Human bodies are microcosmic shadows of the middle market business. Sometimes the veil of liminal spaces—the divide between what is and what might be—lifts in the most unexpected places—like in a doctor’s office. Business advising alone is only part of the prescription for sustainable business growth. After taking an embarrassing... read more →
Nov
14
Nov
13
Those of you who bear the CFP moniker or are NAPFA members are committed to the fiduciary standard of acting truly in your clients’ best interests. In the spirit of Kevin Condon’s Sacred Cow series, many in the financial planning profession believe in the Life Planning Sacred Cow—every client needs... read more →
Nov
12
If you are a baby boomer or have boomer parents, you’ve probably come across this ad: The Crankset Group has dubbed these Blinding Flashes of the Obvious. BFOs are epiphanic moments of “seeing” something essential for the first time or perhaps recalling something foundational that we’ve neglected or forgotten. Why... read more →
Nov
11
This is the season of anticipation. Last week I talked about the unusual temporal turducken we just experienced. We, like that dish of a chicken nested in a duck nested in a turkey, experienced an extended weekend beginning with Hanukkah, middling with Thanksgiving and “begending” with Advent. As I reflect... read more →
Nov
10
Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at the five components needed to build a healthy framework for negotiating agreements: Trust Resiliency Communication Team Orientation Focus For illustration, I’ve applied these components to a particular kind of business advisory group—3to5 Clubs. Last week we explored the last two of these... read more →
Nov
09
As a business owner, I am acutely aware that my sphere of influence gives me a great potential to directly impact these dreary statistics of unemployment, underemployment and long term unemployment. Although the most recent labor report focuses on the 204,000 jobs created in October and highlights the federal shut-down... read more →
Nov
08
What is the “It”? The “it” is a Fourth Marriage—the marriage between Self and Money. (Click HERE for my Sept. 17, 2013 post referencing the other three marriages per David Whyte).One of the greatest teachers on relationships said, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one... read more →
Nov
07
When one buys or sells a firm, there are a number of key questions to consider. The art of a business is about building trust. The science of a business marriage relies on answering clear cut questions with quantifiable or, at least, unambiguous answers. Last week we discussed the science... read more →
Nov
06
We’re all questing for the “holy grail” of the right customer or industry segment—where to make more money in less time. Where is the most potential for growth? Where are the best opportunities to invest time and money? Or do I need to succumb to the usual dictates of fear... read more →
Nov
05
When God gives of God’s self, one of two things happens: either flesh is inspirited or spirit is enfleshed. —Richard Rohr At last week’s 3to5 Club, a bi-monthly meeting of business owners, we reflected on the liminal dimension between the spirit and the flesh, in other words, a lifetime-goal-that-can-never-be-fulfilled—and the... read more →
