I am proud to announce that I have completed a fifteen month educational program and have been awarded both the FFI GEN (Global Educational Network) Certificate in Family Business Advising (CFBA) and Certificate in Family Wealth Advising (CFWA) by the Family Firm Institute. It has been a great experience: excellent faculty, comprehensive and thought-provoking readings […]
The business divorce ending the BLT restaurant empire partnership — Part II
As I wrote about last time, last Wednesday’s New York Times Food section included an article titled “Ex-Partners Fight to Separate the Ingredients”. In it, Glenn Collins chronicled the business divorce ending the BLT restaurant empire partnership between Jimmy Haber and Laurent Tourondel. It’s hardly news that business partnerships can be tough and that the […]
The business divorce ending the BLT restaurant empire partnership — Part I
Last Wednesday’s New York Times Food section included an article titled “Ex-Partners Fight to Separate the Ingredients”. In it, Glenn Collins chronicled the business divorce ending the BLT restaurant empire partnership between Jimmy Haber and Laurent Tourondel. It’s hardly news that business partnerships can be tough and that the restaurant business is nearly always tough. […]
Your “Big Picture” Year-End Review
As 2010 draws to a close, year-end reviews become popular. We’re all told to take a cold, hard look at where we are and where we need to go. Businesses are encouraged to examine where they can make marginal changes to improve their bottom line. Individuals are urged to pick one, small change that they […]
Why mediation? Because it’s a small (business) world
There are certain truths about conflict, conflict resolution, and mediation that we know are timeless. Yet they don’t always rise to the top of our consciousness. This month, repeatedly, I have found myself discussing the merits of business mediation with business owners who really “get it”. In particular, they are looking for a dispute resolution […]
Talk, Talk, and Talk Some More
My tip on how to deal with a bad, falling apart business relationship was published yesterday in the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog piece on “81 Strategies to Fix a Bad, Falling Apart Business Partnership.” My tip,” Talk, Talk, and Talk Some More”, is focused on communication’s role in business conflict management. This is the third […]
Family business buy-out conflicts
Family businesses possess great strengths — and potentially devastating weaknesses. One weakness involves the challenge of planning for a day when some or all family members leave the business. On November 1, 2009, the New York Times ran an article by Charles V. Bagli titled “Flipping a Coin, Dividing an Empire.” In it, he described […]
“The Art of the Apology” Radio Interview
On August 7, 2009, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Barry Moltz on his weekly online radio talk show, “Business Insanity Talk Radio.” I was one of four guests discussing “The Art of the Apology.” Each guest offered a perspective on using apologies effectively in the business world. I focused on the role […]