Why M & A?
The “competitive advantage” of M & A consists of seven core distinctive competencies (the 7 “C’s”). All are focused on understanding and serving entrepreneurs with high octane ambitions.
1. Creativity. Some have it, and most don’t. Like pure athletic ability, this is a rare and admired quality. It can be honed, but not invented. M & A has a track record of creative invention that is manifested in innovative strategies, concepts and niches. Creativity leads to innovation. And innovation is the heartbeat of the entrepreneurial process.
2. Connections. The cliché is, “It’s who you know, not what you know.” If that’s the case, then knowing M & A is half the battle. A client partner of M & A gains access to a world of connections throughout North America, Asia and Europe. The network runs from leading entrepreneurs to the greatest thinkers in the world on entrepreneurship.
3. Credibility. Credibility comes from personal credentials and track record, to have endorsements and supporters from a variety of quarters, to be able to be welcomed to key circles, to have been educated at the world’s leading institutions and from the world’s leading thinkers and practitioners. This require a relentless pursuit of excellence, and a dissatisfaction with mediocrity.
4. Compelled To Excellence. M & A strives for excellence in its work and contribution. Like attracts like. Just as we strive for excellence, we work with companies that are involved in the same pursuit. The marketplace is a harsh judge – and typically those companies that are devoted to an excellent product or service will thrive. Excellence is a core attribute of a high-growth company.
5. Cross-Cultural. In today’s world an entrepreneur cannot afford to be inward-looking. Opportunities can be pursued across national boundaries and international time zones. But, can you afford to get the experience the hard way? Better to have a guide before you climb Mt. Everest. Depends how much time and money you have. M & A has extensive relationships and experience in Asia. In China, for example, learning as you go can be an expensive experience. As the cliché goes, “I came with the money and no experience, and I left with experience and no money.” Don’t be the “I.”
6. Client-Partner Model. If a client fits our parameters, we will make a deal. M & A balances compensation so that M & A is investing to some extent in the success of the undertaking. We are never a spectator, we are part owner. So, we call it a “client-partner model.” We are entrepreneurs like our clients.
7. Compatibility. Entrepreneurs are a rare and special breed. They are change agents, disrupting the status quo, pushing the envelop and developing new products and services in the face of naysayers. Being a visionary is only easy in retrospect. Entrepreneurs take huge risks – they sometimes win, and other times blow their wad. We understand the entrepreneurial mind. We are a catalyst for the entrepreneurial quest.