Sharing profits, not equity
When I worked for large companies, the concept of profit sharing was limited to the upper echelons of the organization generally in the form of annual bonuses that were mysteriously calculated, paid 3-5 months after…
Developing an Accountability Culture
All Searcher CEO's strive to lead a profitable, growing business with shared values across the organization, a common mission, and a culture of accountability. This is a lot harder to reduce to practice than it…
Strategic Partnerships
Strategic partners can be very important to your business. By ignoring this opportunity to gain significant resources may limit your growth and learning. I was not naturally a partnering kind of entrepreneur and wanted control,…
Downsizing your business
While you did not buy a business to see it shrink, most "on-going" businesses will experience a decline in revenues that will severely test its leadership. Emerging stronger from the decline will require some tough…
Exit and/or Recapitalization
Exiting your business or buying out your investors represents the "payday" for your efforts and risk after many years as searcher/CEO. It may or not mean that you will step away from the business, but…