Entrepreneurship

Howard Stevenson defines Entrepreneurship as the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources controlled. Typically, we think of entrepreneurs as people who start businesses and are willing to risk loss in order to make money. In reality, an entrepreneur is anyone who spots an opportunity and decides to pursue it regardless of the resources currently at their disposal.

Celebrating Mr. Fezziwig

Since 2013 I’ve updated this piece about the underappreciated and forgotten boss of A Christmas Carol, Mr. Fezziwig. I hope that you enjoy it. Merry Christmas! Last week was the 180th anniversary of the publication of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas …
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Exit Planning - Lifestyle and Legacy

Lifestyle and Legacy are two very different types of owner transition objectives. When we ask a client “What do you expect as a result of our exit planning?” the answer may be about the money, the time frame, or the …
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The AI role in Exit Planning

Is there an AI role in Exit Planning? The media is packed with stories about Artificial Intelligence. According to the stories, because a smart search engine (which is essentially what a Learning Language Model [LLM] is,) can pass a Bar …
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Delegation and Depth - Company Readiness for Exit

Delegation and depth are critical when presenting your business as a buying opportunity. For many business owners, exit planning means getting the company ready for sale to a third party. There are a number of approaches to enhancing preparedness for …
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The Role of a Coach in Exit Planning

Defining the role of a coach on your exit planning team doesn’t just happen. Like any other aspect of working with consultants, you need to set expectations upfront. Many advisors like to characterize themselves as the “quarterback” of a transition …
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"Work From Anywhere" Comes Full Circle

Work from anywhere was initially a boon for many employees. Now employers are catching up.
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The GAAP Traps

GAAP traps often occur when a business owner sells a company to a third party. The transaction is commonly memorialized by a Purchase Agreement. That agreement contains certain representations (or “reps”) and warranties.
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Prepared for 2023 - Is This the Year to Exit?

What does being prepared for 2023 mean for business owners who are approaching, at, or already beyond normal retirement age? It’s become fashionable to pontificate about the “inevitable” recession in the coming year. There is an argument for not talking …
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Owner Obstacles to an Exit Plan

Owner obstacles to the implementation of an exit plan are often unconscious, but they can be dramatic.  Their attachment to the business can be difficult to break. An advisor spends a lot of time and energy developing the vision for …
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Entreprenuers Don't Use Rearview Mirrors

Entrepreneurs don’t use rearview mirrors. All business owners are goal oriented. From the day you founded or assumed control of your company, you set targets and achieved them. That is why you are successful. You know how to define a …
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Main Street Business and Middle-Market

A common area of confusion among both business owners and advisors is the difference between a “Main Street” business, a “Middle Market” business, and a “Mom and Pop” business. Main Street Businesses The International Business Brokers’ Association and other professional …
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Contingency and Continuity Planning

When business consultants talk about preparing for unforeseen problems, they frequently commingle the terms contingency and continuity. The terms are not synonymous, and there are important differences between them. Contingency Planning Contingency planning is generally accepted to mean how a …
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An Employee Retention Culture

Do you have an employee retention culture? Finding and keeping employees is exceptionally tough at present. Some are working remotely and being poached by employers in another state, others are listening to the pundits saying that employment is a seller’s …
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Do you Suffer from Decision Addiction?

Do you suffer from decision addiction? The typical business owner lives on dopamine.  According to WebMD: Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter. Your body makes it, and your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. That’s why …
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A Boss for the other 364

Each year I reprint a post from 2013 about the underappreciated boss of A Christmas Carol, Mr. Fezziwig. I hope that you enjoy it. Merry Christmas! This week was the 178th anniversary of the publication of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas …
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