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No mission statement? No mission
In the late 1990s I worked as a Budget Director for the DOD in Rota, Spain. As one of only two civilians in a facility of fifty sailors and officers, I got a first-hand look at all the things the military does exceedingly well. (Of course I also got a glimpse of the many oddities that remind one that the…Read More -
The Cost of Operational Glitches in Midsized Companies
Julie Stepp recently read an article on operational meltdowns in midsized companies, and had some thoughts of her own. Many small companies growing to the midsize level run into these issues as well. Often the situation of one bookkeeper that knows too much and has no back up starts impacting the organization due to lack of timely financial and operational…Read More -
100 Great Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask
Often times success and leadership comes not from providing the right answer, but from asking the right question. The attached article offers 100 questions that are sure to spark vigorous debate and spark new ideas about where your business is headed. The questions can shape your thinking about how you are managing your business for success over the long-term.
Connect…Read More -
Network, Net Worth!
Two great thoughts on the importance of networking. Russ Gambrel had a lightbulb moment (it goes hand-in-hand with NEVER EAT ALONE). A recent article from the Huffington Post conceptualizes the reality that your biggest asset is YOUR NETWORK. Most folks have never considered the truth in that. Building your network ‘asset' requires investing in your relationships and in turn, building…Read More -
What do King Solomon, David Lee Roth, Zappos and Nigerian scammers have in common?
What do King Solomon, David Lee Roth, Zappos and Nigerian scammers have in common? A recent edition of the Wall Street Journal included an essay adapted from the book “Think Like a Freak” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner of “Freakonomics” fame that provides the answer: the practice of “game theory.”
In their typical entertaining and thought provoking…Read More -
Taking the Acquisition Route
Buying the assets or stock of another corporation is one way to quickly expand your business. But there are several issues to consider before making a final decision. With taxable direct purchases, the buyer simply pays cash or issues debt (or a combination) in exchange for the target corporation's stock or assets. This compares to a merger where the buyer…Read More -
Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill.
Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill
Sarah Bradshaw, Talent Acquisition Manager
May 2014
Before assessing a candidate's fit with your culture, it is important that you understand and are honest with yourself about who you are as an organization. Then, you'll be prepared to ask the right types of questions in an interview. Below are some examples of what to…Read More -
How to Talk to Employees About Comp and Performance
Discussing employee performance and compensation reviews can be tough. I recently read a great article that focuses on having difficult compensation conversations with employees, however, I think it goes much deeper than just having a compensation discussion. This article speaks to important aspects of being a good leader, like being transparent and authentic. There are some great common sense nuggets…Read More -
Get paid. Faster!
Slow-paying customers can cripple a small business and throw a wrench into even a well-thought-out cash flow management plan. This problem is so widespread that now there is even an initiative for sharing deadbeat customer nightmares via hashtag #GetPaidNotPlayed. Not all slow-paying customers are deadbeats. There are a multitude of reasons why customers don't pay on time. Reasons run the…Read More -
Lou Marmo, Fahrenheit Advisors Managing Director to speak at The Capital Roundtable’s ENCORE
Private Equity Investing In Niche Manufacturing Companies As the “Made-in-America” Trend Picks Up Speed, Operations Holds the Key to New Opportunities Join conference chairman Matthew P. Guenther, partner at GenNx360 Capital Partners LP, for this program featuring shared insights from top PE professionals. You'll hear real-world perspectives, lessons learned, and industry outlooks, plus insights on managing current portfolio companies. Joining…Read More -
Making your Budgeting Process a Foundation for Growth
Lou Marmo, Managing Director March 2014 One of the best ways to ensure that your strategic plan does not end up collecting dust on a bookshelf and instead becomes the foundation of growth in your company is to shift your budgeting process from one that is focused on just numbers to an operating plan with real actions tied to it.…Read More -
Buyer‘s Side Due Diligence Checklist (Part 2)
Once a potential buyer has scrutinized the quality of a target company's assets, it's time to review other key factors of the business. Recently we outlined some of the key factors in Part 1 which you can review here. The process of due diligence can be extremely complex in merger and acquisition transactions. The information uncovered can make or break…Read More