FOUNDERS
Daryl Starr
Mikel Berger
Latest Blog Posts
2021 Annual Meeting
The partners of Little Engine Ventures are invited to gather. We will confront our progress and blunders over the last 12 months and try to explain how our thinking has evolved since launch and where that may take us on our journey ahead. No questions are off limits. Come early. Stay late. Enjoy our city Read more about 2021 Annual Meeting[…]
The Appropriate Depth: A Leader’s Guide to Excellence in Small Business Ownership
Running a small business is challenging. I would argue that it is more challenging than running a larger organization. There are usually fewer resources (common excuse), but more importantly, there are fewer established procedures; or worse, there are well-established poor procedures. I like to look on the bright side and tend toward assigning a positive Read more about The Appropriate Depth: A Leader’s Guide to Excellence in Small Business Ownership[…]
Diversification Motive
A business owner should diversify when the market no longer responds profitably enough to justify reinvestment –and there is still entrepreneurial appetite, capacity, and talent remaining. The default should be reinvestment in one’s primary endeavor, where the insights and probabilities are strongest. If a firm begins to lose value, then the owner should make changes Read more about Diversification Motive[…]
Making Order While Retaining Decentralization
Our General Managers run sales and operations. And they’re great. I provide “entrepreneurial services.” Some probably prefer I stand down, wild man. When we launched, I used the phrase “we believe in decentralization” quite often. At the time, I had a vague understanding of what that meant exactly. I figured the simple definition was “Hire Read more about Making Order While Retaining Decentralization[…]
Obstacles to Scaling a SMB by 10x
I recently wrote about buy and build; versus buy or build. Shortly thereafter I saw a question posed on Twitter regarding the obstacles. This is my attempt to share those obstacles: Market saturation – most small, service businesses are constrained by their geography. You are not the best HVAC company in the area. You are Read more about Obstacles to Scaling a SMB by 10x[…]
My “Go” Button Still Works
Swing you bum! Last week I had a couple of exciting meetings. Looking back on the conversations, I’m pretty sure I relocated my “Go” button. The deals aren’t closed (far from it), but I just wanted to let our readers know that I still know where the “Go” button is located… and I know how Read more about My “Go” Button Still Works[…]
The Big Idea(s)
Last week I read Peter Drucker’s “Managing for Results” (1964.) He uses several recent examples (circa the 1950s and 1960s) to demonstrate several timeless business principles. I really enjoyed it. What took me so long to read it? My hope in this blog post (per usual) is to provide some overview commentary alongside my personal Read more about The Big Idea(s)[…]
Multiplex Relationships
Last fall I learned a phrase, “Multiplex Relationships” in a Perspectives Course at our church. The idea between simplex and multiplex is that a simplex relationship is transactional. You drive the Uber. I ride. Once the task is complete our relationship ends. A multiplex relationship crosses two or more roles. If you buy a car Read more about Multiplex Relationships[…]
Culture of Writing
Our pace of blog posts has slowed dramatically since 2016. (177 published in 41 months is an average of 4.3 posts per month.) Mikel and I chatted about why the sluggishness. I surmised, “I think we wrote to ourselves more often in the early months.” –Or, perhaps we had more to say? We rolled back Read more about Culture of Writing[…]
Reading & Writing Annual Reports
I recently asked Mikel what I ought to write. He suggested I write about writing the annual report for Little Engine Ventures or write about reading annual reports. While it seems rather metacognitive to write about reading and writing, I’ll give it a whirl –please bear with me. As with all my writing, my hope Read more about Reading & Writing Annual Reports[…]