About Closing Strong Coaching

I work exclusively with owners and CEOs of privately held companies to help them use purpose to make great decisions so they will have more fun and make more money.

I've spent four decades helping multiple entrepreneurs use these same principles to take their businesses to the next level. I've created and developed executive teams, overseen acquisitions and divestitures, introduced new products, cultivated high customer engagement, grown sales, improved profits, blah blah blah. It is really not about me because I am not going to fix your problems. I'm going to help you fix them for yourself. But I want to assure that I've been there.

The most important thing for you is I have the ability to relate to where you are and are coming from. I can make a leader's walk less lonely.

Here are the tenets to my process.

"Stop The Bleeding." If you are seeking assistance then you no doubt have at least one issue of significance. Whether economic, personnel, lack of alignment, building a leadership team, or choosing a successor, the first step is to deal with this issue so we have a clear path to move forward.

Inventory Your Strengths (and Weaknesses). I'm speaking of both you personally and your business. A third-party will assist in this process to avoid legacy and assumptions that may not be valid (or may have never been true). An honest assessment lets you know what you have to work with - just what is needed for a practical (spelled accomplishable) path forward.

Listen to Your Customers. Find ways to get their opinions. Dig for engagement, not just happiness. Promote dialogue, not answers. Your customers know (1) why they choose to buy from you, (2) why they don't choose to buy other things from you, and (3) what they need that you have not offered. Hint: You cannot get this information from your sales team.

Create What They Will Buy (And Fulfill it With What You Do). This changes your customer's perception of you from a provider to a problem solver. You target their current needs, not a "canned solution." Changes can be as simple as timing, packaging, services, training, including other vendor products - anything to make your offering more convenient and easier for your customer.

Exercise Your Relationships. Your core strength should be the relationships you have formed with your employees, customers, financiers, partners, owners, and other stakeholders. Such relationships are a deep well of experienced and loyal advice, instruction, and perspective.

I call this CLOSING STRONG. Moving toward the end you seek with the same vigor and authenticity as when you started.

Let's talk.

Keith

“The best guide for any journey is one who has made the journey him-or herself
— perhaps multiple times
— and thus knows something about the terrain,
the climate, the beauties, dangers and challenges present at each point along the way.”

- Ruth Haley Barton 

WANT TO JOIN YOUR PEERS IN SOLVING A FEW PROBLEMS?

Schedule an Interview for the Solopreneur and Sole Proprietor Roundtable

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Nooshin Yahzari

Optimum CS: Owner

Keith is one of the most knowledgeable, practical, intelligent, and passionate business coaches I’ve ever worked with. His diverse experience and wealth of knowledge in leadership, technology, culture development, financial management, and business operation is unique and his dedication to his clients is unmatched. I’ve learned so much from Keith and will continue to engage him as an advisor and couch for our business in the coming years.

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Darrell Haun

Solarcraft, Inc.: CEO

One thing I wish I had figured out a long time ago was the value of having a coach. Like him or no, Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks in football history, has a coach. I currently utilize about four coaches and one of the best I’ve seen is Keith Okano.
Keith and I have been working together for about six months. He has a way of asking great questions that get my mind thinking in the right direction which then leads to me asking him great questions. He is not afraid to tell me when he disagrees with what I’m doing – which is what I need.
I am proud to recommend Keith as a business coach. Let him inspire you the way he has me.

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Lisa Anhaiser

LBL Event Rentals: Owner

Some people look at coaching as a luxury but I truly believe it is a necessity for the Owners of businesses of any size. As owners, it is easy to get in your own head and lose focus of goals. Keith has helped get my financials dashboard in order, understand the worth of my business and my value in the business equation. I am taking the steps to become an owner instead of being an operator.
As a small business, I rely on my mentor as a sounding board. Insight from an outside party helps give, ideas as well as problems, perspective, create solutions and define goals. The value of a good Mentor/Coach goes beyond the initial monetary cost and translates directly to the bottom line.

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Dan Williams

Mosaic Consulting: Owner

“I began consulting with Keith when I was at a critical phase in my leadership role. I spent so much of my time working on client projects that I was not giving my position as company President the attention it needed. When I reached out to Keith I was struck by his desire to understand and absorb everything about my company that he could. With that clarity, he provided insight and ideas that I would have missed on my own. As a result, I made some tough (but good) choices for the business, and have taken important steps to be a strategic leader with a vision for better management and growth. He's a great resource when external wisdom is needed. You'd be smart to work with him.”

Chris Denny

Lead Optimize, LLC: Owner

“Keith drives confidence and action. His combination of experience-based advice and mastery of developing financial and strategic models to drive business decisions and action are specifically what helped me most. Keith helped boost my confidence in making the right decisions to take my business to the next stage of growth. Any small or medium business owner or leader should give him a call. I'm so glad I met him.”

Debbie Elder

Shady Oak Primary School: Owner and Director

"Keith Okano is a true business person's coach. If you are interested in taking your business to the next level, it is time to invest in yourself and hire Keith! His strategies and methodologies are uniquely designed for you and tailored to meet your specific growth plan. As the facilitator of Silver Fox CEO Roundtable discussions Keith allows the meetings to flow and gently keeps us on track and incredibly productive. Do yourself a favor and contact Keith now to see how he can serve your needs."