Clay Mathile’s leadership of The Iams Company might best be described in four letters: CCPP. It represented four main ingredients for Iams’ success: customer, culture, product, and people. More than a slogan or internal shorthand, CCPP was a holistic belief system that guided everything from daily operations to big-picture decisions. Iams employees—more aptly considered Iams family members—embraced this [ Read More ]
On Campus, you’ll find a quote from Clay Mathile that we hope inspires you as much as it does us: “Dream no little dreams, for they have no magic to move men’s souls.” German philosopher, writer, and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe first penned a variation of this inspiring quote. While history has skewed its exact text (some [ Read More ]
Aileron’s founder, Clay Mathile, was a lifelong and voracious learner who had a strong appetite for growth; often times, he turned to reading as the pathway to that growth. Clay was known to seek out books that challenged him and enabled his own continuous self-improvement, often looking to learn from accomplished leaders and entrepreneurs who had documented their [ Read More ]
When you’re a business owner, you devote every day to developing and overseeing your company. In the day to day, you lead your business through challenges, projects, and problems—but how often do you have the chance to step away from working in the business so you can think about and work on the business instead? Aileron’s Campus [ Read More ]
As a business owner, you understand that running a business is a team sport and your team is your most valuable asset. Your team members are the people who turn your vision into a reality and help you grow your business. As you work to install professional management in your organization, Activating Professional Management can help you onboard [ Read More ]
Your Content Goes HereSome of the greatest challenges a business owner faces can also feel like the loneliest — setting the direction for the business, navigating changes in the external environment, and preparing to leave the business to the next generation of leadership are emotionally, mentally daunting tasks. Which is why Aileron exists — to equip business owners and leaders [ Read More ]
Aileron’s flagship program, Course for Presidents®, teaches you fundamental skills to direct, operate, and control your business. Key areas of focus include leadership, strategy, people development, business structure, organizational performance, and culture. This in-person program offers a hands-on learning experience that's been transforming businesses for more than 25 years. We’re excited to share we’ve been enhancing and refining the [ Read More ]
Our Course for Presidents alumni have consistently told us over the years that this program is a life-changing experience for the private business owner. It delivers insight and knowledge from people who get it, and everyday tools that impact their professional and personal lives alike. But, taking two days away from your business to work on your business can [ Read More ]
Having an outside board for your business is one of the wisest decisions you can make for your company. This small group of professionals lends their time and expertise to support your company’s vision and help you grow. They can be key to a company’s sustainability. The benefits of working with an outside board are wide-ranging. You can [ Read More ]
Wisdom. Constructive accountability. Professional resources. A business owner should expect to receive these benefits, and more, from their outside board. Being a CEO or President can feel lonely and heavy with responsibility—but the support and feedback from a high performing board enables a business to reach its goals and grow sustainably. What Do Outside Boards Do for Private [ Read More ]
A commonly held limiting belief in the private business community is that business ownership is a lonely, solitary journey. We often hear people say, “being a president is an inherently isolating role,” or “if you really want something done right, you just have to do it yourself.” We disagree completely. In fact, we see more often that the [ Read More ]
If you’re a business owner and entrepreneur, you know all about the importance of having a clear business structure and a well-defined strategy. Do you rank your workplace culture as equally important? Of the six disciplines in Aileron’s DOC System, Culture can seem the most nebulous. How do you manage it? What does it include? Why does it [ Read More ]
