Posted by: Ken Moll
I have been blessed with a long and storied career in business. I have found business to be very challenging. And, thank God, I have also found it to be very rewarding.
But, I have also found it to be very lonely at the top. Here’s why: When you are the leader of the organization, sometimes it’s hard to find the right person to talk to.
Let’s say you are a Controller or CFO. An Executive Director. ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
When it comes to making decisions, it’s important to realize that change is multi-dimensional.
In life and in business, we often come to a crossroad or a decision point. We try to weigh the pros and cons – and then, make the best decision possible. And it is here where we pause for caution, as not every decision has its desired consequence or outcome. Or, rather, the decision itself introduces some other unintended consequences. Change is multi-dimensional.
The ability to ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
This article could have also been titled A False Sense of Security. But hopefully you’ll understand the title selection in a bit.
When I was a kid, I would enjoy an annual pilgrimage to my parent’s home state – Arkansas. I would enjoy my grandmother’s freshly-boiled sweet corn, french fries, fried okra, and all other types of Southern comfort food. But what I didn’t enjoy so much were grandpa’s fresh shot, squirrel and dumplings. I didn’t like ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
Only God knows. You never know when someone might offer you an unexpected sum to buy your business or organization.
Would you sell it? Would you keep it?
Many moons ago, I learned of someone who was offered an untold amount to buy his business. It was a large sum.
The offer would be passed up. And many years later, the M & A (mergers & acquisitions) market would not be friendly to the industry.
Should the person have sold when he ...
Continue Reading →
The typical business consultant sells business tools. Like a hardware store sells hammers, business consultants sell business tools.
The challenge is that all too often, the consultant’s hammer is often heralded as the “cure all” for all business ailments.
Most people have the common sense to know that a hammer will not saw wood, drill holes, or router a decorative edge on a piece of wood. It is used for driving nails.
But when it comes to business, neither the business malady nor ...
Continue Reading →
In one of our Membership articles, we provided our Member clients one of Blue Elevator™’s secret formulas for success in business. Whereas we won’t spill those beans here, we do want to provide you with another secret.
It is the secret of hard work. And that being: hard work is a limiting reagent.
I learned the concept of a limiting reagent from my high school chemistry teacher (i.e., thank you, Mrs. Connie Grosse). I will summarize it here. A limiting reagent ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
Starting and growing a business is a lot like taking a long journey on foot. There are many parallels:
A ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
This article is dedicated to all present and future clients of Blue Elevator™. Business is a tough sport. And sparingly, there are few courageous enough to embark on the ongoing process of rigorous business advisory. You have taken the road less traveled by. This article is dedicated to you.
There is a problem with self reflection. The very exercise itself is almost guaranteed to reveal an opportunity to improve.
Reflecting back on the past several years, ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
When you mention your competition, you advertise for them. The more you message your competition, the more “top of mind” they become.
So, pardon the direct advisory, but stop talking about your competition!
It kind of makes sense when you think about it. Business owners, organizations, etc. tend to talk about their competition in an attempt to differentiate themselves. At face value, this makes sense. The trouble is, they don’t do it from a position ...
Continue Reading →Posted by: Ken Moll
One of my first real jobs was serving as a product merchandiser for Knudsen Dairies here in Southern California. This would be a summer job after graduating from high school before starting my freshman year as a business student at Cal State University, Fullerton.
And, since my duties would involve daily driving to any number of grocery stores, I would need a reliable vehicle to get from place to place. And, since my high school whip was a ...
Continue Reading →