It seems the so-called gurus with the "7 Steps to XYZ" are mostly self-indulgent and focused on the money they'll personally make, rather than the money their customers will make. They’ve got video testimonials, compelling squeeze pages, and annoying, over-exposed email campaigns. Unfortunately, the highest paid “experts” with those proven "formulas" are typically very good marketers, but not backed by a lot of substance and defensible experience. Go ahead, google "7 Steps". There's 77 million results.

Those who advocate the advisor role as many define it (and so do I) can be successful, and truly help their entrepreneur clients achieve their dreams. Our propensity for instant gratification is driven by the headlines, the speed of social media, and most of the dumb TV shows. It leads people to believe they can spend a few bucks and quickly go make a million bucks. Heck, they hear about a few success stories, but fail to realize only 0.00000001% of people that make the headlines got lucky. So it’s got to be easy, right?

The advisor takes his/her background, education and experience and applies the powerful combination and converts the business owner’s uncertainty to more certainty. It's really that simple. It doesn’t need the “7 Steps” or the “12 Steps” but actual work on actual problems, designing the best approach on-demand.

In this graphic, Lendio has taken a deep look at each source of capital, have uncovered how much money is going where, and identified common considerations, compromises and benefits of each. In the end, this gives a good visual look at the state of business financing in today’s economy.

A business owner can spend a lot of money and time with consultants trying to figure out what the competition is up to. But you don't have to. Last week, I sat down with a business owner and one of the first questions I asked was "What do your competitors do to win against you?" The response? I got a blank stare.

This morning, I was out in our little paradise room with my coffee - a tropical screen room with a bar, kitchenette, seating for a dozen and a stereo.

My ears perked up as I listened intently the song Hearts on Fire by "Scars on 45". My epiphany: This is a great song for an entrepreneur or business owner. This part is the part that got me:

The IT function continues the challenge of becoming a strategic player in small companies. I've been an advocate of small companies using technology for their strategic advantage. However, most small biz owners aren't all that tech savvy, and if they are, they don't hold IT in high regard. Times have changed. Today's IT function no longer consists of young geeks wearing funny glasses and talking a funny language (IT speak).

By Keith McAslan, Partner, CxO To Go

Introduction:
Most CEO’s and small/medium business owners only review the financial position of the business with their Bookkeeper/Controller two to three weeks after the month has ended. This is like driving your car forward while looking exclusively in the rear view mirror – it doesn’t work. Most CEO’s and business owners focus on the “bottom line” (net income, EBIT or EBITDA), and fail to recognize that “Cash is King”! The Dashboard–Cashboard is a simple tool that is forward looking and helps the business understand the drivers of cash and projects the cash position.

The Key Benefits of the Dashboard - Cashboard
The benefits of a business implementing a weekly Dashboard-Cashboard include:

CxO To Go continues to keep on top of the current recovery. We believe, as others do, that the recovery is on its way. Even with a jobless recovery, many signs are pointing to additional growth which eventually means hiring. Take a look at the charts and articles to get an idea of what we are looking at, so you can be well informed, too.

Half of Global CEOs Confident in Revenue Growth

By Marty Koenig, CEO of CxO To Go

The new small business lending bill “Small Business Jobs Act of 2010” got passed today by the Senate (61-38). That shows the federal government got the message: Most job growth is caused by small businesses. The small-business bill provides $12 billion in tax incentives and provides a $30 billion lending fund to help cash-starved businesses. This Act is expected to leverage a total of $300 billion in loans to small businesses.

By Keith McAslan, Partner, CxO To Go

Introduction:

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on August, 17, 2010 released their “exposure draft” requiring companies to record nearly all leases on their balance sheets as a “right to use” asset, and a corresponding “future lease payment - liability”.  What does this mean to your business in layman terms?  This proposal in essence does away with operating leases; all leases (unless immaterial) would be capitalized using the present value of the minimum lease payments.  Therefore, businesses who in the past had off-balance sheet lease obligations, must now record these obligations on their balance sheet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: