Strategies for Success in Personal and Business Planning

Michael Gansl and Michael Korn provide precious insights on how business owners can make plans in order to attain their financial and personal goals through organization, making choices and increasing value.

Organize:

Manage and Systematize

Make Choices:

Be Protectionistic and Derministic

Increase Value:

Build Personal Wealth and Business Value

 

 

Is Wanting to be a CEO a “Stupid” Ambition?

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The other day I came across this article in Insights Stanford Business (Link here), and was quite intrigued by the title: “CEO: Refocus Your Ambitions”, and especially the subtitle: Why the CEO role can be a “stupid ambition”.
 
Well, it certainly caught my interest, because the tag line of my business, Voice of Reason Consulting, is that “We turn business owners into CEO’s”, and I can’t imagine why becoming a CEO is a stupid ambition.
 
So, I read on to see if I could understand what Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever was trying to say. (Link here)
Bottom line I agree with Mr. Polman’s statements that “People’s self worth should not be measured by net worth” and that “You need to have something where you want to have an impact and that aligns with your values. It will drive your passion.”
 
However, I firmly believe that any business owner who is invested in their business and is intent on growing their business must focus on 3 basic tenets: systematizing the business; being deterministic about the business: and ultimately increasing the value of the business. I would never call this a “stupid ambition”.
 
I welcome your comments.

Life Style Business vs A Business Poised for Growth – Which Would You Choose?

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If you’re thinking of increasing the value of your business, I believe that first and foremost, you need to know what type of business you want to be. Do you want a lifestyle business or one that is poised for growth?

In a lifestyle business, all the profits go into the business owner’s pockets. In a business poised for growth, most of the profits go into growing the business – systems and people.

If it’s growth, are you ready to deal with growing Accounts Receivables, Payables, Payroll, Employees, etc., etc. Growth requires hiring and firing people, training employees, developing a managerial level, developing vital and actionable executable business plans at every stage of growth. Growth may also require a significant financial investment or several investments over time – from whom – You? Private or public outside equity investors such as angel investors, venture capitalists? Bank debt? or both? Or growth may even require partners – silent or working?

If it’s a life style business, can you stay competitive in your marketplace without growing? Can you maintain the status quo in a changing marketplace? Do you have a book of business that a buyer will value and pay you for your past efforts? Be aware that buyers are paying for the future – their future with what was once your business.

Whether you have a life style business or one that is poised for growth, do you have a business plan in place? It can be an annual plan or one that is projected several years out. Does it include both your personal and company’s goals, your core values, how you will grow revenues, sales, marketing, finance, accounting? Is it a flexible plan? Can you change or pivot quickly if necessary?

Since business is never easy, since so many business do not succeed over time, it is truly critical to know which type of business you want to be when you grow up!