About Sage.

Sage Small Business Solutions is an Atlanta-based consulting organization that provides training, free resources, and practical guidance to small business owners, freelancers, and independent workers. 

How is Sage different?

There are two primary methods by which we all learn. The first is education, or what I call ‘learning by hearing’ (or reading, or observing). The second way we learn is through experience, or, ‘learning by doing’. Sage Small Business Solutions’ hands-on classes and workshops give small business owners the opportunity to learn by doing. When you attend a class, you walk away with a tangible, functioning addition to your business. You can learn by ‘hearing’ the small business articles, books, and guides on the Sage Small Business Solutions blog, which are provided for free or at a low-cost.

Small group consulting is my specialty. When you get a small group of like-minded people in a room who are focused on a common intent, all sorts of amazing things can happen. Real conversations are had. Connections are made. Everyone learns from one another. You can’t get that in a room filled with hundreds of seminar or networking event attendees, or even by working one-on-one with a business consultant. Fostering meaningful connections is a critical aspect of small business success. And it’s the hallmark of Sage Small Business Solutions’ hands-on classes and workshops.

About Me.

I am a consultant. 

For much of my career, I worked as a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries.

Because of this, I have a vast array of experiences and skills to draw from, and a high degree of professionalism when it comes to serving my clients.

In some ways, I act as a personal trainer for small business owners - providing them with the support, encouragement and practical actions to whip their business into shape.

I am a Small Business Owner.

I have owned my own small businesses, and have assisted others with theirs. I have failed more times than I care to admit, but each failure has given me first-hand knowledge of what does and does not work. I choose to work with other small businesses because, having been there, I feel a duty to pass on what I've learned. 

The Logo.

The Sage Small Business Solutions' logo includes a rendition of Nyansapo or, ‘wisdom knot’ – a symbol of wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience.

This symbol conveys the idea that "a wise person has the capacity to choose the best means to attain a goal, and the ability to apply such faculties to practical ends."

Why I Love Small Businesses

I've spent most of my career working as a consultant. I started out over 10 years ago at one of the big 4 accounting and consulting firms. When I first started out, I worked almost exclusively with small to mid-sized, regional clients. Later on, my focus shifted mostly to large, multinational corporations.

After having experienced both ends of the spectrum, I can honestly say that I much prefer working with smaller companies for 2 key reasons:

1. When I work with a smaller company, both my client and I feel the impact of our work together more immediately and directly. In a larger company, decision-making is often distributed and overly bureaucratic. It can take months, or even years for a decision to implemented once it's made.

 

2 . Because there are fewer people and less organizational complexity in smaller organizations, the ‘story’ of the company is more likely to be intact.

What I mean by 'story' is that driving force, that original set of reasons that caused the company to come into being. It may be codified in the company's mission, vision, and values, but probably only partially. The real ‘story’ will be found with the leaders of the organization. Both those with leader titles, and those who are excelling as leaders within the organization, whether or not they have the title.

Most small business leaders are very passionate about something. For some, that passion is money. But for most, it's something much grander. Working with individuals who are fueled by a grand vision or a noble passion feels... good. It's a pleasure sharing my experience with an owner that's about the business of doing something meaningful, whether that's creating a little extra freedom for themselves, or just putting their talents to use.

So, as you can see, my reasons for loving small businesses so much are entirely selfish.

But it's ok. I can still look at myself in the mirror.