Tag Archive: Provisors

Case in Point – Should You Speed Up Your M&A Plans?

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The merger and acquisition market has slowed down due to political, economic and tax uncertainty. Might it be the opportune time to sell quickly to maximize value? If you are thinking about it, perhaps it is time to take a look…
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Will Robots Pay Back?

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I attended a compelling presentation for manufacturers and distributors on the latest trends in technology for manufacturing. Robots were front and center.
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The Value of Getting to Know Each Other

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The holidays tends to bring on conversations with old colleagues and catching up with family, friends and clients.  Often times, we zip through life and business and don’t stop to get to know the people we interact with on a daily basis.  How could this be?   I have a few colleagues and friends who are particularly good at finding out all about the lives of people they work with (without wasting all sorts of time).  They always seem to have some detail I never knew about someone I talk with frequently about business matters.  Couldn’t we always do better?   You…
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What are the Best Referrals You’ve Received?

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I lead a group of trusted advisors for ProVisors in the Inland Empire, and we celebrated our five year anniversary in September. It was a fun celebration and interesting to see how many long-term members we have, who have gained significant benefit from participating in the group. I very much appreciate my executive committee as they helped create this amazing success. A BIG THANK YOU to Kathy McEntee, Gus Marantidis, James Valmonte, Jan Palmer, Dana Mitchellweiler, Steve Nosenchuck, John Tulac and Mike Kouyoumdjian. At the anniversary event, we talked about our best referrals, introductions, resources or assistance gained during our tenure in…
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Is Supply Chain Top of Mind for Your Business?

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Earlier this week, I spoke on a panel at a ProVisors (a top notch group of trusted advisers) event about supply chain and its impact on the Southern California and Inland Empire economy. The event prompted me to think about whether we are keeping supply chain top of mind (from your suppliers’ suppliers, through your manufacturing operations – insourced, outsourced or both – to your customers’ customers, inclusive of transportation and logistics networks, IT etc.). It will have a dramatic impact on your business success, and, in Southern California’s case, the economy. For example, is the Amazon Effect (the notion of 24/7,…
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Are You Thinking About Cyber Security?

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Cyber security has taken over the news and trade magazines lately as risk levels are elevated and cyber crime is a real threat. Are you developing strategies to address cyber security concerns? It is no laughing matter as you listen to what could happen…. Tonight, we attended a ProVisors (group of trusted advisers) cocktail reception. In two hours, we ran into multiple people who talked about the relevance and risk associated with cyber security. If you aren’t thinking about these questions, you should sit up and pay attention: Does your company have the appropriate security and protocols in place to fend off hackers? If…
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Favorite Charities

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When I led my ProVisors ONT meeting last week, we talked about our favorite charities. We are a group of trusted advisors for businesses (commercial bankers, commercial insurance, consultants, attorneys, etc.) yet discussing charities was a great exercise to get to know each other better which also improves our ability to collaborate and do business with each other. At the end of the discussion, we picked a name out of the attendees, and one of us walked away with the money collected for the charity of our choice. The winner gave the money to rescue the animals. Do you know what is…
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Our Competition is Complacency

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I attended a conference for ProVisors (premier organization of senior-level trusted advisers) group leaders earlier today. It was energizing to spend the day with top notch trusted advisers and leaders. One of the speakers was talking about the power of collaboration vs. competition. I’ve found this to be true in my group as well. If two people who seem like competitors (perhaps two CPA’s) look for ways to work together, their business increases exponentially. For example, 1+1=16. If they see each other as competition, business declines. In this case 1+1=.5. In essence a scarcity thought process! The bottom line is…
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Collaborate to Thrive

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It was not only a week of summits and symposiums but it was also a week for awards and recognition. In watching closely who won the top awards across the board, we saw a common thread in the winners — collaboration. One of the award winners spoke directly to the critical importance of collaboration. She is also known for bringing together diverse and often-opposing opinions together to find common solutions. In another instance, the award winner complimented his business partners during the award speech. In another, a member of his rotary thought so much of the company owner that she…
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Collaboration Rules

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Collaboration is pivotal to success for manufacturers and distributors. Supply chains are connected to a larger degree than ever before.  Global is commonplace.  Customers and manufacturers talk frequently.  Suppliers collaborate with manufacturers on developing new products.  Collaborative planning, forecasting and VMI programs are commonplace.  In many industries such as aerospace and distribution, they are a “must”.  Consumers have gained a more powerful voice with social media.  Feedback is immediate.  The bottom line is that collaboration has evolved from a fluffy concept to a vital and pragmatic one. Certainly, collaboration arises on a daily basis in my consulting practice.  More and…
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