Read more about the article Don’t skip this! Create Goals that Have Meaning

Don’t skip this! Create Goals that Have Meaning

Creating goals that have meaning

“It’s just a goal.”

That’s a phrase I’ve heard too many times when a business leader engages in a performance review with an employee or when companies embark on a corporate planning effort.

Do they mean that a goal is more like a road sign, pointing the way without regard for whether you actually arrive?

Is it like the proverbial carrot dangled on the stick in front of us, with some motivational value but with no expectation that we will ever feast upon it? (more…)

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V39: Government Intrusion can be fatal!

For almost two years, I have been writing a regular column for the North Bay Business Journal, a publication of the New York Times, a weekly business newspaper which covers the North Bay area of San Francisco – from the Golden Gate bridge north, including the Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa counties.

 

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Article References

Article published – April 13, 2009


BUILDING A BUSINESS: Government’s awkward, costly intervention in economy

Only better corporate accountability, innovation can lead American industry

by Lary Kirchenbauer

I can’t help myself this week. The mounting encroachment by the federal government across the terrain of American enterprise is very troubling, so I hope you’ll join me as we take a slight detour to address a few of these issues.

I understand the outrage over the egregious pay packages, bailout bonuses and inscrutable investment products of many of the nations’ major financial institutions. I also understand the unsettling power of the lender of last resort. Yet, to ignore the federal government’s track record is like overlooking a cliff when climbing the Matterhorn. Two recent and provocative reports serve as vivid reminders of the federal government’s woeful track record and ineptitude at managing large-scale enterprises. (more…)

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Read more about the article Business Finance | Have you met the Scavenger’s Daughter?

Business Finance | Have you met the Scavenger’s Daughter?

financeImpressing your bank less important than being able to hit targets

The Scavenger’s Daughter? Might be the name of a lost Dickens novel … or an indulgent misnomer for a  the infamous rack that not only stretched but crushed its victims during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Thumbscrews, pilliwinks, breaks and the tormento de toca were other methods used to punish those that broke their “covenant” with the King.

Fortunately, those punishments are relegated to history’s ash heap … at least I’m pretty sure that banks aren’t using any of these default provisions.

Compliance with financial covenants

Compliance with financial covenants, however, has never been more important. Today, banks have an arsenal of covenant choices that are used as an early warning system to alert participants to potential problems that may jeopardize their financial well-being.

It’s important to recall that covenants are based upon (more…)

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Vol. 37: “Shell the Beach”

The North Bay Business Journal, a publication of the New York Times, is a weekly business newspaper which covers the North Bay area of San Francisco – from the Golden Gate bridge north, including the Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa counties.

 

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Article published – March 9, 2009

BUILDING A BUSINESS: Planning, pre-emptive explanation will help you with your bank

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

In the last column we discussed a few core principles about building a sustainable banking relationship. “No surprises” and “preparation” are two of the essential elements.

Now we move to planning. This is a broad subject with many variations, so we’ll focus on cash flow forecasting as an invaluable component of that process. While it provides an important tool for your banker, it must also be an indispensable part of your planning arsenal. Gen. Eisenhower’s comment focuses on the process rather than the result to emphasize that unexpected events and new information always make a difference.

Nonetheless, forecasting remains an elusive objective for many business owners. Most of the objections I hear are comments like, “I have no idea what our sales will be” or, “Who knows what will happen tomorrow let alone the rest of this year” or, “Our industry is in such a state of flux that no one knows what might happen.”

While these “Double V” economic times (big volatility and little visibility) make it more difficult than ever to predict and forecast performance, your bank will be remarkably unimpressed by these excuses. (more…)

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Vol. 36: How to deal with your bank

The North Bay Business Journal, a publication of the New York Times, is a weekly business newspaper which covers the North Bay area of San Francisco – from the Golden Gate bridge north, including the Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa counties.

 

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Article published – February 23, 2009

BUILDING A BUSINESS: Ideas for your business you can take to the bank

“Money is better than poverty if only for financial reasons.”   – Woody Allen

I’ve received a lot of questions lately about banking issues and the “rules of the road” for dealing with your bank in a troubled economy. All of us are facing an economy that I refer to as the “Double V” – an insidious environment comprised of big volatility and little visibility. These twin engines will predominate for the foreseeable future.

This week’s column will start with Banking 101 as we make our way toward more subtle concepts. Unquestionably, this process is more artful than scientific, and while there are mechanical tasks and financial metrics that apply, managing your banking relationship requires both judgment and discretion.

• No Surprises. It’s no surprise that “No Surprises” is at the top of the list. (more…)

Continue ReadingVol. 36: How to deal with your bank