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Building Great Businesses with Great Advisors

You’ve built a successful business—but even for the best business leaders, reaching the next level often requires another perspective. Whether it's a seasoned industry expert or a coach with niche experience, getting fresh insight can unlock new growth and sharpen your strategy. This growth bootcamp is part of a series designed to help owners master their growth numbers and kick-start their scaling journey.

By Jon Polenz, Managing Partner
August 26, 2025

Even the best founders and CEOs eventually hit a wall. At one point, I did (and I was in my 20s). Sometimes it’s a revenue ceiling. Sometimes it’s a leadership bottleneck. And sometimes, it’s just plain loneliness at the top. 

That’s where an outside perspective can make all the difference. 

Whether you bring in a growth coach, a consultant, or build a board of advisors, the goal is the same:

You need to get unstuck. Get aligned. And keep growing without guessing.

Here are some options for how you can continue to grow, past this boot camp:

1. Hire a Coach or Consultant

The right coach can help you see your blind spots, clarify your goals, and create accountability. Here’s what to look for:

  • Experience in your industry or stage

  • A framework or process you can follow

  • Proof they’ve helped others like you before

  • Clarity on expectations: get very specific on what they’ll deliver, what you’re responsible for, and how success will be measured

The real ROI from a coach isn’t in the ideas, it’s in the implementation. If you’re not committed to showing up and doing the work, even the best coach won’t move the needle. 

2. Build a Board of Advisors

Some business owners prefer an advisory board, either formally or informally. It’s a smart move, especially if:

  • You want recurring input without ongoing costs

  • You’d like multiple perspectives on key decisions

  • You’re preparing for a sale or seeking capital 

A board can bring financial, operational, legal, or strategic expertise to the table and signal to investors or acquirers that your company is maturing. That being said, I’ve also seen a board fire or replace the owner/CEO, depending on how much power they have.

Set clear expectations. Make it easy for advisors to show up and contribute. Compensate them with equity, stipends, or perks where appropriate. And most of all—listen. 

3. Find an M&A Advisor

Okay, since you’ve just read this boot camp on growing your company, you know that at OwnerCo, we care about your growth. I do need to let you know that we can take on the role of growth advisor if you’re ready to do the work and scale your company. 

Yes, we’ve helped companies grow and positioned them for a sale down the road. 

Yes, I’ve personally sold my own company for an 8-figure exit. I was able to do that because I took my own advice and fixed up every aspect of my company first. I know this works because it worked for me, and dozens of other companies that I’ve helped to grow and sell.

If you’re serious about taking the next step and you want to build a business that makes an impact, an advisor can help.


👉Book a call with a Growth Advisor

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About the Author Jon Polenz, Managing Partner

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