Kristina Safarova

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Posted

Sep 05 at 07:35 PM

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

Posted

Aug 31 at 04:21 PM

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.

Posted

Aug 31 at 01:28 AM

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).

Posted

Aug 26 at 05:30 AM

“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

Posted

Aug 26 at 05:27 AM

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.

Posted

Aug 24 at 08:18 PM

You can't change other people,
You can only change your reaction to other people.

In this new Legacy program, we cover probably one of the most important insights. 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.

It's a very important, great trauma—a sense of betrayal, pain, and hurt—that many clients are going to experience in the future, but they're not prepared for it. It's so common that we thought it was worth discussing.

We cover:

- A trauma that many clients are going to experience in the future but are not prepared for (0:30)
- A big issue we see with clients (2:00)
- Clients dealing with perceived injustice (3:15)
- A normal developmental phase that American clients go through earlier in life that Indian and Chinese born clients may go through at around 35-40 years old (4:00)
- An important phase clients who immigrated from India, China, and some other parts of the world go through. Once you see it in yourself, you can’t unsee it (6:00)
- Dealing with (perceived) injustice (7:28)
- One of the greatest tragedies in our culture (7:40)
- What clients often do not expect, but it hits them hard (16:30)
- A huge mistake clients make that cost them too much at the end (21:00)
- How to avoid this great trauma (21:30)
- Avoiding this pain in the future starts with one simple choice (22:55)
- Building your life understanding the consequences (25:00)
- The way to manage this situation and how to avoid huge regrets later in life (25:30)
- Constructing the life that makes you happy (27:00)

If you are a Legacy member, you can access "The Great Trauma We Never Expect, That Often Hits Us" 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 every step of the way. So, 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).

Posted

Aug 19 at 05:48 AM

“Invest in the most important asset in your portfolio.”
- The MasterPlan. Next Level

The 7th 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).

When I work with a client and show them a revised list of their assets, with assets at the top as the most valuable, they often have a bemused look on their faces. As far as I am aware, we are not trained anywhere in the world, not by any book on investing, not by any investment advisor, not by any wealth management firm, not by any fiduciary, to think of the most important assets we have as an investment.

In this chapter, we explore:

- Creating a reasonably accurate view of your portfolio of assets (page 89)
- Calculating the total value of your asset portfolio (page 89)
- Investing in your most important asset (page 91)
- A story of my greatest investments (page 92)
- Taking earnings and diversifying into other asset classes (page 93)
- The only asset class in which you have nearly total control (page 93)
- Two primary reasons people are usually unwilling to make investments in their most important asset class (page 94)
- Which of my investments had a much higher ROI versus an investment in my MBA (page 95)
- A scary adjustment that happens with age that is keeping people stuck in their careers (page 95)
- A magic phrase I tell myself when I notice I start regretting something or blaming myself (page 96)
- Your Apex asset (page 97)
- Your second crucial asset class that most people don't realize they need to treat as an asset class or invest in (page 97)
- A new way to think about relationships with your spouse (page 100)
- Questions you need to ask your spouse before it is too late (page 101)
- Keeping score of your spouse's needs and if those are being met (page 102)
- The third crucial asset class that people usually do not consider as an asset class and in which many do not invest sufficiently or strategically (page 102)
- Instilling values in your children (page 105)
- Identifying relationships that drive your wealth, taking a rough estimate of their worth in dollars, and developing a plan to invest in them by treating them as an asset class (page 108)
- Four types of relationships (page 108)
- Redoing your list of assets and increasing the value of each investment (page 110)
---

"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 (110 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

Posted

Aug 17 at 05:09 PM

The MasterPlan Advanced: new episodes

We just released new episodes of The MasterPlan Advanced, bringing the total to 22 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)

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, nobody 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:

- Questions you need to ask yourself as part of this part of retirement planning (Episode 21 5.30)
- How to answer questions accurately. Specific details you need to include and think through (Episode 21 6:20)
- Things you need to think through to estimate the monthly figure you need during your retirement (Episode 21 8:40)
- Why you need to do this exercise (Episode 21 9:25)
- Something most business professionals don't understand until it is too late (Episode 21 9:40)
- Why, in large part, the MasterPlan Advanced was developed (Episode 21 11:04)
- What most people don't understand about wealth management (Episode 21 11:30)
- Adding up numbers (Episode 21 12:40)
- Doing the math to get to the annual required passive income (Episode 22 1:30)
- Factoring in the first money drain item that many people overlook when planning for retirement and calculations to adjust the annual required passive income (Episode 22 3:00)
- Factoring in the second money drain item that many people overlook when planning for retirement (Episode 22 6:00)
- Factoring in the third money drain item that many people overlook when planning for retirement (Episode 22 8:06)

- Surprising finding about financial planners (Episode 22 8:54)
- Looking at the numbers (Episode 22 11:15)
- Factoring in the fourth money drain item that many people overlook when planning for retirement, a big one (Episode 22 13:03)
- Calculating the return you need to generate to support the annual required passive income number (Episode 22 13:37)
- The fifth money drain item that many people overlook when planning for retirement (Episode 22 15:00)
- 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.

Posted

Aug 09 at 07:37 PM

“Asking uncomfortable questions leads to enduring personal and professional growth.”

The 6th chapter of our new members-only book, "The MasterPlan. Next Level," has been released. It is available exclusively within the Strategy Control Room (Advanced Level).

In this chapter, we explore key questions you need to ask yourself as you are putting together your MasterPlan. We covered some crucial areas including:

- What many successful clients struggle with behind closed doors (page 81)
- The key components of the MasterPlan (page 83)
- A core set of questions that must be answered as part of developing your MasterPlan (page 84)
- The most important question you need to ask about your marriage (page 84)
- You can build the best MasterPlan in the world, but the answer to this one question will determine if you will be able to implement it or not (page 85)
- Why do some people always end up at the top even if you place them in a new city with no money and ask them to rebuild their life from scratch, and some people always end up at the bottom even if you give them a million dollars and the most enjoyable well-paid job (page 86) 
- A question that will help you put a stop to people crossing all kinds of boundaries with you (page 86)
- The central challenge you face as you are building and implementing your MasterPlan (page 87)

---

"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 (87 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

Posted

Aug 05 at 06:17 AM

What does it take to become...

The Youngest Partner Running a Key Practice

We just released new episodes of the much anticipated Analyzing a Strategy Partner's Career program (24 episodes overall). Here are the new episodes you can look forward to (40 minutes of new riveting, thought-provoking transformational training): 

ASPC 21 Where Will You Master the Business Side of Things (10:33)
ASPC 22 Know Your Knock-In And Knock-Out Metrics (08:50)
ASPC 23 Why Functional (Domain) Specialization is a Bad Sales Model (08:19)
ASPC 24 Formal Training Does Not Help Trailblazers (12:09)

Some points we cover:

- Four activities that taught Michael the business side of things (Ep 21 2:00)
- One ability that changed Michael's entire career (Ep 21 3:00)
- Transforming a country into a regional powerhouse (Ep 21 4:30)
- Skills that most people don't learn (Ep 21 8:00)
- A plan for learning these skills (Ep 21 9:00)
- From being someone good at analyses to being someone who leads organizations (Ep 21 10:00)
- Knock-in and knock-out metrics. The thing that knocked you in or out of the game (Ep 22 1:48)
- Running 6 engagements back to back (Ep 22 2:45)
- Understanding knock-in criteria for different levels. How is power generated (Ep 22 4:10)
- How is power generated in industry (versus in consulting) (Ep 22 4:50)
- Sales model of doing fewer proposals (Ep 22 5:30)
- Homework for you to help you figure out how to get promoted to the next level (Ep 22 7:00)
- How you introduce yourself signals your level of seniority (Ep 23 0:30)
- Why senior people in consulting introduce themselves a certain way (Ep 23 0:50)
- Sustainable way to generate sales (Ep 23 3:00)
- What kind of experts are CEOs and senior business leaders interested in (Ep 23 4:90)
- As you become a more senior management consultant, you will discover something very important that you wished you had known about sooner (Ep 23 5:50)
- An approach to sales that set Michael up for accelerated promotions (Ep 23 6:50)
- A decision you need to make (Ep 23 7:30)
- One of the most widely misunderstood approaches to professional careers (Ep 24 0:30)
- Managing 9 initiatives (Ep 24 1:00)
- The mindset that allowed Michael to get promoted to partner in record time (Ep 24 4:00)
- An important thing to understand about the way firms are set up (Ep 24 5:00)
- What you should not do even though most people in the firm will tell you that you should (Ep 24 6:40)
- Why firms can't institutionalize the mode of operation Michael was using (Ep 24 9:30)
- An approach Michael used for managing teams (Ep 24 10:00)
- What makes you a trailblazer (Ep 24 11:30)


This program builds upon the foundational knowledge established in Partnership. Memoir and (Re)Building a Consulting Practice

You will find detailed maps, charts, and analyses to break down and analyze a strategy partner's key career moments. We address pivotal questions that can shape your career, such as:

  • What does it take to become a partner in just 5 years? 

  • How many engagements does one need to master strategy? 

  • How many years will it take for a partner to master strategy? 

  • What types of engagements teach the core strategy skills? 

  • What types of skills must a consultant cumulatively learn to become a strategy partner?

  • Does a weak/average engagement rating lead to a CTL? 

  • How important is the first engagement? 

  • What mix of clients must an aspiring strategy partner serve? 

  • Does public sector work help with the partnership nomination? 

  • How to professionally and correctly challenge decisions at the firm?

  • How do remuneration and special bonuses change over time, levels, and across regions? 

  • Does one learn more in an engagement that is going well or poorly? 

  • Is it better to be staffed in an elite/weaker and/or western/emerging markets office? 

  • What types of partner mentors are needed?

  • What is the mix (and number) of corporate strategy engagements needed to master corporate strategy? 

  • How to take a leadership role as an associate and where to take a leadership role as an associate? 

  • Can one specialize early, and how can this be done? 

  • How does one sell the right way, and why is this important? 

  • What is the partner engagement workload like? 

  • What drives happiness levels as one becomes a partner? 

  • Can one be promoted from the Solutions Team to generalist consultant? 

  • What happens if the top consultants do not follow you as a partner? 

  • What are the pivotal career moments? 

  • Does one need to work with many different partners to improve the odds of a partnership nomination? 

  • What types of internal roles create the most value? 

  • What types of sales strategies can be used?

  • What happens at the senior partner level? 

  • What can you not be good at and still be promoted? 

  • Who checks the partners’ thinking? 

  • How does a partner develop new ways of thinking and build a reputation?

This program is designed to impart approaches, ways of thinking, techniques, and strategies that transcend the consulting industry. It offers valuable lessons for any professional seeking to enhance their strategic thinking, leadership skills, ability to influence, and career progression.

Some people are successful wherever you place them because they just get things done. They know how to figure out and navigate the system. And they create the kind of outsized value that makes them valued highly by the most influential people within the system.

The skills you can develop by going through this trilogy (Analyzing a Strategy Partner's Career—Partnership. Memoir—(Re)Building a Consulting Practice) are highly transferable and should not be ignored regardless of whether you are in consulting or not. 

As with all of Michael's programs, these episodes are delivered in a riveting manner, ensuring that you are not only learning but thoroughly engaged with the content. Multiple times, clients have told us that our programs are better than Netflix and HBO. Plus, they can make you the most influential person in the room. 

Analyzing a Strategy Partner's Career (Insiders & Legacy Members)