Tag Archives: leadership

Employee Experience: Is Bigger Better?

Posted on July 3, 2016 by John F. Dini

Small businesses provide much of the initial employee experience. We take younger folks and teach them decent work habits like showing up every day, being on time, and working to deadlines. As owners, our personal skills may not be sufficient. We … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, John's Opinions, Leadership, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning | Tagged Baby Boomers, business, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, hiring, leadership, management, marketing, sales, small business, small business advice | Leave a comment

What’s in YOUR Nondisclosure Agreement?

Posted on June 26, 2016 by John F. Dini

A Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) has become one of the basic standard documents in every company’s wallet. Between the rising swell of Baby Boomer owners entertaining exit planning, and greater caution surrounding the legal issues of strategic partnering, an NDA is … Continue Reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Exit Options, Exit Planning, Managing Employees, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged Baby Boomers, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, exit planning, exit strategies, leadership, management, selling a business, small business, small business advice | 5 Comments

What the Heck is Exit Planning?

Posted on June 12, 2016 by John F. Dini

The wave of Baby Boomer retirements is beginning. I’ve been writing and speaking about exit planning nationally for the last ten years, (you can download my free eBook on the subject here), but the inevitability of the demographics is gaining … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, Exit Planning, Exit Strategies, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged Baby Boomers, Boomer Bust, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, entrepreneurship, Exit Options, exit planning, financial, leadership, management, selling a business, small business, small business advice | 1 Comment

What Should A Small Business Insure?

Posted on June 5, 2016 by John F. Dini

Every business carries insurance. Some is required by law, such as unemployment insurance or coverage on vehicles. Most is optional, but there is “common sense” coverage and more esoteric policies intended to help you recover from company-threatening events. I’ll spend the … Continue Reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Exit Planning, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, exit planning, exit strategies, financial, health care costs, leadership, management, selling a business, small business, small business advice | 1 Comment

The New Information Direction: Push Over Pull

Posted on May 29, 2016 by John F. Dini

Ever since we started using computers in virtually every business, we’ve been putting data into them. Unfortunately, the issue has been getting information back out. In the middle 1980’s I ran a manufacturing company together with a couple of Australians. They thought … Continue Reading →

Posted in Customer Relations, Entrepreneurship, Managing Employees, Marketing and Sales, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, financial, leadership, management, marketing, media, new business, promotion, sales, sales management, small business, small business advice | 1 Comment

Help Your Friends, Not Your Competitors’

Posted on May 22, 2016 by John F. Dini

I hear it all too often. “A customer just called us for a quote. They have always done business with our competitor. We’re going to give them our best deal, and see if we can take their business.” Before you … Continue Reading →

Posted in Customer Relations, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Sales, Sales, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, marketing, new business, sales, sales management, small business, small business advice, trade | 1 Comment

Is Two Weeks Fair Notice?

Posted on May 15, 2016 by John F. Dini

I formerly employed an assistant who held a Masters Degree in Human Resources. On occasion she’d say “I love working here. I’ll never quit.” Of course, as a good employer I felt an urge to reply with equal commitment, but … Continue Reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Incentives, Leadership, Managing Employees | Tagged Baby Boomers, business, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, hiring, leadership, management, small business, small business advice | 7 Comments

Extreme Democracy

Posted on May 8, 2016 by John F. Dini

Last week the British government announced that it was naming their new scientific research ship the RSS Sir David Attenborough, acting counter to the people’s selection of “Boaty McBoatface,” despite that name being an overwhelming 3:1 favorite over the next closest choice. … Continue Reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged business, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, downsizing, economy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, exit planning, hiring, leadership, management, media, politics, sales, selling a business, small business, small business advice | 4 Comments

What Does HR Do?

Posted on May 1, 2016 by John F. Dini

What are the roles of a Human Resources professional in your organization? A common rule of thumb is that a company should have a dedicated HR function once it reaches 80 employees or so. This post comes from a recent meeting of … Continue Reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Incentives, Leadership, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning | Tagged Baby Boomers, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, health care costs, hiring, leadership, management, promotion, public relations, small business, small business advice | 4 Comments

Small Businesses Fantasies: Service

Posted on April 17, 2016 by John F. Dini

As an evangelist for small business, I am the consumer equivalent of the locally-grown food movement. I spend as much of my discretionary income as possible with the owned-and-operated businesses in my area. As a consultant and coach to owners, I also … Continue Reading →

Posted in Customer Relations, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Managing Employees, Marketing, Marketing and Sales, Sales | Tagged business ownership, business planning, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, marketing, media, promotion, public relations, sales, sales management, small business, small business advice | 3 Comments

Let the Business Owners Pay for It

Posted on April 10, 2016 by John F. Dini

When it comes to “No taxation without representation,” the rallying cry of our founding fathers, few identifiable population segments are as abused as business owners. One of my long-time clients is a franchisor, and until very recently I was a … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, Politics and Regulation, Strategy and Planning | Tagged banks, business, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, credit cards, economy, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, health care costs, leadership, management, new business, politics, small business advice, startups, trade | 5 Comments

Time to Grow Up

Posted on April 3, 2016 by John F. Dini

Young industries no longer have the time to grow up. The cycle of maturation has long been accepted as a fact of life when a new concept becomes a business. There are a few pioneers (defined here in Texas as … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Marketing and Sales, Strategy and Planning, Technology | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, economy, employee performance, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, new business, small business, small business advice, startups | 3 Comments