I’ve been listening to a very interesting podcast with a geologist named Randall Carlson. He’s discussing the changes in the earth over the last 15,000 years and he states there’s evidence there was a mile thick sheet of ice over the top half of the northern hemisphere. Then it seems an asteroid hit the earth, the ice started melting, and it was a 5,000-year process to finish melting.
Asteroids are a “thing” with Mr. Carlson. Given his field the changing earth, the history of it, etc. he’s super focused on if and when another asteroid of destruction size will collide with the earth. Most of us go about our days not thinking about meteors, comets, or asteroids. Not Mr. Carlson, he seems to get nervous when something in space comes within 100,000 miles of earth.
I’m talking to a business owner whose company’s earnings in 2020 and 2021 were 20% of 2019, yet he sees nothing but rainbows and opportunity. All is rosy. The asteroid only glanced his company.
In both cases I’m reminded of old sayings (cliches) like, “Take your blinders off,” and, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” When it comes to buying, selling, or growing a business:
- Buyers will get excited about the big picture and at the same time play forensic mechanic on the workings of the company. Trust but verify and then verify again.
- Owners, especially smart owners, will realize even if they have the best product in the world, they still need to work hard to get people to know about it and buy it.
- Sellers believe they have a great business and sometimes don’t understand why all the questions. And one of my favorite sayings is, “Just when you think you’ve answered every possible question (about your business), the bank asks more.”
It’s a combination of optimism and skepticism that often leads to success. As in, I’ve got something good and realize it won’t sell itself.
“The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day; a movement is only people moving.” Gloria Steinem”
“It’s hard to be diamond in a rhinestone world.” Dolly Parton
