Tag: scale

Can your stakeholders endure a long journey?

Consider this immutable fact: Only 3% of all firms operating in the U.S. eventually reach $10 million in sales.

Most will take an average of 12 years to reach the $10 million threshold.

Few entrepreneurs have prepared their stakeholders for this extended journey. But there are steps you can take to prepare your team for this long term goal.

This discussion is to share information from a study conducted by TrueSpace and Gallup of 2500 entrepreneurs. Come and learn what other business builder are doing to address this challenge.

About Charles Fred:

Charles Fred is an American entrepreneur and researcher.  Best known for a body of work to positively influence the success of small businesses, he has inspired a movement to help entrepreneurs create conditions for a sustainable growth, and through this effort, to stimulate thousands of new jobs.

In 2014, Charles Fred and his daughter, Jamee, co-founded TrueSpace, a firm that helps entrepreneurs move from the startup phase to the middle market.  In February of 2020, TrueSpace, in partnership with the Gallup Organization, announced the release of a multi-year research effort detailing the operating conditions that must be present for a small business to consistently reach the middle market.

Over his 40-year career, Charles has founded and led three companies into the middle market generating over $220 million in enterprise value.  He is a long-time resident of Colorado, an elite masters distance runner, outdoor enthusiast and cancer survivor.  He and Julie, his wife, dedicate much of their time with their family, mentoring young people and entrepreneurs, and giving back to the community.

Roughly 6 million firms operate as employers in the United States.

Only 180,000 have more than $10 million in revenue.  A breathtaking fact considering the hopes and dreams of start-up entrepreneurs planning to easily break through this barrier within the first few years of operation.

So how can you beat these odds?

Research proves that there are specific conditions you can establish in your business to help ensure that it will reach $10M in revenue (the middle market) and all the possibilities that come with that milestone.

Charles Fred returns to the Fort Collins Founded in FoCo event with new data from the ongoing quantitative research to identify the obstacles keeping firms from reaching the middle market.

He and his team at TrueSpace and Gallup uncovered a specific pattern of how entrepreneurs invest their time, deploy capital and attract talent that allows firms to grow predictably.

In this keynote address, Charles will share his research and show data from CEOs having difficulty with growth compared to those who have discovered a new way to invest their finite resources of time, capital and talent.

Join this session to learn the key things you can do now to prepare your business to reach to $1 million and beyond.

About Charles Fred:

Charles Fred is an American entrepreneur and researcher.  Best known for a body of work to positively influence the success of small businesses, he has inspired a movement to help entrepreneurs create conditions for a sustainable growth, and through this effort, to stimulate thousands of new jobs.

In 2014, Charles Fred and his daughter, Jamee, co-founded TrueSpace, a firm that helps entrepreneurs move from the startup phase to the middle market.  In February of 2020, TrueSpace, in partnership with the Gallup Organization, announced the release of a multi-year research effort detailing the operating conditions that must be present for a small business to consistently reach the middle market.

Over his 40-year career, Charles has founded and led three companies into the middle market generating over $220 million in enterprise value.  He is a long-time resident of Colorado, an elite masters distance runner, outdoor enthusiast and cancer survivor.  He and Julie, his wife, dedicate much of their time with their family, mentoring young people and entrepreneurs, and giving back to the community.

This is not a “look at me and what I did” talk. No, this is just a story to share and that might inspire. I started On Point Communications 100% unintentionally in 2015 after no one would hire me for a part time gig. I almost closed up shop in the pandemic, and interviewed at numerous companies, including OtterBox. In the end I did not quit, I soldiered on, with my 4 college-bound kids at the heart of that drive.

When I hit this Q3 milestone, it was a total shock to me, and frankly, unplanned. I had no post-it notes or goals sheets with this number in mind. I had not calculated the deal sizes I’d need to get here, nor felt stress to do it in 50 days. It just happened.

When it did happen, I couldn’t help but think about it deeply – in my over-analytical way – and try to trace back the breadcrumbs. What led to this milestone? Can I keep this trend going? What lessons does it teach me about entrepreneurship? About running a business? About the direction I’m headed?

Come join this conversation with me. Just bring yourself and your dreams for your business. I’m going to tell a story. I’ll also hit on 3 of the big pieces I see that led me to this milestone, and what I’m doing to try to keep the trend alive. I suspect during the Q/A and discussion for this session, I will learn as much from you and your insights, as you from me. Can’t wait to see you there!