There are 27 million closely held businesses in the US and it is estimated that there are roughly 5 Million baby boomer business owners. Many of them face a dilemma in years ahead: sell the business or pass it on to their heirs. Only about a third of US businesses make it to a second […]

They say about bankruptcy, that companies tend to fail slowly, and then suddenly. An eerily similar course of events seemed to play out in 2008, as a domino effect paralyzed the global economy. I am no alarmist, and in fact believe there is plenty of opportunity to make money in this environment. Yet the global […]

Free trade is one the polarizing issues magnified during the Presidential race. It is viewed as one of the pillars of capitalism. Ironically, the first meaningful free trade agreement signed by the U.S. and an impoverished nation was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA was signed by President Clinton with Mexico and Canada […]

Inflation is kind of like consuming chocolate cake, you definitely want enough, and definitely do not want too much.  High inflation is crippling to consumers who cannot afford more expensive staples like food and toilet paper. Low inflation causes a myriad of problems, including constraining the ability of companies to pass on price increases. Low […]

Companies who execute well are those who keep their strategy front and center. They create a rhythm and cadence for balancing long-term planning with short-term results. The executives at Amazon review their strategy every Tuesday. Most of our mid-market clients meet quarterly to update their strategy based on changing market conditions. Many entrepreneurs in smaller […]

The market for initial public offerings (IPOs) has suddenly cooled. Venture investment slowed 30% in Q4 (compared to Q3)[i]. One might wonder if this reflects a rationalization of the broader M&A (mergers and acquisitions) market. Yet the bigger problem is there is no logical standard for valuations in today’s climate. Consider Warren Buffet’s acquisition of […]

We spend a lot of time with clients, analyzing their industries and trying to predict the external threats that could impact their businesses. Yet the most serious threats can come from within. In the Art of War, Sun Tzu said “know yourself and you will win all battles.” Failure to build the capabilities required to […]

  It’s a pretty familiar narrative. The revenue forecast is missed. You blow the budget on unforeseen expenses, or a key customer doesn’t send the big order. Then the finger pointing begins. “It is beyond my control; the dog ate my homework.” When we fail to get the results we expect, we get stories instead. […]

  Sometimes our travels take us to companies where all the managers and employees have been there forever.  CEO’s suggest that low turnover is a badge of honor. Yet I often find these to be the same companies that are slow to change and unlikely to disrupt. Of course, the need to bring in external […]