Monthly Archives: December 2018

What Is The Biggest Problem With Running A Small Business?

Uncategorized

In This Episode

Is it possible to pick just one?  The “champion” of the problems when it comes to running a small business.  Who gets the most votes?  Is it the lack of cash?  How about trouble finding good people?  Or a basic lack of business knowledge?  Or poor leadership by the owner?

During tonight’s show we had a good discussion of the top challenges when it comes to owning and running a small business.  I’m guessing we covered some of your top challenges.  Take a listen to find out if we were able to agree on the top problem!

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

The post What Is The Biggest Problem With Running A Small Business? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

How Did Jack Buy His First Company?

Uncategorized

In This Episode

If you’re an avid listener of Dirty Secrets of Small Business, or if you know us off the air, you’ve heard some of Jack’s story about his first acquisition of Cleveland Armature.  But until now, you haven’t heard the full story…or as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story!  Well, tonight’s show is for you.

If you are dancing thoughts of finally getting into business for yourself or if you’re looking to grow your business by acquiring another business, tonight’s show has something for you.  Jack shared details about how he found this first company,  his unique due diligence process, some of the nice surprises he found while cleaning up the company, and some keys for how he was then able to sell the company only a couple of years later after getting things fixed up.  This show is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and provide some guidance and inspiration on your search.

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

The post How Did Jack Buy His First Company? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

How Come We Can’t Communicate?

Uncategorized

In This Episode

How come most companies, large or small, have trouble communicating?  In our business coaching practice we mostly deal with companies that have less than 25 employees, but we have a few who are larger and we’ve both worked in muiti-billion dollar corporations.  In all of these cases we have witnessed and experienced communication issues.  Somehow and somewhere the communication is breaking down.

In the first meeting or two with a new client, and for many meetings afterward, we’ll talk about communication challenges and breakdowns within the company.  Would you believe that the fix to this “communication” issue is pretty simple?  Most of our clients don’t believe the solution initially either.  But the simple answer is meetings.  Well run and regular meetings.

I know, you’re thinking “Noooo, not the ‘M’ word” as in meetings.  “I hate meetings,” you say, “they’re such a waste of time!”  Believe us, we know how you feel.  Most meetings are poorly run, go over the allotted time, only cover about 10% of what was on the agenda (if an agenda even exists), and we spend a lot of time just listening to other folks chat and problem solve.  What am I doing here?

Well, we’re here to tell you that well run meetings can get your business into a great rhythm and the communication problems will melt away.  But you have to do it right.  The meetings need to be consistent and scheduled out for the year.  You have to have an agenda and stick to it.  It needs to be made clear if this is a status/update meeting or a working meeting (and don’t mix the two).  Would you believe most of our clients have come to love and even ask for more meetings?  We shared a lot of the stories and secrets during tonight’s show!

 

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

The post How Come We Can’t Communicate? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS