Every Time You Sidestep a Challenge Because Of ‘What If,’ You Let...

The Past Decide Your Future

I'm going to talk you through what is a very common challenge many clients face. It's so common that when putting together this program, we could create a composite client as a case study to show you how this obstacle pans out. It's the fear of failure. The program covers how to understand where and how it originates and how to address it.

We were once working with a client, let's call him Rohan. Rohan felt he was going to struggle and fail at tasks, and because he believed he would fail, he was unwilling to try certain things. When Rohan did try and fail, he found the process so debilitating, so hurtful, that it took him a very long time to recover. He was often paralyzed from acting by a fear of failure.
 

And in some ways, he never really recovered from it.

So, when Rohan brought up his uncertainty about how to work in his medical field because of this fear of failure, he wanted to know how to overcome this.

We asked, "You have this fear of failure, you feel terrible about it, and you want to hide from tasks where you could fail. Other times, you don’t even discuss failure because it leaves you with so much anxiety. So, you were taught to have this strong emotional reaction to failure, but actually, it’s the fear of failure itself."

Rohan failed, and he was exposed to such a negative reaction to failure that he now feared it. Vigorously.

We wanted to find out when Rohan was taught that failure was so bad it had to be avoided at all costs.

When Rohan was talking about what occurred during his work, we pushed deeper and deeper until we identified the real origin of his fear of failure. Once we shined a light on it, things started to shift for Rohan. This is the key part of the program. How we helped Rohan understand his relationship with failure, why he has been taught to fear it and how he can move forward.

With most clients, when we talk to them about fear of failure, they assume the problem lies somewhere in a professional setting. They think something happened at the office, or in this case, during his medical career, that led them to fear failure. But often, it’s something very different.
 

This program is designed to help Insiders and Legacy members identify the origin of their fear of failure.

This a key program to work through and comes with a workbook to ensure members can thoroughly work through the program, the steps required, to understand and address this problem. Insiders and Legacy members can find the workbook for the first 4 episodes on the program page. 

Because of the situation in which Rohan's fear of failure originated, he never talked about this part of his life. He was convinced that he had failed, and beyond that, he was taught he should be ashamed of his failure. So, he has been hiding his feelings about failure ever since. Discussing it with family members, for example, only further disappoints those he cared about most. As a result, he couldn't talk about this major life event that impacted him ever since because it has been classified as a failure.

Imagine living with such a burden. This type of story is very typical for many clients. 

Many of us are obstructed by the fear of failure. Not just a fear but a deep-rooted aversion we were taught to feel.

You might say, “Well, this is just me. This is how I’m wired.” But let me ask you: what if this isn’t your fear? What if it’s a learned response passed down to you? You may have been trained to flinch at failure, to avoid risk, to keep in the shadows when something might not go perfectly well, when you may publicly fail.
 

We’ve seen it before. Professionals who’ve achieved outstanding things but are held hostage by a fear that feels deeply ingrained. Like our clients who are incredibly successful, only to feel the constant tug of invisible strings, an obligation to succeed and to make up for "failures" of the past so they don’t “let anyone down.”
 

Anyone that is, but themselves.
So they can finally be ENOUGH.
 

We are not just talking about failing. It’s about everything failure would mean to the people watching, waiting, judging, maybe even depending on you. You’re taught to feel it so profoundly that it nearly defines you.
 

This fear is deeply ingrained. It isn't something you can just ignore or laugh off. It's bound up in relationships, your sense of duty, your identity. If you fail, truly fail, it feels like every connection, every affirmation of your worth, every last ounce of love could be called into question.
 

You’re carrying a lot of burden, but you can unpack this, shift it, even rewrite it.

We’re not here to tell you that fear or shame can just be switched off.

We’re talking about rewriting the entire narrative, going to that core moment when you first learned “failure is unacceptable.”

It may feel like pulling off armor, exposing parts of yourself you’ve kept locked away for years. But the real growth is on the other side of that discomfort.

We’re talking about controlled failure.
 

Testing yourself on your terms.

The goal is, of course, not to invite disaster. The goal is to transcend your current relationship with failure, elevating it into a source of strength and growth.

Here’s what’s at stake if you don’t. 

The stiffness that holds you back will intensify. You’ll withdraw from great opportunities, play it safe, and maintain surface-level relationships where they should be deeper and truer. Every time you sidestep a challenge because of the fear of “what if,” you let the past decide your future.

And here’s what can happen if you do confront it: liberation.

An emotional, personal, and professional freedom that allows you to act without your past constantly pulling the strings.

So you can finally be free.

Imagine setting new terms and building a relationship with failure that strengthens you rather than reduces you. Of course, it’s not about acting recklessly. Instead, it’s about defining failure as part of the journey, a step rather than an endpoint.

So, here’s what we’re offering you: a journey, yes, and also a challenge. We’ll uncover those early triggers. But more than that, we’ll use them to rewire the programming you have running related to failure.

Yes, literally and figuratively, rewrite. As I mentioned earlier, there is a corresponding workbook for this program (Insiders and Legacy members can find it on the program page).

We’ll help you rewrite your stories that are making you stiff and pass on opportunities, and worry endlessly about situations where you should not have such a reaction. Working diligently through this program will help you be able to talk about your failures openly and calmly. Why?
 

Because they’ll no longer have such a hold over you.

Every one of them will just be another step that gets you to a better place.

If you’re ready, then let’s begin this program, led by Michael. And know that from here on out, failure isn’t your enemy. It’s the stepping stone on the way up.

In the first 4 (out of 8) episodes of the program, we cover:

• 01:00 - Introducing Rohan and his backstory. Setting the objective (Ep 1)

• 02:20 - Where the origin of the fear of failure usually resides (Ep 1)

• 03:00 - Rohan's fear of failure origin story (Ep 1)

• 03:50 - The conflict that led to a debilitating fear of failure (Ep 1)

• 05:10 - The narrative he created was crippling for him and made him make flawed career choices later in life (Ep 1)

• 07:05 - Three parts involved in creating a debilitating fear of failure (Ep 1)

• 08:05 - What do you actually afraid of rather than failure itself (Ep 1)

• 10:20 - The exercise members need to complete at this stage of the program (Ep 1)

• 10:45 - Example from Michael's life (Ep 1)

• 00:30 - This problem is very common among our clients (Ep 2)

• 01:30 - What dynamic is playing out in your life, and how is it severely hurting you (Ep 2)

• 02:10 - Compounded failure and corresponding label placed on Rohan (Ep 2)

• 04:00 - Taking a stand to do something that makes other people uncomfortable (Ep 2)

• 04:50 - Unpacking the narrative (Ep 2)

• 05:50 - What hurts us the most (Ep 2)

• 07:16 - The key thing to understand about Rohan's role (Ep 2)

• 09:12 - The path that was not an option for Rohan that people born in the US take for granted (Ep 2)

• 10:50 - Realignment process after immigration to the United States (Ep 2)

• 11:35 - Member's action item to compete (Ep 2)

• 0:00 - Explaining the client's challenge, which may be very similar to your own (Ep 3)

• 0:00 - Introducing 9 action steps that you can take to understand your relationship with failure or anxiety (Ep 3)

• 01:10 - Action step 1 almost always originates from childhood (Ep 3)

• 03:18 - Action step 2 and how this step may clarify why you may seek isolation (Ep 3)

• 05:20 - Action step 3. Shining light on an important event that will explain a lot about your life and how life is not linear (Ep 3)

• 08:00 - How you should rewrite your stories

• 00:00 - Action step 4 helps us cultivate a positive relationship with failure (Ep 4)

• 02:06 - This emotion exists in the shadow, in the darkness (Ep 4)

• 03:12 - How do you write a white paper you are afraid to write and submit? Specifically what to say to protect yourself and change the goal (Ep 4)

---

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).

We care about your success and are here to support you. Feel free to reach out with questions at team@firmsconsulting.com.

Thank you for being part of the StrategyTraining community.

Access New Program (Insider & Legacy Members)

Know What You Want To Be Known For...
And What You Want To Be Speaking About...

Over The Next Few Decades

We just released a full new Insider program (4-part program)...

23-Page Workbook: This program also comes with a powerful 23-page downloadable workbook. When Michael saw the workbook we created for this program, he messaged me, "This is exceptionally powerful. Even I would use it all the time." He then followed it up with another message, "Went through the entire document. It’s so good. Please send me a copy of the final document." I highly recommend you download and print the workbook and use it as you work through the program. You will get even more value out of the program this way.

Now let me share more details about this new 4-part program. 

Imagine this: You’re the youngest consultant in the room, sitting across from the decision-makers of a global powerhouse. The weight of expectation hangs heavy, but the excitement of presenting something truly original keeps your confidence alive.

Are you brave enough to dare to believe you can come up with NEW ideas that matter?

- Not ideas you have read in a Harvard Business Review.
- Not ideas you have heard in an interview with the CEO of a Fortune 500.
- Not ideas you have read about in a book.
 

But ideas that originated in your OWN head.

Even when they’re raw and unpolished, they bring more value to the world and contribute more to YOUR career or business versus summarizing something you have read or heard somewhere.
 

What if you could have an unshakable conviction that what you create could one day redefine how an entire industry thinks?

In a brand new program just released for Insiders and Legacy members, we teach you how you can become a person whose ideas matter.
 

In a case study shared in a program, the journey began with a simple yet profound question:

What risks are core to your business, and how do you approach the ones that aren’t?
 

This led to years of refining, failing, and learning. 

Until it was refined to the point that clients saw its tremendous value.

Then, a new consulting practice emerged. One that changed how clients thought about their future.

But this is only the beginning. Over four riveting episodes, in a typical Michael's style, we explore:

• The quiet confidence it takes to share original thinking when the easier path is to summarize someone else’s.

• The system and process of documenting your thoughts, not just for clarity but to honor your own intellectual journey.

• The untold story behind one of management consulting’s most pivotal moments and the unexpected loss of a vast knowledge archive.

• The cutting-edge methods we use to enhance our thinking through AI and the AI system we use which is built upon our proprietary materials.

• And much more...

These are the kinds of conversations that keep you awake at night. 

Not with worry but with excitement about what’s possible.

I believe you’ll connect with the core point of this program.

The lessons go beyond consulting. The consulting example is used as a case study. The program is designed to give you a roadmap to lead with your own voice in any field you are in. This is relevant more than ever, given we live in a world that is drowning in people summarizing and repackaging what someone else said without even fully understanding the drivers behind the ideas, teachings, strategies, and approaches.

Take your time with this program.

Reflect on the moments where you see yourself. Where you might feel the tug to embrace your own original thinking. Use the workbook to help you make the most of this program.

See what is not clear and where you need further guidance. And after carefully working through the program and the workbook and applying what you learn in your life, feel free to email us at team@firmsconsulting.com if any questions come up. Those questions will be used as input for bonus episodes or sequel programs, as needed. 

If you’re ready, then let’s begin this program led by Michael. And know that from here on out, your original thinking can matter.
 

You are good enough to produce original thinking.

And this is what will set you apart in business and in life.

Here are some time stamps as you work through the program to help you not miss important points: 

• 01:00 - What it took to present a new concept to a senior client as a most junior person on the team (Ep 1)

• 03:20 - Eventually being able to leverage the new concept that led to building a new consulting practice (Ep 1)

• 05:00 - Developing a mindset that will position you for the future as a thought leader (Ep 1)

• 06:20 - The starting point of becoming a thought leader (Ep 1)

• 07:12 - The road to becoming a person who shares original thinking (Ep 1)

• 08:00 - Do you want to live your life summarizing other people's work? (Ep 1)

• 09:00 - 98% of people are repackagers (Ep 1)

• 00:20 - A little-known event within management consulting that had ramifications that lasted until today (Ep 2)

• 02:50 - The loss of the acquired firm's entire knowledge database (Ep 2)

• 04:00 - The secret sauce to the organization and to a person (Ep 2)

• 05:50 - Developing your database (Ep 2)

• 08:30 - How and why StrategyTraining.com was created (Ep 2)

• 00:20 - Folder structure (Ep 3)

• 01:40 - Themes Michael uses (Ep 3)

• 03:30 - Process we follow to document our work (Ep 3)

• 04:40 - Capturing ideas (Ep 3)

• 05:30 - Deciding on your general interest area (Ep 3)

• 06:20 - Knowing what you want to be known for and what you want to be speaking about over the next few decades (Ep 3)

• 07:00 - What happens when we are bored or get tired of things (Ep 3)

• 00:13 - What has given us a tremendous advantage in business and in life (Ep 4)

• 00:35 - How we document our knowledge and ideas (Ep 4)

• 01:19 - The problem with the archiving approach (Ep 4)

• 01:30 - How we developed our own Strategy & Consulting AI system, which is trained and continues to be trained on our proprietary database (Ep 4)

• 02:30 - How we use our Strategy & Consulting AI system to enhance our workflow (Ep 4)

• 03:15 - How we set up our Strategy & Consulting AI system (Ep 4)

• 04:07 - What Strategy & Consulting AI system allowed us to do that we couldn't do before with our data (Ep 4)

• 05:30 - Using the formidable brain power that is not public (Ep 4)

• 06:30 - Using our risk strategy applied to an unexpected problem (Ep 4)

• 07:00 - Our go-to place when we have a question (Ep 4)

---

If you're an Insider 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 program).

We care about your success and are here to support you. Feel free to reach out with questions at team@firmsconsulting.com.

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

Access New Program (Insider Members)

The Trust Ladder...Inverts At The Top

Imagine a Ferrari showroom. You can't just stroll in and buy their top model, not even with cash in hand. Ferrari chooses its buyers. Only their most loyal, trusted clients get access to the rarest models.

It’s about building long-term relationships with clients who truly value what Ferrari offers.

Building trust is the foundation of every enduring client relationship. 

In this 3-part program, we focus on how trust ladders work and why they’re more critical than any product ladder. 

• The Power of the Trust Ladder
  Ferrari didn’t create lower-cost models like the Roma to "cheapen" the brand. They did it to reach a broader audience while preserving their brand's prestige. It’s about a tiered relationship with clients, where trust grows over time, transforming first-time buyers into lifelong clients.

• Why Clients Shouldn’t Start at the Top
  Think of BMW’s lineup, from the 1 Series to the flagship 8 Series. A new buyer might start with a 3 Series, but as their trust grows, so does their commitment and investment in BMW. This gradual climb is not just a pricing strategy. It’s a trust strategy. For clients, it feels like a possibility to “join the family,” one step at a time.

• The Inverted Trust Ladder
  Here’s the surprising twist: at the highest level, it’s no longer just about the client trusting us. It’s about us trusting them.

The Trust Ladder is about mutual success. And you don’t have to be Ferrari or BMW to apply it. Each client touchpoint is a rung on the ladder.

Imagine a client relationship so unshakable that when stakes are high and tensions are thicker than steel, you’re the one they turn to for answers.

We once advised a client, a global conglomerate poised to enter a region with near-zero institutional stability. No police, no hospitals, not even a school system. It was chaos, and the mission was not just to launch, but to thrive in this challenging terrain.

From Day One, every interaction hinged on trust. With billions on the line, our every move faced scrutiny. Our competition was fierce, promising higher royalties but fewer long-term commitments. Our edge? A vision to build hospitals, schools, and more to prove, not just say, that we were invested in this nation’s future.

Now, if you are a new business owner, you may not be building hospitals. But if you're trying to secure that first critical client, the path is the same: how do you prove to them that their investment in you is safe, worthwhile, and will bring the best of you to the table?

Welcome to The Trust Ladder, a new Legacy program that focuses on helping you build a client base from scratch. And it all starts with a powerful truth: the traditional “product ladder” that many entrepreneurs follow is, frankly, the wrong thing to focus on.

Clients don’t start by buying. They start by trusting. In The Trust Ladder, we’ll flip the narrative, showing you how to build genuine connections and why every single “rung” matters.

Why should you tune in?

Because trust doesn’t just happen. It’s earned, painstakingly. Every step you take toward earning trust transforms your relationship, inviting your clients to believe in you just as much as you believe in your mission.

This 3-Part program we cover:

• Why “selling” products should come after establishing trust.

• How to build a client journey that feels (and genuinely is) invaluable.

• When and how to make the transition from “trusted advisor” to an exclusive, mutually beneficial partnership.

• And more...

Our approach is simple: as clients climb the trust ladder with us, they not only gain access to higher-value services, but we, too, gain a trusted relationship that lets us share our most impactful ideas. And when you’re at the top, it’s not about selling to clients. It’s about choosing the clients you trust.

It’s time to win your clients' hearts before you win their business. Ready to reframe your client relationships and start building your own trust ladder?

---

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

Not a Legacy member yet? Enroll here: www.strategytraining.com (scroll to membership options).

We care about your success and are here to support you. Feel free to reach out with questions at team@firmsconsulting.com.

Thank you for being part of the StrategyTraining community.

Access New Program (Legacy Members)

We have just released the second part of Executive Update 1 for the Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management Study in the Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level.
 

***
 

Every so often, we release a study that is so powerful, so fundamental, that if you take the time to read it multiple times and really understand what it was teaching and how it was teaching it, it will teach you a primary/core skill that will change your ability to operate as a seasoned professional with a deeply analytical mind.

This is one of those studies.

The study focuses on asset management within financial services, an area that is becoming increasingly important worldwide as income levels rise. In this study, we are going to analyze an asset manager that is growing at a slower rate than competitors in one of the most dynamic markets in the world. And because it is growing at a slower rate, it's ultimately losing market share.

In this study, we will present a way to analyze the distribution of a financial services product, which, with a few tweaks and changes, could be applied to the distribution of any financial services product, even though our primary focus here is on investment products for wealth management.

This is a study that we encourage everyone to read. Take the time to work through it. Think about how you could apply this thinking to your own sector, which may not be in financial services. It teaches a fundamental skill: how to analyze a market across all elements, all the way from asset management to distribution and administration. Whether or not you are in financial services or asset management, you are in an industry that produces something that you distribute.

The study is particularly interesting because it takes a very complicated subject and analyzes it in a sophisticated yet simple way to draw out very important analyses. It uses highly sophisticated frameworks developed for the client, and it pulls it apart in a way we have not yet applied in other studies.

This is one of those anchor studies like our study on Competition, the LAB Study, the Power Sector study, and the Tech M&A study. These are anchor studies because they teach foundational skills that we want our clients to master.

In this study, we tackle something incredibly sophisticated in an area where many people tend to be a little bit afraid. While most people are afraid of math and finance, when you analyze finances within the financial services sector, people tend to get even more intimidated. However, this is a topic that has become more important globally as the middle class has risen in most countries and the number of millionaires has increased.

So, this is a foundational study that we will be referring to for years to come. It teaches something so fundamental that every member should work through it. It teaches a skill of how to analyze a complex sector in a way that is easy to follow, even if you do not have a background in the sector.

Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management consists of 3 executive updates. Some of the topics we covered in this update included:

• Economic Model

  • Generating insights into profitability

  • Discussing profitability by product

  • Discussing profitability by type of business

  • Outlining the broader issues raised

HOW TO FIND THE CORPORATE STRATEGY FOR ASSET/WEALTH MANAGEMENT:

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "FULL ENGAGEMENTS" dropdown. 
3. Select "Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management."
4. The Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management consists of 52 slides for the first and second part of Executive Update 1.

If you are The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, member, here is the direct link to these 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

• 12 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

• 31 proposals

• Flipcharts

• Layout guides

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

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

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

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

• The evolution of corporate strategy

• The business case toolkit

• Implementation and operation toolkit

• Corporate strategy toolkit

• Strategy maps

• And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

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.

Do you risk your relationship with the only family member who has always been on your side to...

Make a Stand for Your Truth

Imagine this... you're a corporate leader, used to making tough decisions, managing people, and balancing priorities. But what happens when the real test of your leadership comes not from the boardroom, but from the one place you least expect, your family?

One of our Legacy members faced such a dilemma, and it’s the kind of situation that stops you in your tracks and clouds your judgment.

After years of personal struggle, living a double life to keep the peace in a deeply conservative family, Josh (name changed to protect privacy) finally started to see a light.

Slowly, doors opened, bridges mended.

But just as things seemed to be improving, an unexpected challenge hit. One that shattered Josh's hopes for true acceptance.

Josh's brother is getting married, which is generally a joyous occasion. But there's one glaring problem. The invitation, addressed only to Josh, excludes Josh's life partner of 13 years, the person with whom Josh shares every part of his life.

The reason?

A secret that could tear the family apart if revealed.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Should he attend the wedding alone, once again hiding a critical part of who he is?

Or refuse the invitation, risking a final rift that could cut ties with his family forever?

Now, here’s the twist... 

The brother who has always stood by Josh, the only true ally in the family, supports this decision to keep things quiet.

The brother who convinced Josh's parents to reconnect with Josh after years of estrangement is asking for silence, all for the sake of keeping the peace on his wedding day.

So, what do you do?

Do you risk your relationship with the only family member who has always been on your side to stand for what you believe in?

Or do you stay silent and protect the fragile peace that has only just begun to form and hope that things will improve over time?

It’s not just a personal dilemma. It’s a test of leadership, values, and strategy.

The same qualities that make great leaders successful are at play here. And in this program, we will explore these questions and more, helping you steer not only the challenges of your career but the personal battles that shape your life.

Are you ready to tackle the most difficult questions you may ever face?

---

If you're a Legacy member, Part 1 of the exclusive 2-Part program is now available in your account on StrategyTraining.com.

Not a Legacy member yet? Enroll here: www.strategytraining.com (scroll to membership options).

We’re committed to your success and are here to support you. Feel free to reach out with questions at team@firmsconsulting.com.

Thank you for being part of the StrategyTraining community.

Access New Program (Legacy Members)

P.S. If you are an Insider, you can upgrade to Legacy and come back to Insider WITHOUT losing Insider status. To upgrade, you can go to the Legacy section on StrategyTraining.com, the system will offer an option to upgrade. The system will also automatically use any credit you have associated with your Insider account towards Legacy membership. As a Legacy member, you will not only unlock additional programs within the Legacy membership area but will be able to submit 2 questions per month and receive tailored input from Michael or me, taking into account the specifics you shared of your unique situation. That alone is worth a lot more than the cost of the upgrade. You can get personalized guidance twice a month. If, down the road, you want to switch back from Legacy to Insider, please email team@firmsconsulting.com so we can ensure your Insider status is retained (provided there are no gaps in membership).

Over the weekend, we released the first part of Executive Update 1 for the Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management Study in the Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level.
 

***
 

Every so often, we release a study that is so powerful, so fundamental, that if you take the time to read it multiple times and really understand what it was teaching and how it was teaching it, it will teach you a primary/core skill that will change your ability to operate as a seasoned professional with a deeply analytical mind.

This is one of those studies.

The study focuses on asset management within financial services, an area that is becoming increasingly important worldwide as income levels rise. In this study, we are going to analyze an asset manager that is growing at a slower rate than competitors in one of the most dynamic markets in the world. And because it is growing at a slower rate, it's ultimately losing market share.

In this study, we will present a way to analyze the distribution of a financial services product, which, with a few tweaks and changes, could be applied to the distribution of any financial services product, even though our primary focus here is on investment products for wealth management.

This is a study that we encourage everyone to read. Take the time to work through it. Think about how you could apply this thinking to your own sector, which may not be in financial services. It teaches a fundamental skill: how to analyze a market across all elements, all the way from asset management to distribution and administration. Whether or not you are in financial services or asset management, you are in an industry that produces something that you distribute.

The study is particularly interesting because it takes a very complicated subject and analyzes it in a sophisticated yet simple way to draw out very important analyses. It uses highly sophisticated frameworks developed for the client, and it pulls it apart in a way we have not yet applied in other studies.

This is one of those anchor studies like our study on Competition, the LAB Study, the Power Sector study, and the Tech M&A study. These are anchor studies because they teach foundational skills that we want our clients to master.

In this study, we tackle something incredibly sophisticated in an area where many people tend to be a little bit afraid. While most people are afraid of math and finance, when you analyze finances within the financial services sector, people tend to get even more intimidated. However, this is a topic that has become more important globally as the middle class has risen in most countries and the number of millionaires has increased.

So, this is a foundational study that we will be referring to for years to come. It teaches something so fundamental that every member should work through it. It teaches a skill of how to analyze a complex sector in a way that is easy to follow, even if you do not have a background in the sector.

Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management consists of 3 executive updates. Some of the topics we covered in this update included:

• Charting the Future of Country 1’s Unit Trust Business

  • the company's state of business

  • generating insights into profitability

  • building momentum and quick wins

  • the 'As-Is" model

  • the competition 

HOW TO FIND THE CORPORATE STRATEGY FOR ASSET/WEALTH MANAGEMENT:

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. See the "FULL ENGAGEMENTS" dropdown. 
3. Select "Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management."
4. The Corporate Strategy for Asset/Wealth Management consists of 24 slides for the first part of Executive Update 1.

If you are The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, member, here is the direct link to these 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

• 12 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

• 31 proposals

• Flipcharts

• Layout guides

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

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

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

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

• The evolution of corporate strategy

• The business case toolkit

• Implementation and operation toolkit

• Corporate strategy toolkit

• Strategy maps

• And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

The MasterPlan Advanced: new episodes

We just released new episodes of The MasterPlan Advanced, bringing the total to 24 episodes. Over the past seven years, we have introduced three transformative programs within The MasterPlan series.

Core Programs

• The MasterPlan (available to Insiders and Legacy members)

• Implementing the MasterPlan (available to Insiders and Legacy members)

• A MidLife Strategy Update (exclusive to Legacy members)

New Additions

We are now introducing two significant new additions to the MasterPlan universe:

• The MasterPlan Advanced (for Insiders & Legacy members)

• The MasterPlan: Next Level (members-only book exclusive to the SCR (A) members)

Disclaimer: Please note that we are not licensed financial planners or advisors. We share information based on our own experiences and the insights we've gained from working with clients all over the world. We strongly recommend consulting with qualified professionals before making any investment decisions or significant life choices.

In the previous part of this program, we did one major exercise to look at your investment portfolio to show you:

- A lot of the things that you think are your assets
- And that your most important assets may not be as important as you think
- And that we often leave out the things that can create the most value for us 

In this part of the program, we're going to discuss the pleasant part of retirement planning. We are going to go through a scary part of retirement planning very soon as well. And it is a part almost nobody thinks about and plans for. But it gets all of us eventually, and it gets some of us much earlier, in our 50s and 40s.

In these new episodes, we dive into the following:

- How you sustain your wealth once you create it (Episode 23 1:50)
- What kind of investing is more likely to generate the highest return (Episode 23 2:00)
- Skills you have to invest in as part of your investment strategy (Episode 23 3:00)
- Where to get disposable income from (Episode 23 4:30)
- What many people don't fully realize when hiring a wealth management advisor (Episode 23 4:50)
- The best way to manage your investments, in our experience (Episode 23 5:10)
- Determining the returns required and important distinction to make here (Episode 23 5:20)
- Finding investments with returns you need (Episode 23 7:00)
- Understanding risk levels (Episode 23 7:40)
- The MasterPlan PENTAD (Episode 23 9:00)
- Things you don't think about when earning a salary (Episode 23 10:20)
- Important point most people don't understand (Episode 23 11:30)
- Focusing on the entire PENTAD (Episode 23 12:30)
- Taking control of your life using the MasterPlan approach (Episode 23 13:00)
- Minimizing paying people who don't deserve it (Episode 23 13:30)
- The MasterPlan critical path (Episode 23 14:10)
- Picking the right path for yourself (Episode 24 1:20)
- Planning starts with this one thing (Episode 24 1:40)
- Hitting upper echelons of your business model in life (Episode 24 2:10)
- A business model in life with the lowest returns (Episode 24 2:40)
- In life, there are only four business models to create wealth, no matter what you do (Episode 24 2:50)
- Definition of life business model (Episode 24 3:00)
- The first life business model and its implications (Episode 24 3:20)
- The highest taxed model (Episode 24 4:00)
- The second life business model and its implications (Episode 24 4:00)
- The third life business model and its implications (Episode 24 4:50)
- The fourth life business model and its implications (Episode 24 5:30)
- Never let your life business model choose you (Episode 24 5:40)
- Most people get shocked when they make this calculation (Episode 24 6:30)
- A classic mistake clients make (Episode 24 6:45)
- A painful consequence of this mistake (Episode 24 7:10)
- The reason this mistake occurs (Episode 24 7:40)
- Useful lens you can apply (Episode 24 8:10)
- Creating a wealth engine (Episode 24 8:50)
- Hitting milestones (bronze, silver, gold, platinum, diamond, and how do you know when you hit a particular milestone) (Episode 24 9:00)
- Breaking out of the least attractive life business model (Episode 24 11:40)
- Creating financial freedom to have an impact you want to have (Episode 24 12:20)
- One thing that must be done (Episode 24 12:50)
- Choosing whether you want to make the changes that are required (Episode 24 13:00)
- And more

Program Distinctions

These programs serve distinct purposes, building upon each other to provide a comprehensive MasterPlan development and implementation path.

• The MasterPlan and Implementing the MasterPlan are the foundational programs that introduce core concepts and strategies for personal and professional growth, setting the stage for further exploration and application.

• The Midlife Strategy Update provides a detailed case study of developing and implementing The MasterPlan during midlife (around age 45).

• The MasterPlan: Next Level is a members-only book exclusively available to the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level) members. It significantly updates and refines the concepts from the original program, serving as a bridge to The MasterPlan Advanced. It includes robust exercises designed to baseline your life, providing a practical framework for assessing and planning your growth.

• The MasterPlan Advanced can help you bring your MasterPlan to the next level. It is designed for those seeking a more in-depth understanding and ready to apply advanced strategies to their personal and professional lives.

The MasterPlan Program Impact and Evolution

The original MasterPlan and Implementing the MasterPlan have consistently been the most viewed programs on StrategyTraining.com, receiving outstanding feedback for their transformative impact on our members' professional journeys and life strategies. A MidLife Strategy Update holds the record for the most viewed among Legacy offerings. The MasterPlan Advanced was born from the experiences Michael and I have had over the last two years while updating our own MasterPlans for the next few decades and working with executive clients through the same process.

The MasterPlan Advanced introduces powerful new concepts around investing, relationships, building a strong family unit, and more. It is a full new program being released in parallel with "The MasterPlan: Next Level" (SCR (A) members-only book).

Don't Want to Work on This Alone?

In addition to these programs, there is also The MasterPlan Acceleration executive coaching program, where you can work personally with Michael and me as you develop your MasterPlan. This allows you to receive our mentorship and coaching on each aspect of your MasterPlan, taking into account your unique set of assets, your life's purpose (including helping you figure out what your life's purpose is), and your unique situation. The program is designed to allow clients to see the opportunities and risks they may otherwise miss, and develop new powerful ways of thinking and making decisions.

I often hear from members of the FC community that they did not apply for executive coaching with us because they are not as successful as some of our clients. I personally encourage you to apply. If you know my story and if you know us, it will not be a surprise to you that what we are looking for when selecting clients is not your level of success but the kind of person you are and what your intentions are as it relates to using the power and influence once you get it.

If you take a look at our 1-year long executive coaching program, where we work very closely with each client (1:1 in very small groups) as we progress from week to week towards particular goals, each client within a 1-year program is a prior coaching client. And some of those clients started with us while at university and we had the honor of being their guide throughout their entire career journey. Apply here.

Get Started

If you are a member, access the new episodes here or click the button below.

The MasterPlan Advanced (Insiders & Legacy Members)

If you are joining as a new member, start with:

• The MasterPlan 

• Then Implementing the MasterPlan

• A MidLife Strategy Update (if you are a Legacy member)

• Then, The MasterPlan: Next Level (if you are a SCR (A) member)

• And The MasterPlan Advanced to make the most of this seminal program

To access The MasterPlan Advanced, enroll below (scroll down to membership options and select Insider or Legacy).

www.strategytraining.com

As we approach the last 4 months of the year, it's wise to reflect on our progress and make adjustments if needed. Continuing with the same approach and expecting different results will not work. 

The MasterPlan series provides a comprehensive framework for personal and professional growth. It offers a structured approach to developing a cohesive career and life plan, refining your decision-making process, and identifying your unique strengths and advantages. By following The MasterPlan, you can gain clarity and direction, enabling you to make the most of the remaining year and beyond.

Take this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future. The MasterPlan can be transformative, but it's up to you to take action. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at team@firmsconsulting.com.

The question is: 
Will You Rise to the Occasion?

In this new Legacy program, we cover a critical mindset shift required to be considered CEO material within your organization. It's based on the work Michael and I have been doing with clients worldwide at a senior level, and even at not-so-senior levels, and across cultures.

---

Imagine you're standing on the precipice of a mission that could alter the course of history. One so secret, so dangerous, that only a select few even know it exists.

It's 1944, and the world is in the grip of a brutal war. On one side, the Allies are making a bold push into Normandy, a campaign that will become immortalized in history. But beneath the surface, in the shadows, a far more precarious and pivotal mission is unfolding.

This isn't the story of D-Day or the dramatic storming of beaches. This is the untold tale of a desperate gamble—a race against time to stop the unimaginable.

As the clock ticks towards dawn, a six-man British Special Operations team is preparing to undertake a mission that will test every ounce of their courage, skill, and loyalty.

Their objective?

Infiltrate a heavily guarded German facility where a lone scientist holds the key to unlocking nuclear destruction.

The mission is fraught with peril: an 18-mile trek through hostile territory, a narrow two-hour window to complete the task, and no backup if things go wrong.

Failure is not an option. The stakes are nothing less than the future of the free world.

But here's the twist—this isn't just their mission.

It's yours.

You are part of this elite team, entrusted with a role so critical that the entire operation hinges on your success.

As the sun begins to rise, you'll have to make split-second decisions that could determine whether this mission ends in triumph or tragedy.

Are you ready to accept this challenge?

Are you prepared to put the mission—and your team—first, knowing that any misstep could destroy not just yourselves but millions of lives?

In this program, we'll cover the strategies, the split-second decisions, and the intense preparation required for such high-stakes missions.

But more importantly, we'll explore how the lessons learned from these historic moment can be applied to your professional life today.

Because just like those soldiers, you face missions of your own—missions that require you to put your team first, to understand your role, and to execute flawlessly under pressure.

The question is: Will you rise to the occasion?

---

In this Legacy program, we cover:

- What many people don't know about WW2 but should (2:00)
- Michael gives you a hypothetical tough spy mission and a set of decisions you need to make to drive home the main learning points from this program (5:00)
- A common mistake professionals and executives make (9:00)
- Impact of different circumstances on career strategy (10:00)
- What causes the mission to fail (11:30)
- A common way people damage their reputation, not realizing it (13:00)
- An easy way to lose the trust and respect of your mentor (13.30)
- The right approach to training and what you need to know to design a training path for yourself (14:00)
- Who is a part of your team (16:00)
- How should you see your career (16:15)
- What is the goal (16:30)
- Which capabilities you should build on and protect (17:00)
- How to figure out which capabilities you need to develop (17:15)
- How does this apply to your personal life (17:40)
- The mission will never succeed if this criterion is not met (18:10)
- Getting a new perspective that will open your eyes to things you currently may not see, even though they are under your nose (19:00)
- What is your life (20:15)
- Preparing for a mission (20:25)
- Preparing for consulting engagements (20:30)
- Preserving your health (21:00)
- Withdrawing from an incomplete mission (21:30)

If you are a Legacy member, you can access the "Mission First. Team First" program in your account on StrategyTraining.com. And if you are not a member, you can enroll as a Legacy member here (scroll down to membership options):

www.strategytraining.com

Thank you for being a part of the StrategyTraining.com community. Your growth and success are important to us, and we are here to support you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at team@firmsconsulting.com.

Access New Program (Legacy Members)

P.S. If you are an Insider, you can upgrade to Legacy and come back to Insider WITHOUT losing Insider status. To upgrade, you can go to the Legacy section on StrategyTraining.com, the system will offer an option to upgrade. The system will also automatically use any credit you have associated with your Insider account towards Legacy membership. As a Legacy member, you will not only unlock additional programs within the Legacy membership area but will be able to submit 2 questions per month and receive tailored input from Michael/me, taking into account the specifics you shared of your unique situation. That alone is worth a lot more than the cost of the upgrade. You can get personalized guidance twice a month. If, down the road, you want to switch back from Legacy to Insider, please email team@firmsconsulting.com so we can ensure your Insider status is retained (provided there are no gaps in membership).

“Build an investment portfolio that supports your unique goals and purpose in life.”
- The MasterPlan. Next Level

The 8th chapter of our new members-only book, "The MasterPlan. Next Level," has been released. It's available exclusively within the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level).

Our entire life is a race to put in place the financial foundation for our retirement. It may not seem this way at times, but if we think of the decisions we make from the time we are teenagers, for most of us, it's about wealth building and sustaining that wealth. We try to make that journey enjoyable with friends, family, and experiences, but we have a clear goal in mind to be financially secure. 

Some of us may not be as talented at achieving this goal. We often give up in frustration. We usually kick it to the future, hoping our children or grandchildren will handle it. However, someone at some time will need to confront this problem. I know how it feels. I had to take control of my wealth planning because, as you will likely discover for yourself, in my experience, the wealth management industry does not make you wealthy. It finds already wealthy people and charges them a fee. 

In this chapter, we explore:
- Important retirement planning exercise (page 112)
- Listing the costs associated with retirement, including some costs most people fail to think about (page 115)
- Our entire life is a race to achieve this (page 117)
- A wealth model (page 117)
- Another definition of retirement planning (page 118)
- Can you retire happy? (page 118)
- The first big calculation error many people make when they calculate how much money they need for retirement (page 119)
- The second big calculation error many people make when they calculate how much money they need for retirement (page 119)
- The third big calculation error many people make when they calculate how much money they need for retirement (page 120)
- MasterPlan Life’s Purpose Wealth Model™ (page 121)
- MasterPlan™ Pentad (page 123)
- Four options you have within The MasterPlan Life Business Model™ (page 125)
- The lowest taxed life business model (page 126)
- Four levels to building the wealth model (page 128)
---

"The MasterPlan. Next Level" updates and refines the concepts from the original program. It's a significant update on the program.

• Fresh and more impactful examples

• Four robust exercises designed to baseline your life and set a new standard for personal evaluation

• This iteration acts as a pivotal bridge to the more advanced concepts explored in The MasterPlan Advanced

• Concepts are introduced via experiences from my life, and explained with case studies from clients

Each stage of the MasterPlan series is intentionally designed to build on the last, ensuring a seamless and powerful enhancement of your capabilities to develop and implement a grand MasterPlan for your career and life.

The MasterPlan Universe:

"The MasterPlan. Next Level" is a crucial expansion that builds upon The MasterPlan program and integrates aspects from The MasterPlan Advanced. For those navigating through our comprehensive MasterPlan content, we recommend the following progression:

• The MasterPlan (Insider and Legacy)

• Implementing the MasterPlan (Insider and Legacy)

• A Midlife Strategy Update (Legacy)

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

• The MasterPlan Advanced (Insider and Legacy)

• The MasterPlan Acceleration (Executive coaching program with personalized guidance from Michael and myself)

Engaging with any of these programs individually offers significant benefits, but collectively, they encompass the entire MasterPlan universe. 

HOW TO FIND THE MASTERPLAN. NEXT LEVEL (126 PAGES):

1. Log in to The Strategy Control Room, Advanced Level, membership area.
2. Click on the 3 dots in the upper-right corner.
3. Click on the "STRATEGY MANUALS" button.
4. Select "The MasterPlan. Next Level."

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

• 12 full engagements, including Operations Strategy Study, Competitive Strategy Study, Digital & IT Study, Banking Market Entry, Wealth Management Study, Investor Relations Strategy Study

• Change Management Influence & Gravitas Center of Excellence 

• Detailed Business Case Methodology Center of Excellence 

• Encyclopedia of Strategy Analyses Center of Excellence 

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

• Corporate Training Center of Excellence 

• 31 proposals

• Flipcharts

• Layout guides

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

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

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

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

• The evolution of corporate strategy

• The business case toolkit

• Implementation and operation toolkit

• Corporate strategy toolkit

• Strategy maps

• And more 

Enroll as a Strategy Control Room Member

The Bill Matassoni Show, Season II
(Not To Be Confused With Season III, Which Is Also Being Released)

We just released new episodes of The Bill Matassoni Show, Season II (31 episodes overall).

Below is an excerpt from one of the episodes. Because it is taken from a video episode, it may not be as polished as our usual edited text in emails. I think it is more beneficial for you to see Bill's actual words versus the edited version. To see Bill's entire conversation, please refer to the training program on StrategyTraining.com.

"The first two years of my career at McKinsey were crucial... When I was hired, they mentioned that if things went well, I'd be a partner in two years. Well..., it takes eight years to make partner at McKinsey if you're a consultant, a regular consultant.

So two years went by, and all of a sudden, I got a phone call Saturday morning saying, "Bill, we just elected you to be a partner at McKinsey." I was surprised, but a lot of good things had happened.

One of them was Ron Daniel, the managing partner. Ron pretty much left me alone... When I joined McKinsey, I asked, "Is there a job description?" He looked at me and said, "No, there's no job description. That's why we're hiring you. If there was a job description, we would have hired some PR pro or some guy from Procter & Gamble. You figure it out." But he did it in a nice way.

Ron was the most personable guy in the world. If you had to draw a picture of what the McKinsey managing partner should look like, it was Ron Daniel. He was, what, six foot four, something like that. Pamela [Bill's wife] loved him because..., he didn't just remember Pamela's name, he remembered her sister's name. Ron was just wonderfully social.

But he gave me a lot of confidence. It wasn't just, "Write the job description." He said, "Go out and do whatever you want to do. Figure it out." I'd be leaving McKinsey's offices on Park Avenue at six o'clock to catch the plane to London and see him in the elevator. He'd ask, "So where are you going?" I'd say, "I'm going to London." He would say, "Great." He didn't ask me why I was going to London.

... I was just this new kid on the block. He was happy I was getting out of the office and doing something. He really let me go, and he let me work with any practice I wanted. He didn't say, "Work with the strategy practice. Don't work with the organizations practice. The strategy practice is the important one." He didn't believe that.

... He wanted me to make the choices and find my part of McKinsey where I could make something happen.

So, Ron let me go. He rarely interfered with anything I was doing. I would check with him, and he was interested, but he wanted me to have my head because I was either going to make it, or I wasn't, on my own. ..."

- The Bill Matassoni Show. Season II, Episode 4

Bill had the benefit of a wonderfully varied career in marketing (and strategy) for over 50 years. You can imagine what being able to learn from someone with 50 years of experience as a senior leader in some of the top organizations in the world, including as a senior partner at McKinsey and BCG, can do for your career or business. 

In season II of The Bill Matassoni Show, we're back in this wonderful house. This is the house that Bill and his wife, Pamela, bought about 30 years ago. It's a classic mid-century modern house that Philip Johnson designed. It looks like a Bond house in some ways.

Bill is back to share some of the best marketing and business strategy secrets he picked up along the way.

By far, the biggest theme of Bill's career is how do you sell ephemeral things.

How do you sell the soft stuff? Because Bill’s career, not by plan, has been selling soft stuff. He headed marketing for United Way of America. How do you sell philanthropy? More importantly, how do you sell secondary demand for philanthropy? It's easy enough to get somebody to give. But how do you go after the bigger givers who think seriously about philanthropy?

Bill’s first job out of Harvard Business School was to sell people on treating their high blood pressure. How do you convince people to treat a disease that’s not curable? Treat a disease that requires behavior change (no salt, lose weight, maybe give up some of their favorite foods, all those things), and keep them on that regimen. That's a tough sell. You learn how to sell high blood pressure treatment, you learn how to sell, you learn how to market. 

Bill was worldwide head of marketing and publications (including McKinsey Quarterly), and brand, as a partner at McKinsey for 18 years. And later for six more years at the Boston Consulting Group.

How do you sell top management on strategy consulting?

How do you sell million-dollar engagements? Engagements that cost three, four, or five hundred thousand a month. What are you selling?

And then later on, after Bill retired from McKinsey and the Boston Consulting Group, he joined a firm called Tapestry, which really figured out how to use marketing in multi-stakeholder environments. It's one thing to use marketing in somewhat simple markets where there's a company, there's a competitor, and there's a customer. But what happens when you have all sorts of other players, regulatory agencies, government, and patient advocates, all those players are in the system, too. Can marketing work there? Bill thinks it can. And the experiences Bill had in the last part of his career proved that to Bill. 

All of those things, to Bill, are ephemeral things. 

Whether or not you sell blood pressure treatments, if you learn the principles of how to sell ephemeral things, just imagine how much easier it is to sell whatever else you might be offering.

So, Bill had an incredible career, and you can have a front-row seat to learn from him. 
 

If you are an Insider or Legacy member, to access the first 31 episodes, click the button below.

The Bill Matassoni Show Season 2 (Insiders & Legacy Members)

If you are not a member yet, to access The Bill Matassoni Show, Season II (plus Season I and other advanced programs), enroll below (scroll down to membership options and select Insider or Legacy).

www.strategytraining.com

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at team@firmsconsulting.com.

Also, if you are a senior leader or running a successful business, you have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a co-author in a book with Bill Matassoni. Learn more here.