The Core Review
Set a Foundation and Grow Your Business
The core review looks at your leadership, market, and strategy, the three core elements of building a strong business.
Leadership
Market
Strategy
Unleash your potential Impact
Foundational Blocks to Set you Up For Success
Growing a business is difficult. Today, there are thousands of trends and ideas that distract us from what matters most. What actually moves the needle?
The Core Review encourages business owners to examine the 3 core elements required to have a successful, growing business. These core elements are the foundation upon which you build your business. The stronger the foundation, the better the business.
Key Questions
What is it?
The Core Review is a comprehensive evaluation of the three foundational elements—leadership, Market, and Strategy—resulting in a thorough step-by-step Action Plan to achieve your business goals.
You will come away feeling refreshed and prepped for your next best step.
The Core Review is for the business owner with the time and capacity to work on projects with newfound guiding principles and a plan to reach their business and personal goals. It is for the person who just needs a little push in the right direction and can figure it out along the way.
This is not for someone who is looking for a firm to help implement. See Business Assessment or Marketing Plan
Who's this for?
Why is this important?
Everything rises and falls on Leadership. Whether you are a big or small firm, the buck stops with you. Set yourself and your team up for success by 1) articulating a clear vision, 2) clarifying roles and responsibilities, 3) establishing an accountability process, 4) uncovering a clear market, and 5) developing an effective strategy.
When should we do it?
Every business has a foundation on which it is built. The question is, how strong is it?
The Core Review is for owners who aren’t in an alarming situation but want to take their business to the next level.
Take the free self-assessment – How strong is your business foundation?
The Core Review Process
To ensure the proper allocation of resources, the Core Review consists of 5 simple stages:
Step One
The Intake
The intake consists of simple forms every client fills out five days before the in-person day.
The intake form provides Powell BD with the information to structure The Offsite.
The first instalment must be submitted simultaneously with the intake form(s). We request payment to be made upfront.
Step Two
The Offsite
The offsite typically follows a structured four-hour schedule. The offsite will be located nearby.
We will discuss your company’s vision, mission, values, and beliefs.
Next, we will discuss everything related to your people. Your people plan, roles, responsibilities, the ideal organization chart, meeting cadence and benchmarks.
After the people section, we will touch on the current market trends, segments, competition and landscape.
Finally, we will review current strategic efforts, what has worked, what hasn’t, objectives, budget, timelines and current customer segments.
You should expect lots of questions about all business components.
Read “Prepping for The Core Review” for further information.
Step Three
The Onsite
The onsite is where we gather research and information about your company, culture and customers from within your firm. We get a real sense of what is working, the typical customers, and the working habits.
The onsite requires less effort or energy than the offsite; however, we will need access to some team members who will be pivotal in the organization’s growth.
Step Four
The Action Plan
You will receive an action plan to reach your objective(s) for your business. The action plan will have the next steps corresponding to each business component: leadership, market, and strategy.
The Action Plan merges a traditional business plan with a step-by-step guide to ensure the work and objectives of the business owner is achieved.
There are templates, guides, tutorials, and how-to’s along with customized research, strategy, and project planning.
The action plan is designed so you can go to your team or another consultant/agency and present the plan to execute.
The Action Plan typically includes the following guides and templates:
- Vision 1-Pager
- Guide to conducting a Vision meeting
- Role and Responsibilities worksheet
- Four Key Meetings with Guides
- Company Scorecard
- Market Snapshot
- Marketing Strategy
- Advertising budget breakdown
- Purchase Funnel
Step Five
The Review Meeting
The follow-up is designed to ensure that all the relevant information has been mined, and PowellBD can assemble an action plan for your business.
After the action plan has been carefully and collectively reviewed, PowellBD will offer a one-page contract with a base and an incentive. We only make money until you do. The base covers the costs of executing the plan, while the incentive is based on the agreed-upon metric. The contract will be an offer to work together on that action plan.
Details of The Core Review
Location. In-person at a nearby restaurant/hotel.
Duration. From commencement to completion, expect this to span 2.5 weeks.
Scheduling. It can usually be initiated within 5-7 business days, depending on the time of year.
Capacity. Due to the intensity of the process, Powell BD only conducts The Core Review once per month.
Deliverable(s). An action plan outlining precisely what your business needs to do to reach your objectives(s). The full attention of experienced and qualified advice for 4 hours. Plus, a 1.5-2h onsite visit.
Implementation Guidance. Up to 2 weeks after commencement. The in-person meetings will be agenda/process-driven, so you’ll keep a log of your questions, and we’ll address them in batches throughout the day.
Participation Requirements. Submission of Intake Form(s). The owner or someone with access gathers materials/information for roughly 30 minutes. Owners and critical leaders participate in the in-person day and homework, as appropriate, but mainly, we need decision-makers in the loop.
Cost. $3,500 (Traveling costs are additional)
Payment Terms. Payment is required upfront.
The Core Self Assessment
Answer 26 simple Yes/No/Maybe questions, and receive a clear and actionable report.
Use this test to understand where you stand within the 3 foundational elements of growing a business.
