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 […]
Archive | Management
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Working With People
Three things right upfront: Most of my topics come from experiences. When I note a pattern, I tend to write about it. I try to limit the topics to business subjects and avoid personal stuff. We are all people and we work with people. And people have personal challenges that can’t help but affect their […]
New Entity Choices: LLLPs and SPCs
Most of us are familiar with the various choices for the type of business entity. Traditionally there have been proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships and corporations. About 25 years ago limited liability companies (LLCs) were added and they have been a very popular choice. In 2012, the Washington State legislature provided us with two new […]
The Top Five Financial Problems in Small Business
Everybody seems to like lists so here is my list of the Top Five Financial Problems I find in small businesses. These are issues I see repeatedly when I go into help a small business. The most common problem in small businesses, big businesses, non-profit organizations, everywhere, unequivocally, Number One with a bullet, is…. #1 […]
Some General Rules for Closely-Held Businesses
I don’t know about you but I’m tired of hearing “It depends” to almost any business question. Early in my career, when I would ask someone a tax question, I’d get an answer. Now the typical response I get to a tax question is, “I would approach it this way…” That’s not an answer! The […]