-
Helping business owners grow their companies and transition with confidence, added value and complete control.
Category Archives: John’s Opinions
When is the Right Time to Sell?
In the last few weeks I’ve had several conversations with owners about selling their companies. In one case a professional firm with whom I’ve worked for the last 4 years completed a merger with a large national company. That was … Continue Reading
Can Startup America revive US small business?
A couple of weeks ago in my opinion blog “Awake at 3 o’clock” I pointed out that politicians pronouncing small business owners as the saviors of the economy is a misplaced strategy. (“SMB isn’t the cure for the economy“) Most SMB … Continue Reading
Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, John's Opinions, Politics and Regulation
Tagged new business, startups
1 Comment
It’s Time for the Boomers to Step Up
Why I Need to Say This Three years ago I wrote an open letter titled “Last Chance to Save America” and sent it to my entire email list. It went viral, and I received almost a thousand emails in reply. … Continue Reading
Who are the Real Business Performers?
A business owner told me a story the other day… “After I was in business a few years, a large corporation made me a terrific offer to come work for them. I left my company in the hands of my … Continue Reading
Posted in John's Opinions, Leadership
Tagged business ownership, entrepreneurship, leadership
1 Comment
The Third Factor- A Third Eye?
For several years my writing and speaking has focused on two factors that are indispensable for entrepreneurs; creativity and tenacity. Creativity is the drive that not only makes entrepreneurs see opportunities, but also makes them consider every problem or challenge … Continue Reading
Life Imitates Art
I finally got around to seeing “Atlas Shrugged- Part I” this week. I went with a friend who is as much a fan of the book as I am. You really have to begin any critique of the movie by … Continue Reading
What are We Afraid Of?
Last weekend I took my sons to see “Battle for LA.” It’s a WWII infantry movie. All the great lines. “Go on without me.” “Mickey can hot wire that; he’s from Jersey.” “Your father was a very brave man.” Nowadays … Continue Reading
Posted in Business Perspectives, John's Opinions, Leadership
Tagged banks, entrepreneurship, politics, small business
Leave a comment
Humbug!
It happened again last week. I heard a business owner say “I’ve decided to terminate Bob, but I’m going to wait until the first week in January to do it. I don’t want to ruin someone’s holidays.” I go through … Continue Reading
Posted in Incentives, John's Opinions, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employees, leadership
Leave a comment
From the Small Business Advocate newsletter
This is from Jim Blasingames “Small Business Advocate” newsletter, and is based on a show we did last week. If you don’t get Jim’s newsletter, or want to hear the show, I strongly recommenfd that you go to http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/ Here is … Continue Reading
A New View of Who We Are
The economy has experienced 5 consecutive quarters of growth. We are officially more than a year past the end of the recession. I’m guessing that you, like me, responded to that fact with something like “HA!.” We all still feel … Continue Reading
It IS all about you.
Why did you want to own a business? If you believe the textbook definition of an entrepreneur, it was to leverage capital and other resources to create wealth. That probably applies to about 5% of us. Or, you might have started … Continue Reading
Hunters and Farmers
Several times monthly, I interview entrepreneurs who are considering membership in The Alternative Board® as a means to improve their business. Part of the process is asking each one what his or her core skills are – the things that … Continue Reading