How LAC’s Frameworks Drive Strategy, Operations, and Leadership

Strategic Leadership & ExecutionOperational Excellence & PerformanceStrategy & Organizational EffectivenessBusiness Growth & ScalingLAC Frameworks

Mar 4

Written By Lauren Carter

Learn about the LAC Way—our holistic approach to strategy, operational excellence, business transformation, and executive leadership. Discover how our proprietary frameworks empower sustainable growth and organizational effectiveness.

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Did you know that nearly half of all businesses fail within the first five years—not because of a lack of vision, but because they lack a clear, structured roadmap?

At Lauren Ashley Consulting (LAC), we believe that sustainable growth comes from understanding your business’s current stage, prioritizing the right objectives, and using proven frameworks to guide decision-making. In this post, we’ll introduce you to the LAC Business Ladder™, explain the seven strategic objectives of our Strategic Blueprint Playbook™, and show you how our VPSS™ Scorecard and CEO+ Effectiveness System work together to build a scalable business.

A Roadmap for Success

Imagine launching a business without a clear plan—like starting a journey without a map. Our framework helps you chart every step of your growth journey. By breaking your business into six distinct stages, we help you identify where you are, what challenges you face, and which actions will best move you forward. Please note we’re presenting the Business Ladder framework in a simplified version of the model. Real-world business growth is often more complex and multifaceted, influenced by industry-specific factors and unique business dynamics. Our framework provides a clear, accessible version for a broad audience, while we offer more in-depth, customized analyses tailored to each client's specific needs.

Each stage requires a unique focus:

Ideator

Validate your product and determine market viability. At this stage, you’re setting the foundation by testing your idea and understanding your potential customers. For instance, research from CB Insights reveals that in today’s market, 42% of startups fail due to a lack of market need, underscoring the critical importance of rigorous market validation early on. This highlights not just the crucial nature of the Ideator stage, but the need to be intentional in getting it right rather than speeding through it quickly; you need to be in the Ideator stage as long as it takes to get that insight.

Builder

Strengthen your brand and build visibility. Now that your idea is proven, you begin generating early revenue and establishing a market presence. A great example for this stage is Warby Parker. The eyewear company disrupted the traditional retail model with its direct-to-consumer approach and innovative "Home Try-On" program, which allowed customers to try five frames at home for free before purchasing. This creative strategy built trust with customers, generated early revenue, and established a strong market presence by emphasizing affordability, style, and convenience. We explore the Warby Parker case further in our eBook, Thriving in Competitive Markets.

Stabilizer

Optimize operations and solidify your processes. With predictable revenue, it’s time to create systems that ensure efficiency and consistency. In healthcare, organizations like FIT Healthcare have optimized patient care and financial performance through robust operational strategies.

Scaler

Expand into new markets and diversify revenue streams. Growth demands that you balance new opportunities with operational sustainability. Leaders in manufacturing are forecasting revenue increases. Strategic scaling here means balancing growth with operational stability. To further show the opportunities with this stage, nearly three-quarters (74%) of middle market business leaders are forecasting revenue increases for 2025. These leaders are challenged by rising input costs (77%), showcasing it can be a challenging time.

Transformer

Innovate and evolve your business model to stay ahead of market trends. As you mature, continuous innovation becomes key. Firms like SADA have successfully evolved by staying on top of cloud technologies and security trends.

Evolver

Focus on legacy and long-term sustainability. The final stage of the LAC Business Ladder focuses on legacy and long-term sustainability. It is about ensuring that your business thrives beyond your direct involvement, through strong leadership and succession planning. At this stage, owners decide whether to sell, expand, add new verticals, or divest. The goal is to maximize business value and ensure a smooth transition by preparing strategically, executing decisively, and managing the transition effectively.

A notable example of a company excelling in this stage is General Electric (GE) under Jack Welch's leadership. GE established a robust succession planning model that became an industry benchmark. Welch prioritized identifying high-potential leaders early, providing them with cross-functional exposure, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities. This approach ensured a seamless transition when new leaders assumed key roles. Consider this, in Jack Welch's last 5 years as CEO, GE's average shareholder return was 28%.

The Seven Strategic Objectives: Your Checklist for Growth

“Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.”

— John Doerr

Across every stage of the Business Ladder, we’ve identified seven strategic objectives that you must balance in your Strategic Blueprint to drive sustainable growth. These objectives are not isolated—they interact with each other and shift in priority as you move from one stage to the next.

Product (Creation, Refinement, and Innovation)

In the Ideator stage, perfecting your product or service is critical. You must continually refine your offering until you achieve product–market fit. As you move forward, innovation remains essential to keep your offering competitive.

Marketing (Visibility & Brand Awareness):

In the Builder phase, investing in a strong marketing strategy is essential to attract customers. Later, consistent messaging and evolving marketing tactics keep your brand relevant. For example, successful IT consultancies have demonstrated that well-planned marketing initiatives lead to better customer acquisition rates and revenue growth.

Financial Health & Wellness

Your financial metrics evolve as your business matures. Early focus should be on revenue generation; as your business scales, shifting to profit maximization is key. A recent survey found that 60% of leaders are optimistic about their industry’s performance, yet only a strategic focus on profitability can sustain long-term growth

Operational Excellence

Efficient, scalable systems are the backbone of growth. Whether you’re establishing your first processes or streamlining an expanding operation, operational excellence drives consistency and quality. Companies that establish clear operational protocols see improved customer retention and cost savings, critical for scaling successfully.

Team Growth & Development

The people behind your business are critical. From assembling a talented team in the Ideator and Builder stages to nurturing leadership in later stages, investing in your team is non-negotiable. As noted by industry experts and witnessed in our engagements, a high-performing team is often the difference between scaling smoothly and operational chaos.

Customer Experience & Retention

Satisfied customers are the lifeblood of any successful business. Early on, focus on acquiring customers as it’s important for revenue generation; as you grow, retaining them through excellent service and support becomes paramount. Because retaining them is what drives long-term success. Data shows that customer retention is a significant factor in profitability, especially as businesses mature.

Founder/CEO Effectiveness

Your leadership drives the entire process. As your business scales, your role must evolve from hands-on operations to strategic oversight. Enhancing your leadership capabilities ensures that you can effectively guide your team and manage change. It ensures the business remains agile and responsive. Studies consistently show that poor leadership is a primary cause of business failures.

“Without strategy, execution is aimless. Without execution, strategy is useless.”

— Morris Chang

Each objective is interwoven with the others. For example, a mismatch between your marketing spend and your operational capacity can result in wasted resources—much like a business that overinvests in brand awareness before proving its product fit. That’s why it’s critical to align these objectives based on your current stage.

Integrating the Frameworks: VPSS™ and CEO+ Effectiveness

To bring additional structure, clarity of purpose, and measurable insights to your growth journey, we use two proprietary tools:

The VPSS™ Scorecard

The VPSS™ Scorecard is designed to evaluate four key dimensions:

Viability

Is there sufficient market demand for your product? Do you offer value to that market that is readily identifiable by the consumer?

Profitability

Are you generating sustainable revenue?

Scalability

Can your operations support rapid growth?

Sustainability

Will your business model endure market shifts and leadership transitions?

Think of the scorecard as your system check before every takeoff—it identifies strengths and areas that need attention so you can adjust your strategy accordingly.

CEO+ Effectiveness System

No matter which stage you’re in, the effectiveness of your leadership is the single most important factor. The CEO+ Effectiveness System helps you shift from being an operator to a strategic leader. It focuses on:

Streamlining decision-making processes,
Optimizing your time and energy,
Building and mentoring a high-performing team,
Ensuring you can maintain control as your business grows, and
Adapting to market changes swiftly.

Together, these frameworks work in tandem. While the VPSS™ Scorecard provides quantifiable measures of business readiness at each stage, the CEO+ Effectiveness System ensures that you, as the leader, are prepared to drive and sustain that growth and equipped to guide your business through complex challenges.

“Strategy is simply resource allocation. When you strip away all the noise, that’s what it comes down to. Strategy means making clear cut choices about how to compete. You cannot be everything to everybody, no matter what the size of your business or how deep its pockets.”

— Jack Welch

The Cost of Mismatched Priorities

Many businesses fall into traps that hinder growth due to misaligned priorities and a lack of clear strategy. Consider these pitfalls:

Premature Brand Investment

When a business in the Ideator stage spends heavily on marketing before validating its product, it diverts resources away from critical testing and feedback processes. Many early-stage technology firms have suffered by focusing on brand visibility rather than perfecting their product.

Scaling Without Systems

Expanding too quickly—without first establishing efficient operations—can lead to chaos. Many companies find that rapid expansion without process refinement results in lost revenue, customer dissatisfaction, and employee frustration or disengagement—a challenge observed in both manufacturing and professional services..

Stagnant Leadership

At every stage, failing to evolve your leadership style can stall growth. Companies that do not invest in leadership development often struggle to innovate and adapt or retain top talent, which in the long run improves profitability. For example, companies that do not transition from founder-led to professional management often miss out on strategic opportunities, innovation, higher performance, and productivity.

Our experience shows that companies that don’t align these priorities not only risk operational breakdowns but also miss out on long-term strategic opportunities. The right consultant can help you avoid these pitfalls by providing expert guidance tailored to your unique stage and needs. When you do work with the right consultant, you are far more likely to achieve long-term success.

Why Expert Guidance Matters

Expert consultants, like LAC, bring a wealth of knowledge, real-world case studies, and structured methodologies that significantly enhance your chances of success. We help you:

Identify Your Stage Accurately
With detailed assessments and market benchmarks, you know exactly where your business stands.

Align Strategic Objectives with Actionable Initiatives
Help you balance product development, marketing, and operational efficiency based on your current needs.

Implement Proven Frameworks
Our systems provide clear, quantifiable metrics and leadership guidance. Research shows that companies using structured frameworks reduce misallocation of resources and improve profitability.

Without expert guidance, businesses often invest in the wrong areas, leading to misallocated resources, inefficient operations, and missed growth opportunities. AchieveIt found that only 10% of well-formulated plans are ever successfully implemented. Our approach not only provides a clear roadmap but also gives you the tools and support needed to adapt quickly to changes in your business and the market.

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

Next Steps: Your Path Forward

Businesses that take a leap into the unknown and go after the impossible do so with a plan. They know exactly what they are trying to accomplish and are hyperfocused on taking the right steps to get them there according to Forbes.

Now that you understand the LAC Business Ladder and how the seven strategic objectives of our Strategic Blueprint Playbook, VPSS™ Scorecard, and CEO+ Effectiveness System interconnect to drive growth, here are three immediate steps you can take:

Determine Your Stage: Take our LAC Business Ladder Assessment to find out where your business stands and uncover critical insights into your current performance.
Access Our Resource Library: Sign up now to gain exclusive access to essential guides and templates—from the Business Model Canvas Workbook to our DIY Operational Bottleneck Playbook—that support every stage of your growth. Access our Resource Library.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a call with our experts to learn how we can tailor our frameworks and fractional services (such as our CoS or COO support) to address your specific needs and accelerate your business growth.

Your business deserves a clear, actionable roadmap to sustainable growth. Let’s work together to build a legacy that endures.

Lauren Carter, founder of Lauren Ashley Consulting, drives business transformation through strategic and operational excellence. She has partnered with high-growth firms, elite athletes, and global organizations to enhance growth, performance, and profitability. LAC’s clients and the organizations we have worked with or alongside include the Sodexo, USPS, NerdWallet, NBA, NFL, United Nations, World Economic Forum, IMF, HubSpot, Zipcar, IronMan, Chegg, and more.

Explore our services: laconsulting.co/services | Follow LAC Founder, Lauren Carter, on LinkedIn for insights on leadership and strategy.