Blog
Insights, tools, and training straight from the team at Compass Point
BLOG | FAMILY DYNAMICS / GOVERNANCE
What’s love (power & money) got to do with family business? EVERYTHING.
When I began my career in family business consulting nearly 20 years ago, I met Dean Fowler, one of the early thought leaders in the field of family business and author of several books, most notably Love, Power and Money. As it turns out, these 3 words line up perfectly with the famed 3-circle model developed by Davis and Tagiuri of the Harvard Business School in 1978, depicting the family business system - the intersecting circles of family, business, and ownership...
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BLOG | CUSTOMER
Hiring a Milkshake – A Jobs to Be Done Business Story
According to Peter Drucker, a customer rarely buys what the company thinks it’s selling. Wait, what? That’s right – what the company had in mind when first creating the product or service is likely NOT the real reason a customer will buy it. This is where I want to introduce the concept of jobs to be done...
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BLOG | LEADERSHIP
Agreeing to be Productive
You did it. You made it through the majority of the chaos. You figured out how your business can survive post-COVID. You pivoted...
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BLOG | LEADERSHIP
Who Should Bale the Hay?
Baling hay. It’s important & urgent work on a farm. It’s also a great business metaphor related to THE NUMBER ONE barrier to growth...
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BLOG | LEADERSHIP
Are you tolerating toxic productivity?
Toxic productivity. Is this a new term to you? Or did the phrase make you cringe because you KNOW it exists in your organization? While it sounds like an oxymoron, it is more prevalent than most business leaders care to admit. Toxic productivity comes from employees who are a constant source of drama...
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BLOG | NEXT CHAPTER
Maximizing Value to Always Be For Sale
When I started Compass Point nearly 20 years ago, I heard a quote from business owner (and my now mentor) Tom Stine, “The only reason to get into business is to get out.” I remember thinking at the time, “That’s a bit cold. Sounds like consultant talk.” But 20 years later, I can honestly say that truer words have never been spoken.
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BLOG | STRATEGY
What Sandbox Are You Playing In?
While a sandbox is an unconventional image to describe a facet of your business, it is the perfect analogy. And yes, it should conjure up images of your childhood and time spent in a shallow box filled with sand and, of course, a few toys...
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BLOG | STRATEGY
Don’t Lose the House
Why did I leave a comfortable position in higher education to help family businesses grow, thrive, and create legacies? Here’s a little look behind the curtain. I grew up in family business...
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Where Family Businesses Come to Grow & Learn
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