Why We Install "Brakes" on High-Growth Companies
- Schimpf Group
- Dec 5, 2025
- 2 min read
There are two ways to run a company:
The VC Mindset: "Move fast and break things." (Growth at all costs).
The PE Mindset: "Move fast, but break nothing." (Cash flow is king).
In the startup world, the VC mindset works because one winner pays for nine losers. But for the mature $100M+ operators we advise, that mindset is dangerous.
When we engage in Interim Strategic Oversight, our first move is often counter-intuitive: We stop the "visionary" chaos and install "brakes."
Certainty > Optionality
Many founders believe that "Strategy" means chasing every new opportunity. They want "optionality." In our view, Strategy is the art of saying "No."
When we build a War Map, we are looking for Certainty.
VC Thinking: "Let's build a proprietary AI scheduling engine from scratch to create a competitive moat." (High Risk / High Variance).
War Map Thinking: "Let's use an off-the-shelf SaaS tool that costs $500/month to optimize our truck routes by 15% immediately." (Low Risk / High Certainty).
The "Paranoid Accountant" Approach
We tell our clients that in this phase of their growth, they need to stop thinking like visionaries and start thinking like "paranoid accountants."
Talent: Don't chase the shiny "Head of AI" from Silicon Valley who will leave in 6 months. Upskill the loyal dispatcher who knows where all the bodies are buried.
Tech: Don't buy the "Enterprise Solution" that takes a year to integrate. Buy the modular tool that plugs into your current workflow today.
Focus: Bet on what doesn't change. People will always need clean water, delivered packages, and working HVAC systems.
Our value isn't in helping you invent the next iPhone. It's in helping you find the big % margin expansion hidden in your messy back office. That isn't sexy. But it is "Board-Ready.".
