Is a brand new economy wishful thinking? Not for some business owners. They’ve stopped listening to the news and that’s as good as shower. “You have to focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want. Then you see the possibilities unfold before you,” says Rob McGregor, a specialist in coaching business owners. Don’t want to hang on hold any longer? You need new indicators to guide your thinking.

What’s good, what’s new, what’s coming?

1. Capital IQ, the market research firm says that the mergers and acquisitions outlook data shows there are a lot of great companies on the market which means great buys for acquirers. Some owners are getting premium offers because they have discovered what it takes to make their business saleable.

2. Mobi Ditto, the new start up that’s transforming main street businesses into mobile marketing machines with their community heros program is racking up new accounts everywhere. Owners are signing on to use their text messaging program to help bring in new clients and give back to charities that help the people and animals of their communities. Their customers use the coupon to try the new business and get their investment back on the first purchase as well as know they are giving to charity. Everyone wins.

3. Success Magazine is pursuing stories of business owners who have made big come backs. The common theme? Every author of a comeback had to write a new chapter in their business strategy manual. Following the pack was not the way out. Innovation, recognizing the truth of the situation and talking to customers brought out the way forward.

What are you doing to separate your self from the muck that slimes the best of intentions? Tell us your story and we will select the best ones to showcase.

There are two types of company leaders. You are either:

1. Fearing for what might happen OR
2. Steering to what you want to have happen

If you are in the first group, it is very likely that what you fear will occur WILL HAPPEN. If you want to beat the habit of running your company with fear about the future, click here.

If you are in the second group, it is very likely that what you want to occur WILL HAPPEN. If you want to know how to make sure everyone on your team agrees with you, performs at a level not thought possible before and is working toward your vision, click here.

How are you thinking about your own future?

There are two types of company owners. You are either:

1. Not thinking like an investor and therefore not taking the time to think about how you will extract your retirement money from your company OR
2. Thinking like an investor and steering your company to a well understood and defined exit strategy and have implemented a growth plan to be attractive to investors, financiers, employees and especially customers.

If you are in the first group, it is very likely that a Disease, Divorce or Death will do your thinking for you. That puts your investment at risk of not being realized (meaning no buyer can be found for your company) or that the amount that you actually get for your company is substantially less than what it might have done had you prepared you and your company to move toward a specific exit strategy. (Pick one, there are three-four options.) If this is you, click here for more information that might change your life or at least your perception of what might be possible.

If you are in the second group (thinking like an investor) but didn’t know you also needed a growth strategy, click here. If you are in the second group and are in growth mode and are moving toward a Strategic, Financial, MBO or Harvest transition or transaction, congratulations. According to the US Small Business Administration and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, you are in the small minority of business owners who will need/want to retire in the next 3-5 years and have a plan to get there. But ask yourself, are you getting the performance you’d hoped for? If not, click here.