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WARREN BUFFET SAYS ANYONE CAN ACHIEVE SUCCESS BY FOLLOWING THIS 1 PERSONAL RULE HE LIVES BY

By Marcel Schwantes – inc.com

Warren BuffettGetty Images
Warren BuffettGetty Images

In his 1989 annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders, Warren Buffett called attention to a valuable personal rule which he credits to much of his success.

The Oracle of Omaha said: After some other mistakes, I learned to go into business only with people whom I like, trust, and admire.”

Why the focus on the people behind business relationships? According to Buffett, it’s simple: “We’ve never succeeded in making a good deal with a bad person.”

In a 1998 address to University of Florida MBA students, Buffett reiterated this golden principle, saying “I only work with people I like. If I could make $100 million with a guy who causes my stomach to churn, I would say no.”

Of course, when your net worth isn’t measured in billions (or millions, for that matter), it can be easier to fall into exciting opportunities with the wrong kinds of people. And unless your life resembles an HBO drama, by “wrong kinds of people,” I don’t mean gangsters, hitmen, or drug dealers. I simply mean folks who put less stock in values.

Maybe a potential business partner is willing to make false claims about a competitor’s product, or your accountant wants to get creative with the numbers so you can avoid paying your fair share in taxes. There are always people looking to toe the moral line, whose behavior might not get them locked up, but is still unsavory, to say the least.

BUFFETT’S PERSONAL RULE IN PRACTICE

Buffett’s point is that associating with these types of people is risky, not necessarily because you’ll end up in legal or financial trouble, but because over time you’ll grow to be more like them. As he puts it, “You want to associate with people who are the kind of person you’d like to be. You’ll move in that direction.”

To make sure you’re moving in the right direction, here are three things to consider as you put Buffett’s personal rule into play.

1. PHASE OUT UNDESIRABLE RELATIONSHIPS.

If you’re serious about associating yourself with the right people, that will inevitably require disassociating yourself with the wrong types. Once you’ve decided to make this change, only you can determine the appropriate pace. If your manager is pushing you to upsell customers who don’t need your product, you might want to keep a casual eye out for a new role. On the other hand, if the CEO’s money-funneling son is your direct report, don’t walk — run toward the exit.

2. VET YOUR BUSINESS PARTNERS THOROUGHLY

Don’t wait to do some digging until you’ve signed on the dotted line — the best time to learn about business partners is before you go into business. Do your due diligence upfront, researching their past decisions and looking for trustworthy references. If you’re having trouble finding any information, move on to step three.

3. TRUST YOUR GUT.

You should give people a chance, but that doesn’t mean ignoring your intuition. If you have a bad feeling about someone, whether they’re a new employee, a potential board member, or a mutual acquaintance interested in investing, trust your gut. Meet them for dinner or coffee to get to know them a little better. If the feeling remains, nip any future association in the bud.

As Buffett acknowledges, you’ll make mistakes along the way. Sometimes a golden opportunity will blind you to the people involved, or your intuition might fail to warn you about an individual’s true character. All you can do is learn from these mistakes, adjust accordingly, and move on.

Are you curious about how sellable your company is and what you would need to tweak to sell it when you’re ready? Contact us at info@performancebb.ca to discuss.

Edmonton Water hauling Company for sale

Established over 15 years ago, this water hauling business provides water hauling services in Greater Edmonton area. The company has had longer term contracts for much of the time it has been in business.

Water services are available for construction, oil field and landscaping services to commercial, municipalities and residential customers. This business services other industrial companies who are in need of water delivery to work sites. Some customers enjoy their jobs completed based on a predetermined schedule, while others place a call as required. They pride themselves on being flexible and work with there client demands.

The company has grown from just a few trucks to a fleet of single and tandem axle water trucks and related equipment. The equipment used has been designed and built to reduce down time and accommodate the tough Alberta climate. A rigorous preventative maintenance program exists to ensure the safety of operators and customers and reduce the risk of down time on the job site. Their reliable team is on call 24 hours to serve.

The purchase of this business includes all equipment needed to operate. The business has over 12 water trucks and all other equipment and assets required for all jobs.

The present owner is looking to move into a different business venture but will stay on through a reasonable transition period to acclimate you to this business, the employees and clientele.

For full information on this opportunity please contact Dwight Lester @ info@performancebb.ca or 780-756-2990.

SOLD – Edmonton Furniture Store for Sale

This is a well-known high-end furniture store with a long time base of clients. It sells middle to high end contemporary and traditional style furniture. The store is known for the high quality of its products. Most of the inventory is made in Canada with a bit imported from the USA.

The Company has been in business over twenty years with current owners in place since 1997. The owners are retiring and want to sell. There is a full complement of staff in place that have been with the business for many years.

There is room to increase profits through updating/modernizing the back office procedures.

The year-end of 2014 shows the highest revenue ever for the business. This is not a shrinking business. Current 2015 shows the business tracking even better than 2014.

Inventory is also available at owners cost.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Call or email today, Dwight Lester, 780-756-2990 or info@performancebb.ca .

How Business Brokers can Assist in Buying or Selling of Business

Enterprise brokers are great at helping you with every transactional role and deal once you decide on buying a business or selling one. There would be many complexities to manage, and most brokers would work better than real estate agents in most cases, they bring to you the best listings, demographics and area information, and important know how which is conducive for your business as well. Thus, it would be important to check with the best Edmonton business brokers to know which vendor could serve and sync in well with your needs.

Reasons Why You Should Hire a Broker

Enterprise brokers have access to the best “business for sale” listings and with all important information on that business, which you may not procure if you check for the same. There are regions which don’t have multiple listings made public, and this is where business brokers would bring their services for your ventures needs.

All Paperwork is Done

Irrespective of the size of the enterprise to be purchase or sold, a lot of documents, paperwork and coordination need to be handled with care. Data should be meticulously checked time and again, errors need to be removed and overall chasing needs to be done, for which professional help is a must.

Negotiations are Cakewalk

With the help of enterprise brokers, you do not have to break your head or sweat it out finding the right deals for buying or selling an enterprise. The negotiation would be taken care of by professionals, and they very well understand how important such an investment for you would be.

Choosing the Right Edmonton Business Brokers

There are a couple of things to care for when choosing the best enterprise brokers.

  • Experience and expertise
  • Success rates and transactions dealt by them in the past
  • Is it their own business or an outsourced one?
  • Referral checks
  • Clients they are servicing at the moment
  • Manpower strength with them
  • Associations if any with reputed names
  • Client reviews and testimonials
  • Pricing

Work in Sync

The old adage “Help us to help you” should be followed here, when you start talking to the professionals about your needs. Interview the vendors and convey to them your plans, aims and visions in mind. For example;

  • A blueprint of your needs, so that they can identify the best sources which comes your way
  • Type of enterprise you want to buy
  • How much you can invest, financially
  • Research, homework and suggestions
  • How to check online for expert talk and advice
  • Speak with them and communicate with them regularly
  • Turn around time within which they can give you answers

Brokers have an important task to achieve for you, and they are solid assets to have for a deal to be done. Never choose one which isn’t serious, commitment wise or wouldn’t follow up with your questions.

Searching for the Best Brokers for your Business

Small and medium businesses are bought and sold almost everyday, across the globe. Owners benefit in more ways than one in doing so, especially when they find the right brokers to help them search for a valuable Edmonton business for sale. Experience and expertise should be checked, and if you have time, a little homework on knowing your broker well, should be done too. This is how you would then be able to execute the right business sale, in the least time frame and without messing up anything in the bargain, especially a performance downturn.

Why should a business broker be hired?

  •   They offer plenty of real time insights when it comes to marketing, valuation and prospecting. And they help with sale and financials too, plus use their experience which allows them to understand how the potential business would do, operationally and legally in the days to come. This would help your venture embark itself well, make more sales and streamline various processes too. You then can rest in peace, being assured that the deal can be well-focussed on and the business operations would continue well.
  • With experience, the brokers would know how to search within reputed listings for the best buyers, and they would bring them to your table, irrespective of the business you own. Value for the business to be sold would be much higher, favourable and there wouldn’t be any risks involved too.

How to search for the right business brokers

Business brokers would be the ones who would help with all interactions, negotiations and deals. And they have tips and tricks up their sleeves which would help you attain the pinnacle of success too. However, finding brokers of repute and high reliability would be a challenge, especially if you do not know where to look for one.

  1. Business sellers should speak to the brokers and make them understand the demands, needs and requirements, of the seller and not the buyer. It is more than deal facilitation, which means bringing in the highest bids from all quarters. If this is not built or dwelt on by the broker, chances are they would do nothing for your interests to be met.
  2. The sales process should be checked into when evaluating the broker’s expertise. Some brokers would harp on the fact that their valuation services should be sold first, more than your company. Do not fall for such tactics, because you would loose in the end and gain nothing out of such deals.
  3. As a seller, understand that the sale of the business would be influenced with the relationship you keep with your broker. While the process is on, you need to be comfortable and at ease with the broker, speak with him honestly and be certain with what you want. You also should be comfortable trusting your broker’s decisions and advice. The relationship has to be two way and clear from the start.

When selecting brokers, read client reviews, testimonials and try to know the broker’s reputation in the market. Credentials, documentation, associations and memberships, legal bonding, and other such things should be checked as well.

Edmonton Business Broker Sells Flower Shop

October 02, 2013

Performance Business Brokers Facilitates the sale of Flowers By Merle in Edmonton Alberta

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – Performance Business Brokers (www.performancebusinessbrokers.ca) of Edmonton, AB has completed the sale of Flowers By Merle on Stony Plain road.  Flowers By Merle was a family owned fixture in the Edmonton flower industry for 47 years. The new owners acknowledge the Flower Shops time in the market place as being a key factor in purchasing the business. The shop is renowned for their amazing selection of fresh cut flowers and flowering plants. Outstanding exotic varieties and interesting foliages arrive directly from growers in South America, Hawaii, California and British Columbia.

 

Dwight Lester, President of Performance Business Brokers in Edmonton AB comments “In a short 90 days we listed the business to sell, presented multiple offers, and completed the sales transaction. Both the seller and the buyer were happy with the efficiency of the sale”. The new owners commented, “Working with Performance Business Brokers was exceptional. Dwight provided great guidance with the due diligence process and assistance during the transition to the new owners”.

 

About Performance Business Brokers, Edmonton

Performance Business Brokers is a full service Edmonton Business Brokerage Company that sells businesses across Alberta. We specialize in business valuations, packaging, listing and the selling of existing businesses and new business opportunities.

Selling your business is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make and it can involve high levels of stress and anxiety. Working with a professional can reduce the stress by determining the optimal selling price and terms for the seller.  The majority of a business owners’ wealth is often tied to the business so a properly executed exit from it is paramount. It is important to ensure you have the right team to guide you when selling your business.

 

Selling Businesses is our ONLY Business

 

Contact us today at 780-756-2990, or by email at info@performancebb.ca  Suite 220 – 11717 – 42 St. Edmonton AB.  www.performancebusinessbrokers.ca

Performance Business Brokers Facilitates the Sale of Two Edmonton Spray Foam Insulation Companies

April 05, 2013

Performance Business Brokers Facilitates the Sale of Two Edmonton Spray Foam Insulation Companies

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – Performance Business Brokers (www.performancebusinessbrokers.ca) of Edmonton, AB has completed the sale of Two Spray Foam insulation companies. Spray Foam insulation provides one of the highest R-Values per inch, it acts as an air and vapor barrier while being environmentally friendly and energy efficient

 Dwight Lester, President of Performance Business Brokers in Edmonton AB comments “We were able to present multiple full price offers to the sellers which allowed them to choose the right buyer who fit with the current business culture. This was not only beneficial for the employees but also for the customers they serviced as the transition to the new ownership group has been seamless.”

About Performance Business Brokers, Edmonton

Performance Business Brokers is a full service Edmonton Business Brokerage Company that sells businesses across Alberta. We specialize in business valuations, packaging, listing and the selling of existing businesses and new business opportunities.

Selling your business is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make and it can involve high levels of stress and anxiety. Working with a professional can reduce the stress by determining the optimal selling price and terms for the seller.  The majority of a business owners’ wealth is often tied to the business so a properly executed exit from it is paramount. It is important to ensure you have the right team to guide you when selling your business.

Selling Businesses is our ONLY Business

Contact us today at 780-756-2990, or by email at info@performancebb.ca  Suite 220 – 11717 – 42 St. Edmonton AB.  www.performancebusinessbrokers.ca

Edmonton Business Broker – Restaurant for Sale

This is a great opportunity to buy all the assets of a fully fixtured restaurant in the Edmonton area. Buyer must also assume a very good lease (6 years left + 2 – 5 yr options).

 This restaurant is a turnkey opportunity for any restaurant operator or anyone looking to get into the restaurant or pub business.  Bring your own restaurant name and menu and you can walk into a complete fully fixtured and staffed restaurant.

 The restaurant is 3000 sq ft on the main floor and also has an 800 sq ft mezzanine that is open to the main floor.  Seating can be configured for 170 per the fire capacity permit.  Current layout is set up for 40 seats on the mezzanine and 100 on the main floor.  The space also has the ability to have a 30 ft X 23 ft patio with an addition seating for 40.

 There is so much equipment included in the sale you will need nothing to start operating. Built new just 4 years ago some of major equipment is:

 36’ char broiler                      10 burner double oven range

6 burner range                      4 well steam table

5’ cold table                           6’ cold table  

4’ cold table                           2 – 2 basket deep fryer

Low temp dish washer with dirty and clean tabling

3 door cooler             8 X 8 walk-in cooler with raking

Prep tables                            upright freezer

2 chest freezers                    on demand hot water

16’ hood with full fire suppression system

Make up Air and Exhaust system

75 chairs                                20 tables

20 bar stools                          5 bar tables

2 tower keg cooler                stereo and installed speakers

3 flat panel TVs and satellite system

250 lb Scott ice machine      Bar top glass washer

8 sets of racking

 The list goes on and on and it does not even go into all the small wares and such.

 This won’t last long at the price it is being sold for!!! Assume the favorable lease and receive all the assets for $90K.

 For full information, please give us a call today at 780-756-2990 or email us at info@performancebb.ca

Edmonton Business Broker – Key employees, Who Must Stay On?

Buying An Edmonton Business With Key Employees Who Must Stay On….Author Richard Parker

In many small businesses, the owner is often the truly key employee responsible for driving the sales and profits. In fact, a quandary many buyers face is with situations where the owner is “the business” however, there are situations where retaining certain key employees is fundamental to the ongoing success of the business under new ownership.

The first thing a buyer must do is to properly gauge the importance of specific employees. If a business has low level, hourly employees who can easily be replaced, there is no need to get overly concerned about whether or not they will stay. To this point, it is not necessary for a buyer to meet with employees of a company pre-sale if in fact these are basic employees who of course are important, but their departure will not really impact the business.

However, wherever possible, prospective business buyers should endeavor to meet with truly key employees before a sale. This is also important from a standpoint of knowing that the business can never be held hostage by any non-owner. After all, if the business is totally reliant on one key employee, does it really make sense for you to buy it?

Keep in mind that the incidents of employees leaving after a sale are far less frequent than most buyers believe for a few reasons. First, it is change, and the uncertainty thereof that concerns employees. Once they realize that nothing drastic will happen, they will simply carry on with their work. Second, and quite obvious today, jobs are not plentiful. As such, it is simply not that easy for anyone to get another job.

However, what about situations where there are key employees or ones that hold certain licenses for example that a business may need to operate. In these cases, it is important for a buyer to meet these individuals as part of their due diligence review. Yet, they, the buyer, must understand that a seller will almost always buck at this provision and it is understandable. A seller is always going to be concerned about word getting out of a sale and especially if it does not materialize. As such, in these situations, meetings with key employees have to be arranged at the point where all other deal conditions have been satisfied.

Next, the question becomes how can a buyer guarantee that an employee will stay? The short answer is they cannot. Contractually, a seller cannot bind anyone else so forget the idea of including language in a contract whereby a seller agrees that specific employees will sign an employee agreement. While a buyer can certainly have a condition of the deal to provide for certain employee agreements to be executed, this can only be done between the buyer and employee.

What also needs to be considered is whether or not a buyer even wants to be bound by an agreement with any employee. On the one hand, a buyer may want the security of knowing an employee is contractually obligated to remain, but what if they soon discover they want to terminate them? Personally, unless there are highly unique circumstances, my recommendation is that a buyer should defer such agreements and obligations until such time as they (the buyer) has an opportunity to work in the business and effectively measure the so-called key employee’s contribution.

Presented By: Dwight Lester, Performance Business Brokers, Edmonton Alberta