The Winning Momentum Podcast with Scott Sinclair

In this Episode we continue on the Novanni Stainless turnaround journey - week 3, which includes some actual accounting and frustrations, terminations, sales rep and customer negotiations. Themes from the stories this week include: - get your house in order. Invest in accounting and information systems, always - Attention. The first rule of persuasion is getting attention. They have to be listenin...

In this Episode we discuss small business failure rates, my mission to lower them and the disconnect between pitching entrepreneurship as the path to a free and purposeful life vs. the fact that 90% of new businesses never pay a salary to their founder. Also, how boring are the executives of MMED? My god. Credible, solid, but boring. Sell.  The Novanni Turnaround Journey - Part 2. Creditor segrega...

I'm back! In this Episode we start the journey of the turnaround of Novanni Stainless, a Canadian manufacturer of stainless sinks, including: - the acquisition structure; and, - my introduction speech to the employees Also, I tell you about my recent travel experiences, since people are asking, and explain my month long absence. https://www.novanni.ca Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.c...

In Episode 66, I discuss the process of selling a business with merger and acquisition expert Mark Groulx  (mgroulx@aimgroupcanada.com) of AIM Group ( www.aimgc.ca) and Pandea Global M&A (www.pandeaglobal.com). The conversation is wide ranging and includes the importance of having an expert on your team, how to understand value and its transferability in a sale, types of buyers, earn outs, tax...

In this episode, I review progress in a real turnaround with Lucie Quigley of Roofer World.  We discuss my diagnostic process for under-performing businesses and my approach to increased profitability. We also discuss the human side of troubled companies; the stress and feeling of darkness.... turning in a short four months to excitement and a sense of fulfillment. http://www.roofersworld.com/ htt...

Inspired by the Aurora Cannabis Q3 release and the tripling of its stock, let's discuss some tricky math! 1. Gross margin, in a fixed cost business like Cannabis, is heavily influenced by production volume. Its a misleading metric at times. Check out the inventory being carried by Aurora and put some thought into the implications on margins. 2. Valuation multiples (doesn't matter if its...

Such an important show at this time. Kevin Waldbillig and I discuss mental health issues in business and life, including: • Managing stress • Motivation • Unhealthy thinking patterns • Importance of goals Kevin’s company is called Change Works Interactive (www.changeworksinteractive.com) and is accessible on most popular social media platforms. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-waldbillig-93b77358...

Projection models serve multiple purposes. Understanding those purposes will help you build better models. 1. Identifying KPIs to which your liquidity and profitability are most sensitive 2. Identifying momentum, positive or negative 3. Acting as a persuasion tool with stakeholders, such as your bank The key business projection models are a rolling monthly projection and a 13 week cash flow projec...

In this Episode I have a great discussion with Sheldon Title of MNP. Sheldon is a bankruptcy trustee with decades of experience helping businesses restructure and survive liquidity problems. We cover CCAAs, NOIs, Receivership and informal restructurings. There is help available for struggling businesses. Watch this episode for insight on a path forward. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com...

A quick shot responding to a viewer question about decision making strategies. I discuss the rules I have for myself when faced with extreme uncertainty: 1. Keep moving - take action now 2. Stay flexible and test, test, test 3. Embrace it Differentiate between uncertainty borne of ignorance (someone other than you knows the answer) vs. new situations (no one knows the answer) and handle them diffe...

Chapter 11, Chapter 7, Chapter 5, out of court restructurings – we discuss it all with Rick Rein and Aaron Hammer of HMB Legal Counsel. https://www.linkedin.com/in/esrein/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahammer/ https://www.hmblaw.com Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-sinclair-7b09681b/

A quick shot inspired by a viewer question on Acreage Holdings. I discuss a couple of strategies to think about when evaluating a stock or any business, including your own. Business valuation is forward looking, always. It is the future cash flow available to shareholders, discounted for time and risk. Markets are not efficient, particularly for speculative stocks. Influences on demand and supply...

Directors, Officers, Owner/Managers, Entrepreneurs - you can be personally liable to other stakeholders of your business, even if your business is incorporated. In this Episode, I have a drink and discussion with David Cohen of Gowling WLG.  We discuss the circumstances that may result in personal liability for Directors and Officers and ways to protect yourself. Learn more at https://gowlingwlg.c...

A Quick Shot responding to a viewer's question about equity grants to partners and key employees.  It's far too easy for entrepreneurs to give away large chunks of their new business and live to regret the decisions. This video contains a process and strategy that might help entrepreneurs keep more of their dream. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWSc...

Watch this webinar, on which I am a panelist, produced and hosted by Gowling WLG  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=0zpWm-jQ4To&feature=emb_logo Questions from the week are answered at the end of the video: CannTrust Aurora Great Lakes Graphite Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-s...

We've discussed CannTrust (TRST; CTST) in several episodes because it is the poster child for terrible management in a crisis. Yesterday, CannTrust sought bankruptcy protection and we expect shareholder value to go to effectively zero. In this episode, I mostly brag about being right and avoid doing a deep dive with you into the hundreds of pages of legal documents. Learn more at https://www....

It looks like another 4 to 10 weeks of shutdown for a lot of businesses.  And a slow ramp up once re-opened. Can your business survive? Today we discuss cash flow projections and ideas for saving cash.  We also discuss a strategy for management meetings that focuses on positives, not negatives. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https:...

The best way for me to help in this global crisis is to offer some thinking and solutions to entrepreneurs, business owners, management, investors. Reach out to me for some advice if you need it, and you wont' be charged! Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-sinclair-7b09681b/

Momentum is everything in business and life. 1. Have an aim 2. Never stop working to that aim 3. Focus on positives It's easy to freeze in times of uncertainty. Don't do it. Use this virus and business disruption to out work your competition; to come back stronger. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/i...

In Episode 50, we review the inadequate Canadian federal government help available to businesses.  We also talk about what you, as a business owner should be doing right now.  Hoard cash! Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-sinclair-7b09681b/

COVID 19 has devastated the economy and shut down businesses. To survive, you need to be a leader and make hard decisions. You need to hoard cash and understand that paying all of your commitments may not be possible or wise. In this episode, we discuss strategies to generate more cash in and limit cash out, all in an effort to live to fight another day. And I offer 5 min. of free consulting to an...

Stop panicking In business, take advantage of this period of uncertainty to get ahead of your competition. Investors, is this the greatest buying opportunity of your lifetimes? In this episode, we discuss some ideas and strategies as a response to the current crisis. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-...

Make more profit by focusing on contribution margin, fixed costs and revenue - in that order. Gross margin, reported in audited financial statements, is often misleading when it comes to managerial decisions. Same with standard costing. Contribution margin leads to better decision making. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott Follow on LinkedIn  https://www....

5 steps to keeping momentum going on a debt financing: 1. Know what lender box your deal fits into 2. Prepare your materials 3. Build a prospective lender list 4. Market 5. Have a criteria for selection The video dives a bit deeper into each step and provides some tips as to approaches and how to think about the process. Learn more at https://www.sinclairrange.com Follow on Twitter @MartinisWScott...

In this Episode we discuss approaches to creditor negotiations and the concept of setting the table for any negotiation. Before starting a negotiation consider: 1. who can least afford to lose? 2. who can least afford to wait? 3. who has leverage over the other - positive or negative? Figure out how to be on the right side of these questions before you start discussions. Learn more at https://www....