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Helping business owners grow their companies and transition with confidence, added value and complete control.
Tag Archives: business ownership
Work-Life Balance
The term “Work-Life Balance” is widely cited as first occurring in the United State in 1986 in a research paper. I can’t identify the specific source of this much-referred usage, but it is telling that it would pop up when the last … Continue Reading
The Brass Ring
A long, long time ago (I’ve actually ridden only one such in my lifetime) Carousels had a spring-loaded sleeve of brass rings protruding near the innermost (and least popular) track of horses. A bigger kid could lean out and yank … Continue Reading
Hunting vs. Farming
At the family gathering, you are being introduced to a distant cousin you haven’t seen since childhood. The introduction usually includes your status as a business owner. “Do you remember little Cousin Bobby? He owns his own company now.” Or … Continue Reading
Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, Life After, Uncategorized
Tagged business ownership, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship
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Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (Not!)
When you are in love, separation from your loved one is painful. The longer you are separated, the more you want to be together. The saying is attributed to Thomas Haynes Bayly, a popular (but fairly light weight) writer of … Continue Reading
Posted in Leadership, Managing Employees, Sales
Tagged business ownership, employees, leadership
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Are Mistakes Good?
“Experience is a dear teacher, but only a fool will learn from no other.” Benjamin Franklin Business owners learn a lot from their experiences. As a friend says, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” … Continue Reading
Tax Deductible- So What?
We have done ourselves a disservice as business owners. Too often we have justified an expenditure to non-owner friends as “tax deductible” to show how clever we are. In doing so, we have confused the public. They see the Federal … Continue Reading
Posted in John's Opinions
Tagged business ownership, entrepreneurship, politics, small business
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Employees aren’t Partners
Many of my clients are recovering from the recession. They are running lean, and have restored their profitability, even if at lower revenues than prior to 2008. Those that had to reduce or freeze employee compensation are seeking ways to … Continue Reading
A Return to the Handshake?
There are five words that strike fear into the heart of every business owner. They are “Let me call my lawyer.” I’m not talking about threats. If I had a nickel for every person who threatens “I’m going to call … Continue Reading
The Seven Questions of Simple Planning
The Creation In the beginning was the plan And it sprang from the assumptions And the assumptions were without form So the plan was void of substance And darkness fell upon the face of the workers And the workers … Continue Reading
Getting Smart about SMART
It is approaching 2012, and (hopefully) most of us are finalizing our plans for the upcoming year. In our groups of The Alternative Board, we are asking each member to state their sales and revenue objectives. We all know that … Continue Reading
Posted in Leadership, Strategy and Planning
Tagged business ownership, leadership, management
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Thanks for Everything
A British friend was commenting to me on how “odd” he found the American celebration of Thanksgiving. “There is no equivalent holiday in Europe, or anywhere else in the world.” he said. “You have an entire day devoted to conspicuous … Continue Reading
When is a Bonus not a Bonus?
“And yet, you don’t think me ill-used, when I pay a day’s wages for no work.” That statement by Ebenezer Scrooge to Bob Cratchett in 1843 recognized the then relatively new custom of letting wage-earners have a day off for … Continue Reading
Posted in Incentives, Leadership, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employee performance, employees
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