Articles
business development
Start here before you touch AI
There’s a question I keep hearing right now, and it usually comes up pretty quickly in a conversation:
“How should we be using AI in our business?”
It sounds like the right question. It feels practical. It feels like something you shouldhave an answer to right now.
But it’s actually the wrong place to start.
In last month’s Ask the CFO session on AI with Ken Scales, we kept coming back to something much simpler. Ken Scales said it directly:
“What are we trying to achieve first? It’s not, l…
Considering an External Sale? What Business Owners Need to Know
For many business owners, an external sale is the best path to exit. Whether selling to a competitor, private investor, or private equity firm, a well-planned transition can provide financial security and ensure the company’s long-term success. However, selling a business isn’t as simple as finding a buyer—it requires careful preparation, strategic decision-making, and an understanding of the potential benefits and challenges.
Key Considerations for an External Sale
One of the most important s…
The Missing Ingredient in Lean: Leadership Behavior, Not More Tools with guests Mike & Will Craig
Every time Lean comes up in a conversation with a business owner or CFO, I hear some version of the same question:
“We rolled out Lean… why didn’t it last?”
After our latest Ask the CFO session with Mike Craig and William Craig from GKW Business Solutions, I think the answer is clearer than ever. Lean doesn’t fail because people don’t understand the tools. It fails because leadership doesn’t change the behaviors that make those tools meaningful.
Mike spent years in manufacturing finance befor…
Bekah Carlson: Make Your Marketing Pay Off Like an Investment
Most small and midsized businesses don’t have a marketing problem — they have a measurement problem.
You’re spending time (and probably money) on websites, social posts, trade shows, maybe even ads. But if you asked, “What return are we getting on all this?” the answer usually sounds something like:
“We’re getting our name out there.”
That’s not a strategy. That’s hope. And as a CFO, I’ll tell you — hope doesn’t make for a good business plan.
Marketing Should Work Like Any Other Invest…
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