Category Archives: Strategy and Planning

The Road Less Traveled

Posted on May 13, 2012 by John F. Dini

Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Perhaps Robert Frost’s famous poem isn’t a perfect expression of what I am … Continue Reading →

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Choosing a Buyer for Your Business

Posted on May 6, 2012 by John F. Dini

You may be questioning this title. After talking in depth about the shortage of buyers over the next 10 years, the differences in values and work habits of Generation X, and the competition for ambitious people from better financed and … Continue Reading →

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Beating the Boomer Bust

Posted on April 29, 2012 by John F. Dini

We’ve looked at the coming generation of business buyers, and many things about that picture aren’t pretty. When I present to business owners about the Boomer Bust, this is around the time that someone in the audience says “So, are we just … Continue Reading →

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The Gen X Business Buyer

Posted on April 22, 2012 by John F. Dini

Generation X’ers aren’t mini-Boomers. Raised in a rapidly growing economy by parents that approached child rearing as a competitive activity, they saw more, did more, and were given more than their parents could have dreamed of. I took my first … Continue Reading →

Posted in Building Value, Business Perspectives, Exit Options, Exit Planning, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The X Factor

Posted on April 15, 2012 by John F. Dini

There are two sides to every business transaction, a buyer and a seller. For most of the last 50 years in America, the Baby Boomers have been the biggest buyers in history. They bought homes and cars to spur the … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Economic Trends, Exit Options, Exit Planning, Exit Strategies, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Outsourcing America

Posted on April 8, 2012 by John F. Dini

The Baby Boomers created seismic shifts in American culture and economics throughout their lives. Their mere numbers caused much of the shift, but their competitiveness and commonality enhanced the impact at every stage of their lives. In the mid 1960’s, … Continue Reading →

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Work-Life Balance

Posted on April 1, 2012 by John F. Dini

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 →

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The Brass Ring

Posted on March 25, 2012 by John F. Dini

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 →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, Exit Planning, Exit Strategies, Life After, Strategy and Planning | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Pig in the Python

Posted on March 18, 2012 by John F. Dini

The title of this section refers to a well-known biological phenomenon. The python family of snakes have hinged jaws that allow them to swallow animals much larger than their heads. These animals are gradually consumed as they pass through the … Continue Reading →

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The Approaching Tidal Wave

Posted on March 11, 2012 by John F. Dini

A year ago this month, I began speaking to business owner groups about “Beating the Boomer Bust.” Since then I’ve delivered the presentation over 20 times, both locally and to national groups, and the requests for it are increasing. It’s … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Economic Trends, Exit Planning, Exit Strategies, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Are Mistakes Good?

Posted on February 19, 2012 by John F. Dini

“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 →

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Can You Build Your Business in Half the Time?

Posted on February 5, 2012 by John F. Dini

I had an unusual coincidence happen last week. Speaking to prospective new members of The Alternative Board (TAB), I wound up with three CPAs in the same meeting. They were from three different smaller firms, and all three identified their current … Continue Reading →

Posted in Customer Relations, Marketing, Marketing and Sales, Sales, Strategy and Planning | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment