Are You At Risk?
You ARE at risk in many ways. What are the risks? What can you do about them? Consider a webinar on June 11, 2025 to hear from 4 experts on commercial insurance, contracts, negotiation, and business.
Broken COGs in a Wheel
COGS are not just teeth on a wheel or gear that keep a machine running. They are your Cost of Goods Sold and are an essential part of the financial equations that determine pricing and revenue, lead to profits, and affect value.
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Whatcha Gonna Do?
So, this week, and into the near future, we have new rules and the rules are going to be changing. Tariffs are in force, more are coming, negotiations are in process that can change the tariffs with little notice, regulations are being reconsidered, lawsuits are flying, funding is being pulled back, jobs are disappearing in the government sector. There is nothing fair about all that. And you really cannot change it, unless you are the leader of a large corporation that can influence government leaders directly. That’s not me, and probably not you. So, whatcha gonna do?
Disrupt Yourself or Be Disrupted
Before you decide to accept an investment from a private equity company, consider the alternative of improving the company yourself. Accept PE investment dollars and you very likely will need to continue working at the company for 1-5 years after you take PE money. You may be enticed to make more money with a “second bite of the apple” when the PE firm exits. That exit has grown from a typical 3 years to nearly 7 years.
Disrupt Yourself or Be Disrupted Read More »
He Who Has . . . Wins
Why is your business not doing better? How can you deal with it? What does it look like now and what could it look like with the right tools applied effectively to improve your Revenue, Earnings, and Value.
He Who Has . . . Wins Read More »
Constant Change—Constant Risk of Disruption
Like it or not, change is constant. Change is a risk of disruption in your business. Supply chains are particularly susceptible to disruptions that add time and cost to manufacturing and transportation businessses. A new report on shipping containers is interesting.
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Advertising Reigns Supreme
Advertising must be among the most common business models and methods of marketing. I am constantly bombarded by advertisements. . . . don’t hate advertising, but I’m not a big fan. It is everywhere. . . . it is often recommended to use the AIDA approach.
Advertising Reigns Supreme Read More »
Rocks in a Stream
Do you know the story of the rocks, pebbles, and sand in a glass? How about half full or half empty or something else? Oxygen for the body can be likened to cash for a business. Both need to be available and flowing.
Think Like a Banker
While at Daimler Truck North America, I had a group that spent in excess of $10 million a year (back then). I was not a profit center. I was an expense center. Yearly I had to put together a zero-based budget. Monthly I had to review my results and annotate for the CFO group any
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7 Essential Documents When Buying or Selling a Business
Many people are looking to buy or exit from a business with revenue from $2 million to $20 million. These are at the lower end of the middle market. I have seen it done very simply between a benevolent owner and an employee, as well as more formally when selling a 50-year business to those building a portfolio of business investments. At this size, it is still important to understand 7 key documents and processes. Unfortunately, too few companies are able to run this hurdle race and exit successfully.
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Happy THIS Year!
Why wait till next year? I hope that this year has been good for you, your family, your career, your business. So much to do and so little time left. But, there is time to make the year end well, to spend time with family, and to prepare for an even better year in 2025.
“Times Are A Changin’” — Is Your Business Keeping Up?
No matter how you voted, we can all agree that something has changed and more change is coming. Are you ready? It is time to dust off your strategy for the next 5 years and make your own changes. If not, you will not achieve your growth goals, exit on your terms, and may end up closing your doors as is happening with so many restaurants, retailers, and other businesses.
“Times Are A Changin’” — Is Your Business Keeping Up? Read More »
7 Reasons for CEO to Communicate Effectively
Communications is vital to anyone leading a business or even a part of a business. You would be hard pressed to over communicate. Here are seven reasons with explanations following.
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The GAME is UP. Or is it?
The GAMEs are over! At least The Games of the XXXIII (33rd) Olympiad are over. But your GAME never ends. The race to the finish for the year is now on and in full swing. You likely closed the books on the first 7 months of the year and you now have choices for the remainder of the race. . . . The choice is yours. What is your GAME plan?
The GAME is UP. Or is it? Read More »
Don’t Lie to Yourself!
It’s likely human nature for people to lie to themselves and to others. Have you ever caught a child doing something wrong, confronted them, and their immediate response is something like, “I didn’t do it!”?
Don’t Lie to Yourself! Read More »
7 Pricing Options
There are three ways to improve your business. Increase revenue, decrease costs, and/or make it easier to run. Of the three, it is impossible to avoid increasing revenue. I’ve often said, “growth is an imperative.” With inflation, it is also impossible to avoid increasing prices. Improving the business and decreasing costs can only take you so far, even when the sales of units are increasing. So, let’s briefly discuss 7 ways of pricing your products and services.
Let’s Do It!
The Iditaod sled race is coming up. There are some important items to consider for business when comparing to how a leader chooses and trains the team.
What’s Your BOSS Like?
Do people leave their boss or their BOSS? What? Your people leave because they don’t get along with someone or with the company itself. Your values, culture, and WHY you exist matter more and more to all stakeholders. The people leaving could be employees, contractors, consultants, suppliers, customers, investors, or customers.
What’s Your BOSS Like? Read More »
7 Reasons to Participate in a Peer Advisory Team
PAT yourself on your back if you are already working with a peer group in your industry. As business owners and leaders you constantly face a never ending and ever changing set of Challenges, Opportunities, Problems and Ideas (COPIs). Having a strong support network, a TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) of similar leaders, can make a significant difference in your success.
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No Time? Time is of the Essence. There’s No Time Like the Present.
You can’t become a better runner or swimmer without taking the time to practice and confer with others. So, what are you going to do to free up more time for yourself since you cannot create more time? No Time, No Effort, No Growth
No Time? Time is of the Essence. There’s No Time Like the Present. Read More »
An Update Is Available for . . .
What operating systems do you deal with at work and personally. Do you know what they are? How do you update them?
What is your own WHY.os operating system? Do you need a new B.O.S.S. as in Business Operating System Strategy?
An Update Is Available for . . . Read More »
Who WILL You TRUST to Run Your Business?
My wife and I recently finished updating our wills and trusts. It had been ten years since the last update. . . . Our lawyer and our financial planner, separately, asked about our plans for the consulting business. . . . What about YOU?
Who WILL You TRUST to Run Your Business? Read More »
Don’t Get MAD—Get Even BETTER
1. Figure out your personal WHY.os, that of your leadership team, and for your company.
2. Join your PaC (Peer Advisory Council) to get continuing support.
3. Get Clarity on what your business looks like from the outside.
Don’t Get MAD—Get Even BETTER Read More »
BLUF Your Way to Success
A better way to make your point quickly is to simplify it and clarify at the end.
BLUF Your Way to Success Read More »
Peer Advisory Groups Focused on Manufacturing & Related Industries
Manufacturing drives our economy and is fueld by small, privately held businesses. Leaders can benefit from Peer Advisory Councils with focus on their industry.
Peer Advisory Groups Focused on Manufacturing & Related Industries Read More »
Do You Know Your Customer?
So, what did this customer want? Did anyone ever ask what she was wanting to accomplish? Was she looking for a drill motor? Or a drill? Or a screw? Nope, she just wanted . . .
Do You Know Your Customer? Read More »
If you’re bored, it’s time to get a board
After years of building your business, often from scratch, you’ve reached a point of satisfaction with the lifestyle the business is providing. BUT. For any business, growth is an imperative. If you ever hope to transfer the wealth of your business onto your personal account of net worth, you may well have some serious business
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SuperBowl LVII Business Lessons
A week has gone by since SuperBowl LVII ended. The world did not end. The world did not change because of the sports extravaganza. Some are still talking about the unique commercials—others are . . .
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Peer Into The Future
January is a good time to look to the future. It starts in the first week with the big CES show in Las Vegas where concept vehicles, prototypes of all sorts, and advanced ind advanced ideas for technology are…
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Leadership REQUIRES Meetings
Who likes meetings? I’d guess a majority of people don’t. That’s likely due to them being so poorly run and called for the wrong reasons. Yet, leadership REQUIRES meetings. Leaders get things done by…
Leadership REQUIRES Meetings Read More »