As I discussed in a previous post, simply having broad expertise, what we might call “platform thinking”, isn’t enough. To truly connect with potential clients, especially busy SMB leaders, the value you offer must be clearly “packaged” into a compelling story they can grasp quickly.

I’ve experienced this challenge firsthand. With a generalist background, it can be tempting to offer a wide array of potential solutions. But this can feel overwhelming or unclear to a client unsure of exactly where to start. It took dedicated effort, essentially “eating my own dog food” by applying the same strategic clarity I bring to clients, to refine how Succeed Sooner Consulting packages its core value for the SMBs we serve in the Niagara-Hamilton corridor.

The Shift from “What I Can Do” to “What You Will Achieve”

The journey was about moving from an internal understanding of my capabilities to an external articulation of client outcomes. For Succeed Sooner Consulting, particularly in my role as a fractional CIO, the “packaging” isn’t about a single, flashy growth percentage, but about a clear promise of strategic partnership and tangible results.

It starts with an attention-grabbing understanding of an SMB leader’s core desire:

“Is your technology truly empowering your business growth and efficiency, or is it a source of frustration and missed opportunities?”

This question aims to immediately connect with the pain points many SMB leaders experience. It opens the door for a deeper conversation, the “elevator pitch,” that outlines how strategic IT leadership can make a difference.

The Succeed Sooner Consulting Approach – Our “Packaged” Value

Our approach isn’t about offering a one-size-fits-all solution, but about a structured engagement designed to uncover and deliver specific value:

1. Understanding Your Unique Context: Most SMBs operate with unique strengths but often face common challenges in leveraging technology effectively – perhaps due to legacy systems, a lack of strategic IT direction, or teams struggling to keep pace.
2. Our Collaborative Process (The Fractional CIO Engagement):
   • We begin with a Complimentary Initial Consultation to understand your high-level needs.
   • This leads to a Strategic Deep Dive Session, where we thoroughly assess your current state: your technology, processes, people, and business goals.
   • From there, we develop a Tailored Strategic IT Roadmap, outlining clear objectives, actionable initiatives, and how we’ll measure success.
   • The Ongoing Partnership involves Tim Empringham as your fractional CIO, providing consistent C-suite leadership to execute that roadmap, mentor your team, and ensure technology becomes a powerful enabler for your business.
3. The Anticipated Outcome: Through this structured, expert-led approach, SMBs can expect to see significant improvements in areas like operational efficiency, team productivity, strategic clarity, risk mitigation, and the ability to leverage technology for future growth and competitive advantage – helping you “Succeed Sooner.”

The Principles Behind the Package

The core principles of strategic assessment, clear goal-setting, focused execution, and continuous improvement are well-documented in business literature (thinkers like Peter Senge in “The Fifth Discipline,” or concepts from “Good to Great“). My unique value lies in synthesizing these principles into a pragmatic framework specifically tailored for SMBs, leveraging my deep experience as both a business leader and a technology expert to provide the tools and guidance needed for success.

Applying the “Packaging” Internally – The Succeed Sooner Lab

This commitment to clarity and tangible value isn’t just for clients. We practice “dogfooding” within our own venture arm, “The Succeed Sooner Lab.” By building and scaling digital products, we continuously refine our understanding of what it takes to execute effectively, ensuring the strategies we bring to you are practical and proven.

What’s Next

How you “package” and communicate your business’s value proposition is critical. It needs to be clear, compelling, and focused on the outcomes that matter most to your ideal clients. For Succeed Sooner Consulting, it’s about packaging C-suite strategic IT leadership in a way that’s accessible and delivers tangible results for SMBs.

How compelling is your SMB’s “packaged” value story? If you’re looking for a partner to help you refine your technology strategy and articulate its impact, I invite you to connect.