January 11, 2025
Exit Plan Basics
Here are the main elements of your exit plan. Communication is a prerequisite to the following steps. It’s touchy to think about telling employees your…
January 8, 2025
Stories Sell
This is a real-life story. A business owner is ready to sell and exit. He’s received numerous inquiries from others in his industry, has talked…
December 30, 2024
How to Get the Deal Done
We recently held the Getting the Deal Done Breakfast Conference, which started 15 years ago. Some things never change, as in, ~200 RSVPs, 20-25% no-shows,…
December 23, 2024
Different Organizations – Same Issues
Recently I attended the annual conference for a non-profit on whose board I serve. It’s NW Student Exchange and the name defines the mission. There…
December 11, 2024
If You Don’t Invest You Collapse
Cuba recently experienced a nationwide electrical blackout, this after numerous partial blackouts, closing of schools and other “non-essential” buildings, and doing other things to preserve…
November 20, 2024
How Not to Run a Business
An old contact asked if I could meet with a friend who received an unsolicited offer for his business. They gave me a sheet of…
November 13, 2024
Marketing – A Subtle Value Driver
I lost track years ago of all the business owners who said something like, “If someone knew anything about marketing this business would grow so…
November 6, 2024
Build a Team – Increase Value
A business owner is like the quarterback of a football team (not counting the coaches). He leads the offense, which directly affects the defense (because…
October 23, 2024
Don’t Brag – Find the Issue
We had meetings last week with a couple prospective business owner clients. One said it more directly than the other on why he liked us.…
October 16, 2024
Bad PR
I’m not a PR person (public relations) and still can tell you the Seattle Mariners blew it when they fired their manager. He found out…
