Category Archives: Leadership

Getting Smart about SMART

It is approaching 2012, and (hopefully) most of us are finalizing our plans for the upcoming year. In our groups of The Alternative Board, we are asking each member to state their sales and revenue objectives. We all know that … Continue reading

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When is a Bonus not a Bonus?

“And yet, you don’t think me ill-used, when I pay a day’s wages for no work.” That statement by Ebenezer Scrooge to Bob Cratchett in 1843 recognized the then relatively new custom of letting wage-earners have a day off for … Continue reading

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Three Circles of Family Business

What is a “Family Business?” A large percentage of small companies have some family involved. For most, it is simple a case of providing employment to family members. If the founder of the company is also the principle revenue generator, … Continue reading

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Exit Planning, Leadership, Strategy and Planning | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

2 Responses to Three Circles of Family Business

  1. Julie Herrington says:

    Ouch, I am living this situation. Vision and leadership is the challenging issue. There is not one right way to run company. I learned from you that each business reflects business owner’s personal values and style. Great article and if others respond too, hopefully you will share more on this topic and transitioning family business.

  2. Bill Seelig says:

    Additional Information,
    Actually the most stable relationship system is a three party system where the third party acts as a calming, reasonable voice that facilitates constructive communication and decision making. In family business succession work we have long advocated a three system view: Family, Business and Board. In the latter we work toward a balance of participants between family representatives and respected, independent outsiders with experience and expertise relevant to the current and future work of the business. We typically do not recommend professionals – lawyers, accountants, consultants… who are aligned and indebted financially to the business. The challenge is to start this process long before succession – through family education and involvement of key family members in learning about and appreciating the complexities of running and growing a successful family business. The earlier the better…
    Bill Seelig,
    bill@seeligs.com

    Bill Seelig

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You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

This past week I’ve been interviewing prospective participants for our new “Noise Reduction System®” training which was created by Larry Linne. It focuses on teaching Second-In-Command (SIC) managers (anyone who answers directly to the owner, the First-In-Command or FIC) how to … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Managing Employees | 1 Comment

One Response to You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

  1. Julie Herrington says:

    John,

    I very much enjoy the information you share. These articles are excellent and I pass them along to others. I miss being in the presence of your great drive and insight. You have an amazing gift for speaking the truth and providing direction even when the truth is hard for us as individuals to recognize about ourselves.

    Thanks again,
    Julie

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Never, never, never, never give up.

I kind of see everything as connected. Last week we hosted Larry Linne, author of “Make the Noise Go Away,” a book about the roles of first-in-commands and second-in-commands. I will be writing about a couple of things Larry said in his … Continue reading

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Managing Employees | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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