Most business owners have a strategy. Almost none of them execute it, and that gap is why 80% of companies never realize the plans they set out to achieve. In this episode, Dick Albu, founder of Albu Consulting and author of Mastering Strategy Management, draws on more than fifty years of corporate and consulting experience to unpack why strategy has to be forward-looking, continuous, and collaborative rather than a once-a-year exercise in reviewing the past.

Dick shares his four-step framework for turning vision into results (discovery, planning, translating into action, and measuring progress), a candid look at how change really plays out inside a company (expect a third of your people to support it, a third to resist it, and a third to wait and see), and his take on where AI fits into modern strategy work. It's a practical wake-up call for any owner who has built a plan and watched it gather dust.

Book link www.tinyurl.com/masteringstrategymanagement

Website www.albuconsulting.com

LinkedIn www.LinkedIn.com/in/DickAlbu

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Running a business is demanding enough, and the pressure can feel unsustainable when you are working constantly but not getting ahead. In Episode 24 of Touchstone Talks, productivity coach and industrial-organizational psychologist Juli Shulem offers a practical reset for business owners who find themselves in that position. The problem, she explains, often isn't effort. It's focus. Busy leaders chase activity; productive leaders prioritize outcomes. The path forward starts with stepping back, auditing where time is actually going, and making intentional choices about what deserves leadership attention versus what belongs on someone else's plate.

Juli also addresses a point worth noting for any business owner: stress isn't just a personal burden. It travels, and it affects the whole organization. For owners navigating a sale or ownership transition, where demands compound quickly, that dynamic becomes especially consequential. This episode offers straightforward, actionable guidance on delegation, time blocking, and breaking the multitasking habit, making it a useful listen for owners at any stage.

The Efficiency Advantage podcast https://theefficiencyadvantage.com

Website: https://coachjuli.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjulishulem-productivityexpert/

touchstoneadvisors.com

linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a

directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

Most business owners are too busy running their company to pay close attention to their financials — until something goes wrong. In this episode, Deborah sits down with David Place, Area President and Fractional CFO at FocusCFO. David explains how to use your financial statements as an early warning system and a strategic management tool, not just a tax-season obligation. He covers the three core statements, what to look for, and how to spot margin erosion and hidden costs before they become real problems.

The payoff is simple: the sooner you see a problem, the easier it is to fix. David also walks through how to build a practical financial forecast, even if you've never done one, so you can stop reacting and start running your business with a plan.

touchstoneadvisors.com

linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a

directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production