My blog topics are based on experiences serving my clients. When something happens two or three times in a short period, I note a trend. And if I note a trend, I figure that there are probably others who are facing similar challenges. The topic becomes an article. Such is the case here. Communication My […]
Equity—The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Puget Sound area is at full employment and finding good employees has never been more difficult. In most cases, the only way to find good employees is to hire one from another company. Of course, your company isn’t immune to poaching from others. So what to do? Many clients have been asking me recently […]
A Consultant’s Manifesto
At the start of each new year, I like to pause to reflect, reset and think about what specific goals I want to set for the coming year. To do this, I borrow Simon Sinek’s tagline, ‘Start with Why.” Why I work with business owner/operators with revenues between $1 million and $50 million because I […]
SRO Budgeting and SMART Goals
It is the time of year when most companies are doing their budgeting for the next year. This can be a frustrating and time consuming exercise. It is also important. Does every company need a budget? I don’t think so. Smaller companies, where the owner is very close to the transactions, may not need a […]
Incentive Compensation Plans
The Puget Sound area is enjoying an economic boom. The downside for most employers is finding and retaining good employees. Perhaps this is why I have had so many questions from clients recently about designing Incentive Compensation Plans. Usually my clients propose a complex plan with many factors contributing to the incentive compensation. Often the […]
Having a Good Relationship With Your Bank
For most individuals and small businesses, a bank is where they have their checking and savings accounts and maybe a credit card. Maybe you’ve even got a signature line based on your good credit. But for wealthy individuals and businesses, their bank should have a bigger role. Any business needs capital. That comes in two […]
My First Rule of Business: Make it Easy for People to Give You Money
My first rule of business is: Make it easy for people to give you money. I know that sounds trite but there are plenty of businesses that make it too hard to give them money. I’ve had it happen many times and I’m sure you have too. It may be cultural, it may be the […]
The Monthly Checklist
My clients are small to medium-sized businesses run by owner/operators. That is, the owner of the business is actively involved in the management of the business on a day-to-day basis. My work with these clients takes many forms but the most common and fundamental element is a monthly meeting with the owner. Often one or […]
Becoming an Employer of Choice
For employers this is a tough labor market. Everybody is working! Virtually anybody in the Seattle area with good background and skills has a job. Meanwhile, employers need more people to facilitate growth. The most common complaint I am hearing from business owners is they can’t find good people to hire. How did we get […]
Back to Basics–Paying Attention to Business Fundamentals
Here’s my gripe: Authors, consultants and others who use huge companies as examples for whatever point they are trying to make or sell. In the 1990s it was Microsoft. You’d hear, “This company is going to be the next Microsoft.” No it isn’t and it wasn’t. Now we hear the same things about Facebook, Google […]