Catalytic Conversations

Picture this - you’ve worked for years to build your business.  You hope to retire in the next five or six years.  You will use the money from that sale to buy the family a relaxing cruise, invest some for retirement and finally, do what you want to do with your time.

Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?  Unfortunately, for many who hold that dream dear, it doesn’t work out that way.  It happens for a lot of reasons. &nbs...

Today we look at the process of selling your business.  You may hear of this process referred to as The Deal or the Transaction.  Your deal, or transaction, is the culmination of your years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.  The amount of money you walk away with is dependent on a number of variables.  I hope that your biggest takeaway for my shows this month is that preparation is your key to successfully s...

A lot of you plan to sell your business one day.  However, the odds of successfully selling your business are against you.

Did you know that there are ways to stack the odds of selling successfully in your favor?  Today Mike Metzger of Murphy Business Sales and I discuss the steps that you can take to prepare your business to go on the market.

We look at the things that you can do to build value in your business.  We...

COVID19, racial reckoning, economic uncertainty, the upcoming election….

Each is a complex, impactful occurrence.  Together - the challenges keep every business owner ready to take up the fight, flight or freeze reaction in our reptilian brains.

McKinsey recently reported that some industries will take up to five years to recover.  Others were able to pivot and navigate the new government recommendations with some ...

Any business owner will tell you that owning your own business is a lot of work.  If you listen to stories of the how and why of different businesses, it will amaze you to hear the twists and turns that a lot of people have gone through to get to that place.

Business owners are as varied as the different types of businesses.  They have different reasons for getting into business - some are moving away from a career they d...

This episode is from the Catalytic Conversations aired on IBGR.Network every Friday at 2 pm Eastern.  This was the Season 4 opener.  Let me know if you liked it, have questions, or suggestions for other topics you'd like to hear more about.  Thanks for listening!

Creating a family legacy is hard work.  Fewer than 20% of businesses make it to the fourth generation.  Why is that?  What contributes to the...

Have you forgotten what it felt like to start your business?  I’ve lost count of the number of business owners who have said, “If I had had any idea how hard it would be to get this business where it is today, I’m not sure I would’ve done it.”

Business owners usually nod their heads at this.  Yes, it was hard.  But, you learned a lot.  Many of the lessons learned at that point in the business get lost or forgott...

This was a special episode from my weekly radio show, Catalytic Conversations, on IBGR.Network radio on Fridays at 2 pm Eastern.  Vince Burruano, VP of Sales for the Commercial Division of JK Moving, is a leader to learn from - you can download the full show notes at IBGR.Network.

I’m currently working with several companies dealing with sales team crises.  One company has had three hires for the sales team without any su...

Many family businesses come to a place and time where the decision is made to sell the family business.  While many families would prefer to pass the business on for generations to come, sometimes that isn’t possible for unforeseen reasons.

I recommend to all business owners that they actively plan for the sale of their business - regardless of their ideal exit.  Why?  Because it is always great and empowering to hav...

This is interview was a part of my weekly radio show at IBGR.Network.  Catch Catalytic Conversations every Friday at 2 pm EST.

Building Culture and Teams

Culture in any organization can be difficult to define, as well as communicate.  The issue of defining and explaining culture in a family business is even more complex.  At the same time, leaders in a family business have a responsibility to not only define and expl...

This show gives you, the Owner/Founder Executive the chance to see how somebody else did it - innovate within an established market.  Jay Carpenter and his co-founder, Alexis Carpenter, had a need, which led to an idea that took them to starting Handley Watches.

Jay shares the journey.  He gives us his “WHY”.  He told us what he didn’t know and had to find out.  Jay will let us in on how they did it - from day o...

Seven Hills Electric has seen a few economic meltdowns. This is a family owned business with master networkers. In this episode, Greg and Kyle Harvey connect the dots for us – we can see how networking in the right way led to their most recent successes.

Debra Willis of PPG Solutions, and Karen Larsen of HR TABS, and I have the chance to see this crazy world through the eyes of a third generation family business that survives every...

Capacity+Capability= Strategic Responses Worth Doing

This episode of Catalytic Conversations gives you a chance to weigh the value of a strategic response versus a knee jerk reaction.

No judgment here.  This group of people have a wealth of experience, with the curated wisdom to make those words go down easier.

Jeff Miller and Randy Asbell are sales gurus.  They are business owners who help build out sales teams ...

Norman Company Inc is an amazing commercial construction company in central Virginia…. the model for family business at its best!

This family-owned commercial construction company provides clients in Greater Richmond and surrounding areas with general contracting: project management, pre-construction planning, estimating and scheduling; and negotiated Design/Build services.  The Normans built their business on shared values, d...

Catalytic Conversations is back!  Wendy Dickinson, Founder of Ascend Coaching Solutions is a business coach who works with owners at the intersection of life and business.

Today she talks with Debra Willis of PPG Solutions and Karen Larsen of HR TABS about the struggles of business owners coping with COVID-19.  We’ve entered the second quarter in 2020 - and it’s all about survival.

We discuss:

1. The impacts of COVID-1...

Seven Hills Electric is a third generation electrical services company.  Seven Hills has evolved from a 4 partner business started in the 70’s, to a family owned company with three generations currently at the helm.  The Harvey Family had to pivot due to the recession of ‘08.  Kyle discusses the ups and downs of their decisions.  He is open about his choices - going to college, joining the business, and the prep...

If you thought family business was all unicorns and rainbows, think again.  The family business is a source of income, professional growth, AND a major source of identity.  This is part two of an in depth interview about a family business that weathered Hurricane Katrina with mixed results.

Michele Wink, CEO of UP Professional Solutions, is one of five children.  Her father founded an engineering firm.  In this ...

If you thought family business was all unicorns and rainbows, think again.  The family business is a source of income, professional growth, AND a major source of identity.

Michele Wink, CEO of UP Professional Solutions, is one of five children.  Her father founded an engineering firm.  In this interview, recorded on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Michele tells us about the lessons her family learned about succ...