When I talk with owners interested in either buying or selling a business, they regularly think this is a transaction; each party views it from the point of view of either buyer or seller. Since both view it as a transaction, each party has a list of what s/he wants... read more →
Jun
14
Jun
13
Author’s note: We have intentionally reprinted last week’s Insider in a slightly different form to model the principle of repetition. In “telling your employees how to vote,” be sure to remind them that it’s important for them to vote their conscience. In order to connect with their conscience as best... read more →
Jun
12
Drum-roll, please! Thank you for all who filled out the 2015 survey for JH & Associates. Here’s a snapshot of who you are: 72% of you own businesses 33% of you are financial planners, many of whom own your business Ages: 38% of you are 56-65 19% are 31-45 and... read more →
Jun
12
We regularly hear stories of business owners like yourselves and we want you to know: you’re not alone! When you get really honest with yourselves and with us, you talk about the times you feel alone at the top, especially when you’re facing difficult decisions. You may even feel like... read more →
Jun
11
A recent blizzard caused the cancellation of our daughter’s flight back to college. During our bonus family time we sat by the fireplace, working on our own projects. She did research for her theater paper and I took a journey through another liminal dimension. I saw on one side of... read more →
Jun
10
Upcoming STAR-Denver Event "Making More Money? or Who's on First?" May 15, 2015 Lunch Meeting by Jon Hokama. Click Here to RSVP. Business owners may feel that the prospect of selling is like planning their own funeral. So unless you’re akin to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer character who witnessed his... read more →
Jun
09
Have you checked "under the hood" of your business lately? Operations of a business are like the working parts of an engine. If one part is not working properly, the performance of the engine suffers. Periodic maintenance is important to stay abreast of changes in sales, marketing, operations, accounting, personnel,... read more →
Jun
08
This week I’d like you to recall Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes. This story has a lesson that every business owner needs to consider. The tale tells of two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes. But what makes this suit unusual is that it... read more →
Jun
07
Brand vs. brand–On Befriending Uncertainty and Change You can either resist change, or, as organizational change guru John Kotter says, exercise “change leadership.” To be a change leader is not to manage and control the responses of your stakeholders. Rather, you embrace their responses and ride the wave of change... read more →
Jun
06
It is one thing to study war and another thing to live the warrior’s life. —Telamon of Arcadia, mercenary of the fifth century B.C.E., as quoted in The War of Art, p. 61. Felix Baumgartner’s historic Mach 1+, 119,846’ free fall to earth on Oct. 14, 2012. By virtue of... read more →
