1:1 MENTORING
Mentoring for founders who are growing but cash-tight
Six months of 1:1 mentoring that holds you to the money and letting-go decisions your firefighting keeps pushing back, and turns those decisions into results you can measure.
For founders of $500K to $3M businesses · A$1,500 a month ex GST · Six-month commitment
How to start ↓Or see Cash-Tight Growth Mentoring for $500K-$3M founders
Or see Letting-Go Mentoring for founders who became the bottleneck
Facing one growth-or-financials decision first? See the Growth-vs-Financials Clarity Intensive
Building leaders but still doing it all? See Builder-of-Leaders Mentoring
THE PROBLEM
What founders tell me
“We’re growing but cashflow is very tight.”
“Anxious, need to meet payroll.”
“I don’t want to be known as the low price partner anymore.”
“I want higher margin clients but don’t know how to get in front of them.”
“I lost my mojo.”
“The industry is slowing down.”
It sounds like several problems. It is usually one. You compete on price, so margins are thin. Growth on thin margins eats cash, so payroll becomes a monthly fear. That fear drains your confidence, and a slowing market makes all of it louder.
This program breaks the chain where it starts, with what you charge for your value, and measures the effect where it ends: your cash and your confidence.
“I've lain awake over payroll in a growing business, lost my edge for a while and found it again. I know what cash pressure does to a founder's judgement, and how to get it back.”
Ivanka Menken
HOW IT WORKS
How a session works
Twelve sessions of 60 minutes, once a fortnight, over six months. Protected time away from the fire. Every session follows the same four steps.
The one thing
The one thing that matters this fortnight.
The numbers
The numbers behind it.
The story
The story you’re telling yourself about it.
The commitment
One commitment, written down.
Around the sessions
Between sessions
Short messages when a decision can't wait, answered within two working days.
Every month
A one-page scorecard of five numbers, filled in by you.
Month 3 and month 6
A review of the scorecard: what moved, what didn't, and what's next.
THE SCORECARD
Five numbers, one page, every month
The result you are after is more money kept and a clearer head. The scorecard measures both without becoming homework.
IS IT FOR YOU?
Who it's for, and who it isn't
Who this is for
- Founders of $500K to $3M businesses
- Businesses that are growing, while cash stays tight
- Founders who know the money and letting-go decisions they keep putting off, and want someone to hold them to those decisions
What this is not
- Accounting. Your accountant does the accounts
- Financial advice
- A done-for-you fix. Ivanka reads the numbers with you and asks the questions. The decisions and the work stay yours
INVESTMENT
Six months, twelve sessions
A$1,500 a month ex GST, with a six-month commitment (A$9,000 in total).
Three founding places are available at A$1,000 a month, in return for honest monthly feedback and a testimonial, which can be anonymous.
a month, ex GST
Founding places: A$1,000 a month
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Questions founders ask
We’re growing, but cashflow is very tight. Is this for me?
It is written for exactly that. The program is for founders of $500K to $3M businesses who are growing but cash-tight, and who know which money and letting-go decisions they keep putting off. Each fortnight we work on one of those decisions and you track what it does to your cash, margin and confidence.
I’m flat out firefighting. How would I find the time?
Sessions are 60 minutes, once a fortnight, and they are protected time away from the fire. Between sessions there is a one-page scorecard once a month and short messages when a decision can’t wait, which Ivanka answers within two working days.
I don’t want to be the low-price partner anymore. Will this help me charge more?
Pricing is usually where the problem starts: low prices make margins thin, and growth on thin margins eats cash. We look at the price of your newest work against the same work a year ago and at your gross margin, and Ivanka challenges the story behind your prices. The decisions stay yours. She holds you to them.
Will you do my accounts or give me financial advice?
No. This is not accounting, financial advice or a done-for-you fix. Ivanka reads the numbers with you and asks the questions. Your accountant does the accounts.
What does it cost, and how long do I commit for?
A$1,500 a month ex GST, with a six-month commitment (A$9,000 in total). Three founding places are available at A$1,000 a month, in return for honest monthly feedback and a testimonial, which can be anonymous.
Start with a 20-minute conversation
No pitch. Tell Ivanka what is taking up most of your headspace in the business, and you will both know whether this program fits.