Advice for CEOs

The previous article described how Scott, the co-owner of a small, successful compressor business, was pondering his options. His brother John decided to step away from the company to protect his health. Scott created a list of reasons why he was willing, even eager, to pursue a business growth strategy that would get the company out of No Man’s Land and give it a shot at taking off to become a much larger firm.

Scott sat alone at his desk, thinking about the events of the past week. For the past seven years, he and his brother John had shared an office managing the compressor business their father had founded. John had done a great job in running the operating side of the business, while Scott had focused on sales and service. But one issue had really started to claim their attention: how much business growth they should seek.

In my last article I introduced Rick, a business owner who has just started to think about the possibility of selling the business that he has built and run over many years.

Rick checked one more time to make sure the lights were out and the doors locked, then headed across the empty parking lot to his car. Last one out again.