Category Archives: Depending upon others

Do you really need an accountant?

First, let’s be sure we define our terms. Accountants are trained, certified and usually quite experienced in financial analysis, both creating and reviewing data.  Bookkeepers are often trained on the job although sometimes more formally and handle the physical work … Continue reading

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Can your lawyer destroy a good business deal?

Let’s talk about lawyers… Over the years in business and as a member of over forty boards, I have received good advice from corporate attorneys and on occasion bad advice as well.  There is a line that should be drawn … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 2 Comments

Wow! Are your relationships important!

Forming business relationships at the highest level As you follow these insights from ignition to liquidity event, you’ll detect a continuing theme, emphasizing the need for deep and wide relationships that the CEO and senior staff can call upon for … Continue reading

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Do you even need a business coach?

Everyone, even seasoned CEO’s can use a good coach who knows how to bring out the best in a person, is knowledgeable about the business process, and who has an extended list of relationships to call upon to fill needs … Continue reading

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What’s your answer? Are remote workers productive?

We’ve been measuring & disagreeing since COVID. Do home-based employees work with the same dedication and productivity as those in office cubicles next to each other? That depends upon the management as much as the employee.  I have a friend … Continue reading

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How to make a small problem into a big one.

Allowing small problems to escalate into big ones is simple.  Just ignore the signs for long enough and the job is done.  It takes far more energy to regularly review the key performance indicators you’ve established for each individual and … Continue reading

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Do employees value their options as ownership?

How about employees all the way down the line and through the corporation? How do we align them to the goals and strategies of the enterprise?  Obviously for the appropriate individuals, a bonus program aligned to the department’s goals is … Continue reading

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Would you pay a high achiever more than yourself?

Here’s a case study for yourself: Recently I was asked to review an offer letter for a senior director of business development. The CEO was concerned that he was offering far too much in the form of incentive compensation, with … Continue reading

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Be careful about equity and options!

Here is the warning: The execution of equity allocations and of a good incentive program using equity is often mismanaged, damaging the corporate capitalization structure and even affecting the outcome of subsequent investment into the company. … and here is … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Ignition! Starting up, Surrounding yourself with talent | Leave a comment

Why we should fire fast, not last!

Our first reaction to marginal performance. Here is one that takes a real leap for a younger manager or CEO to believe.  After hiring someone with all the attendant enthusiasm followed by the training and learning curve, if an employee … Continue reading

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