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John F. Dini CMBA, CExP, CBI
President, MPN Incorporated
I live with the ups, the downs, the peaks, the valleys, and the gratification and occasionally the sheer numbing terror of being a business owner; and I experience all of it, EVERY SINGLE DAY!
As a coach, facilitator and consultant to hundreds of entrepreneurs, the operator of a dozen peer groups and a business owner myself, I spend almost every waking moment discussing the challenges and rewards of owning a business. I eat, sleep and breathe business ownership. I don’t hunt. I don’t fish. I don’t even play golf. Business ownership is both my vocation and my recreation. I think owning a business is the most interesting thing anyone can do. Get connected:
View John's full profile and be sure to check out his Business Blog Awake at 3 o'clock:
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Small business owners are the Hunters of the 21st century. We are 3% of the US population, and yet we create over half of all American jobs. As Hunters, we may not be inclined to manage by the numbers or stick to systems. If we were, we'd be working for someone else! If you lie awake at 2 AM because you are worried about your business, or just because you are excited about what you will be doing when the rest of the world wakes up, then this is the place for you!
Tag Archives: business ownership
Are Mistakes Good?
“Experience is a dear teacher, but only a fool will learn from no other.” Benjamin Franklin Business owners learn a lot from their experiences. As a friend says, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” … Continue reading
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Tax Deductible- So What?
We have done ourselves a disservice as business owners. Too often we have justified an expenditure to non-owner friends as “tax deductible” to show how clever we are. In doing so, we have confused the public. They see the Federal … Continue reading
Posted in John's Opinions
Tagged business ownership, entrepreneurship, politics, small business
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Employees aren’t Partners
Many of my clients are recovering from the recession. They are running lean, and have restored their profitability, even if at lower revenues than prior to 2008. Those that had to reduce or freeze employee compensation are seeking ways to … Continue reading
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A Return to the Handshake?
There are five words that strike fear into the heart of every business owner. They are “Let me call my lawyer.” I’m not talking about threats. If I had a nickel for every person who threatens “I’m going to call … Continue reading
2 Responses to A Return to the Handshake?
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Tim DeBlaey says:
Well said! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve let people know that my handshake is my contract and my work is my signature.
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I agree. A clear statement of what we both agree needs to be accomplished is great. I find an hourly rate with a guess as to how many hours works well. It allows you to change the scope without anyone getting concerned. It protects the provider and assuming the consultant does not draw things out, usually the client gets the project cheaper because no fudge factors are added into the price to cover the unexpected.
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The Seven Questions of Simple Planning
The Creation In the beginning was the plan And it sprang from the assumptions And the assumptions were without form So the plan was void of substance And darkness fell upon the face of the workers And the workers … Continue reading
One Response to The Seven Questions of Simple Planning
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Excellent advice, John. I offer my clients a less rigorous first step, not nearly as good as yours. It too is designed to get their toe in the water, in hopes they will engage in the process and expand upon it. On one page they list the two or three most important accomplishments for the year; then the two or three shortfalls for the year; then the two or three most important goals for the upcoming year.
This is an excellent article and I completely agree with the concept that only Exectuive Mgmt should profit share. Incentive based pay for the employees is a good practice, but needs to have flexibility to ebb and flow with the needs of the business being met first and foremost.