Tag Archives: business strategy

When Supervisors Become Managers

Posted on July 5, 2015 by John F. Dini

Any promotion means more responsibility. Few steps require as big a leap as the transition from supervisor to manager. Each step up the ladder involves a change in tasks, but an employee’s first managerial position necessitates a change in thinking; one which isn’t … Continue Reading →

Posted in Customer Relations, Entrepreneurship, Incentives, Leadership, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, management, promotion, small business, small business advice | Leave a comment

Structural Tension: Is It Good or Bad for Your Business?

Posted on June 28, 2015 by John F. Dini

Logically, no one would enter into a business relationship where anything that is better for one party is worse for the other. Such a zero-sum arrangement would quickly grow tiresome. Either one party is consistently losing in every transaction, or … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, John's Opinions, Politics and Regulation, Strategy and Planning, Technology | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, health care costs, health care reform, management, sales, small business, small business advice | Leave a comment

Technology and Bunker Hill Tactics

Posted on June 21, 2015 by John F. Dini

In a small business, underused technology could be considered a “Bunker Hill” error in using your competitive capabilities. Last Wednesday, June 17th, marked the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Ranked as the 6th most costly battle of the Revolution in terms … Continue Reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning, Technology | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, management, small business, small business advice | 2 Comments

Selling Your Business in a Buyer’s Market

Posted on June 7, 2015 by John F. Dini

For almost ten years I’ve been writing and speaking about the issues facing Baby Boomer business owners as they begin a flood of small business sales. This recent article was syndicated in 16 trade and professional magazines. I reprint it … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Economic Trends, Entrepreneurship, Exit Options, Exit Planning, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged Baby Boomers, Boomer Bust, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, exit planning, exit strategies, management, selling a business, small business, small business advice | 3 Comments

A Machine is Coming to Steal Your Business

Posted on May 31, 2015 by John F. Dini

We accept, almost without question, the idea that technology can make us more efficient. No small business owner would dream of replacing his or her PC, email and copier with a room full of typists. How enthusiastic will we be when a machine can … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Economic Trends, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning, Technology | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, small business, small business advice | 4 Comments

Invisible Discounts

Posted on May 24, 2015 by John F. Dini

In the words of the late, great Father Guido Sarducci of Saturday Night Live fame; “I canna teach you everything you need to know about business inna fiva minutes. You buya something, and thena you sell it for more.” A … Continue Reading →

Posted in Customer Relations, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Marketing and Sales, Sales | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, sales management, small business, small business advice | 3 Comments

Effective vs. Efficient: A Tale of Two Cities

Posted on May 17, 2015 by John F. Dini

Some organizations are effective. Some are efficient. From the customer’s perspective the two may look very much the same, but the difference to your bottom line can be substantial. A few years ago my wife and I toured Vienna, and … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, small business, small business advice | 4 Comments

Where are All Those Jobseekers?

Posted on April 26, 2015 by John F. Dini

Workers: There are currently 5.1 million job openings in the US; an all time high. While the official unemployment stands at 5.5%, the U-6 unemployment rate, which includes people working as little as one hour a week for “economic reasons” … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Economic Trends, Entrepreneurship, John's Opinions, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning, Top Blog Posts | Tagged business ownership, business strategy, employees, entrepreneurship, hiring, management, small business, small business advice | 10 Comments

Money is Only Money

Posted on April 19, 2015 by John F. Dini

Last week I discussed the general parameters of the private equity market for small and midsized businesses. A rational look at the number of “funds” active in the market, measured against the number of legitimate candidates for investment or acquisition, … Continue Reading →

Posted in Building Value, Entrepreneurship, Exit Options, Exit Planning, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, exit planning, exit strategies, small business, small business advice | Leave a comment

Does Investment Capital Make Sense for Your Business?

Posted on April 12, 2015 by John F. Dini

In the business acquisition world, deals where a seller keeps some equity for a future round of merger or acquisition activity is generally known as getting a “second bite of the apple.” Private Equity Groups (PEG), of which some 5,000 currently operate … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Economic Trends, Exit Planning, Selling a business, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business, business brokerage, business ownership, business planning, business strategy, economy, entrepreneurship, exit planning, exit strategies, selling a business, small business advice | Leave a comment

Regulation: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Posted on April 5, 2015 by John F. Dini

True story: A fortune 500 company implements a new wellness plan for employees. It’s designed by consultants who use the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as a template. Workers are incentivized to get regular exercise, quit smoking and lose weight; with … Continue Reading →

Posted in Business Perspectives, Entrepreneurship, John's Opinions, Managing Employees, Politics and Regulation, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurship, health care costs, health care reform, hiring, management, politics, sales, small business, small business advice | 1 Comment

Do Titles Make Leaders?

Posted on February 15, 2015 by John F. Dini

You’ve promoted a great employee beyond his capabilities. He is putting in long hours, but appears unable to keep up with the new responsibilities. In fact, he doesn’t even seem to understand what those responsibilities are, or what they should … Continue Reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Managing Employees, Strategy and Planning | Tagged business ownership, business planning, business strategy, employee performance, employees, entrepreneurship, financial, hiring, leadership, management, promotion, sales management, small business, small business advice | Leave a comment