About Dando

kirk-dando

WHAT WE DO:

I work with visionary leaders and their teams who are “wrestling with ghosts” created from their own growth and success.

I help my clients build a business that can scale and increase their ability to exit on their terms. 

WHY SUCCESSFUL LEADERS HIRE DANDO:

As leaders, we often forget we really get what we set ourselves up for!

We like to blame the environment for our problems and say stuff like “things are so quickly changing, etc., etc.” What we tend to do is give in to what we see as chaos. When we do that, we subconsciously give up on the possibility of predicting the problems before they show up in the results and normalizing the journey to scalability.

No one ever talks about the dirty little secret that SOME RESULTS THAT LOOK LIKE SUCCESS (hiring more staff, outgrowing facilities, rapid growth, etc.) OFTEN BREED FAILURE, and that’s what SETS UP THE CHAOS. It is not the environment . . . the environment can be harnessed, and here’s how… 

 If you work with me:

  1. We are going to redefine what leadership and the journey to scalability looks like for you, your team and your business. 
  2. We are going to turn you and your team into problem-predictors rather than problem-solvers. In this chaotic business environment, you have to be able to see around corners and predict problems before they show up in the results. 
  3. I will help you build your business so it can scale to its full and real potential. Together we will build and implement the strategies that allow you, your team, your systems, your marketing and sales and financial model to scale. 
  4. I will help you see through the confusion to understand the obvious and simple answers — you will wonder why you never saw them before!

 HOW DANDO IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST “BUSINESS GURUS”:

 Here’s what I’ve learned over the last 20 years:

  • as a C-level executive in a business we scaled to $1 billion dollars and sold, and . . .
  • working with, coaching and having the backs of more than 2,000 executives in growth-hungry companies
  1. The road to heaven does go through hell…and it’s worth it.  However, it is your choice if the trip to hell is a “day trip” or a “daily trip.”
  2. Building a business that can scale is very different than launching and growing a business by trial and error, or “see and solve.” 
  3. Most executives and their teams are subject-matter experts, allowing them to excel in their positions and within their industry. They typically have the expertise to run a business, or a department within the business, but often admit they do not have the experience to build a scalable business or a business that can scale beyond a certain size.
  4. Most “business gurus” do not help their clients become problem-predictors rather than problem-solvers. They do not tell their clients that on their journey to profitable growth (heaven), they will pick up predictable and therefore preventable bad habits that will eventually create business train wrecks (hell).
  5. It has consistently been my experience that there are two basic reasons leaders and their companies’ stunt their growth and grow themselves into business train wrecks (or The Warning Signs of Success™):
        * Success THAT WAS SET UP TO FAIL or,
        * Not knowing how to predict the problems before they showed up in the results.

On-going Relationships that Work

“Kirk has had a tremendous, positive impact on every aspect of our company operations. We are a much better company because of his guidance.”

Rocky Turner
Founder and President, LPR Construction, Loveland, CO

“Dando’s advice helped us remain profitable despite a 50% sales decline in the last year. Dando’s broad and practical experience with evolving organizations adds tremendous value to our strategic planning process.”

Tim Self
President, Applied Mechanical, Austin, TX

The Results Speak for Themselves – Whatever the Industry

A representative list of clients:

Bazaarvoice

  • Social Commerce Technology, International
  • $75 – $100 million in annual sales
  • Earnst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Brett Hurt, CEO
  • Best Places to Work, three years in a row

Four Hands

  • Import/Wholesale, International
  • $25 – $35 million in annual sales
  • “Fastest Growing Companies in the USA,” Inc. Magazine

White Construction

  • General Contractor, National
  • $250 – $300 million in annual sales
  • “Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies in Austin,” Austin Business Journal

CSIdentity

  • High-tech, International
  • Identity Protection
  • Earnst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Bill Morrow, CEO

LPR Construction

  • Industrial and Commercial Construction, National
  • $50 – $75 million in annual sales
  • “Largest Subcontractors,” ENR

Grande Communications

  • High-tech Business, Regional
  • $190 – $200 million in annual sales
  • “Largest Private Company in Austin,” Austin Business Journal

Bury + Partners

  • Civil Engineering, Regional
  • $30 – $40 million in annual sales
  • “Top Largest Engineering Firms,” Engineering News Record (ENR)

Central Market

  • Retail Grocer, Regional
  • $250 – $300 million in annual sales
  • Considered by many as a “tourist attraction” in Texas

STG Design

  • Architectural and Interior Design, Regional
  • $15 – $25 million in annual sales
  • “Largest Architectural Firm in Austin,” Austin Business Journal

TST, Inc.

  • Civil Engineering, Regional
  • $4-8 million in annual sales
  • Business Leader of the Year

Amplify Credit Union

  • Financial services credit union, Regional
Core Values >>