Category Archives: General

How about personal guarantees for company debt?

Is the guarantee still required today? More than ever, the banks and lenders today require personal guarantees from entrepreneurs, and even from CEO’s of angel or some VC funded businesses. Starting and running a small or growing business can be … Continue reading

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Warning: Contractors must really be independent!

Our challenge is getting more difficult How many of us have “hired” independent contractors over the years, a bit worried over the gray area between employee and contractor as defined by the IRS?  Or separately the State of California?  I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, General, Protecting the business | 5 Comments

Some thoughts about office politics

Where’s the threat? It is hard to separate this kind of advice from economic lessons in running a business, when office politics can threaten a business in ways that are subtle, but sometimes just as devastating as economic shocks or … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, General, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 5 Comments

Why document your company’s tribal knowledge?

The processes you and your subordinates follow It is not common for the CEO of a rapidly growing company to think of slowing down the furious pace enough to have each manager (including the CEO) document the job process managed, … Continue reading

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Special edition: Building semi pro audio video studio

Like to make professional videos for a small cost? Postings to on-line sites? Dave takes you through the process, shows the results, and gives you the costs. There’s lots more information you will find as you experiment and may need … Continue reading

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Can your employees recruit from a customer or supplier?

The recruitment traps It has happened to all of us who have been leaders in business long enough.  One of your employees is approached by an employee of a customer or of a supplier, stating that “It sure would be … Continue reading

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

Are you a consensus leader or dictator?

It’s a good bet that you’ve been exposed to articles, courses and lectures about various styles of management, and how each is appropriate for some companies and for some levels of organization and at various times. When should the dictator … Continue reading

Posted in General, Surrounding yourself with talent | 2 Comments

Let’s talk about your banking relationship

 The warning is real You’ve heard the old one – that a banker always seems willing to offer a loan when you don’t need it.  For small businesses, there is such truth in that statement that you can trust the … Continue reading

Posted in General, Hedging against downturns, Protecting the business | 1 Comment

How do you handle your cash reserves?

Here comes some advice for all of us to use in business or in our personal lives.  But to understand it, we need to delve into the short-and long-term sources and uses of cash. Good cash strategies to remember It … Continue reading

Posted in General, Protecting the business | 4 Comments

What is the real goal for our management and company?

Often, we joke together as managers of companies or of people that our goal is “world domination” or “to crush the competition.”  But no matter how stated, the primary goal of an enterprise is to make money. The three measures … Continue reading

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