Northbrook business coach has always been problem solver

Mendelevitz recently did a presentation called "I Will Stop Procrastinating -- Tomorrow" for a local networking group in Northbrook. Courtesy of Dan Mendelevitz.

Updated: April 15, 2013 6:33AM

NORTHBROOK — Ask Dan Mendelevitz what he does for a living and he’ll tell you he solves problems and helps businesses grow.

Mendelevitz is a Northbrook-based certified business coach and owner of the franchise, Focal Point, where he works with small- and medium-sized business owners who need help working out problems and developing new ideas and strategies to make their businesses the best they can be.

“I find that most people are good at what they do, but when it comes to running their business, they don’t have anyone to talk to,” said Mendelevitz, who has been coaching for almost two years, “I help them look at their goals and where they want to be, and then we come up with a plan, and I hold them accountable to implement the strategies.”

Mendelevitz is no stranger to problem solving. He spent 30 years as a consultant in information technology for various Chicago companies, and said that his job was all about fixing business problems.

“I found that 90% of the problems had to do with people, not technology,” said Mendelevitz, who holds a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in computer science. “I was always very good at translating between technical and non technical people, and one of the reasons I was successful was because I was able to get them to communicate for the first time.”

Mendelevitz said when he originally met with the franchise broker who told him about Focal Point, he knew it was a great fit.

“I realized that I had essentially been coaching for 30 years, but I didn’t call it that.” he said, “My main focus was helping people work through technical, people and business problems, and it’s so similar to what I’m doing now.”

Upon meeting a new client, Mendelevitz goes through a series of questions, learning as much as he can about the business. He then puts the business owner through what he calls “clarity.”

“Together we look at your goals, things like where you want to be, how you wish to build it, the stage in life of your company,” he said. “Some are still growing, some want to go to the next generation, some want to sell.”

What follows are once a week, one-hour sessions, where together they begin to focus on issues that can include time management, balance of business and personal life, relationships with employees and customers, communication, marketing and sales.

Mendelevitz charges a monthly retainer, but doesn’t lock the client into it. The price is mutually agreed on, and depends on factors such as the size of the company and number of employees. Focal Point estimates that the customer gets five to ten times the return on his or her investment.

Scott Bayrach is an LCPC and the owner of The DUI Counseling Center in Skokie, a business he’s had for 25 years. He hired Mendelevitz a year ago because he said he was having trouble organizing his business and needed some accountability.

“Dan is a problem solver,” he said. “He takes a look at a big problem and knows how to tear it down into chunks of goals and execution, and then we deal with one at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed.”

Bayrach said they work on things like cost control, reducing overhead, and preparing financials to sell one of his businesses.

“Dan is calm and knowledgeable, and able to come up with strategies that make sense,” he said, “No question he’s worth the money I’ve spent.”

Show / Hide Comments