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a simple goala simple planhappy clientsABout USsay hello

Business success is simple

Sell something that people really want, that is unique, and at a price they deem fair and that is profitable.

Business success is difficult

75% of new businesses fail in the first 3 years and few of the survivors will go on to be highly successful

We turn difficult into simple
and simple into success

We lead startups and companies through a simple process that brings clarity of vision and turns vision into action


how do you build
a successful business?

If you want to build and sustain a successful business you need to focus on the critical factors that drive success.

The 80/20 principle applies to your business: there are a few vital things your business can do that will yield huge returns.

Businesses struggle because they fail to focus on these vital few. Instead they spend time on things that have little impact.

We have a simple goal: to help you build a successful business by getting the fundamentals right.

We focus on the critical factors that drive your success, help you take swift action and help you learn, adapt and improve.

When you have the fundamentals right the rest just flows. It's business made simple.

"

If you have a business, or you're thinking of starting one, you have to work with Strategy Works - they will transform it.

Michael Varesio, Principal, MDV Realty

Clarity of vision

Know your customer, know their needs, and know how you'll uniquely serve them

quality of execution

Execute on the actions necessary to drive your strategic vision

business made simple

We guide you each step of the way with real-world experience and an expert-derived process

a simple plan

Step 1 - Strategic Vision

Building a successful business follows a logical process.

Step one is to train you how to develop your Strategic Vision. A great strategy is the single most important factor in the success of a business.

If you lack a great strategy, or have no clear strategy at all, then you are very seriously undermining the chances of success for your business. 

With your Strategic Vision in place you will have absolute clarity of vision.

Thus you will be able to focus your resources precisely where they're needed as you develop and execute your Plan of Action.

Step 2 - Plan of Action

Executing strategy is difficult. According to a recent study 60% of businesses, of all sizes, fail on this critical step.

Traditional business plans don't help. Most business plans once written are never referred to again: they just sit on a shelf gathering dust.

That is why we don't teach you how to develop a traditional business plan. We teach you how to develop a Plan of Action that is simple yet highly effective. It's based on the work of experts at Harvard Business School, and it works exceptionally well.

You'll live and breathe your Plan of Action. You'll check progress and make changes as you gain greater insight into your market. For you must remain agile to be successful.

Agile

Act swiftly and decisively, adapt quickly to feedback, out compete your competitors

focused

Resources are applied to those activities that have the greatest impact on the business

business made simple

We accelerate your growth 

happy clients

"

I am deeply impressed by Ambrose and highly recommend him.

I have worked with Ambrose on critical projects. I have 20 years of business experience, a Cranfield MBA and have run four Johnson & Johnson companies. Nonetheless Ambrose's unique vision and perspective helped me achieve unparalleled clarity. 

Ambrose has the ability to target and focus relentlessly on the critical success factors impacting the business. Combined with an 'out of the box' approach, I was able to implement completely new strategies, measure unique targets, drive localised tactical execution and deliver an incremental return across multiple markets over a three year period. 

I am deeply impressed by Ambrose and highly recommend him.

Edward Lamb MBA, Franchise Director Eastern Europe, Johnson & Johnson

"

Strategy Works has had a tremendous impact on my business.

Working with Strategy Works has had a tremendous impact on my business. I had already developed a business plan but was not clear on how to use it to drive my business to greater success. It only took one meeting with Ambrose to know he would provide precisely the help I needed.

Now I have great clarity about the direction of my business and the systems and processes to make it happen. I believe he helped me accelerate the growth and development of my business by several years in mere weeks.

Ambrose talks about delighting my clients so that they become evangelists for my business. Well I am an evangelist for Strategy Works.

Anwar Visram, CEO , Visram Security

"

Ambrose...makes such a huge difference to my business.

If you have a business, or you're thinking of starting one, you have to work with Strategy Works - they will transform it. 

I had a successful and growing business that I knew could be far more successful. Working closely with Ambrose helped me to become so much clearer on my target market and how to provide value to them. Critically he also helped me to put the systems and processes in place to consistently deliver this value. 

Not only is he extremely professional but he is also a lot of fun to work with and I now consider him a great friend. I continue to work with Ambrose because he makes such a huge difference to my business. If you want great success you should work with him too.

Michael Varesio, Principal, MDV Realty

"

I would unreservedly recommend Ambrose.

Ambrose's ability to grasp the business issue, think creatively and innovatively, and then to identify the critical factors at play is truly remarkable. 

This combined with his depth of experience and breadth of knowledge make him a huge asset to any entrepreneur who wants to build a highly successful business. 

I would unreservedly recommend Ambrose to any organisation looking to boost its fortunes.

Sean Feesey

Experience

We draw upon deep real world experience building successful businesses

expertise

We combine our own expertise with that of other thought-leaders as we constantly improve

business made simple

We seek to make business as simple as it can be, but no simpler

about us

Great businesses are driven by passion and purpose, not the pursuit of profit. Profit is essential but fulfilling a purpose is what really drives success.

We are passionate about people coming alive as they pursue their passion.

Our purpose is to help entrepreneurs become more successful and to see more people becoming entrepreneurs.

The failure rate of new businesses (75% in 3 years) is a tragedy that we want to put right.

Another tragedy is the disengagement of employees. In America, for example, 70% hate their job or have "checked out" of it. That's an appalling statistic.

So we're trying to make the world a better place, one business at a time.

Ambrose Merrell

Ambrose Merrell is a successful high-tech entrepreneur and economist with nearly 20 years experience in strategy development and execution.

In 1995 he started a software development business with $2000 and a laptop. Within 5 years (and with no further debt or external investment) he was turning down a $5 million offer to buy it.

He has consulted at board level for a $20 billion multinational, as well as with many medium and small business, not-for-profits and government .

say hello

Phone: 778.668.5173

lets-talk@strategyworks.ca