When Dave, founder of Livermore Consulting, approached Looking Glass Solutions, his business was successful but struggling to grow. Capacity constraints, operational challenges, and a client relationship that had grown overwhelming were making it difficult to scale. With a mix of strategic insights and hands-on support, we’ve worked together to transform Livermore Consulting into a more balanced and sustainable business.
The Initial Challenges
Dave faced a series of interconnected challenges that were holding back his business:
- Capacity constraints: The business was stretched thin, with resources tied up in one client relationship that was taking too much time and energy.
- Scope creep: An early client relationship had expanded far beyond its original scope, creating operational strain.
- Contract management: Handling new and existing contracts was time-consuming and stressful, with issues like late payments adding to the overwhelm.
These issues left Dave without the time, expertise, or resources to focus on growth, and he knew he needed external support to make progress.
Our Approach
We began with a deep dive into the business, including a comprehensive SWOT analysis of both the business and Dave as the business owner. Through this process, we identified key blockers and opportunities, which informed a month-by-month action plan to address challenges and achieve growth goals.
One critical issue we uncovered was scope creep with a major client. This was not only a result of a poorly defined scope in the contract but also a common pitfall of people-pleasing in early client relationships. To resolve this, we:
- Supported Dave through negotiations to rebalance the client relationship.
- Created a stronger standard contract with better commercial protections.
- Embedded operational lessons learned into future client agreements.
In addition, we provided ongoing support to streamline contract reviews, manage difficult client situations, and negotiate new agreements with confidence.
The Results
Working with Looking Glass Solutions has brought significant improvements to Livermore Consulting’s operations and overall direction:
- Improved contract management: With better contracts in place, Dave now has greater protection and clarity in client relationships.
- More time to focus on growth: By resolving client issues and addressing operational inefficiencies, Dave can now dedicate more time to delivering services and developing his business.
- Learning from early mistakes: With regular external input, Dave has gained valuable insights into avoiding common pitfalls, ensuring a more sustainable approach to growth.
Today, we’re proud to support Livermore Consulting as their fractional Commercial Director. Whether it’s providing immediate advice over the phone or guiding complex negotiations, we act as a trusted partner embedded in the business.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration continues to evolve, with ongoing discussions, support and strategic planning sessions to help Livermore Consulting navigate future challenges and opportunities. As Dave puts it, “There will always be challenges in business, you just need the right people on your team to help you get over them.”
Reflections from Dave
“The review and analysis of my business was really helpful—it focused my goals and provided clarity. Having someone external look at my business practices and challenges has been invaluable. Alice is my right-hand woman for all the difficult conversations, which means I can focus on delivering our services.
Her calm and reassuring approach makes even complex negotiations feel manageable, and the money spent on LGS has more than paid off. The time and advice they’ve saved me is worth far more than the initial investment. If you’re considering working with them, I’d say it’s money well spent—they’re an essential part of my team now.”