What has happened to our attention spans? Has our busy world shrunk them to the point where we can’t concentrate but for a few moments? Are we all like hyperactive children with caffeine doing for us what sugar does for kids? Has Twitter convinced us that any thought can be expressed in 120 characters or […]
Archive | Management
The Difference Between a Controller and a CFO
Often I get involved in the hiring of accounting staff for clients. This can be an accounting clerk, a specialized accountant (such as payroll or accounts payable), a full-charge bookkeeper, a degreed accountant or a Controller. All of these positions I consider part of the accounting staff and are involved with the accounting records. These […]
In Praise of Profit
The most popular business books seem to be on the “soft” topics. Things like managing people, setting your BHAG/mission/vision/values, creating happy employees; stuff like that. I’m an avid reader of this kind of stuff. But, at a certain point, don’t all of us as business people have get on with it and make money? Charlie […]
What Business Are You Really In? Who Are Your Bees?
During the course of business planning, did you or any of your advisers ask, “What business are you really in?” A few years ago I was touring wineries in Eastern Washington. These weren’t “foo foo” wineries with beautiful buildings and perfectly tended rows of vines. This particular winery was down a dirt road, through the vineyard, that […]
Is Critical Thinking an Endangered Skill?
My premise is that there isn’t enough critical thinking. I’m here to promote more critical thinking. There are many enemies of critical thinking. One enemy of critical thinking is political correctness. The worst place for this is on college campuses, where critical thinking should be the order of the day. Instead, political correctness results in […]
Simplicity is a Virtue
I see many business owners and managers who study their financial statements, chart KPIs, track trends and chase a percentage point here and there. I’ve been told one can’t have too much data. Really? Is this really that hard? I don’t think it needs to be. I prefer a simpler approach. I like one, or […]
Making Your Meetings Productive–Some Simple Guidelines
Meetings. As business people we can’t live with them and we can’t live without them. They are essential. And they are often a colossal waste of time. Two of our biggest local employers are legendary for their meetings. I’m talking about Boeing and Microsoft. For years, no Boeing meeting would be taken seriously without “viewfoils” […]
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People–Revisiting a Classic
Stephen R. Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is, without a doubt, one of the classics of business literature. But it is also widely used by non-profit organizations, government and, really, every type of organization and by anyone who wants to be more effective. The teachings can help anyone. Let’s review Covey’s Seven Habits: […]
Spearing Sacred Cows–Attacking the Concept of a BHAG
Jim Collins co-authored, “Built to Last, Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.” It is a standard of business schools and management training. And make no mistake, it is a great book. But one concept, one of the main points of the book, is something I’ve got a beef with. That is the concept of the BHAG. […]
The Job of the CEO; The Buck Stops Here
Being the CEO or owner of a business isn’t easy. Many are thrust into the role unprepared and usually they have no experience being the CEO of a business. In my consulting practice I work almost exclusively with CEO/business owners. While it can be lonely at the top, the CFO is usually a person the […]