Marc Daniels, founder of MLD Consulting and renowned strategic advisor, joins Eunicia Peret to break down the real reason most business plans fail: they never get executed. In this episode, Marc shares how he helps companies scale from $1M to $10M+ by building plans that don’t live in drawers, but show up every week in leadership conversations. With over 30 years of experience helping teams align, execute, and grow, Marc dives into his proven framework for high-performance planning, the red flags of bad advisory, and why his biggest mistake was firing fast when he should’ve coached. From metrics to mindset, this is a must-listen for business owners who are ready to turn strategy into results.

Key Takeaways:

Execution beats strategy every time: Even the best plans fail without follow-through

Track leading indicators, not just lagging ones: What drives your revenue is more important than the revenue itself

The weekly cadence is sacred: If you’re not meeting weekly to move strategy forward, your plan is dead

Advisors should grow with you: If they can’t see your future, they’re holding you back

Your CPA is not your tax strategist: You need proactive planning, not just reactive reporting

Every quarter needs a clear focus: 12-week projects aligned to core goals drive real momentum

Stay in your zone of genius: Marc’s candy startup failure reminded him that passion isn’t always enough

Leadership requires empathy: His biggest regret was firing a struggling employee instead of helping them grow

Timeline Summary:

[00:00:00] Introduction to Marc and his work with $1M–$10M companies

[00:02:00] Why most strategic plans fail to get implemented

[00:04:00] The power of 12-week projects and execution rhythms

[00:06:00] Tracking leading metrics to predict outcomes

[00:08:00] What to look for in a strategic advisor

[00:10:00] Misconceptions around CPAs and tax planning

[00:12:00] Building a roadmap with SWOT and market trends

[00:14:00] Common obstacles for scaling past $5M

[00:16:00] Marc’s candy business flop and key leadership lesson

[00:18:00] Coaching vs firing: what he’d do differently

[00:20:00] Encouragement for business owners feeling stuck

[00:22:00] Final takeaways and how to assess if you’re ready for 2026