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As a business owner, you know what it’s like to lie awake at 2 a.m. Maybe it has happened when you are excited and full of new ideas for your business. More often, it’s because you are worried about issues you will face the next day. Sometimes, it’s because you just woke up with the solution to a problem. I’ve experienced all those emotions about my businesses over the years. Awake at 2 o’clock? is where I share them with you, and hopefully help with answers that will let you sleep.
John F. Dini, CExP, CEPA
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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. Are you a Hunter or a Farmer?
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How prepared are you to exit your company?
The Assessment breaks down the four major categories of exit readiness; Finance, Planning, Operations and Revenue/Profit.
Tag Archives: leadership
Lords of Chaos
Every business owner must be adept at dealing with chaos. Entrepreneurship demands the ability to choose a course of action when everyone else is staring into the headlights. It requires a willingness to make a decision with inadequate information, and to make new decisions … Continue reading
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Unlimited Time Off From Your Business
The second “rule” on our downloadable poster “Your Rights and Obligations as a Business Owner” is: “You have the right to unlimited time off with pay.” followed by the corollary obligation; “You have an unlimited obligation to customers. Business deadlines … Continue reading
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When Independence isn’t Freedom
I owe the idea for this column to my friend Tom Morton, whose Harrowgate blog lends a considerable dose of dry Brit humor and keen business perspective to the issues of small business ownership. Give him a read. Sometimes the … Continue reading
One Response to When Independence isn’t Freedom
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Great job of weaving together some of the most important and interesting facts regarding the birth of the United States of America. Commentaries like this are what make each 4th of July particularly meaningful for me. Also a reminder that no great undertaking begins perfectly, that virtually every success requires a little luck, and that any institution or process can stray from orignial intent if not closely monitored and reviewed over time.
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Entrepreneurs Love Paperwork
Entrepreneurs love paperwork. Not. The truth is that most entrepreneurs hate paperwork with a passion otherwise reserved for the college team that ran up the score on their alma mater year in and year out. If I want to get a guaranteed … Continue reading
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An Army of One
Hollywood has done an excellent job of defining what it takes to be an action hero. George Smiley, the grey civil servant of John Le Carre’s spy novels, is a protagonist, but not a hero. Heroes are cast in a distinct … Continue reading
2 Responses to An Army of One
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Good piece. To be successful in the long run, the super hero needs to trust someone to do the day to day planning and keep the business moving forward, while he or she goes on to the next “mission impossible”.
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Having worked in large Multi Nationals in Senior Exec roles through to Pre IPO organisations and now my own start up in the Executive Search Space, I think this article is right to the point, when are putting out grass fires all day it is hard to get time out too look out over the top of the forest, but without this time and time for planning when your baby is going to become a teenager then you will always be a Super Hero which is not necessarily bad if that is what is important to you and you make that your end game.
I had a discussion with a restaurant owner last week; he has just a few employees. But I found it fascinating that he is able to take reasonable vacations with his family. His philosophy is, “I put my faith in God, and if the place doesn’t burn down while I’m gone, then it’s OK.”
A little humorous, sure, but it shows that he treats vacations as important. And he does a fairly good job of preparing people to run the business while he’s gone.
I also find it fascinating how he incorporates his faith into this decision. It’s not like he publicizes this as a Christian business or anything – but his spirituality is a natural part of how he makes decisions.