The firefighting cycle is common, but it’s also fixable. With the right systems, companies can move from reactive chaos to proactive, scalable execution.

Despite new tools, bigger budgets, and leadership pressure, many portfolio companies still miss growth targets because sales and marketing can’t get on the same page. Here’s why it happens — and how to fix it.

In portfolio companies, where the clock is ticking on growth, a toxic culture isn’t just an HR problem — it’s a deal-level risk.

For PE-backed firms, staying in a founder-led model too long is dangerous. It creates growth bottlenecks, hides process gaps, and drags down valuation. Here’s why it happens — and the playbook to move beyond it.

Most teams track too many numbers and not enough truth. The right KPIs tell you three things: are we winning, is it efficient, and will it last. Here is a simple playbook you can use across SaaS and Professional Services. I explain what each KPI means, why it matters, and what “good” looks like for each model. I also show my reasoning so you can tune the targets for your stage.

Customer acquisition cost (CAC) keeps creeping up. Paid channels feel more crowded. Sales cycles stretch. If you run a portfolio company, this can choke growth and burn cash. Here’s a simple field guide to spot the CAC trap—and get out fast.