1.
Tanyag​ ​& Company:
10 Milestones of a Business
The following “10 Milestones of a Business” focus on the impact that the life of a business has
on the life of its owner(s). This information was introduced years ago by John Heenan and Mort
Murphy of Ireland and has been adapted based on Arnel Tanyag’s experiences in the last 15+
years serving the small business community.
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1. Concept
This is where the dreaming starts. You take an idea and think about its existence. This is the
idea stage, with great excitement and enthusiasm about creating the vision for the business.
2. Start­up
This is where you’re turning the idea from a vision into reality. The biggest challenges are
moving from the idea stage to securing, financing, laying down the basic structure of the
business, and initiating operations.
3. Survival
Outside funds have dried up. The business has to start generating cash that keeps the business
going by bringing in paying clients. Business development is very critical to the survival of the
business. The biggest challenge for the business owner(s) is knowing and overcoming the
tough obstacles of running a business.
4. False Stability
The business is generating enough cash flow to survive. The bills are being paid. The business
relies solely on the owner(s). The challenge is the business owner(s) struggle to hire other
people to take their business to the next level and having the revenue to pay them.
5. Growth: Gaining Momentum
Business is thriving and sales are increasing. The business owner/s is a “Hands­on” manager
and drawing an income from the business. Unfortunately, there is no time to enjoy life outside
of the business. The challenges are putting the right people and the right processes/systems in
place to stabilize the business.
© 2015, Tanyag & Company 4445 Corporation Lane, Suite 284
All rights reserved Virginia Beach, VA 23462
www.tanyag.net info@tanyag.net

2.
Milestone 1 to Milestone 5: Equipping Period
The mindset of the business owner(s) is to make money.
The business owns the business owner(s).
Business is solely dependent on the business owner(s).
Business owner(s) is the primary rainmaker for the business.
No time to enjoy life; lifestyle outside the business is very minimal.
Primary focus is on business development and fine tuning the service/product
The business owner is on a treadmill and has periods of quiet desperation.
Milestone 5 is the second most dangerous milestone for the business owner(s).
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6. Expansion: Growth Beyond Capacity
The business is growing and expanding. The business is creating and bringing in new business.
The business owner(s) operates on a basis of management by “walking around.” A great
standard of living for the business owner(s) is at this level. The biggest challenge is when the
business owner stays away for a week or more; the business does not run effectively and
efficiently without the owner. The business owner continuously struggles with working on the
business and simultaneously enjoying life.
7. False Maturity
The Business owner is independently wealthy and has plenty of time to enjoy the money
generated from the business. The biggest challenge is the business owner believes the
business can run without them for short or long periods of time. The business owner becomes
an absentee owner.
Milestone 6 and Milestone 7: Establishing Period
The mindset of the business owner must change from owner/operator
to general manager of the company.
This is the start of building a business that makes money.
This is the start of the business owner owning the business.
The business owner is the not primary rainmaker for the business.
The business owner can take a vacation and the business is still making money without them.
Milestone 7 is the most dangerous milestones for the business owner.
The business lacks the right people in the right seats and the processes and systems for those
people to run the business without the owner.
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© 2015, Tanyag & Company 4445 Corporation Lane, Suite 284
All rights reserved Virginia Beach, VA 23462
www.tanyag.net info@tanyag.net

3.
8. Stabilization
The business has processes and systems in place. The next successors are chosen. The major
responsibilities of the business owner are making sure the processes and systems are being
followed by the management team on a day to day basis. The biggest challenge is ensuring that
the management will follow “the plan.”
9. Maturity: Enjoying the Fruits of your Labor
The business has full­time management where the processes and systems are being followed.
The business owner(s) can enjoy the fruits of their labor by giving themselves permission to do
what they love to do in the business or to take time off. The business owner’s only responsibility
is to provide vision to the business.
10. Succession
The business has successfully passed on to the next set of owners and the founder of
the business is completely free of the business and has the wealth to pursue other endeavors.
Milestone 8 to Milestone 10: Empowering Period
The mindset of the business owner(s) must change from manager to leader,
and eventually to mentor.
The business is not only making money for the business owner(s); it’s making money for the
people who work there and the community they serve.
The business is a company.
The company has the right people in the right seats with the processes and systems executed
daily with little or no help from the business owner.
The business owner truly owns the business and has achieved the level in their business.
The business owner can do what they desire to do with little or no effect on the success of the
business.
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© 2015, Tanyag & Company 4445 Corporation Lane, Suite 284
All rights reserved Virginia Beach, VA 23462
www.tanyag.net info@tanyag.net