Family, Success, and Sacrifice

Posted by George Cloutier on 02/16/10 | (1) Comments

Not being able to provide financially for your family, meet your payroll on Friday, or pay your screaming vendors are all very genuine concerns for any business owner. My way of thinking is a kick in the fanny to make real profits.

My rules are tough and each individual business owner is absolutely free to make his or her own choices about family issues, making a profit, sweat equity, denial, pay only for performance, and fear as a motivator, etc.

Obviously, you have to respect, love, and provide for your family. However, there are essential and regular conflicts between “quality of family life” and making a profit in the majority of cases. You can’t avoid these conflicts.

The Real Trouble with the Economy

Posted by George Cloutier on 02/16/10 | (1) Comments

One of the reasons for the troubles in the disastrous small business economy that no one else seems to want to talk about are that many owners put everything else (i.e., quality of life, happy employees, business campuses, and free pizza and beer) ahead of the old-fashioned concept of profits and real money. Ask your banker if that’s right.

There is always a lot of shouting when you tell it like it REALLY is

Posted by George Cloutier on 02/12/10 | (8) Comments

There have been more than a few negative comments directed toward me following my recent interview in the New York Times and Entrepreneur.com column. These knee-jerk reactions don’t seem all that well thought out or based on actual experiences. 

First, my book was written for business owners, or those dreaming of a small business and fantasizing how much fun it will be. It was not written for their employees. The book reflects my 30-year experience with over 6000 companies in more than 400 industries. These are hard core, real life experiences.

Sure, some business owners have been successful doing it another way. But for every one that was successful I can name three that failed for the reasons outlined in the book and in the articles linked above.

My company does not get paid to chit chat; we get paid to make money for business owners who choose to seek profit improvement or a financial turnaround. When I go to work in the morning I’m not going for a social experience. If you are, as a business owner, you are risking a lower level of profitability or even losses.