Your business is a living organism – something that has potential to grow and thrive long after you’ve played your role in it. Yet many firms are still smarting from a very tough recession, and feel like they are on life support.  The “new normal” has accelerated industry consolidation, longer sales cycles, fee pressures, and tight credit. If you are a seriously growth-oriented B2B company, what can you do to ensure that you swiftly return to wealth creation mode?

Most CPAs, attorneys, investment bankers and business brokers will tell you to focus on some fundamental issues to improve your wealth prospects; namely, your company valuation and viability.  They will assert that certain criteria are the key to maximizing your eventual exit potential or sales price.  They will refer to these as “value drivers.”  According to Ned Minor, an attorney and author of Deciding to Sell Your Business,   “Value drivers are those characteristics that influence a buyer’s decision about how much to pay for a company. These include–but are not limited to–a stable, motivated management team, effective financial controls, a realistic growth strategy, and a facility appearance consistent with asking price.”

While these value drivers sound logical on the surface, they only provide a partial definition of wealth for B2B companies. Today, many business leaders are seeking a more meaningful balance between money and happiness.  And they understand that money and wealth are not the same. If you want to create meaning and significance in the world, it is essential to define wealth in a way that honors your values, your vision, and your core strengths. Continue reading » »