Set Your Sights High: Scaling Up

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steve Ferman, CEO of 4 Pillar Coach, located in Madison, NJ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

4 Pillar Coach is a personalized boutique business planning company that works with business owners and executives who want to scale their business by 10X.

We follow the Scaling up methodology that has helped thousands of companies scale and grow. By working with the top executive and the entire management team, we align our clients with the same core values and shared common purpose, Key Performance Indicators, and a path that unifies and excites the whole company while scaling up. Our clients are individual CEOs, Startups, and Midmarket clients with 4+ on the exec team, primarily in the Technology space.

Tell us about yourself

I have been married for over 31 years with three children Michael; Scarlett and Corinne, I am the Founder of 4 Pillar Coach, a Scaling Up Coaching company, and a graduate of the Master's Program for Entrepreneurs - The Strategic Coach.

I have started, ran, and sold seven different technology companies over 40 years as a serial entrepreneur. As a result, I have a deep understanding of every stage of the business life cycle, how technology has evolved, and how to scale and grow companies by creating a culture, vision, and company purpose. This experience and knowledge led me to become a business coach. I currently serve as a Board Member of Entrepreneur Organization EO, New Jersey legal industry providers.

I am a Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Blockchain Certified, and trained in HIPAA Security and Awareness. I spent just under five years in the United States Marine Corps., and I remain active in the USMC Slattery Detachment.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I sold my online data backup business in 2013 to acquire Cloud Nation (a remote Cloud desktop and server provider in AWS to expand my cloud business in 2013), I then grew and scaled my companies, merging them in 2016 with an exit in 2017.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Being alone at the top and not seeking advice or a coach. You are not alone and the sooner you learn to put the right people in the right seats on the bus and delegate the faster you will scale. Every great athlete or professional has at least one coach; it's hard to see the forest from within the trees, there is nothing wrong with seeking advice and help from a different perspective.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Don’t lose your purpose for why you started the company in the first place. There, needs to be work-life balance and yes in the beginning it’s a bit more work but if you start early with a good foundation and set of core values and, core Purpose you will be way ahead of the game. Also, note when you need to hire people that you get the right person in the right seat on the bus. Lastly, a very wise man Simon Sinek once said, “be the idiot in the room” and ask questions. Always be humble and thankful for what you have, and celebrate your success with your team.

I post a lot on LinkedIn. I also blog a lot and host events and workshops. Visit my website for more info or to join an event.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://4pillarcoach.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4PillarCoachSteve
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveferman/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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