What if You Could Beat the Odds and Successfully Launch Your Very Own New Venture?
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YES - you CAN successfully launch your new venture, even in these challenging times, whether it's a for-profit service or manufacturing business, or a cause- or faith-based not-for-profit!
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Do you dream of the independence and freedom that launching your own new venture will bring ?
Well, guess what - you're far from alone. In fact, 55% of all Americans believe they can start their own business (the figure world-wide is likely higher), over 89% of business owners founded the business to begin with (and interestingly, only 9% of all new venture founders have a business degree).
That's the good news. There's some bad news, too:
Very few new ventures succeed - as in, scary few.
Most reported figures (from, e.g., the IRS) show that around two-thirds (66%) of all new ventures fail within three years.
From my early years as both a serial entrepreneur myself, and from my days (long ago) as a CPA, I know from first-hand experience that many new ventures fail before they have even filed documents with any reporting agencies.
The true failure rate of new ventures is closer to 80% - and even that’s an average.
During and immediately after economic downturns such as the one we're now facing, failure rates spike even higher because so many people start new businesses during such times simply because they feel they have no other option.
As at the time of writing, it’s likely that we’ll see a new venture failure rate of around 90% for the next year or so.
And yet...
and yet...
...that inner need - that compulsion to do your thing on your terms means that you still want to 'take the leap' - even in the face of odds that would cause another person to fold their tent and walk away.
How can you 'take the leap', and beat those crushing odds?
Take it from someone who knows - it is still possible to beat those seemingly insuperable odds and realize your dream by successfully launching your new venture - even in truly difficult times like this.
Over decades, first as a serial entrepreneur and then as a coaching, guide and consultant to hundreds of founder/owners just like you, I've realized that there are just 4 key barriers to overcome in order to successfully launch any new venture in any economic climate.
In a moment, I'm going to share with you exactly what those four barriers are, and how to overcome them - but first, let me answer the first question that I know you're asking yourself: "Who is this guy, and why should I listen to him?"
Hi. My name is Les McKeown. I know how to successfully launch new ventures - and how to help others do the same.
Anyone who knows my story or is familiar with what I do will know that I’m steeped in entrepreneurship.
I’ve been involved in launching new ventures all my life:
I love entrepreneurship, and adore working with entrepreneurs. I admire anyone who takes the brave decision to step out from a place of relative security and risk everything to ‘do their own’ thing.
Les McKeown is a successful serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Predictable Success
However, I have also had the dubious ‘pleasure’ of working through seven severe economic downturns, on both sides of the Atlantic - formerly in the UK, and for the last 20 years here in the USA. And one of the recurrently distressing side-effects of such downturns is a ‘boom’ in new ventures being launched - the vast majority of them, sadly, unsuccessfully.
The reason for this isn’t difficult to work out - many people launch new ventures in a downturn because they feel they have little other option, and by the very nature of things, it’s just plain harder to succeed in the teeth of an economic headwind.
There are also a small percentage of people like you who, on the other hand, have the resilience, grit and perseverence to launch a new venture in difficult times and succeed - sometimes beyond their expectations.
It’s been my life's work to help people just like you beat those depressing failure rates and become successful entrepreneurs.
Now, at last, I've condensed everything I know about launching a successful new venture into a complete, 3-module course that guides you every step of the way - not just through launch, but beyond, to building your legacy and reaping the rewards you've dreamed of.
Les McKeown is the Founder and CEO of Predictable Success.
Les first began to recognize recurring growth patterns early in his career as a serial entrepreneur. In addition to being involved in the launch of more than 40 companies before he was 35, he was at the same time a founding elder in a fast-growing church, while serving on the board of a number of charities and not-for-profits.
Les used the experience he gained during that time to co-found one of the first business incubators in the world, which he and his then business partner developed over a decade into a multi-national consulting company that advised on the creation and growth of hundreds of organizations worldwide.
Struck by the similarity of issues faced by all growing organizations, Les began to codify his understanding of the repeating patterns of growth, publishing his Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller "Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization On the Growth Track - and Keeping It There" in 2010, followed in 2012 by "The Synergist: How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success". His latest books are "Do Lead: Share your vision. Inspire others. Achieve the impossible" and "Do Scale: A Roadmap to Building a Remarkable Company"
Les is a trusted advisor to fast-growth businesses and thriving not-for-profits as well as Fortune 500 companies and a number of the largest government agencies in the world.
The 4 hidden barriers that keep most people from successfully launching their own new venture
Since spending 15 years 'in the trenches' launching my own new ventures (and learning from my two failures, as well as those that thrived), I've advised and coached literally hundreds of founders ever since, and in that time, I've recognized four recurring reasons the failure rate is so high.
I call them the '4 Hidden Barriers':
1. Most people only do this once
Once you decide to launch your own new venture, you automatically join an elite group - in 2019, just 4.6% of the population of the US were designated as 'full time self-employed'*, with the percentage in Canada and the UK even lower.
Of that already small group only a tiny minority - a small fraction of 1% of the population - have launched more than one venture,
In other words, understandably: most people who launch new ventures only get to do it one time. Which means, in turn, launching your new venture has a binary outcome: it's a pass / fail test. There's no in-between, and for most everyone, there's no second chance.
Now let me ask you this: If you decided to say, learn to fly an airplane, would you choose as your instructor someone who'd never actually flown an airplane themselves? Or if you chose to climb Mt Everest, would you choose as a sherpa someone who had never climbed that (or any mountain) before?
Of course you wouldn't. In both cases you'd seek out an experienced individual and seek to learn all you could from them, in order to optimize your chances of success.
Now, I've never tried to climb Mt Everest, but I have tried to learn to fly, and I can tell you in no uncertain terms that launching a new venture is more complicated, more challenging and considerably more exhausting.
* Freshbooks survey,s 2020.
2. Most people have (too much) information, but no roadmap
The second biggest barrier most people face in successfully launching a new venture is that they don't have a clear roadmap.
Sure, they might pull together some sort of a business plan (if only to take to the bank or to sponsors in order to get funded). And a couple of hours on the internet will cough up an overwhelming assortment of startup checklists and a seemingly infinite number of blank templates for various legal documents, filing regulations, marketing plans and the like.
The result, for 99.9% of the people who launch new ventures is rather like starting out on a journey grasping a clutch of those tourist information pamphlets you see in hotel lobbies. Each one is a perfectly fine 'slug' of information in its own right, but taken together, they don't compare to a clear map with turn by turn instructions to your destination.
3. Most people don't know what the single, 'make-or-break' goal is (or how to get there)
Here's the dirty little secret of successfully launching new ventures that they never tell you (in fact, 'they' tell you the precise opposite):
The only valid strategy for a startup is to STOP BEING ONE.
Here's why: From the very moment your new venture comes in to being, the starter's flag comes down on a race against time. It's a short, brutal race for survival.
Put simply, from the moment you launch your new venture, you have one simple, singular, all-engulfing goal: get viable as soon as you possibly can.
(By the way, this applies whether or not your new venture is a for-profit, or a not-for-profit - either way, if you don't get quickly to the point where you can pay the bills, your new venture will die.)
This particular barrier is one of the main reasons the mortality rate of new ventures is so high - in the last few decades the 'cult of the startup' has been so hyped that many founder/owners view being a startup as a badge of pride, when in fact it's like standing unarmed in a lion's den - your only goal should be to get out of there as quickly as possible!
4. Even if they do survive, most people barely eke out a living
We've already seen how the percentage of new ventures that survive is scarily small - regularly less than 20%, and almost certainly much less than that during this current economic crisis.
Here's an even more head-snapping statistic: of that small percentage who succeed, less than one-third ever employ anyone other than the original founder.
And in the vast majority of cases the founder ends up earning less than they would if they were employed by someone else!
To be blunt...
If you're thinking of launching your own new venture (or you've recently done so), statistically, the odds are very, very stacked against you - at worst, you'll end up as part of the 80% that don't make it, and at best you'll end up working harder than you've ever done before, for less return than you could earn if you stayed in employment.
My new course is your answer to beating those odds.
Presenting...
The Launch blueprints
A 3-part LIVE course taught online by me, Les McKeown, over 3 days (Wed 30th Sep. 2020 through Fri 2nd Oct. 2020), then available on-demand, online
As well as being a seasoned serial entrepreneur with over 40 launches personally and as the co-founder of a world-wide incubation company, I've advised, coached and tight literally thousands of people how to successfully launch ANY new venture - whether a for-profit service or manufacturing business, or a faith- or cause-based charity, foundation or NGO.
Now for the first time, I've put absolutely everything I know about how to successfully launch any new venture into one fully comprehensive, immediately implementable online course - specifically designed to accelerate you past all 4 of the hidden barriers to success!
The Launch blueprints
What You'll Achieve Through Enrolling In This Course
The course comprises 3 separate modules ('Blueprints'), each designed to ensure to achieve a specific, vital goal:
Blueprint 1
Launch with confidence
First the bad news: More than 80% of all new ventures fail within the first three years. That means a tiny minority - less than 1 in 5 - make it to viability.
Launch Blueprint 1 is designed with one goal in mind - to ensure that you and your new venture have the roadmap to ensure you're in that crucially successful 20%.
Blueprint 2
Get Viable!
Once launched, you have only one compelling imperative - get viable as soon as possible. If you don't, you will eventually run out of resources and your new venture will die.
Launch Blueprint 2 shows you the exact route to viability and how to get there as soon as possible, whether you're a for-profit or a not-for-profit.
Blueprint 3
Don't Just Survive - Thrive
More than 80% of all successful new ventures never employ anyone beyond the original founder - and most founders earn less than an average salaried employee.
Launch Blueprint 3 ensures your new venture doesn't just barely survive - but thrives and grows beyond your expectations.
Michael Port
It's difficult to predict success. Failure is far easier to predict because it's where most people end up. But if you want predictable success, then this is for you. And you might find that Les' formula for predicting success is not what you think.
Limited Seats Available - Enroll now and secure your seat!
The Launch blueprints
Full Contents and schedule
Why this Blueprint is important:
First the bad news: More than 80% of all new ventures fail within the first three years. That means a tiny minority - less than 1 in 5 - make it to viability.
Now for the good news: The Predictable Success Launch With Confidence Blueprint is a time-tested, proven route to successfully launching your new venture. It was created and developed personally by our Founder & CEO, Les McKeown, who as a serial entrepreneur himself helped launch over 40 new ventures.
By following the Predictable Success Launch With Confidence Blueprint you will substantially increase the likelihood of your new venture being in that crucially successful 20%.
What's included in this Blueprint:
Click on any module to view individual lessons:
- Discover Your Personal 'Launch DNA'
- How to Interpret Your Launch DNA Results
- Understanding the Predictable Success Lifecycle
- What the 'Rule of 3' is, and How it Will Impact Your Launch
- Building Your Launch Timeline
- How to Know You're Ready
- How to Know It's the Right Time
- Build Your Launch Checklist
- Anticipating (and Avoiding) the 3 Most Common Launch Errors
- Launch! (What to do When it's 'Go Time')
- What you Can Expect in the First Year After You Launch
- How to Create and Interpret the Only Financial Document You Will Need in Year 1
- Your Next Goal Now You Have Launched
Why this Blueprint is important:
Once you have successfully launched your new venture, we have already seen that you have one compelling imperative - reach viability as soon as possible.
Why? Because if you don't, you will eventually run out of resources and your new venture will die. As our Founder and CEO, Les McKeown puts it,
"There's only one valid strategy for a startup - and that's to stop being one."
You can reach that crucial point of viability as soon as possible - and achieve it in a sustainable manner, by following the Predictable Success Viability Blueprint.
What's included in this Blueprint:
Click on any module to view individual lessons:
- Why the Only Successful Strategy for any Startup is to Stop Being One
- Why the Failure Rate in New Ventures is Greater than 80% - and what that means for your New Venture
- The Beguiling Distractions from Viability and How to Avoid Them
- The 3 Immutable Tenets of Viability
- How to Set Viability Metrics for a For-Profit New Venture
- How to Set Viability Metrics for a Not-For-Profit New Venture
- Road-testing Your Viability Metrics for Attainability
- Step 1: Develop a Persistent Focus on Overall Viability
- Step 2: Focus Ruthlessly on the 'Next Needed Goal'
- Step 3: Undertake Daily, Weekly and Monthly Viability Reviews
- What Short-Lived Viability Looks Like and why it is so Dangerous
- Understanding the Artisan Trap
- How to Break Through the Artisan Trap
- Moving from Early Struggle into 'Fun'
- Understanding the 3 sub-stages in each Stage of the Predictable Success Lifecycle
- The Crucial Difference between 'Late Early Struggle' and 'Early Fun'
- Avoiding the Gravitational Pull Back into Early Struggle
- Optimizing Your Time in Early Fun
Why this Blueprint is important:
Of the less-than-20% of new ventures that make it through the first three years, less than 20% of those thrive in any meaningful way. in other words, fewer than 4% of all new ventures end up sustaining more than just the original founder.
Put it another way - more than 80% of all the for-profit and not-for-profit organizations out there don't have any employees. 94% have less than $1m in revenues, and of those, most provide the original founder with less return than the average salaried employee.
If this sounds like a lot of hard work for very little return, you're right. The truth is that most for-profit founder/owners would have been better off financially had they not launched their new venture. And if your new venture is cause- or faith-based, how much can you make the change you believe in if you never have enough resources to make a real difference?
The good news is that you can use the Predictable Success Thrive Blueprint to ensure that your new venture is built to scale right from the outset.
What's included in this Blueprint:
Click on any module to view individual lessons:
- The Key Distinction Between a Hobby, a 'Jobby' and a True Business or Venture
- The Key Differences Between 'Early Fun' and 'Late Early Struggle'
- Making the Transition From 'Early Fun' to 'Middle Fun'
- Understanding What Matters for You
- Using Prioritization to Optimize Your Path to Thriving
- Designing Your Thrive Dashboard
- Understanding and Overcoming Change Immunity
- Understanding and Overcoming the Trap of Sunk Costs
- Understanding and Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome
- Understanding and Overcoming Learned Helplessness
- Focus on the Market, not the Customer
- Focus on Profitability, not the Top Line
- Focus on your Team, not on the Individuals
- Building Your Growth Accountability Framework
- Understanding the Predictable Success Lifecycle
- Understanding the Role and Impact of Growing Complexity
- Is it Possible to Avoid Whitewater?
- Your next Key Decision: Go Back to Fun, or push Through to Predictable Success?
- Planning for Whitewater
The Launch blueprints
What People Say About My Online Courses
I take pride in making and delivering extremely high quality courses. Here's what just some of my previous customers have had to say:
Sara Rahn
CEO, Madison Avenue Worldwide
The course has truly been transformative to our business and the entire organization!
Having access to Les and the Predictable Success model virtually was a dream come true!
I can’t believe I didn’t have this stuff sooner. It’s a game changer for sure. Thank you!
Josh C. Allen
CEO of The Allen Firm, PC
The course has been absolutely invaluable; it has the capacity to change your life and business.
Les has been extremely generous with his time - thank you Les and team.
My only regret is not getting started with the course earlier!
John Vance
CEO, Pella Products of Kansas City
The course has been a great investment. It has been a great tool to help us grow and lay out the path we need to get there.
The video coaching sessions with Les have been especially useful - Les has helped us dig deeper into execution potholes or barriers we encountered.
I'm also privileged to have some pretty cool folks say kind things about the work I do with incredible leaders just like you:
President & CEO - FORD MOTOR CO
"Les really captures the integration of key business processes, people, and leadership to consistently deliver a compelling vision, comprehensive plan, and profitable growth"
Alan Mulally
President & CEO, Ford Motor Co
❝
The Launch blueprints
What makes the Launch Blueprints different from other online courses?
The Launch Blueprints is not your average online course. Here are 5 reasons why, and why it matters:
Carey Nieuwhof
Les McKeown has the ability to read minds and diagnose problems nobody else seems to be able to name, let alone solve. His books and insights have helped me become a far better leader
The Launch blueprints
Bonus Resources & Materials (Lifetime Access Registrations)
Bonus
You can register and attend the Launch Blueprints 'live' for a highly discounted fee - but if you purchase lifetime access, you not only get lifetime access to the replay, you also get these bonus resources:
Free Additional Login for Your Spouse or Partner
One of the principles I teach in the Launch Blueprints is the vital importance of having a strong support team.
Purchase Lifetime Access to the Launch Blueprints and get a free additional login for your business partner or spouse, so they can follow along on the course with you.
Lifetimes updates, additions and new content
The Launch Blueprints isn't a static unchanging course with 'stale' content. I regularly add new modules, resources and updates.
Purchase Lifetime Access to the Launch Blueprints and you'll automatically receive access to every single update, free of charge - for life!
1 Year's Membership to Escape Velocity
Escape Velocity is our premium community exclusively for founder/owners who are seeking to grow their new venture from start-up to $1m.
Purchase Lifetime Access to the Launch Blueprints and you receive 1 year's membership - entirely free ($997 value - that's a 200% return on your course investment)!
Darryl Hutson
Les McKeown is absolutely on top of his game. Les not only knows - and shows - how your businesses can grow and succeed, he explains it a way that is intuitive, entertaining and immediately actionable.
Attend the Course Live Online - or Purchase access to the Live Course PLUS lifetime access AND additional Resources!
You could book an hour's personal consulting with Les McKeown for $750, or take one of his public workshops for $1,995 (and they're both great value and we'd encourage you to consider them both!)
In the meantime, you can register for 6 hours of world class teaching for just $247, and for an additional $250, you can attend the workshop live online PLUS get lifetime access to the course replay PLUS receive the great additional resources detailed above.
Seat are genuinely limited - we have a fixed number of slots that Zoom (our online host) allows us - so register today and save your seat!
The Launch blueprints
Enroll TODAY To Attend The Course Live Online -
Or Purchase Access To The Live Course PLUS Lifetime Access AND Additional Resources!
TAKE THE COURSE live ONLINE
Join us online for this 3-day course with Les McKeown teaching all 3 Launch Blueprints - Live
$
247
ATTEND ONLINE live + LIFETIME ACCESS
Join us live online and/or take the entire course anytime
$
497*
* This price will rise to $995 after the live course is completed (Friday October 02)
David Hieatt
To say Les knows his stuff is a huge understatement. He is a leading expert in his field. This runs in his blood. There is some serious gold here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A personal note from Les McKeown
It's my life's work to help entrepreneurially minded growth leaders just like you to LAUNCH, GROW and LEAD new ventures of all types.
Whether you want to launch a for-profit business (service or manufacturing), or a faith-or cause-based not-for-profit, a charity, foundation - even an NGO - you can benefit from my lifetime's experience.
In launching more than 40 ventures in my own right, and in coaching and guiding literally thousands of others to successfuly realize their own dream, I have recognized and codified the precise roadmap you need to ensure your new venture launch not only beats the odds, but is highly successful.
So no matter what your dream - whether it's to start a small business that will give you and your family freedom and independence, or launch a fast-growing 'unicorn' that will change the world - or something in between - I hope you'll join me on this 3-day launch program as I pass on the principles underlying every successful new venture to you and others.
Brian Walker
Les McKeown clearly has a deep understanding of how businesses grow.