for an Industrial Concern - A major review of sales force strategy. 249 SLIDES.

We conducted a Sales Force Effectiveness (SFE) performance gap analysis across eight business units. This comprehensive engagement includes diagnostic tools, benefit case modeling, and practical action plans tailored to each BU. You’ll see detailed insights into competency gaps, pricing challenges, sales process inefficiencies, and a roadmap to unlock up to 21% CAGR. Full data, recommendations, and strategic transformation frameworks included.

For Insider Members

These new training episodes were released.

(NEW) Building a Consulting Practice. Level II – Episode 5 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: Third take on the issue

The MasterPlan Advanced – Episode 32 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: Lack of self-esteem will materially hurt you, and those around you

Lessons from Kris – Episode 1 of TBD
This is the first episode in a new series for Insider members. Each lesson presents a focused perspective on a topic that has proven critical in advising senior clients and building Firmsconsulting.com, StrategyTraining.com, and our other businesses. In this episode, we examine how the use of numbers influences how your work is perceived, how clients respond, and how clearly value is communicated. The lesson is applicable across industries and business models.
Episode title: 8 ways to leverage the power of numbers

For Legacy Members

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

Why You're Unlikely to Get the Sponsor You Really Need - Episode 3 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: How sponsorship works

(New) Segmenting Your Customers - Episode 1 of 5
What happens when the way you earn a living slowly pulls you away from who you really are? This program unpacks how inauthenticity creeps in, why it leads to burnout, and what it takes to rebuild both your brand and your sense of self.
Episode title: What inauthenticity does to you

(New) What Most Product Managers Get Wrong - Episode 1 of 3
Most product teams obsess over detailed plans and coordination, but miss the one question that matters most. This program shows why a specific action needs to come before everything else.
Episode title: What most product managers get wrong

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)

We’ve just released two new episodes, now available at no cost on iTunes, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

Listen in and stay sharp.

Steve Jobs' Former Colleague on How to Achieve Creative Velocity in the Age of Gen AI - with L eslie Grandy

Leslie Grandy, a seasoned executive who has led global product teams at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and T-Mobile, shares a deeply practical perspective on how leaders can activate creativity across functions, not just in design or strategy.

Drawing from her early years in the film industry and later executive roles in technology, Grandy explains how she developed three capabilities that proved critical in high-performance product environments:

“You’ve got to grind it out… and you have to have that intrinsic motivation to continue, even when it looks like failure is obvious.”

“You have to be resilient and flexible… because you have so many people depending on the outcome.”

“If I haven’t seen the problem before, it doesn’t seem daunting to me… It seems fun.”

These capabilities (grit, adaptability, and creative problem solving) formed the foundation of her success in ambiguous, fast-moving, and high-stakes environments.

Grandy also speaks directly to what supports and undermines creative velocity inside organizations. She notes that the most adaptive cultures don’t reserve creativity for a few select teams:

“They expect every role is going to show up with that same creative intention… that the status quo doesn’t seep into the lower ranks.”

But she also warns:

“Status quo as a cultural norm is dangerous.”
“Consensus-driven thinking is equally problematic for creative velocity.”

Her insights on Steve Jobs provide a rare look inside Apple’s leadership culture. When asked about her interview with him, she explains:

“Your interview will be five minutes or it’ll be 60 minutes. It’s up to Steve.”
“I didn’t come in there acting like I was an equal… I just came in there with a confidence that I could answer whatever he asked.”

When her team added preset engraving suggestions to iPods to help customers complete purchases, Jobs reacted immediately:

“He saw it, and within a day, it was pulled down.”
“He had such a finite view of his brand… there were no blurry edges around the brand.”

Grandy’s new book, Creative Velocity, argues that creativity is not a fixed trait, but a capability that can be developed with intention.

She addresses how leaders should approach generative AI, not just as an efficiency tool, but as a creative partner:

“What’s really transformative… is doing the exact opposite of prompt engineering.”
“It’s not about speed to answer. It’s about using that time to evolve a thought into different tributaries of thought.”

This episode raises a critical question for senior leaders:

“Are you designing your organization to perform or to invent?”

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

Brand Global, Adapt Local: Executive Lessons from Nike, Louis Vuitton, and HubSpot – with Katherine Melchior Ray and Nataly Kelly

In this episode, I spoke with two highly respected global brand leaders, Katherine Melchior Ray and Nataly Kelly, whose experience spans executive roles at Nike, Louis Vuitton, HubSpot, Zappi, and more.

Our discussion centered on their latest book, Brand Global, Adapt Local, but more broadly, we explored the evolving demands of building and sustaining global brands in a world defined by cultural complexity, rapid technological change, and shifting consumer expectations.

A few themes stood out:

1. Consistency is not enough.
Nataly Kelly shared:

“I used to believe that branding required absolute consistency and very little flexibility. But when I began to work in global marketing, I realized that there is adaptability that’s required to really succeed.”

Successful global brands, in her view, hold tightly to a clear core while flexibly adapting how they show up across markets.

2. Cultural blind spots have real consequences.
Katherine Melchior Ray reflected on an early leadership experience at Nike:

“The common refrain was, for women’s shoes… ‘shrink it and pink it.’”

She underscored the importance of cultural sensitivity, noting:

“Listen with your eyes. Because in many cultures, people communicate with nonverbal forms of communication.”

3. Strategy and judgment cannot be delegated to machines.
As the use of AI accelerates, Nataly cautioned:

“You can’t outsource your strategy… Judgment and strategy are the two things that I think humans will start to realize [must stay human].”

4. Trust is built over time, not through messaging alone.
Katherine observed:

“At the end of the day, a brand is all about a promise. People support brands that they trust.”

5. Human connection remains central.
As Katherine succinctly put it:

“The more we rely on technology, the more we must double down on our humanity.”

If you're involved in shaping brand strategy, whether globally or locally, this discussion offers valuable perspective.

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 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

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.

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 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?

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