Nick McLean’s Post

In our journey towards success, relationships stand as the bedrock upon which we thrive. At Four PIllars, we believe that fostering strong connections is not just essential for personal growth but also for the prosperity of our entire organization. Our motto, "Do what you say and say what you do," isn't just a phrase; it's a guiding principle that permeates every aspect of our interactions. By consistently aligning our actions with our words, we cultivate a culture of integrity and reliability, laying the groundwork for mutual trust to grow. In a world where collaboration and partnership are paramount, our commitment to nurturing meaningful relationships sets us apart. Together, let's continue to build bridges that moves us towards collective success. 💫 #FourPillars #WorkplaceRelationships #Integrity #CompanyCulture

Persistence is the most important quality for any entrepreneur to have. I like to think of persistence and success compared to a PGA golf tournament. You could be watching the tournament and the leaders could be at 10 or 12 under. Then they cut to some other golfer who hits an amazing shot. As a viewer, you say to yourself: “Wow, that was an amazing shot. That guy is so good.” But what you don’t know is that he’s five over for the day and he’s not in contention to win the tournament. That is so much what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. It’s a roller coaster. You’re going to have those days where you nail the five iron or you nail a putt. However, many more of your days you’re gonna be treading water at best — and maybe even something a little bit worse. At the end of the day, you need to just focus on whether or not you’re taking two steps forward and one step back. You need the persistence to keep showing up every day and improving your game.

This is one of our favorite success stories to date. Let’s talk about @Burger King’s bold move! Even giants like Burger King encounter challenges in the franchise world. Let's dive into their recent shift acquiring franchise locations. 🍔 Many brands like Burger King rely heavily on franchisees, minimizing physical asset ownership. 🍔 Unlike McDonald's, Burger King's purchase of franchise locations raises eyebrows at potential struggles. 🍔 What's behind this move? It might suggest a push for more control and brand revitalization. 🍔 Implications for the Franchise Landscape: Burger King's strategy prompts smaller franchisees to assess their own operations. 🍔 Speeding up store renovations aims to elevate customer experience and regain competitiveness. 🍔 Parent company Restaurant Brands International juggles innovation and franchisee relations. Enjoyed this fun case study? Follow us for more!

Let’s talk about the entrepreneurial journey in private equity 💰Rise of Independent Sponsors: Private equity firms start small, evolving and adapting strategies over time. Some, like our founder, opt for independent sponsorship, fostering flexibility in deal-making. 💰Exploring New Horizons: Independent sponsors pursue diverse deals, tailoring strategies to unique opportunities. This entrepreneurial approach, while less stable than institutional funds, offers agility in navigating the private equity landscape. 💰Power of Flexibility: Flexibility is vital in seizing emerging opportunities and staying ahead of market changes. Whether seasoned investor or budding entrepreneur, embracing an entrepreneurial mindset unlocks pathways to success. Private equity's entrepreneurial journey is about more than wealth; it's about creating value, forging connections, and leaving a lasting impact on businesses and communities. #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicPartnerships #BusinessInsights

In business, success doesn’t just happen. You need a goal, a plan, and a roadmap in order to get where you want to go. That’s why strategic planning is such a fundamental part of achieving long-term success in business. A well-thought-out plan can make the difference between success and failure. A strong strategic plan: - Provides Direction and Focus - Services as a Framework for Decision-Making - Improves Operational Efficiency - Facilitates Performance Measurement The first step in creating a strategic plan is to define the vision and mission of the business. The vision is the long-term goal of what the business wants to achieve, while the mission is the purpose of the business and how it plans to achieve the vision. A SWOT analysis can help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It's a crucial step in understanding the internal and external factors that can impact the business. Using those insights, you can then set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. These objectives should align with the vision and mission of the business. Once the goals are set, develop an action plan to achieve them, outlining the steps, assigning responsibilities, and setting timelines. The final step is to continuously monitor and review the strategic plan. This ensures that the business stays on track and can make necessary adjustments in response to changes in the business environment. Strategic planning is critical to the long-term success and growth of any business. It provides a clear roadmap, enhances decision-making, and improves operational efficiency. For more, including my suggestions on implementing a strategic plan for best results, check out my video below. https://buff.ly/3xgq5EJ @Four Pillars

What’s the most unpopular opinion you have on business success? I have two. The first? If you want to grow your company, you have to invest in marketing. Yes it’s possible to grow without marketing. You’ve likely seen the stories of companies that have grown to 50 million in revenue without any marketing. It’s possible. But it’s the exception, not the norm. And for the people who say they've grown their company without any marketing, imagine their revenue growth if they were to actually invest a significant amount in marketing. How big could your company be with more salespeople or a strategic marketing plan? What levers can you pull to grow revenue? The first place I always look when doing that analysis is in sales and marketing. The second? Don’t avoid debt at all costs. I often talk to business owners that are proud that their company has no debt on the books. On one hand, it’s great that the company is generating enough free cash flow to fund operations and invest in growth. However, this type of thinking can also limit business growth. Maybe it would be a strategic move to invest in a new piece of equipment or something else that would require taking on debt. What matters most to me when working with business owners is understanding their relationship to debt. Is it limiting your potential growth? Do you agree or disagree with my unpopular opinions? Let me know in the comments!

If you're at all interested in exploring a career in private equity, you won't want to miss this one. @Brandt Handley discussed my somewhat-unusual career path and how my background not only brought me to PE but shaped how I work to this day.

Understanding the Key Differences between Venture Capital and Private Equity: 💰Venture capital: Early-stage startups, high growth potential, negative cash flow. 💰Private equity: Mature companies, stable revenues. 💰Growth strategies: VC - organic growth, PE - M&A for rapid expansion. 💰Return profiles: VC - high-risk, high-reward; PE - lower risk, predictable returns. Understanding distinctions helps align goals and strategies for entrepreneurs and investors. Learn more by visiting us > https://buff.ly/4azcLt2 #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Resilience #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicPartnerships #BusinessInsights

Interesting thoughts by my friend and advisor Darren...