Tag Archives: Selling a business

Community Business Strategy: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, and Maybe Even Turn a Profit

 “Art is what you can get away with.”  Andy Warhol. Almost three years ago, I co-founded a local art charity called Foundation of Local Arts.  Our mission was (and is) to support and educate the South Bay about art.  We … Continue reading

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American Business Culture: Do You Have Italian “Horse Brains?”

     My Italian grandfather was born in Calabria, Italy in 1899.  He only had a 6th grade education, and struggled to support a family of 11, much of it during the Depression.  However, when he died 1988, he and my … Continue reading

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Venture Capital Risks: As a Business Owner, Don’t Give Them Your First Born

     Everyone loves to hear of a business gamble that pans out big time.  As a business manager for entertainers, I have worked for some big names.  Over 25 years ago, I learned from my mentor that he started as a … Continue reading

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Business Proposals: If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Find a Cooler Kitchen

     They sat perched on the kitchen stools like two vultures waiting for the next customer. The problem?  The pickings were slim.       My stepfather and his friend, Dan, decided to open their own plumbing business, but they only had one client, … Continue reading

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IT Strategy, Don’t Buy the Farm

I entered the exciting world of accounting in 1979.  Back then, we didn’t have personal computers.  No, we prepared our workpapers on green ledger paper.  If we wanted to enter a journal entry in a client’s general ledger, we had to fill … Continue reading

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How to Create a Successful Small Business in this New Economy, or How Old Shep Let Me Down

     “Teach something to the 5th graders?” She said.  “Like what?” I replied.       Thus the conversation between me and my son’s 5th grade music teacher began.  It was true, my father was a Rockabilly recording artist in the 1950s, and … Continue reading

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Serving as a Volunteer? You Don’t Have To Wait for Heaven to Collect Your Reward

Every weekend, my wife and I drive to Malibu and saddle up our horses.   If you are passing by, you may do a double-take.  Looking closer, you would realize that we are dressed in park ranger uniforms equipped with a … Continue reading

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Internet Ad Revenue Breaks Record. Are You a Spectator or a Player?

When I was 13 (1970), my stepfather took me and a friend to the Olympic Auditorium to see one of my favorite wrestling heroes, Rocky Johnson.  I thought this guy was so cool, and I thoroughly enjoyed his coolness in … Continue reading

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Can You Grow your Business Social Footprint, without Putting it in Your Mouth?

 You walk into a party and a sharply-dressed grey-haired guy (not me, I’m in my boxers right now) shakes your hand.  Sporting a toothpaste commercial grin, he says,” Let me tell you about the value of owning a silver-plated casket!” You … Continue reading

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Small Business People Need is a Strategist, Not a Marketer and That Person is You.

About five years ago, a partner and I were interviewing a tech guy for a position in our business intelligence software firm.  The prospect was pretty low key, and was not really very personable. At the fifteen minute point, he asked, “So, … Continue reading

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