Leadership – Slark Consulting Group

The Growth Blueprint: 10 Essentials for Building a Thriving Business

Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Capital/Finances, Charts and Trends, Leadership, Management, Strategy / Rick Slark

In The Growth Blueprint: 10 Essentials for Building a Thriving Business, fractional strategist Rick Slark outlines the ten most common traits found in successful growth-stage companies. From clarifying your value proposition to building leadership layers and tracking key data, this guide offers practical insights, stats, and action steps to help business owners scale with intention—not chaos. Whether you’re navigating growing pains or preparing to level up, this post serves as a roadmap for building a business that lasts.

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Why Urgent Leadership Will Stall Your Business—and How Strategic Owners Grow Instead

Charts and Trends, Leadership, Management, Professional Development / Rick Slark

Urgent leadership will stall your business. Learn why strategic growth starts by shifting from firefighting to building—and how your leadership drives it.

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The Quiet Crisis in the Workplace: Losing Institutional Memory

AI/Tech, Charts and Trends, Humanity, Leadership, Management, Manufacturing, Wisdom / Rick Slark

As experienced employees leave the workforce, businesses risk losing more than labor—they’re losing the memory that holds their work together. Here’s what you can do before it’s too late.

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The Hidden Cost of Growth: Strategy Fatigue and How to Beat It

Business Development, Case Study, Charts and Trends, Leadership, Management / Rick Slark

Strategy fatigue is one of the most overlooked challenges for growing businesses. When leaders say yes to too many initiatives without a clear filter, it overwhelms teams and stalls progress. In this article, I break down how to protect your team from burnout using a practical framework that brings focus, clarity, and momentum to your growth strategy.

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Winning by a Margin: What NCAA Stats Reveal About Business

Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Charts and Trends, Leadership, Management, market research, Podcast, Uncategorized, Video / Rick Slark

This week on Deep Dive, Sarah and James break down a sharp article by Rick Slark, Fractional Strategist and owner of Slark Consulting Group. Drawing from NCAA basketball stats, Rick shows how tiny margins—just 3 to 5%—separate top-performing teams from the rest.

What does that mean for your business? More than you think. From strategy to execution, this episode unpacks how small gains lead to big wins.

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When Business Partners Collide: How to Resolve Conflicts Over Core Values

AI/Tech, Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Leadership, Management, Partnerships, Quotes, Uncategorized / Rick Slark

Most business partnerships don’t fail because of poor strategy. They fail because of value collisions—when partners hold fundamentally different beliefs about what matters most. One partner wants rapid growth; the other prioritizes craftsmanship. One sees employees as human capital; the other sees them as a community.

These silent collisions erode trust, slow decision-making, and often lead to costly breakdowns. Clarifying core values early, building decision frameworks, and revisiting alignment regularly isn’t optional—it’s essential.

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How Barnes & Noble Engineered a Remarkable Turnaround – And What Business Owners Can Learn From It

Case Study, Leadership, Management, Marketing / Rick Slark

Barnes & Noble was once seen as a fading giant in the age of Amazon, but under bold new leadership, it has staged an extraordinary turnaround. By decentralizing decision-making, empowering local booksellers, and focusing on discovery rather than algorithms, B&N has transformed its stores into thriving community hubs. This case study reveals powerful lessons for business owners—how to compete with industry giants, rethink strategy for long-term success, and create customer experiences that drive loyalty. Read on to uncover the strategies that revived America’s largest bookstore chain—and how you can apply them to your own business.

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Is Your Business Ready for Change? 5 Key Areas to Reassess Now

Business Development, Capital/Finances, Charts and Trends, Economic Development, Government Regulations, Leadership, Management / Rick Slark

Change is inevitable in business, and with 2025 on the horizon, shifts in economic policy, market trends, and regulations could significantly impact your company. The key to staying ahead isn’t just reacting—it’s proactively reassessing your strategy. In this article, we explore five critical business adjustments you should make now to prepare for potential challenges and opportunities. From navigating economic fluctuations to adapting to new regulations and evolving customer behaviors, this guide will help ensure your business remains agile and competitive. Will you lead the change or struggle to keep up? Read on to find out how to position your business for success in 2025.

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What Small Business Owners Can Learn from the JCPenney and Forever 21 Merger

Business Development, Business Growth, Revenue Models, Small Business Strategy, Financial Strategy, Business Diversification, Profitability, Business Resilience, Leadership, Management, Partnerships, Retail / Rick Slark

Picture yourself in a mall in 2002: racks of trendy Aéropostale hoodies, Forever 21’s fast-fashion treasures, and JCPenney’s dependable mix of apparel, home goods, and Sephora counters. These brands defined an era of retail, but the world has since changed. Fast forward to 2025, and these mall staples are coming together under one roof. Catalyst

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Celebrating Excellence: Congratulations to Beth Gantz, Lorain County Community College SBDC Director

Business Development, Humanity, Leadership, Partnerships, Uncategorized, Women in Business / Rick Slark

It’s not every day you get to witness someone in your professional circle being recognized for their outstanding contributions, but today is one of those days! I’m thrilled to congratulate Beth Gantz, the dedicated and dynamic director of the Lorain Community College SBDC, for receiving the Individual Award for Best Center Director at the Statewide

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