[pullquote] Double V - the deadly duo of Big Volatility and Little Visibility.[/pullquote] A recent WSJ opinion piece nicely summarizes the quagmire of uncertainty that plagues American business. I'm pretty tired of all of the "credit-starved businesses" stories presented like medieval alchemy ... fix this and you've found gold ...…
In Volume 1, we quantify the gap in financial literacy that can destroy a business. We show you the difference between traditional financial statements, spreadsheets and ratios ... and the powerful visual and interactive tools that are available to help executives drive improved business performance. We know that you believe passionately in your business, and that you want to manage the risks and protect your family.We know that you want to understand the most important aspects of Strategic Finance because you know it plays a critical role on many fronts. Our introductory video will help you understand the power of Strategic Finance and and why your intense focus on Free Cash Flow is more important than any other measure of business performance.
I've often used this line as a metaphor for the process of accountability and follow up that makes a real difference in executive performance.Just being there ... letting people know you really meant it when you asked for something to be done ... or that it remains important even though…
Benziger Winery has been named Business of the Year by the Sonoma Chamber of Commerce. They won the award for outstanding industry contributions and their commitment to the community, something that many of its fans ... like me ... know well.Benziger Winery opened its doors in 1980 and is an…
A recent report from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation entitled After Inception – How Enduring is Job Creation by Start-ups?”, uncovered several notable findings about the job creation power of start-ups:
So what? (more…)
That’s the phrase one of my oldest and closest banker friends always used – he became the President of a major division of a major bank before he retired. You may not know that word – and it’s at least a “50-center”, maybe more, but he loved it and used it on me all the time.
… pause … have you looked it up yet or are you waiting for me to tell you? … come on ….
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Okay. It means charitable, as in “we’re not a charitable organization” … meaning we do have a few basic rules:
Those are the basic rules … which is why I’m getting pretty tired of the endless news articles and blog posts about the lack of adequate capital for small business. (more…)
In Cash for Chocolate, WSJ outlines several creative ways to raise funds for those of you looking for an innovative solution. I like the idea of "chocolate bonds" where you receive a box of chocolates every month as part of your investment return, or receive a "grocery discount" when investing in a…
Like we need more bad news in or about California ... but the Chief Executive organization's survey of Best and Worst States for Business 2010 finds the Golden State's golden egg is actually something else that's been painted over ... if you catch my drift. We're not just last for…
Once in awhile, it’s nice to see your advice echoed in the halls from someone like Warren Buffett. Since my early investment and venture capital days, I have promoted the concept of a simple “terms sheet” to set down the deal terms between the companies involved, making sure that the businessmen understand the business issues first.
Your attorneys serve an valuable role but it’s invaluable for both sides to be very clear about the business objectives (more…)