When Things Go Wrong, Part II: Taking Action When Performance Slips

Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence

In this continuation of their conversation on portfolio performance, co-hosts Lloyd Metz (ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (HCI Equity Partners), and Sean Mooney (BluWave) move from diagnosis to action: what to actually do once you know a business isn’t performing to plan.

They cover how to tell a temporary headwind from a structural problem, where to start on revenue and cost fixes, and how to balance quick liquidity levers with long-term value creation.

From pricing strategy and marketing ROI to Lean Six Sigma process improvements, working capital discipline, and when to inject new capital, this episode is a playbook for business builders navigating tough quarters with clear eyes and steady hands.

Episode Highlights

• 2:21 – Distinguishing market challenges from internal structural problems
• 7:01 – Boosting top-line growth through pricing, marketing, and sales leadership
• 16:48 – Cutting costs intelligently: process efficiency, spend takeout, and Lean systems
• 28:45 – Managing liquidity: working capital, cash creation, and balance-sheet discipline
• 36:18 – Knowing when more capital helps and when it’s time to stop funding the problem

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.
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For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net