A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was handed a shit sandwich. It was a software project for a government department, central to their mission, and it was months late, over budget, and not yet doing anything useful. The list of problems was getting longer, not...
Rehabilitating the Third Generation
Grant Thornton Australia just released their 2023 family business survey, called Future-Proofing Your Family Business. It’s a very relevant title, because so many of the benefits of the family business model depend on longevity – the ability to take a “patient capital” view of business investments; the ability to create...
Four Stages of the Business Journey
Being in business is a journey. We grow, we stumble, we learn. If we are lucky, every day brings a chance to develop skills and attitudes, strategies and tactics. At Upland, we distinguish four stages along the journey where change is greatest, and so, of course, are the risks: startup,...
Networking for Business Success
People do business with people they know, like and trust – the world over. The more technology we use, the more we treasure our human connectedness. If you want new customers for your business, you must offer people a journey from stranger to knowing, liking and trusting you. Growing and...
Strategy: Unchain Your Business
The biggest ball-and-chain we see on businesses is not talent, guts, determination or the state of the economy. It’s strategy (and lack of). Strategy is not just for the big companies. We’ve seen far too many business owners struggle because they lacked a clear strategy. A strategy is not a...
Is It Time for a Board of Directors?
Business is a journey. As your business develops, you will grow in skill and understanding. The questions and puzzles you face will change. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and, as per one of our Four Truths of Business Growth®, you won’t make it on your own. Among the people you will...