Four Things to Celebrate Four Years
Happy Fourth Birthday, FlexPoint! 🎉
This month marks four years since starting FlexPoint Consulting. It’s been an incredible ride, full of growth, successes, challenges, and lots of learning. We’re deeply thankful to our clients and team for being part of it and believing in what we’re building.
In honor of the milestone, our team shared a series of “4 things...” thoughts throughout the month of July.
Four Things I’ve Learned
First up: our founder and CEO, Michael Daehne shared four lessons he’s learned as a founder and business owner in these four years.
1. Building something new is energizing.
Even on the hard days, I feel deeply motivated by our vision to build a better consulting firm. Running a small business means we’re not stuck in legacy operating models and ways of working—we get to experiment, innovate, and move fast. That creative freedom is priceless.
2. Being a small business owner means wearing every hat.
“CEO” often means Chief Everything Officer. I’ve learned how to be a Microsoft 365 Admin (why do employees always get locked out of MFA when I’m on vacation? 😀), how to ensure our systems and data are secure from the bad guys, how to make sure our HR processes comply with employment law—and even how to build a lightweight data warehouse to improve our financial reporting. Every founder I know has stories like this. Respect to all the bootstrappers out there making it happen!
3. Storytelling is as important as delivery.
I never saw myself as a “sales” or “marketing” person—I believed great work speaks for itself. But I’ve learned that clearly articulating what we do, how we do it, and why we’re different is just as important as delivering great outcomes. Brand clarity, focused messaging, and go-to-market discipline matter more than I ever expected.
4. You have to evolve to stay relevant.
The consulting model we envisioned 4 years ago is still right in principle—but client needs, technology, and delivery expectations have shifted dramatically. One of the most important parts of my job is finding the balance between solving the immediate problems in front of us (“GSD” as we say) and carving out time to imagine what FlexPoint needs to become to support where our clients are going next. That tension between execution today and evolution for tomorrow is real…but I’m getting better and better at finding the right balance.
These past four years have been a mix of fulfillment and challenge, with plenty of lessons along the way. I’m proud of what we’ve built—and even more energized for the road ahead.
Here’s to the next four!
Four Things I’m Celebrating (That Aren’t on a Spreadsheet)
Next: Kim Ehrman shared four things she’s celebrating right now.
I love spreadsheets. I love organizing information, making it make sense, pulling out key insights. And yet, not everything is quantifiable, organizable (is that a word?), and concrete.
In honor of our fourth anniversary, here are four things I’m celebrating that don’t fit easily on a spreadsheet.
1. Teammates who are willing to “take out the trash” with a smile
We do interesting, challenging work with our clients. On any given day, we’re applying hard-won expertise to new business challenges.
And… there are less glamorous aspects of our work. We fondly call these things “taking out the trash” – they need to get done, but they’re not the glamorous part of the job.
I’m grateful for teammates who are willing to tackle these items with as much care, good nature, and thoughtfulness as the parts of the work that are more exciting.
2. Clients who trust us, even when we’re in the messy middle
There are a million decisions, actions, tradeoffs, etc. in the hard work of business transformation. The “right” answer in any given situation depends greatly on quickly changing conditions. And yet, FlexPoint clients trust our advice and work with us on creating the best path forward.
We don’t take that for granted. Earning the confidence of our clients to act as partners in that messy middle means the world to us, and it’s worth celebrating.
3. Using our adaptability for tangible benefit
As a small team, we have defined processes, structures, and cadences – and we have the ability to adapt them fairly quickly in response to changing circumstances, new information, etc.
Simple example: we shifted from weekly team meetings on Tuesdays to monthly meetings on Fridays after we realized that the mid-week meetings were under greater pressure to be rescheduled around client commitments than we liked.
Then, when we realized our first Friday team meetings sometimes occurred before we’d closed the books, we changed to the second Friday of the month so we had the latest information to discuss together!
Seems like a little thing, but being able to incrementally improve without a lot of overhead means that we have more capacity to tackle other challenges for and with our clients.
4. Our network of scrappy entrepreneurs and consulting firms supporting each other
One thing I did not predict coming from a bigger consulting firm was how generous the network of smaller firms is. We have people we call for specific expertise, to pressure test a new idea, to partner on projects, etc. I’ve met with people who just ask, “how can I help you in this season?” So great!
No, this delightful surprise doesn’t fit very well in my spreadsheet view of the world. 😀 But it’s brought plenty of moments of light to the last four years.
Four Things That Help When You’re in the Thick of It
Next: Liz Pryor shares four things that help when you’re deep in the trenches of a tough project.
In honor of our fourth birthday, we’re compiling several "four things..." reflections. Here are four things to keep in mind when you're deep in the trenches of a tough project:
1. Solve the problem in front of you.
It’s easy for tough moments to spiral into “whose fault is this?” But blame rarely fixes anything. Focus on the fix first.
Once things are stable, then circle back to root cause.
2. Prioritize what you can control.
You can’t control how others react, but you can control your contributions and your mindset. Do your part - and then look for opportunities to lift others up.
3. Keep the end in mind.
When the details start to overwhelm, zoom out. Reconnecting with the big picture can help reframe the chaos and bring clarity to the work.
4. Take a deep breath.
Seriously.
Move your body. Even a short walk can do wonders. When your day feels like an endless sprint of to-do’s and back-to-backs, stepping away—even briefly—can help reset your energy and focus.
Here’s to another year of solving hard problems, supporting each other, and growing together!
Four Things that Share our Approach to Consulting
Next: Brian Mulligan shares four things that shape our approach to consulting.
As we celebrate four years of FlexPoint Consulting, we’re grateful for the clients, teams, and partners who’ve embraced the journey alongside us. In the spirit of "all things four”, here are the four guiding principles that drive our approach to doing business:
1. We empower & equip your team.
We believe success isn’t measured by how much time we stay with you, but by how capable you become. We co-create a vision and teach you to “fish,” so you’re never dependent on consultants long-term.
2. We actually get to know you.
Your business has its own story. We take time to understand your needs—then craft frameworks, tools, and deliverables uniquely suited to you. One size doesn’t fit all.
3. We prioritize the “people stuff.”
Big transformations fail because they overlook the human side. That’s why we emphasize change management, agile coaching, and experience design—before, during, and after implementation.
4. We strive to create lasting value.
Whether through outcomes-based agreements or transferable assets like playbooks and templates, our goal is to leave an impact long after our engagement ends.
Whether you're facing a transformation, planning for growth, or simply rethinking how work gets done — we’re here to help.
Four Things that Make a Team Worth Joining
Finally: Steven McPhee shares four things that make a team worth joining.
Almost a year ago, I made a career decision that had nothing to do with a bigger title or a better paycheck. It was about finding the right team. I wasn’t looking for a job. I wanted to join a team I could trust, grow with professionally, and genuinely enjoy along the way.
Most importantly, I wanted an environment in which I would be encouraged to creatively push the boundaries of what is possible in today's enterprise environment. I found exactly that at FlexPoint Consulting.
To celebrate FlexPoint's 4-year anniversary, here are four things that make a team worth joining.
1. Relentless Curiosity
I thrive around people who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. At FlexPoint, curiosity is foundational, not just a nice-to-have. Conversations regularly explore fresh ideas, emerging tools, and innovative technologies. Being surrounded by colleagues who consistently ask thoughtful questions inspires us all to stay sharp and keep exploring the cutting edge.
2. Strategic Adaptability
Life and business never stand still. What sets FlexPoint apart is the team’s ability to adapt intelligently and confidently. Instead of being unsettled by uncertainty, we build adaptability into our processes and mindset. This gives us the freedom to confidently explore new strategies and innovative technologies, knowing our team can adjust and support bold moves.
3. Authentic Accountability
Real accountability means honesty without friction. At FlexPoint, our culture blends intellectual exploration with consistent delivery of tangible results. Every new idea or challenge we take on is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact. I appreciate the freedom to experiment with ambitious ideas, knowing my team will offer clear, supportive feedback every step of the way. This genuine accountability motivates us to innovate, deliver real results, and continuously improve.
4. Humor as a KPI
Doing meaningful work should be enjoyable. At FlexPoint, humor isn’t a distraction; it’s part of our fabric. We laugh together, share inside jokes, and genuinely enjoy the journey. This positive atmosphere fuels creativity and makes ambitious goals feel attainable. It’s much easier to explore innovative concepts and technologies when you’re smiling alongside people you genuinely enjoy.
If you’re looking to navigate your business challenges alongside a team that’s driven by curiosity, adaptability, and genuine collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. Because having the right team by your side matters.