1. Celebrate
Diversity
Apply
Energy
Foster
Ambition
Judge
Reality
DEAR at its core is a modular,
customizable, and enhanced
approach to traditional long-
term strategic planning (think
Values, Mission, Vision,
Strategies, Tactical Plan,
Measures, and Goals).
DEAR’s “Partners Forever”
program then focuses on
building teams within the
business (especially husband
and wife as owners). This
relationship is critical to any
business’ success (whether
both spouses are directly
involved in the business or
not). Here we insure:
 Role Clarity
-by optimizing critical work
flows and designing related
support, and
 Enhanced Communication
-thru problem solving and
dialoguing techniques, &
stakeholder management
RecipientName
Address
City,STZIPCode
DavidStraub,Principal
DEAR:,LLC
314-283-4068
david.straub@charter.net
LongTerm(Strategic)Planning
(Benefits:Confidence,security,peace,teaming,moretimetoexplorenewadventures,control)
DEAR :, LLC

2. DEAR :, Long Term (LT) Plan
When I was a child my mom would often tell
me to “stop wasting my dear gifts from God”
(she had to do this far too often I am
humbled to admit ). But with all these
reminders, one day it dawned on me that the
word “dear” was a clue from my mom about
the gifts I was wasting (thanks mom for your
love and dedication ). DEAR stands for
Diversity, Energy, Ambition, and Reality.
And now these four “clues” are baked into
everything we do at DEAR :, LLC. In fact, we
have a formula for how they come together
to improve and sustain higher performance =
((D x E) + A) – R
We know that the start to any successful
endeavor is a great long term (strategic)
plan. And a great long term plan is built on:
1. A respect for one another that comes from
understanding and a desire to leverage our
core “Diversity” as a means to optimally
solve problems. From respect comes trust
– critical to later developing great
Ambition.
DEAR :,
LLC
2. Working on that which “Energizes” us
(hopefully the same as our Mission/Purpose
and our related common Passions/Values).
3. A statement of our vision or “Ambition” = a
“stretch” from our current state (the further
the better), and a clear understanding of
where we want to arrive in the future.
4. A clear and aligned understanding of where
we are today (“Reality”) thru a thorough,
end-to-end assessment of our current state.
5. Effectively leveraging the human
phenomenon of Cognitive Dissonance (CD).
CD allows us to create the strategies/tactics
that will close the gap between Ambition and
Reality. Add a related Scorecard (measures
and SMART goals), and we have our LT plan!
With relatively less effort, we are generally
capable of developing a clear picture of our
Reality. More difficult is creating a clear, aligned,
and stretch statement of our Ambition. Ambition
(or our “Vision”) is greatly enhanced to the
extent we start with an understanding of, and
respect for: (1) our core Diversity, and (2) that
which Energizes us. That’s why the formula and
we start with (D x E) and D is always => 1.
And what about the :, in our name?
The :, has two meanings. First, it’s an
emoticon for our values. When a child
sticks his tongue out to the side of his
mouth while he/she is working (as in the
picture to the left), you know they are
thoroughly engaged in what they are doing.
They are focused, energized, determined,
and dedicated to enthusiastically do the
best job they can possibly do. This is
exactly the way we operate here at DEAR :,
LLC.
The second meaning of :, is that what we
do at DEAR :, LLC transcends business (:)
and personal (,). Our work can positively
impact the bottom lines of teams, and
organizations, as well as the relationships of
spouses, owners, leaders, professionals,
and individuals in all organizations, and all
industries, for-profits and non-profits alike.
Next Step?
Call or email me to present your
opportunity, idea, or concern, and I will be
happy to let you know if we can help, how
we can help, the benefit, and the cost (we
also do Pro Bono work).
Contact
David Straub, Principal
DEAR :, LLC
314-283-4068
david.straub@charter.net