EvaluSys - Articles , EvaluSys NewsEvaluSys - Articles , EvaluSys Newshttps://www.evalusys.com/blogs/evalusys-newsThu, 30 Jul 2026 03:36:43 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[The Ambivalence Paradox and the Engagement Readiness Assessment™]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/The-Ambivalence-ParadoxEvaluSys member and collaborator, Dr. Larry Gard, and EvaluSys CEO Tom Bixby, just released a new book, “The Ambivalence Paradox: Working With Clients Who Want Your Help But Simultaneously Resist It”.]]>

The EvaluSys Engagement Readiness Assessment™ is a highly unique business evaluation, released on EvaluSys in January 2022.  Designed by Dr. Larry Gard, a long-time clinical psychologist and consultant, the evaluation is designed to help advisors and prospective clients identify individual characteristics that may impact their working relationship and contribute to the success of the project.  


EvaluSys Business Advisor members are able to license the Engagement Readiness Assessment today for use with their clients.


The Ambivalence Paradox Book

In March 2026, Dr. Gard and EvaluSys CEO Tom Bixby released a new book, "The Ambivalence Paradox: Working With Clients Who Want Your Help But Simultaneously Resist It".  The book explores a familiar but often misunderstood dynamic: clients who genuinely want help yet simultaneously resist moving forward. Larry brings decades of insight into why this happens and, more importantly, how advisors can address it through better conversations.  Many of the ideas in this book informed the development of the Engagement Readiness Assessment™.


If you’ve worked as an advisor or consultant for any length of time, you’ve surely experienced client engagements that started off strong then inexplicably ground to a halt. The client appeared enthusiastic, invested, and ready to make changes, and then they retreated. Welcome to the all-too-human phenomenon of ambivalence. As much as clients want our help, there is often a part of them that resists doing things differently.


Whenever a client is investing significant time, energy, and resources in a transformational project, ambivalence can get triggered. Ignoring it doesn’t work, but neither does criticizing it. The authors, one a seasoned business advisor and the other a retired psychologist, wrote this book to help you better understand and respond to ambivalence as it arises within the context of an advisory relationship.

Learn more about The Ambivalence Paradox Book at Amazon.com
Learn more about the Engagement Readiness Assessment
Register as an EvaluSys Business Advisor Member
]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:21:19 -0400<![CDATA[EvaluSys Completes Reporting Platform Upgrades]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/2026-Reporting-UpgradesOn January 31, 2026, EvaluSys rolled out its new reporting infrastructure designed to make EvaluSys reports faster, more visually appealing, and easier to customize.]]>

On January 31, 2026, EvaluSys rolled out its new reporting infrastructure designed to make EvaluSys reports faster, more visually appealing, and easier to customize.  In addition, EvaluSys Release 7.5 extended the option for Advisors to add their own remarks to reports, setting the stage for future use of A.I. capabilities to further personalize reports reflecting the unique situations client businesses are facing.

EvaluSys Business Wellness Checkup

Improved Report Visuals

High‑quality reports are one of the most powerful tools an advisor can use to elevate the client experience. Clear, well‑structured reporting helps clients understand their progress, the rationale behind recommendations, and the overall impact of their financial or strategic decisions. When information is presented in a visually engaging, intuitive format, clients feel more confident and less overwhelmed—especially when dealing with complex data. This clarity not only improves comprehension but also strengthens trust, as clients can easily see how an advisor's guidance is moving them toward their goals.


Beyond improving understanding, polished and professional reports contribute significantly to overall client satisfaction. Clients perceive high‑quality reporting as a reflection of the advisor’s attention to detail, competence, and commitment to transparency. Better reports also support more productive meetings, enabling advisors to spend less time explaining foundational information and more time engaging in meaningful planning conversations. Ultimately, consistently delivering top‑tier reports helps advisors differentiate themselves, enhance communication, and deepen long‑term client relationships.

New Advisor Remarks

Greater Personalization

Personalizing advisory client deliverables is a powerful way to show clients that their needs, priorities, and circumstances are truly understood. When reports, assessments, and plans are tailored to an individual rather than relying on generic templates, the information feels more relevant and meaningful. Clients are far more likely to engage with content that reflects their specific goals and speaks directly to their situation. This personalization makes complex concepts easier to relate to, helping clients grasp not just what an advisor recommends, but why those recommendations matter to them personally.


Customized deliverables also elevate the overall client experience by demonstrating a higher level of care and professionalism. When clients see that materials have been thoughtfully crafted just for them, it reinforces the value of the relationship and builds deeper trust. Tailored content encourages richer conversations, allowing advisors and clients to focus on forward‑looking insights rather than clarifying one‑size‑fits‑all information. Ultimately, delivering personalized materials helps advisors stand out, enhances client satisfaction, and strengthens long‑term loyalty—key ingredients for a thriving advisory practice.


Release 7.5 offers more options to add custom remarks to evaluation reports.  In addition, the new reporting infrastructure allows advisors to export report content to Microsoft Word (DOCX), offering unlimited editing capabilities for complete personalization and styling options.

Learn About EvaluSys Membership Options
]]>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[EvaluSys Sponsors XPX Next 2025 and Moderates Discussion about "Advancing the Conversation"]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/XPX-Next-2025Tom Bixby, EvaluSys CEO, will be moderating a discussion titled "Advancing the Conversation: Engaging the Owner in the Exit Topic Before It Becomes Urgent" at XPX Next 2025.]]>
Statistics show business owners are slowly becoming aware of the need to prepare well in advance for an eventual ownership transition, but those numbers still reflect too many owners prepare too little, too late.  Tom Bixby, EvaluSys CEO, will be moderating a discussion titled "Advancing the Conversation: Engaging the Owner in the Exit Topic Before It Becomes Urgent".  This program brings together a diverse group of business professionals and XPX leaders to illuminate the problem from many perspectives.

This discussion is part of XPX Next 2025, the 2nd annual virtual conference organized by the Exit Planning Exchange.  EvaluSys has been a proud sponsor of XPX Next programs every year and is a featured part of the XPX Advisor Resource Center. 

Tom Bixby is a co-Founder of XPX Charlotte, a non-profit chapter of the Exit Planning Exchange.  Tom has also been a driving force nationally toward encouraging XPX chapters to become proactive in their outreach to business owners to educate them about timely and comprehensive business exit planning.  

This discussion at XPX Next 2025 serves as a kick-off to engage XPX chapters to collaborate around best practices for business owner outreach and leveraging XPX members to help owners plan and prepare for a successful business exit.

XPX Next 2025 is open to XPX members and non-members, and will be held on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 beginning at 1pm EDT.  Use the button below to register to attend this program.  Use our sponsor code: "nextspnsr2025" to receive a special discount.

Register Now
]]>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:51:20 -0400<![CDATA[Release 7.3 Introduces Evaluation Scoring for BWDS]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/Evaluation-ScoringEvaluSys Release 7.3 features evaluation scoring for Business Wellness Diagnostic Series.]]>

On April 25, 2025, EvaluSys launched Release 7.3 including a feature upgrade to make evaluation scoring available to all Business Wellness Diagnostic Series™ (BWDS) evaluations.


Each BWDS evaluation is designed to identify gaps in management process within a specific business function.  These evaluations will commonly ask questions to determine general relevance for the company being assessed.  For example, certain processes may pertain only to a specific industry or companies with a minimum number of employees.  If the process is determined to be relevant to the company and that process is not found to be deficient, that will improve the evaluation score for that company.


Evaluation Score Example

Business Advisor Members will now see evaluation scores displayed on the Evaluation Status Recap on each Client Profile page and on the Recommended Actions page for each evaluation.  Evaluation scores will also be included on evaluation reports.  Please note that evaluation scores will only be shared with clients under the following circumstances:

  • The client's Evaluation Settings allow the client access to evaluation results; and,
  • The client's Evaluation Settings do not allow access to evaluation results via Goal Impact Analysis™.

Of course, since evaluation reports now include scores, clients will know their scores if you share those reports with them.

If you have any questions about EvaluSys or about evaluation scoring, please contact us.
]]>Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:34:39 -0400<![CDATA[EOS Pilot Participant Experience]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/eos-pilot-experienceTwo participants in the EvaluSys EOS Pilot share the experiences they and their clients had using EvaluSys.]]>

On April 4th, 2024, EvaluSys CEO Tom Bixby recorded a conversation with two EvaluSys EOS Pilot participants, discussing the experiences they and their clients had using EvaluSys. 


"A great way to unlock hidden issues that the leadership team isn't even thinking about."

"S.W.O.T. on steroids." 

- Nick Whitney, EOS Implementer


"There's value to any industry, any company..."

"It's a great way to get that integrator and the visionary on the same page."

"I could see [EvaluSys] being powerful as an onboarding tool for new Integrators, whether it's an internal one or someone brought in from the outside."

 - John Merrill, EOS Integrator


Learn all about the experience Nick Whitney and John Merrill had using EvaluSys with their clients by viewing the video below.


Learn more about the EvaluSys EOS Pilot
]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 10:00:44 -0400<![CDATA[EvaluSys featured in Blackmore Partners Webcast - May 16, 2023]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/blackmore-webcast-may-16-2023On May 16th, 2023, EvaluSys was featured in a webcast organized by Blackmore Partners , a firm that works with backable executives to build and monetiz ]]>

Blackmore Partners Webcast - Connect, Engage with Business Owners

On May 16th, 2023, EvaluSys was featured in a webcast organized by Blackmore Partners, a firm that works with backable executives to build and monetize their background into an acquisition-based deal thesis, bringing those deals to private equity partners as an independent sponsor or broker.


As a follow up to the February 14th Blackmore Partners webcast, EvaluSys CEO Tom Bixby focused on how EvaluSys helps Blackmore Partners' backable executives connect and engage with business owners using EvaluSys tools & solutions like:

  • Business Wellness Checkup™;
  • Exit Planning Checkup™;
  • Business Wellness Diagnostic Series™;
  • Workshops.


View a recording of this webcast below.

]]>Fri, 19 May 2023 08:00:00 -0400<![CDATA[Global Currencies for EvaluSys VGA]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/VGA_GlobalAnnouncing that EvaluSys Value Growth Architecture™ now supports global currencies! Regardless of the markets you serve, if you help companies plan for enterprise value growth, EvaluSys VGA should be a central part of your toolkit!]]>

EvaluSys 7.0 Features VGA Globalized Currencies

With Release 7.0 of EvaluSys, Value Growth Architecture™ now supports globalized currencies.  Business Advisors / Consultants who help middle-market companies plan for long-term growth of transferrable value may now utilize EvaluSys VGA regardless of the currency used by their clients.


Value Growth Architecture helps companies establish a disciplined value growth program featuring tools to discover value growth ideas, collaborate with client leadership and outside business experts, develop financial projections of earnings, cash and value ROI, and prioritize investments in growth initiatives. 





Click the button below to learn more about Value Growth Architecture today!

Learn More
]]>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:41:18 -0400<![CDATA[EvaluSys featured in Blackmore Partners Webcast - Feb 14 2023]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/blackmore-webcast-feb-14-2023On February 14th, 2023, EvaluSys was featured in a webcast organized by Blackmore Partners. This article describes the webcast content, providing a link to view a record of that program.]]>

Blackmore Partners Webcast - Educate, Engage & Build Value

On February 14th, 2023, EvaluSys was featured in a webcast organized by Blackmore Partners, a firm that works with backable executives to build and monetize their background into an acquisition-based deal thesis, bringing those deals to private equity partners as an independent sponsor or broker.


During this webcast, EvaluSys CEO Tom Bixby shared how EvaluSys helps Blackmore Partners' backable executives develop a robust business advisory practice by:

  • Connecting with business owners offering a valued educational opportunity;
  • Engaging those business owners in a meaning, sustainable way until they are ready to sell their company;
  • Identifying opportunities to improve management practices and discover the building blocks of enterprise value in their companies.


View a recording of this webcast below.

]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 08:46:24 -0400<![CDATA[New Supply Chain & Logistics Evaluation Released]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/new-supply-chain-eval

EvaluSys is proud to announce the release of a new core evaluation covering Supply Chain & Logistics Management, extending the Business Wellness Diagnostic Series™ to cover a function critical to successful operation of manufacturing, distribution and many service companies.


This marks the second new evaluation launched in 2022 under the EvaluSys Content Contribution Program, and the first new core evaluation released since the Product/Service Innovation evaluation was released in June 2012.


As with all Business Wellness Diagnostic Series evaluations, the new Supply Chain & Logistics evaluation has been integrated within the Business Wellness Checkup™, which is available for use by all EvaluSys Business Advisor members with no additional licensing costs.

The Business Wellness Checkup is designed for use by advisors as a conversation starter with business owners, offering a valuable surface-level examination of management practices across a broad range of business functions.  Due to the vital importance of early, effective planning for an eventual business exit, elements of the EvaluSys Exit Planning evaluation have also been included within the Business Wellness Checkup.  

Learn more about EvaluSys Evaluations
Business Wellness Checkup
]]>Sat, 31 Dec 2022 11:22:00 -0500<![CDATA[Heading for the Green Flag]]>https://www.evalusys.com/blogs/post/heading-for-green-flag
It's Memorial Day 2009 and like millions around the world I'm watching 33 drivers heading around turn four, accelerating toward the green flag for the Indianapolis 500. Those drivers are filled with anticipation, excitement and confidence earned through hard work of the drivers, teams and owners.

The EvaluSys Team is heading into the final turn and the green flag will soon be in sight for the launch of the EvaluSys Business Owner Portal. Like the teams at Indy, we've been hard at work preparing for that moment when the green flag falls and we're racing! I thought I would share some insights into what it takes to get a business like EvaluSys off to a fast start.

Indy drivers rely on complex technology to average nearly 200 mph as they safely negotiate the 2 1/4 mile track. The complex technology needed to deliver Business Evaluation Services to business owners over the Internet has been under continuous development for 18 months. The team is putting the final touches on the system, tightening all the nuts and bolts, and putting the system through it's paces. As a web-based business, our technology handles service delivery and must also facilitate most of the administrative activities that allow our business to operate. Outfitting the system with the required capabilities for registration, billing, evaluation delivery, and member service/support has been a wonderful challenge.

Although evaluation content development isn't that technical in nature, it has proved to be just as complex as technology development. Incorporating the knowledge and experience of management experts from across the nation into the EvaluSys Business Evaluation has involved an iterative process of content entry, configuration, verification and testing to confirm we have faithfully reflected all that management expertise into the system.

Favoring quality over quantity, we have narrowed the scope of the initial release to six evaluations: Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, Business Planning, Business Process Quality and Financial Planning & Control. Each evaluation defines dozens of business issues, or "recommended actions" for business improvement and growth. For each issue, a collection of diagnostic questions are identified. A variety of potential combinations of question responses are fashioned into "qualification scenarios" signaling a high probability that the business issue exists for the responding business owner's company. After this is done, our Evaluation Services Team works closely with our management subject-matter experts to describe how each business issue may impact the performance and future prospects of a company.

Unlike our technology which benefits from very precise programming language in order to provide the appropriate instructions to our computers, identifying the best way to phrase questions and communicate business issues and ideas to business owners is a very subjective process. Getting it right involves many sets of eyes and the involvement of actual business owners in beta testing the overall process. Each of the evaluations will be quality tested by multiple business owners before the green flag drops.

We've covered the technology and evaluation content development efforts that are unique to our business. EvaluSys leadership must also do what all businesses must do to be successful. We must do the necessary business planning and administrative activities to map out how, when, and where the company will operate. Preparing marketing strategies, sales processes, staffing plans, strategic alliances, capital funding, vendor selection, intellectual property protection and many other administrative matters compete for the attention of company leaders. We've just moved into new corporate offices as part of our 2009 operating plan.

That's a brief glimpse at the happenings at EvaluSys as we round turn four on our final pace lap. The green flag will soon be in sight and we have begun to accelerate our business for launch. Just like each of the Team Owners competing at today's 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, I'm proud of the teamwork and commitment that has positioned us to compete in the race.
]]>Sun, 24 May 2009 16:45:00 -0400