What Got You Here…
Entrepreneurs looking to transition their business – whether to the next generation, non-family management, or via sale to an outside party – need to consider what is needed to successfully lead going forward. Chances are, the old adage about “what got you here won’t get you there” applies, and it is unlikely the recipe for success in the next 10 years will look the same as the past 10 years.
Check Out Checklist
Entrepreneurs generally don’t like to think about mortality – especially their own. I recently had a situation that brought this home in a personal way. Running in the desert mountains is my happy place, and I had left before dawn and headed out for a one hour run on a rocky trail. Thirty minutes in, I tripped and fell. The good news was avoiding the cactus. The less good news were the rocks that shredded my hands, shoulders, hips and elbows.
Cashing Out, Or Legacy Business?
As the owners of family businesses age, a common question often arises about whether to sell the business to the highest bidder, or pass it on to future generations of the family. And since we are talking about families, this is an decision which – for many, but not all – can have a lot of emotion attached. I find there is no “one size fits all” answer to the question, but there are some clues which can help guide navigation of the issue.
Too Many Cooks In The Transition Kitchen?
Many family business leaders I speak with are confused about how all the various advisors fit into the transition and succession picture, and how the process and components connect (Unanimous Shareholder Agreements, Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Wealth Management, Insurance, and so on). The business owner has usually not gone through transition before, and so how it all works, and how various supporting experts add value, can be a bit of a mystery.
Is Your Family Business “Leaking” Money?
Family businesses have many strengths which generally flow from their values of loyalty, harmony and long-term views of ownership. I believe these values account for a large part of the success in family firms, and also are part of the reason that family-owned enterprises typically out-perform non-family businesses globally.
The Hidden Business Ricks No One Likes To Talk About
When we meet with business owners, we tend to ask questions relating to what they want to have happen when they transition out of their role and/or ownership of their company. The responses tend to break down into 2 categories. There are those who feel they “have it all figured out” and those that know they don’t or are at least concerned about it.
An Advisory Board For My Company? Why Bother?
You may be the leader of a company that is operating well, with great results, who quite reasonably asks “what real value can an Advisory Board bring to my firm?” I love this question.
It’s a New Year!
I love the beginning of a new year, and the opportunity to pause and think about where I am going with the one life I have to live. While I am not a big “resolution” guy, I definitely see the value in taking the time in this calendar pivot to take stock of where things stand and where I would like to direct my energies in the coming year.
Preparing Next Generation Leadership
