http://www.turnaroundace.com//index.php en georgecloutier@amserv.com Copyright 2010 2010-05-25T16:30:32+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/link_small_business_week_who_cares/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/link_small_business_week_who_cares/#When:16:30:32Z “Certainly not the Obama Administration and Congress (both Democrats and Republicans) who have repeatedly failed small business at every opportunity with soaring rhetoric, empty promises, and adopting Lilliputian aid programs….” Read the rest of my latest article on Reuters.com. 2010-05-25T16:30:32+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/family_success_and_sacrifice/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/family_success_and_sacrifice/#When:19:53:07Z 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. 2010-02-16T19:53:07+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/the_real_trouble_with_the_economy/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/the_real_trouble_with_the_economy/#When:13:50:43Z 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. 2010-02-16T13:50:43+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/there_is_always_a_lot_of_shouting_when_you_tell_it_like_it_really_is/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/there_is_always_a_lot_of_shouting_when_you_tell_it_like_it_really_is/#When:13:43:25Z 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. 2010-02-12T13:43:25+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/house_hits_home_with_fat_paychecks_leaves_a_few_lumps_of_coal_for_small_biz/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/house_hits_home_with_fat_paychecks_leaves_a_few_lumps_of_coal_for_small_biz/#When:19:01:12Z Extending the current failed program of guarantees & fee reductions for small biz still means that the lending program remains 30%-40% behind the Bush Administration, which many think tried to kill the SBA anyway. Maybe we should cut the salaries & benefits in half of Congress, the Senate, and the Treasury Department and Small Business Advisors to the President until we get a real program that helps the nation’s 29 million small businesses. We bet they wouldn’t be leaving for break if that occurred. 2009-12-18T19:01:12+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/lets_make_ken_lewis_boa_the_new_secretary_of_the_treasury/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/lets_make_ken_lewis_boa_the_new_secretary_of_the_treasury/#When:21:14:56Z BOA steps up gingerly for small biz. Thank you. So when are Obama, Geithner & Congress going to do something more than empty rhetoric? 5 bil in direct loans by BOA is $5 bil more than Obama, Geithner and the do-nothing Congress are doing for small biz. 2009-12-14T21:14:56+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/administrations_plan_for_small_businesss_lump_of_coal_wrapped_in_ribbon_of_/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/administrations_plan_for_small_businesss_lump_of_coal_wrapped_in_ribbon_of_/#When:17:46:25Z In 2008 Candidate Obama promised to help small business. “MAIN STREET NEEDS RELIEF AND YOU NEED IT NOW.”- Candidate Obama, October 10, 2008 As I said in a recent WSJ article, small businesses need help this month and they needed help last month. The response from the Administration and Congress has been pathetic. Congress and the Administration have actually managed to reduce loan value dramatically in the face of the worst recession this nation has seen since the 1930’s. The SBA has guaranteed a paltry 50,000 loans to the nation’s 29 million small businesses – that’s .0017; loan volume is down 36% than under the Bush Administration. In the summer, the White House promised new progress “in the fall”. Fall has passed and now the President and Congress are promising new programs next year. If they wait two or three more years when the recession is over, they can claim victory. If they wait any longer hundreds of thousands of small businesses will cease operations. SO WHERE’S THE BEEF? 2009-12-14T17:46:25+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/cnbc_guest_post_embrace_your_inner_scrooge-cancel_the_holiday_party/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/cnbc_guest_post_embrace_your_inner_scrooge-cancel_the_holiday_party/#When:17:27:53Z Be sure to check out my guest blog post on CNBC’s Bullish on Books blog. 2009-12-02T17:27:53+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/micromanage/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/micromanage/#When:13:57:08Z You should wear the badge of “control freak” with pride. Micromanage, micromanage some more, then circle back to make sure the task is getting done, and done right. You may have to put in more a lot time at the office. You’ll have to give up a few evenings and most weekends. But you’ll ensure your business is making maximum profits. Decide now: longer hours and more focus, or much less money to put into your bank account? I know which option I’d pick. 2009-11-09T13:57:08+00:00 http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/let_the_axe_fall_on_deadwood/ http://www.turnaroundace.com/index.php/blog/comments/let_the_axe_fall_on_deadwood/#When:13:55:28Z Getting rid of incompetent workers is probably one of the hardest things bosses have to do. When they sit across the desk from you with their big sad eyes, telling them about the mortgage they’re behind on, or the college tuition they have to pay for their kids, it can be gut wrenching. But you have to let the axe fall on deadwood. If you don’t, the performers in your business will resent it, and you’ll be losing money on payroll for someone who doesn’t contribute to the bottom line. You can’t afford to keep them. You don’t have those kinds of margins for failure. Don’t buy the excuses and don’t get soft. For the sake of the business, and the hard workers who rely on the business for a living, you should rid yourself of mediocre performers. It’s profits in your pocket and lets everyone know you mean business. 2009-11-05T13:55:28+00:00