As leaders and owners we must operate with our eyes wide open, aware of our biases and guarded against them painting our own virtual reality. A local Family Business leader complained of Kaleidoscope like vision from time to time. “A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument, typically a cylinder with mirrors containing loose, colored objects such [Continue Reading]
Focus on the Plan
Family Business facts from Forbes: FACT: Family businesses generate over 50% of the US Gross National Product (GNP) FACT: Less than one-third of family businesses survive the transition from first to second generation ownership. Another 50% don’t survive the transition from second to third generation. From Berkshire Hathaway and Wal-Mart to small stores everyone, about [Continue Reading]
The Current Generation Needs to Lead Family Business
Every generation blames the one before and all of their frustrations. The Gettysburg address has 286 words, the Ten Commandments have 179 words, last week’s Internal Revenue Bulletin to explain one part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was 270 pages and over 100,000 words. Family Business is faced with many issues, the [Continue Reading]
Great Companies, Family Businesses, Don’t Start With A Plan! Really?
Planning, Passion and Purpose in Great Companies Many Colleges and Universities have a center for small business, some have programs for family businesses and a few even offer degrees in Family Business Management. Many if not all offer classes on business plans, strategic plans, tactical plans, short term plan, 5 year plan and some [Continue Reading]
Continuous Improvement Is An Evolution
. Continuous Improvement is most successful through incremental, continual steps rather than giant leaps; it’s an evolution. Louis L’Amour has been called American’s storyteller. Louis L’Amour is to westerns what Stephen King is to horror and Danielle Steel is to romance novels. One of the most prolific and popular authors in the world, L’Amour began [Continue Reading]
“Seeing around corners”
Recently I read a white paper, “Machiavelli’s The Prince Meets Sun Tzu” that made me consider statesmanship and negotiation rather than war. Sun Tzu said, every battle is won or lost before it’s every fought. Battles are won or lost in the preparation. Seeing around corners is all about preparation. Preparation requires skill, skills we [Continue Reading]