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Helping business owners grow their companies and transition with confidence, added value and complete control.
Category Archives: Leadership
Leaner and Meaner (Part 2): Retaining Good Employees
Last week we discussed the post-recession challenges that face business owners, and the economic and demographic shifts that mean we need to run our companies better than we ever have before. Between 2008 and 2010 many business owners faced a task they had … Continue Reading
Santa Boss: The Role of a Business Owner
Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts, so it’s fitting that I tackle the issue of the holidays three times. We’ve discussed terminations close to the holidays, and the custom of dispensing year-end bonuses. But in the end Dicken’s Scrooge was … Continue Reading
Year End Bonuses: Incentive or Entitlement?
It’s time for our annual discussion of the Holiday bonus.I pine for the days of my spiritual ancestor Ebenezer, who was offended at the expectation that he would pay Cratchit a whole day’s wages without receiving any work in return. One year … Continue Reading
Success: Is Good Enough, Good Enough?
On Friday’s On Point program on NPR, Devlin Barrett and Tom Ricks discussed the burgeoning “Generals’ Affair” scandal. This weekend, the Wall Street Journal has a commentary by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, which reinforces several analyses in that paper … Continue Reading
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Tagged business ownership, entrepreneurship, leadership
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Employee Confidentiality: Circles Within Circles
The father of a friend, a rancher in South Texas, conveys confidential information by preceding it with the following caution. “Now I’m going to tell you a secret, and you have to swear not to tell another soul. And when … Continue Reading
Employee Motivation: The Effect of the Economy
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter delivered his “Crisis of Confidence” speech, commonly referred to as his “Malaise Speech” although he never actually used that word. To a country reeling from stagflation and an oil crisis, it was an additional blow to … Continue Reading
Politically Speaking: Do Small Business Owners Have a Voice?
The political parties have completed their prime-time convention pageantry, and are buckling down for the 60 day dash to the election. Both profess to be focused on the”little guy,” the middle class backbone of America. One party says that you … Continue Reading
Posted in Entrepreneurship, John's Opinions, Leadership
Tagged Ayn Rand, economy, employees, entrepreneurship, news, politics
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It’s Your Money: Fighting Profit Guilt
A few weeks ago one of my peer boards was discussing the hiring of a new salesperson. One owner asked the others “What is the most important trait you look for in a new salesman?” Another member immediately burst out: “Someone … Continue Reading
More than a Feeling
This is the story of two business owners. It is true. It is real-time. Both stories occurred last week, and I was present in both conversations. The first story is one of disaster. A restaurant owner I work with was … Continue Reading
Lords of Chaos
Every business owner must be adept at dealing with chaos. Entrepreneurship demands the ability to choose a course of action when everyone else is staring into the headlights. It requires a willingness to make a decision with inadequate information, and to make new decisions … Continue Reading
Where’s Waldo?
An old New Yorker cartoon depicts two men walking down the streets of Manhattan. “The think I like most about being the Boss is that you get to make your own hours.” one says. “Yes,” the other replies, “as long … Continue Reading
Posted in Business Perspectives, John's Opinions, Leadership, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employees, management
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Entrepreneurs Love Paperwork
Entrepreneurs love paperwork. Not. The truth is that most entrepreneurs hate paperwork with a passion otherwise reserved for the college team that ran up the score on their alma mater year in and year out. If I want to get a guaranteed … Continue Reading