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Can Your Investor Become Your Trusted Advisor?
Last October I offered advice on finding the right investor for entrepreneurial businesses. Today I am writing about trusted advisors (the theme for March) – the investor is a special kind of trusted advisor. As with any business relationship, finding the right fit with your investor is the first step in a long and… | Read the full article »
The Accounting Department – More Than a Processing Machine
Or – how to become an irreplaceable business partner to your CEO. Why do accounting departments exist? The accounting department can be a processing machine producing mountains of data and reports that get little to no attention OR they can serve as business partner to senior management. But how do you make that transition… | Read the full article »
Other Key Considerations for Equity Allocation
Part 3 of the Equity series. The Equity series concludes with five additional key considerations for startups, as you lay the foundation for the future growth and development of your new business. Equal split of equity and decision-making with a Partner(s). For this arrangement to work, quick decisions have to be made and put in… | Read the full article »
Primary Considerations for Equity Allocation Agreements
Part 2 of the Equity series. In Part 1 of the Equity series I laid the groundwork for equity allocation by discussing the impulsive entrepreneur who gives away the business to friend and family just to have them involved in the new venture. Part 2 focuses on equity allocation to key roles in your organization…. | Read the full article »
Virginity and Equity – Think Before You Give Away Either
Part 1 of the Equity series. Virginity and equity have a lot in common: human beings do not spend enough time thinking through how to give away either of them, but once they do, the results have the potential to be rewarding or devastating. This article focuses on giving away equity – virginity is… | Read the full article »
I Need an Investor!
I am often asked how to find the right investor to invest in an entrepreneurial business. The question often comes from an entrepreneur who is about to run out of money and wants me to introduce them to someone that is going to write them a check by the end of the week. For the… | Read the full article »
Entrepreneurial temperament? Find out here!
We are already well into Q3 of 2016 and perhaps you are considering a big career change in 2017? Maybe even entrepreneurship. If so, click here to read my article this month in Advantage Business Magazine – where I share my insights into key personality traits for entrepreneurial wannabes to be aware of.
Why Q?
Managed by Q, which I will call “Q,” has helped me maintain my true and deep routed feeling that America is a great country – the best place to start and conduct business. As Clayton Christiansen (who coined the term disruptive innovation) says, “…disruptors displace an existing industry and offer something new.” Q is… | Read the full article »
Victim, Judge or Warrior – Surviving a Mistake
Mistakes happen to the best of people and organizations. When I was promoted to Chief Financial Officer at the age of 29, I articulated my fear of making a mistake to one of my mentors. It was overwhelming to accept and consider the responsibility of the lead financial role. I would be the last one… | Read the full article »