Chad McMillan's Growth Focused Blog

Running the book turns a capital raise into an actively managed process. Track prospects, commitments, amounts, shares, finders, follow-up and total progress while building momentum toward the close.

A business can be good and still not be investable. Here’s how I think about the difference between building a business and building an opportunity capital can understand, evaluate and want to participate in.

I rarely think good ideas arrive from nowhere. They tend to appear where there is friction, change, an unmet need or a useful connection between things that normally live apart.

Finding investors is not about finding everybody with money. It’s about identifying the people, funds and groups whose mandate, experience, cheque size and interests actually fit your business and financing.

A turnaround is not about fixing everything at once. It is about finding what still has value, stabilizing what is breaking, and concentrating resources on the few changes that can alter the trajectory.

Before trying to improve a pattern, I want to understand it. Awareness creates the distance to notice what I am doing, what triggers it, what I get from it and whether it still serves me.

A practical way to turn investor research into a qualified working list based on sector, stage, cheque size, mandate, relationship path, status and next action.

Investor outreach should be targeted, professional and relationship-driven. How I think about introductions, first contact, the deck, follow-up, no’s and building trust over time.

Many financing problems appear before the first investor meeting: unclear positioning, weak fundamentals, poor materials, unrealistic terms, bad targeting and incomplete legal preparation.

The first meaningful financing order can change the psychology and momentum of a raise. What a lead order is, why it matters and what to think about before accepting one.

Investors are evaluating more than your pitch deck. They’re looking at the business, market, management, ownership, evidence, financing terms, risk and whether they trust you to execute.

Some ideas fail because they are bad. Others fail because the surrounding technology, economics, behaviour or infrastructure is not ready yet. Knowing the difference matters.

My approach to creativity starts with curiosity: noticing what is changing, connecting things that do not normally sit together, imagining what could exist, and then doing the work required to turn possibility into something real.

My approach to business strategy starts with seeing what others miss: understanding what a company really has, what is holding it back, what it could become, and how to turn that hidden potential into momentum and value.

My practical framework for reading stock charts, keeping emotion out of the decision, finding swing and breakout setups, planning entries and exits, managing downside risk and continually improving as a trader.

Personal growth, to me, is not a project where I am constantly trying to fix myself. It is a practice of becoming more aware, choosing more deliberately, aligning how I live with what matters, and continuing to evolve.

Before you start pitching investors, make sure the business itself is ready to be financed. A practical capital-readiness review covering positioning, market fit, management, KPIs, ownership, brand and story.

Raising capital is a process, not a pitch. A practical guide to preparing your business, building an investable opportunity, finding the right investors, creating momentum and closing a financing professionally.

Many of you here might not yet know much about who I am, some of my life experiences, and why I may have anything of value to add to the conversation around the topics I'm exploring. Learn more about me in this post as I share who I am, and some of the wild ride I've been on thus far...

Being in the markets and working with entrepreneurs, of course the conversation often centers around money. In this post I share some of my philosophy and relationship with money, including different ways that in my experience, you may be able to earn more of it.

Improving our mental health can have profound and lasting impacts on our lives, the lives of those around us, and our communities. In Canada, it is estimated that 20% of Canadians experience problems with their mental health in any given year, and half of the population has faced some level of mental health issues by the time they turn 40. In this post I share tips and strategies that I've used over the years to improve my own mental health, which I feel may help you on your journey as well.

Storms will come and go. And whether you've been through them, are going through them right now, or experience them in the future, my philosophy is about finding our center - about being the eye of the storm, until they pass. In this post I share a few wild stories from my journey, from being held hostage, riding out a major hurricane, and more, as well as some tips to help you navigate any storms that may appear in your own life.

Meditation has the power to ground you, relax you, get you more clear with yourself, your life, and your future. There are also a ton more heath benefits than these. In this post I introduce you to meditation and even share a free guided meditation with me that you can try right now.

Feeling under financial pressure? Many people are turning to side gigs to complement and supplement their income. In this post I give you my high level view on how to structure and build your own online business to increase your leverage, exposure to new opportunities, and start getting ahead.

Most people hear venture capital and think private startups and Silicon Valley. There is another world I’ve spent most of my career in: early-stage ventures financed and built through the public markets.

Many ask me about how I find and maintain balance; between my work and lifestyle, internally and more. In this post I share some of my tips and insights on how I find balance in my own life, and you can too.

You work hard every day. When is your breakthrough coming? When are you going to have your big break? In this post I break down (see what I did there) some of the insights I've learned from my own experiences about how and when breakthroughs happen, for me and for you.

UFOs are now called UAPs (Unidentified Arial Phenomena), and there is a growing groundswell of revelatory movement on the topic reverberating through the halls of Washington and around the world right now. I break it down high level, sharing what I'm seeing from my vantage point, and what I think is going on here...

The UAP discussion is currently hitting almost every major news outlet around the world right now. With the recent public congressional hearing on the subject, it appears evident to me of two massive camps drawing their lines in the sand on the subject. Learn what’s going on and my take on this now public political tug of war.

Over the years I've come to recognize that in my own life, as well as the lives of others there are major moments that inspire a change of direction. Moments that set a new course for our journey. In this post I explore these catalysts, how to manifest them for ourselves, and how to shift our experiences into becoming the best version of ourselves we can be.

Burning Man is an incredible, sacred event. This massive gathering held in a place called Black Rock City, in Nevada, and comes to life every summer. In this post I peel the curtain back to share my experience, how it works, and why you've really got to go.

In this post I share my inspiration to deepen and expand my own content channels, creating from flow states and trusting the journey will take me where I'm supposed to go. As you learn about my strategies and philosophy here, consider how my process might inspire your own creative journey as well.

What does your future look like? Any ideas? There's an old adage that says "if you don't know where you're going, you'll surely never get there." In this post I share my thoughts on curating and cultivating your vision, setting you on a course from wherever you are now, to where you want to be.

Recently I've noticed several associates of mine complaining about a lack of opportunities, but then failing to capitalize on them when they appear. This post is for them, and maybe you, if you're wanting to get better at generating and seizing the opportunities that cross your path every day.

Ms. Jolie Wilson, owner & founder of Full Circle Yoga School and Evolve Wellness talk about tools and techniques to help you overcome adversity, personal growth, transformation, conscious living, and our respective journeys of awakening.

 

The GOAT is here. Messi has begun to take the MLS and North American football by storm. In this post I share my thoughts on the impact and inspiration of Messi's arrival, the MLS, Leagues Cup, the business of football in North America and more. The future is looking BRIGHT.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, athlete, artist or other, success is not a straight line. There are likely to be tough days, and the path may feel more like a zig zag to get where you want to go. To see through these tough times, you need to develop perseverance. In this post I share my philosophy on perseverance, and some tips to strengthen yours.

I noticed this theme emerging of many people expecting others to work for free. I've also noticed this in a number of people's expectations of me. Remember something, your time is valuable. This post explores my thoughts on people like you or I working with or for others for free.

Cultivating better, stronger, and long lasting relationships can enhance our life experience.  In this post I share tips and the insights I've found that have helped me cultivate a strong network over the years and well as improve my interactions with others day to day.

It's not what it costs, it's what it's worth. This is a principle you can apply in all areas of your life, but I hear people missing this important concept all the time. In this post I unpack my cost vs. value philosophy, share some tips on how you can apply it in your own life, and begin identifying opportunities right away.

I've been sober for over 10 years now. This post is for the sober curious, as I dive into these answers and offer a few tips if you're looking to consider a more sober lifestyle.

In this post I explore this fast emerging trend of artificial intelligence, sharing how I'm working with it, some of the tools I'm using, and ways you can take your work and life to the next level with this technology as well.

In this post I explore the value and opportunities that I feel are emerging in the creator economy for independent entrepreneurs, as well as how and why I am embracing this opportunity for myself, my partners, and clients.

Julia invited me on her Podcast to talk about all things conscious living.. We had a great chat diving into my philosophies and experiences with manifestation, personal transformation, meditation, intuition, and more…

NBA basketball superstar Kawhi Leonard thinks so.

We each have the innate ability to heal ourselves...with natural solutions.

Minimalism is the new black.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom ~ Aristotle

Having a helpful tool, like Tarot Cards, can amplify our intuition to make more well-rounded decisions.

Relax your mind, settle your soul, clarify your intentions, and manifest your reality.