Value Proposition Development

John was excellent to work with both on an individual basis and in a group setting. Our entire team was very impressed with the results of working with John to develop an overall strategy for our company. Also most importantly, John has the type of personal and coroporate integrity that is often absent in today's market place. He is a ten in our book.

John is passionate about messaging. He strongly believes that messaging is not something you put on paper or on a website and then leave it alone. He believes messaging is an active verb. Don't start a conversation with John if you don't want to be challenged in how you think about your company, your market, or what you're doing about proliferating your message. John's diverse background and eclectic interests are a source of the kinds of innovation and inspiration necessary to help any business make its mark. John is an eternal student and a fast-learner. He's able to cut through the noise and get to the signal -- often long before you realize he's way ahead of you.

Working with John has benefits beyond what appears in any engagement agreement. John is a no-nonsense businessman whose enthusiasm for what he does is infectious. Working and collaborating with John is always an adventure in great ideas. Unafraid to make tough decisions and never shying from telling it like it is, John's strategic and marketing savvy are sure to put executives and their businesses on the right track. And, if needed, in the right frame of mind. John's personal discipline and work ethic infuse his projects. Clients are well advised to allow themselves to absorb as much of it as they can.

If you need to get your message out and don't want what everyone else has already done, work with John and Smith Growth Partners.

John and his co-workers at Smith Growth Partners created the Marketing Action Plan for my company before we were launched. It has been a year since his work was completed and we continue to use the MAP he created to guide our marketing direction at Transportation Safety Exchange.

John is great to work with.

John Starling is a valued friend, consultant, and mentor. I know I'm not alone when I say when you work with John or just talk to him, you will come away with at least one great idea per day you had not yet considered. Bold and honest, John will pull apart the most convoluted of arguments to find the pearls of wisdom hidden within. But be warned; be prepared to be challenged. He pulls no punches and is not afraid to tell you what you need to hear.

I hired Smith Growth Partners to develop marketing content. He has an efficient process that produces results quickly. Clarity of vision and creativity with words are his hallmarks. I come away with something every time I talk to John and look forward to working with him again.

My company has used John and his company to help us with our marketing and business strategies. We have developed a marketing plan and are working towards it's implementation. John's insight into business issues has also helped us to hone our business and focus on what is important to improve growth and profitability and make our company a great place to work!

John applied his substantial experience with depth and breadth across industries to help re-tool our marketing department and coach the marketing staff to the next level. John's passion and energy invigorated the team and helped fuel rapid adoption of his ideas. His creative and organized approach provided a foundation for growth that the staff continues to use today.

I've known John for a number of years and I have always respected his business acumen, revered his expert knowledge, and valued his ability to connect the right players in his industry. Having worked with John on a number of occasions as a client, I hold an even higher opinion of his capabilities. He's a proven leader who has demonstrated his ability to lead an organization to serve its clients in a timely cost-effective manner. John is definitely someone you want on your team if you are starting a new venture, or are looking to expand the effort of an existing one.

John has impressed me with his tireless work ethic and value-added approach towards client engagements. He is adept at digging into business models, finding the key bottleneck issues quickly, and making definitive recommendations on how to improve company performance. John is a man of integrity and always puts the customer's interests first.

John has got to be one of the most creative and original guys I've ever met in the wide, wide world of business. I always appreciate the unique perspective that he brings to any discussion about business strategy and tactics, and just when I think I've got something figured out, John will come up with an insightful comment that makes me question my assumptions. Besides that, John is a genuinely friendly and sincere guy, and someone that values his relationships (personal and business) with others. I can recommend John to anyone looking to expand their business horizons.