Rock LaManna02.28.23
When you learn to play chess, you are taught how the pieces move. The queen can make long, sweeping, formidable moves across the board and control from a distance. The knight can jump over defensive lines and get into tight spaces. The bishop moves on a diagonal, crisscrossing the board and striking from the shadows.
The king moves one space at a time.
New players often discount the potential of the king and tend to overlook him as a strategic piece. They don’t realize that the king has an essential role in the end game, especially between two equally-matched opponents.
If you try to operate your business like the queen’s piece, you are visible and active. However, you may be overshadowing other people’s efforts, and you may miss the opportunity to lead from behind. You probably overstep or underreach in your advances. And, keep in mind, when you are visible like this, you are a target for your opponent.
If you operate as a pawn – methodically addressing day-to-day tasks and dealing with obstacles as they come up – you will wear yourself out before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. In the graphic arts industry, we find many owners who are pawns. You enjoy the hands-on work, whether you are operating a machine or not. You like to roll up your sleeves, dig into problems, and experiment with solutions. While this can be fun and creatively satisfying, it’s not the best use of time for an owner if your goal is to grow and sell the business.
Similarly, each of the other pieces has its rightful role and can execute very specifically in a given situation. These pieces are not the king, and to act in that manner would limit their distinctive capabilities.
You can see why we need pieces of all types, with their own unique traits, and why the king must lead.
In an advanced game – and in the competitive world of business – the king springs into action toward the end. As the endgame unfolds, the king must deploy his plan. Often that plan involves shepherding pieces across the board to get within striking distance of the opposing king – and help promote pawns to queens.
As a master-level player, you can’t underestimate the king’s ability – and responsibility – to protect and guide the pieces around him. Remember, the opposing king cannot move into the king’s personal space. Anyone trying to take a piece the king is touching can potentially get taken in turn.
When the king moves in stride, surrounded by his contingent, he is virtually untouchable.
As you run your business – and later as you prepare to sell or transition – you have a power that should not be wasted.
As we discussed last time, it takes a mixture of long-range planning and systematic deployment to win the king’s game properly:
Business areas where we can apply the king’s game are:
You will lose if you act rashly, expose key pieces, put your pieces in play in the wrong order, or think only about the next move. Planning, adapting, and continuous visualization of scenarios help you play at your full potential until the end.
Whether you want to transition your business in six months or six years, getting the board set up for success allows you to be competitive throughout the process.
Achieving an awe-inspiring end game starts with the right advisor, your dream team of experts, hiring and retaining top talent, investing in your business, and training yourself to be more strategic in every way.
I realize this approach may seem unnecessary to you. It may seem cutthroat, extreme or complex. You may think running a business is more like a game of checkers. Believe me: if you plan to sell or transition, running your business is not a game of checkers. If you’re not educated and operating at a higher level, you will amplify your stress (and those around you), endanger your brand, and potentially leave a pile of money on the table.
To win like a king, you must be a king. If you’re interested in running your business more confidently, with purpose and direction, here are three recently-released leadership books that talk about the new roles and responsibilities of today’s owners.
From my owner’s perspective, I want to reiterate. When I say king, I’m not referring to male or female. The “king” in this context is the company owner who needs to lead strategically to be successful in today’s world. For our clients, we recommend executive coaching for the owner and a plan for improvement for the managers and teams. The top business owners in the world use outside coaches and consultants to play at the highest level.
The king’s game is not for everyone. If you have time, the will, and the self-discipline to play the game strategically, you can swing the odds in your favor. If that sounds like you, it’s time to play the king’s game and step into your power.
Rock LaManna is The Deal Flow Guy. He helps qualified buyers and investors find businesses that are ready for acquisition or transition. On the sell side, he helps owners improve their businesses, increase value, and position strategically in anticipation of sale, exit or succession. Sign up for his newsletter at TheDealFlowGuy.com and start the process.
The king moves one space at a time.
New players often discount the potential of the king and tend to overlook him as a strategic piece. They don’t realize that the king has an essential role in the end game, especially between two equally-matched opponents.
The King’s Role
As the business owner, you are the king. Whether male or female, young or old, if you own a business, you must step into your rightful role and lead your company. This is what leadership means in today’s business world.If you try to operate your business like the queen’s piece, you are visible and active. However, you may be overshadowing other people’s efforts, and you may miss the opportunity to lead from behind. You probably overstep or underreach in your advances. And, keep in mind, when you are visible like this, you are a target for your opponent.
If you operate as a pawn – methodically addressing day-to-day tasks and dealing with obstacles as they come up – you will wear yourself out before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. In the graphic arts industry, we find many owners who are pawns. You enjoy the hands-on work, whether you are operating a machine or not. You like to roll up your sleeves, dig into problems, and experiment with solutions. While this can be fun and creatively satisfying, it’s not the best use of time for an owner if your goal is to grow and sell the business.
Similarly, each of the other pieces has its rightful role and can execute very specifically in a given situation. These pieces are not the king, and to act in that manner would limit their distinctive capabilities.
You can see why we need pieces of all types, with their own unique traits, and why the king must lead.
The King’s Power
Let’s talk about the king’s power in the end game. If you are an intermediate or advanced player competing against a beginner, your king may never move a square during the entire game. The other pieces will carry the load.In an advanced game – and in the competitive world of business – the king springs into action toward the end. As the endgame unfolds, the king must deploy his plan. Often that plan involves shepherding pieces across the board to get within striking distance of the opposing king – and help promote pawns to queens.
The King’s Responsibility
It takes patience, courage, and the ability to think many moves ahead to get to this point in the game.As a master-level player, you can’t underestimate the king’s ability – and responsibility – to protect and guide the pieces around him. Remember, the opposing king cannot move into the king’s personal space. Anyone trying to take a piece the king is touching can potentially get taken in turn.
When the king moves in stride, surrounded by his contingent, he is virtually untouchable.
The King’s Priorities
As you run your business – and later as you prepare to sell or transition – you have a power that should not be wasted.As we discussed last time, it takes a mixture of long-range planning and systematic deployment to win the king’s game properly:
- Strategic thinking
- Adapting to changing scenarios
- Guiding and protecting your people
- Not letting your ego overshadow the process
- Not rushing or taking ill-advised shortcuts
- Making systematic progress while executing your grand plan
The King’s Control
The last two items on my list above are places where owners frequently lose control. Building the proper plan and patiently (but deliberately) executing it require a combination of tactics and patience.Business areas where we can apply the king’s game are:
- Strengthening the business through better leadership
- Solidifying the business financially
- Empowering managers
- Providing a secure environment for employees
- Improving quality inside and out
- Using modern selling methods
- Positioning your business powerfully in the market
- Acquiring competitors or constructing an advantage over them
- Capitalizing on industry trends and changes
The King’s Plan
As I mentioned, the king cannot succeed at his endgame without setting up everything properly at the beginning.You will lose if you act rashly, expose key pieces, put your pieces in play in the wrong order, or think only about the next move. Planning, adapting, and continuous visualization of scenarios help you play at your full potential until the end.
Whether you want to transition your business in six months or six years, getting the board set up for success allows you to be competitive throughout the process.
Achieving an awe-inspiring end game starts with the right advisor, your dream team of experts, hiring and retaining top talent, investing in your business, and training yourself to be more strategic in every way.
I realize this approach may seem unnecessary to you. It may seem cutthroat, extreme or complex. You may think running a business is more like a game of checkers. Believe me: if you plan to sell or transition, running your business is not a game of checkers. If you’re not educated and operating at a higher level, you will amplify your stress (and those around you), endanger your brand, and potentially leave a pile of money on the table.
To win like a king, you must be a king. If you’re interested in running your business more confidently, with purpose and direction, here are three recently-released leadership books that talk about the new roles and responsibilities of today’s owners.
- Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success (Gary Vaynerchuk)
- Own Your Armor: Revolutionary Change for Workplace Culture (Michelle Brody)
- Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. (Brené Brown)
From my owner’s perspective, I want to reiterate. When I say king, I’m not referring to male or female. The “king” in this context is the company owner who needs to lead strategically to be successful in today’s world. For our clients, we recommend executive coaching for the owner and a plan for improvement for the managers and teams. The top business owners in the world use outside coaches and consultants to play at the highest level.
The king’s game is not for everyone. If you have time, the will, and the self-discipline to play the game strategically, you can swing the odds in your favor. If that sounds like you, it’s time to play the king’s game and step into your power.
Rock LaManna is The Deal Flow Guy. He helps qualified buyers and investors find businesses that are ready for acquisition or transition. On the sell side, he helps owners improve their businesses, increase value, and position strategically in anticipation of sale, exit or succession. Sign up for his newsletter at TheDealFlowGuy.com and start the process.
