FOUNDERS
Daryl Starr
Mikel Berger
Latest Blog Posts
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[…]
Aspiring Industrialist
I am a willing participant in our capitalist system. Despite that, I’ve not studied intently past participants in this system to look for skills worth copying and any decisions to avoid. The book American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism 1865-1900 seemed as good a place as any to work on that study. The book lays Read more about Aspiring Industrialist[…]
Snowball
Earlier this month, we had great conditions for making snowballs. Temperatures just under freezing with plenty of moisture made for some really wet snow. Alice Schroeder titled her Buffett biography The Snowball because of this quote. Life is like a snowball. The important thing is finding wet snow and a really long hill. Warren E. Read more about Snowball[…]
Nebuchadnezzar
We recently adorned our walls with a new piece of art. This is a copy of a print by English poet, painter, and printmaker, William Blake. The print is of King Nebuchadnezzar during his humiliation as described in Daniel 4:28-33. Nebuchadnezzar serves as a reminder to remain humble. If we don’t remain humble, God will Read more about Nebuchadnezzar[…]
2020’s Greatest Hits
We have a few new website visitors to our corner of the web thanks to this post about The State of Micro Private Equity. These 5 posts are the most visited from 2020. They serve as a good overview of where we’ve recently been. If you’re new around here, start with one and choose your Read more about 2020’s Greatest Hits[…]