Everything We Think We Know About Addiction Is Wrong

Business Consulting for Drug Rehabs

Ashlar Consulting Corporation is a Business Consulting firm that specializes in the field of alcohol and drug addiction treatment.  We help recovery centers manage their businesses more efficiently and become more successful.  We can provide your facility assistance in the following areas:

• Increasing revenue
• Decreasing expenses
• Resolving operational difficulties
• Analyzing systems for possible deficiencies
• New business development
• Contract negotiations
• Cash flow analysis
• Budgeting and money management
• Policies and procedures
• Creating or improving internet presence
• Online reputation management
• Outsourcing services
• Expansion planning
• Sales and Marketing
• Revenue Cycle Management
• Employee management
• Labor union relations
• Business coaching

Our consulting services are provided via telephone or skype.  We offer a no cost, no obligation initial telephone consultation.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 305-849-9399 or visit www.AshlarConsultingCorp.com. 

Why You Need to Hire a Business Consultant

Running a business can be painfully difficult, complex and stressful at times.  Many business owners torture themselves with this unbearable task because the rewards are immeasurable.  However, very often the rewards come long after immense periods of uncertainty and struggle.  The advantages of being a successful business owner are vast, offering the possibility of more money, more flexibility, more stability and the luxury of doing things your way, rather than having to take orders from a boss with whom you may disagree with.  Success is a relative term that can be interpreted in many ways.  What’s most important is what it means to you and how you can achieve it.

There are no shortcuts to success.  If you were lucky enough to ride on the coattails of a predecessor who had shown you the ropes and already laid the groundwork for an exceedingly successful company, then you might be able to cut out a few steps. Although, this doesn’t mean that you are impervious to whatever uncertainties that may lie ahead.  Industries change, as do various circumstances which could negate the safety of any disaster plan or preventative measures that were previously implemented.  The biggest problems in business have a tendency to be unpredictable. 

Ill-prepared business owners often find themselves stomping out fires as they come about, rather than taking a more proactive approach in an effort to avoid complications.  There are consequences to every problem, otherwise there would never be a need to resolve them.  In business, problems can cost money or damage other aspects of your business which ultimately will lead to a loss of money.  When an employee encounters a problem, they often go to their supervisor for guidance.  However, who does a business owner turn to when faced with the complexities of the day-to-day operations of conducting business?

A business consultant can alleviate many problems within a company because they have extensive experience in working with many companies that may be experiencing similar complications.  Being able to offer an outside perspective on how a business is being operated can be invaluable to a company that only knows how business is being done at their company.  Business consultants provide solutions to improve the flow of productivity within a company and often save the business owner a lot of grief.

As a business owner, you may only be aware of how business is being done at your company.  You may have previously worked at similar companies in the past and you may hire former employees of your competitors who might be able to provide some insight as to how other companies operate.  However, the nuts and bolts of how those businesses run may be drastically different than how you are currently operating yours.  Business consultants have the advantage of seeing what has gone wrong with all of their previous clients and can prevent their existing clients from making the same mistakes.

A business consultant may have certain knowledge or experience that you don’t have.  Having access to this information could be extremely advantageous and more cost effective than hiring a full-time executive to accomplish the same goals.  An effective business consultant has the ability to make enough positive changes at a company to offset the consulting fee either by helping the business owner find ways to increase revenue and/or decrease expenses.

For more information on how a business consultant may be able to help your company become more successful, please contact Ashlar Consulting Corporation at 305-849-9399 or visit www.AshlarConsultingCorp.com.

What Kind of CEO are You?

A conductor may not know how to play every instrument in his orchestra, but he must know the parameters of each instrument and what can be expected of each performer.  So must the CEO of a company with his or her employees.  Lee Iacocca may not know everything there is to know about making cars but not many people know the ins and outs of the automotive industry the way he does.  A CEO must be proficient in many different aspects of business but at some point, most business owners come to the realization that their forte is in one of three categories:  sales, operations or finance.

This doesn’t mean if a CEO is an expert at one, he’s exempt from paying attention to the other areas of his business.  It also doesn’t mean that a CEO can’t become more proficient at a different facet of the business.  It may just mean that everyone has their strong suits that they naturally excel in and other functions might be better left in the hands of another executive.

Even though we all have our strengths and weaknesses, the CEO of a company is responsible for all that goes on within the confines of the company.  No one can be an expert at everything.  Therefore, the most appropriate thing is to do what you do best and have others around you with complimentary talents whose assets counterbalance your deficits. 

Sales CEO

If you are a sales-oriented CEO, then you are probably the extroverted type who could sell sand in a desert.  You have an excellent understanding of your company’s products or services and you know how to articulate to your clients why they need them.  You can probably do this better than anyone else at your company.  You recognize the importance of sales because without sales, your company won’t make money and without money you’re out of business.

Operations CEO

This type of business owner generally possesses a meticulous personality which allows him to identify the inner workings of his company that may need improvement.  Identifying operational deficiencies is not always the easiest thing to do.  Defining protocol and creating systems to make a company operate like a well-oiled machine is extremely difficult and if your brain isn’t wired in such a way as to develop such systems, this may not be your forte.

Finance CEO

If you’re not a numbers guy, then you’re not a finance CEO.  Sometimes, this type of executive is better suited for the CFO position.  Nevertheless, many CEOs who focus on sales or the operations of their business could find themselves somewhat intimidated by the flow of cash running in and out of their business.  It could be quite overwhelming for a person who doesn’t have a mind for finance.  However, a CEO who doesn’t know his company’s numbers is a bad CEO.  This type of business owner tends to rely heavily on his accountant, bookkeeper or controller.  If so, it’s always good to have a check and balance system in place to make sure one of them isn’t deceiving you or making costly mistakes.

If a CEO is more of an operations person, this doesn’t mean that sales and finances should be neglected or mindlessly passed along to someone else to deal with.  Of course, the other areas should be closely monitored by the CEO while he focuses on what he does best.  Every business owner should recognize what their Achilles heel is.  If you’re a visionary who has great ideas but you suck at executing them, then hire someone who can handle that component at your company so that you see your concepts come to fruition.