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.

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