As we begin to see the first signs of the economy opening from the global pandemic meltdown of the last few months, it makes sense to look at your business through a different lens. Now is the time to plan for the other side. If you wish to come out of this pandemic with [...]
Every organization has a culture. It’s the collective personality of the people who represent you daily. In short, every culture has some appeal, some cracks, and some rough edges. So, how do you patch the cracks and smooth the rough edges? You ask a few simple questions, you unfilter the responses, and you take [...]
In working with families to help understand perceived issues, one of the first steps I take is to determine if they are on the same page. Do they value and want the same things for the family and the business? If not, there is a disconnect and more of a challenge in matching expectations. [...]
For most business owners, you love what you do and you probably feel like Bobby Bowden, FSU football coach who was reported to say, “I don’t want to retire and die six months later like Bear Bryant!” To many, retirement feels like the end. I’m just like so many of you – retirement is not [...]
Conflict is a given in life. No two people agree on every angle of every subject. In emotionally bonded relationships like family and or business partnerships, differences of opinion carry more weight and often leads to conflict. There are some underlying reasons for these responses to our differences, which is probably subject matter for [...]
I’ve heard this a thousand times from business owner clients over almost 40 years I’ve been a business succession planner. I understand - I don’t want to retire and I’m five years older than the age my father retired. For most business owners, you love what you do and you probably feel like Bobby [...]
Combining family and business is challenging and can be frustrating when things are going well, but when a crisis like Covid-19 hits...pressure builds and emotions can blow sky high. You can't run a business like a family, and you can't run a family like a business. During difficult times family members need each others' [...]
In a time of crisis, one thing our employees need most is for us to lead. What we learn from leaders is that in a time of crisis, decision-making can be the hardest part of being a leader. The OODA Loop was created by a military strategist named John Boyd, who also happened to [...]
It’s day 41 working from home due to the Coronavirus lock down. During that time businesses on survival mode, applying for PPP money, people laid off, applying for unemployment, portfolios taking a beating. The result – fear, anxiety, and stress! Especially for those of us in the higher risk categories, it appears we won’t [...]
When a 100-mph fastball is thrown at your head, pretty good chance you’re going to end up on your butt trying to get out of the way! That’s what COVID-19 felt like when overnight our lives got turned upside down. But, my partner Jeff Bannon, who played 9 years of professional baseball, said, you [...]
