Market Daily

Ryan Niddel – CEO of MIT45, Talks about How to Stay Positive and Focused in An Impending Recession

Market Daily Staff Market Daily Staff on March 9, 2023

Ryan Niddel is a well-known entrepreneur, board member, and CEO of MIT45. He leverages the latest business strategies to help companies improve their profits without compromising quality. By employing lean manufacturing principles and increasing operational efficiency, he has tripled revenue for more than five businesses within 2-1/2 years – totalling an additional $950M in value. His experience extends into various acquisitions or exits, where 11 firms have seen collective revenues surpassing $237M under his leadership.

At age 10, Niddel already had an entrepreneurial spark, starting a lawn mowing business in his local area. That drive earned him a mentorship at age 14 from a local businessman. Fast forward to today, and he’s achieved incredible success. He holds many titles: principal for a private equity group, CEO for two 8-figure businesses, and several board memberships. He has become renowned in Ohio as one of its top growth specialists with an impressive knack for increasing company profits and leading them toward higher valuations upon sale.

Niddel is passionate about giving back by supporting various charities, such as Big Brother Big Sister and Operation Underground Railroad. Now, he’s taking things further by launching a foundation that will teach young people how to apply business principles such as entrepreneurism and capitalism to their lives.

Niddel believes in delivering inspiration in his messages, especially on staying positive and focused – particularly important during the current economic uncertainty. Rather than buying into doom and gloom, Niddel advises focusing on creating a reality of resilience by bucking conventional wisdom: Save some money but don’t hunker down, and open your mind up to new possibilities.

In Latin, Ryan Niddel’s inspiring belief system is permanently etched into his arm: “I’ll find a way, or I’ll make one.” While the world may see an economic recession, Niddel views it as simply house cleaning. He believes there are no limits on what we can accomplish by tightening up operations and raising expectations for businesses that have previously been ‘squeaking by.’

Niddel also presents a unique perspective on approaching economic vulnerability: Don’t think about it. He finds inspiration in Ray Dalio’s work in forecasting, and looked to this for his own business. Even during the COVID crisis, with many businesses shrinking or closing altogether, Niddel could double the size of his business – demonstrating that staying positive and adapting can be successful even when facing adversity.

Niddel emphasizes the importance of not allowing oneself to listen to voices that lead to failure. While product availability and supply were important, believing in success was even more so; this approach enabled Niddel’s team members to push through despite COVID-19 disrupting many levels. Ultimately, their faith allowed them unparalleled growth, which provided inspiration to others.

Ryan Niddel emphasizes the power of optimism and focus: “Success will follow when we commit to making a positive impact. As Tony Robbins reminds us, our energies are directed by what captures our attention, so let’s ensure that it is focused on worthwhile endeavors.”

In addition to his impressive time managing finances and increasing revenue for businesses everywhere, Niddel also dedicates much of his time to mentoring other aspiring entrepreneurs and CEOs. He understands firsthand just how valuable mentorship can be when setting out on a career path, so he makes sure to pass along everything he knows about business management and financial planning to others who are just starting.

Niddel agrees that recessions can be daunting, but they don’t have to be something to fear. His advice is simple: Remain optimistic, make sure you have a plan in place for potential emergencies, don’t get too caught up in the news, and take advantage of any opportunities that arise due to the recession. Following his steps to staying positive through this uncertain time can lead to even greater strength on the other side.

There is no need to panic if you prepare yourself mentally for any eventuality. By considering Ryan Niddel’s advice – focus on what you can control internally, be creative in finding new growth opportunities, stay flexible with changing conditions, and surround yourself with supportive people – we can remain positive and focused during these trying times. It is important to remember that recessions are only temporary periods of adjustment which ultimately lead to stronger businesses in the long run, so keep your eyes open for any potential benefits.

If you’d like to learn more about Ryan Niddel, visit his website at https://ryanniddel.com/.

Ryan Niddel on Globalization and ‘Just-in-Time’

Market Daily Staff Market Daily Staff on September 15, 2022

Ryan Niddel knows what makes a business tick. He’s built a reputation as a business growth specialist for private and public mid-caps looking to improve profitability and EBITDA through increased operational efficiency. As a result, Niddel has helped over a dozen companies achieve a higher valuation before sale or merger by increasing their revenues by nearly $250 million and valuations by over $1 billion. 

We caught up with Ryan to ask him about today’s post-pandemic business climate and the trends he sees developing over the next six to eighteen months. 

Q: Looking into your crystal ball for the next 6-18 months, what do you see in store for the overall U.S. economy?

A: What I see ahead for the economy is an unnecessary yet unavoidable correction. I’m undoubtedly pro-business and pro-economic growth. But when we look back over the past few years, when we’ve had inexpensive money and then the government stepped in during the pandemic and threw money around in the form of Economic Injury Disaster Loans, it’s put a lot of money, too much money into the system. Many businesses probably didn’t need these loans, and when they received them, they didn’t know what to do with the money. Some of it was spent frivolously. Those businesses that have maintained sound, prudent business practices are the ones who will emerge victorious over the next eighteen months. 

Q: With the globalized economy, we’ve recently experienced severe supply chain disruptions. What do you think we’ve learned from that?

A: You’ve hit the nail on the head when discussing the supply chain. We’ve got raw materials coming into the U.S. from all corners of the globe and durable goods from China and that region. And now, the supply chain problem has gained people’s attention. Some businesses have taken that excess capital they’ve had available, and instead of taking it as a distribution, they’ve invested in supply chains and become more vertically integrated. So, with my businesses, we’ve doubled down with growth initiatives over the past two years. As we move into a more challenging business cycle, we’re in a stronger position to consolidate market share. 

Q: What should businesses do to prepare for a more challenging business cycle?

A: Do they have eight months of inventory, including raw materials, to make their products? Do they have their financials audited in a way so that they can acquire capital if needed? But, again, this is not a time to shoot from the hip. 

Q: Over the past thirty years, there’s been a trend toward ‘just-in-time’ inventories and procurement. How does that trend play into the current economic forecast?

A: The just-in-time manufacturing model has the advantages of freeing up capital and improving balance sheets. Both are going to drive up valuations and stock prices. In Wall Street terms, everyone’s happy, and everything is beautiful. But at what cost, and at what risk? So much of our raw materials and consumable goods come from foreign lands. Covid was a wake-up call. In my business, we’ve always run a little heavy on inventory. We’ve even been criticized for it. But I don’t have a business if I don’t have products to sell. I’m out of business. 

Q: Should businesses be looking more for domestic suppliers?

A: It’s going to be interesting to watch the next five years to see how much manufacturing comes back to the United States and how much the government supports that shift. And if so, what will that look like politically? Will it involve socialistic programs, or can it be achieved purely through economic incentives? If I have a bottle that I buy for $.15 in Asia, and that same bottle costs me $.45 to produce in the U.S., I have to buy it in Asia to remain competitive. However, what happens if that Asian supply is suddenly cut off? Suppose I had identified a reliable U.S. supplier for the bottle and dedicated 10% or 15% of my purchases to them. In that case, losing my Asian source may disrupt my business, but it won’t put me out of business.

Supply chain diversification is a form of insurance. I think globalization has run ahead of geopolitics and good common sense. We still have countries that launch wars against their neighbors for no good reason, causing havoc in commodity markets. What happens if and when China invades Taiwan? Is Covid an anomaly, or is it the first pandemic of many? How will climate change affect global economics? We see these things as anomalies, but taken together, they’re not anomalies. There are too many potential sources of risk. In the years ahead, businesses will need to evaluate these risks and make accommodations for them in their strategic planning and operational practices.