Ep.#5 [THEME NINE]

In this podcast episode, I interview Anthony Taylor, an entrepreneur and founder of SME Strategy Consulting, who shares his expertise on the critical importance of strategic planning in achieving alignment between ownership and leadership. Drawing from his experience in entrepreneurship and insights from his book "I Wish I Knew," Anthony discusses how a well-designed, realistic strategic plan can serve as the foundation for aligning ownership and leadership objectives, ultimately leading to team alignment and business growth.

I love this conversation because we dive into setting ambitious goals while taking into account ownership requirements, funding distribution, and available resources to achieve target equity valuations. The discussion aims to assist businesses in comprehending the costs and timelines linked to their investment strategies, as well as the effect of these factors on their progress towards meeting equity targets. Emphasizing the need for a clear and achievable strategic plan, the episode offers valuable insights to help entrepreneurs and business leaders create a roadmap that caters to both ownership and leadership goals.

This conversation with Anthony underscores the significance of fostering alignment between ownership and leadership to drive business growth and achieve long-term success. Through the exploration of strategic planning and goal setting, listeners are encouraged to develop a comprehensive understanding of the necessary steps to effectively bridge the gap between ownership's needs and leadership's aspirations.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast

What You Will Learn

• The importance of ownership and leadership alignment in a business venture, drawing from Anthony's personal experiences.
• How anticipating obstacles can support business growth and strategic planning.
• Anthony's perspective on strategic planning, offering a raw and comprehensive definition of the term.
• The importance of setting a long-term vision, with a particular focus on the value of a 3-year goal in strategic planning.
• How goals and strategic planning differ and why understanding this distinction is crucial.
• The importance of understanding the types of people you work with as a business owner.
• The balance between staying focused on present tasks and planning for the future.
• Anthony's views on the AI boom and why it doesn't concern him.
• Insights from Anthony's quotes, including the importance of effective risk management, implementation, and resource allocation in achieving business success.
• A glimpse into Anthony's entrepreneurial journey, his contributions to Global Entrepreneurship Week, and the success of SME Strategy.

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Bio:

Anthony Taylor is the CEO a senior strategic planning facilitator at SME Strategy. He holds a degree in business administration (BBA) as well as his Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) from the Project Management Institute.

Anthony has an entrepreneurial background, with more than 10 years of experience running his own small businesses in various industries. In his book I Wish I Knew, he shares his best tips for being an entrepreneur.

In 2016, Anthony was chosen as a Global Entrepreneurship Week Ambassador for Canada, and SME Strategy was awarded the Palme Blue for "Microenterprise of the Year" from the French Chamber of Commerce.

Interview Quotes:

09:49  - “I decided that I’m going to have freedom so that when I have a kid I can spend time with them on my terms and I can spend time with my wife.” - Anthony Taylor

13:10 - “Trust but verify is just so important.” - Anthony Taylor

18:30 - “Let’s look at the word strategic. Strategic is just about choices. What are you doing and what are you not doing? That’s it.” - Anthony Taylor.

21:07 - “I think people are the biggest gap to implementation.” - Anthony Taylor

21:58 - “Optimism is not going to get you where you want to go.” - Anthony Taylor

30:40 - “The decision accuracy is not going to hold you back, it’s the execution.” - Anthony Taylor

39:06  - “You just need to make sure you’ve got the right people, in the right seats, at the right time, to get you to where you want to go.” - Anthony Taylor

43:30 - The biggest way to kill your teams motivation is to not give them the resources they need to be successful.” - Anthony Taylor

Links and Resources:

Strategy and Leadership Podcast

SME Strategy

Intentional Growth™ Vision Board

Intentional Growth™ Online Training

Reach out to me if you have questions about the Intentional Growth™ Training or Fractional CFO services