First, this message is different as it shares two open positions from a coaching client. Also, I’m providing financial news.
Good News, Good Opportunities. One of my business coaching clients plans further growth in 2011 and has two positions open. The company is a well established leader in its industry segment as a regional distributor of wholesale and retail construction related products locating in Reading, Ohio. The first position, Office Administrator, is part-time, prefer five days a week, could work around children school schedule; but, mostly will be an important foundation person to let the others do the sales and operations of the business. The second position, Sales Rep, allows them to grow, reach more customers, increase depth in company, and free up the President/Owner.
Business Coaching – Requesting Referrals! Together with the owner we identify the needs, then I work with small and medium sized businesses on business and bottom line improvement. Specialization examples include producing Annual Business Plans, financial analysis, cash flow, marketing plans, and combined operations-financial Dashboard Reports. May I help a business owner-leader that you know?
Financial News
Some of what I thought were the best articles this month from CFO.com.
- Boardroom Focus in 2011: Growth – Many leaders and CFO’s can expect more positive board meetings in 2011, with an emphasis on strategy and growth. The past few years, anxious directors have asked finance chief how they intend to raise or preserve cash. This year the focus will be more on best ways to spend cash, growth, and corporate strategy. See full article at (http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/14549573).
- CFO Outlook: Onward and Upward - Finance Chiefs are more optimistic than they were last quarter and plan to increase spending in 2011 per Duke University/CFO Magazine survey released in a December 14 article, CFO magazine (http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/14544581). The survey finds more optimism about the economy in general, their companies, and that the tone should translate into some hiring. Finance chiefs have been aggressively accumulating cash, half say they will spend some cash, others will continue with a liquidity buffer and watch the lingering economic uncertainty.
- Late to the Party: Small Biz – This January 11 article in CFO magazine (http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/14549163) notes that weak sales continue to keep small businesses cautious. A survey of business owners done in December, released by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) shows that the moderate recovery being felt at large corporations is largely out of reach for the smaller firms. Lower sales are cutting into business plans for hiring new employees and making capital expenditures, causing them to make do with smaller staffs and aging equipment.
- People Are Different – But Shouldn’t Be – Very different article on human capital decisions, measuring human capital and running a business. See CFO magazine (http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/14548918). “Our people are our most important asset.”
It’s common today for business leaders to at least pay lip service to that sentiment. Yet, many if not most leaders have only a vague notion of what that assets is worth, or how it can be deployed for optimal returns. True, many human resources departments have scorecards and databases that generate lots of reports on things like turnover, performance distributions, and engagement. But, what’s usually missing is the application of metrics that finance executives (and some CEO/COO’s) hold dear. Detailed comments follow in the article. - Treasury Tackles Small-Business Lending – Will community bankers tap a $30 billion fund intended to get capital flowing to small businesses? One-third of small businesses say it is harder to get credit today than a year ago–about 70% are worried about their ability to access financing to run the business in 2011. The article (http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/14549598) provides some survey results and analysis.
Blessings & Best Regards
Paul J. Gillman
pgillman@cinci.rr.com