Kirk Dando’s Bio

kirk-dando

I’ve Been There

I spent years working as a C-level executive in a profitable company we grew to $1 billion. It was a fun ride, but I found truth in the old adage: “It’s lonely at the top.” I learned the road to heaven does go through hell…and it’s worth it.  The problem was, no one ever told me this dirty little secret: SOME RESULTS THAT LOOK LIKE SUCCESS ultimately breed failure. 

No one normalized the journey for me and told me that on our way to profitable growth, we would pick up predictable – and therefore preventable - bad habits that would eventually create business train wrecks. Sure, I had countless consultants, coaches, board members, team members, books, seminars, white papers, C-level peer groups, etc. that were all willing to give me advice, but implementing that advice was like wrestling with a ghost…it’s hard.

I remember wishing I had someone with “real” experience who was objective and could help me normalize and predict the journey of how to build a business that could scale, and would teach me and my team how to become problem-predictors instead of problem-solvers. This would have saved me a lot of stressful, lonely car rides home, sleepless nights and mind-numbing conversations with myself that, come to find out, were not necessary. 

Once we sold that business, I became just such an advocate.  Now I work with visionary C-level executives and their teams to strategically build businesses that will scale. They no longer have to grow their business through trial and error.

It’s About Real Experience

Over the past 15 years, I’ve interviewed and coached more than 2000 business executives and their teams, studying the patterns and problems of scaling a business.  While most executives and their teams are subject matter experts, allowing them to operate well in their position and in their industry, they typically have little experience in scaling a business beyond a certain point. That leaves them to learn how to grow their business haphazardly. 

I strongly believe there is a distinct difference between growing a business haphazardly and building a business that can scale.  And in that difference lies the true definition of leadership.  In this chaotic business environment, leaders must be able to see around corners and predict the problems BEFORE they show up in the results.  Too many leaders are not doing this, which is why there are so many business train wrecks out there.

The fact of the matter is, we get what we set ourselves up for!

Who Can You Turn To?

When you realize that your business needs to stop growing through ”see and solve” and instead strategically plan how to scale– to whom do you turn? My experience and 15 years of research into what it takes to build scalability into the fabric of any company, has given me what Jim Susman of STG Design calls “uncommon insight.”  Brett Hurt, CEO of Bazaarvoice, said “Kirk is like the Company Whisper, he definitely understands the challenges you will face as you scale.”

I can help you see your business through my eyes – to find and exploit the successes while predicting the problems you’ll face as your company navigates its way to become what you and your team believe it can be.

If the road to heaven does go through hell, I want to help you make sure it is a “day” trip and not a “daily” trip!

Tell Me About You and Your Company

I work with CEOs, presidents, entrepreneurs, business owners, and other top-level executives who are passionate about taking their company to the next level. Far more than an executive coach, I work with the entire organization – usually those with annual revenues of $5 million to $1 billion. If you are ready to become the leader your company really needs and are determined to make yours a business that can scale, I can help.

Kirk Dando
CEO, Dando Advisors
Kirk Dando’s Promise >>