Frank And Jamie McCourt, the owners of the Dodgers are at war. Their irresponsible management of the team followed by a pugnacious divorce forced the commissioner of Major League baseball to step in and take over the operations of the team.

The way I see it, nobody was ever minding the store. The owners lived in an alternate reality and demonstrated sheer lunacy. They ran the business into the ground and nobody was watching.

Give someone else the keys

Such can be the case with family businesses. The owner reports to no one. Family distractions, being in over their heads, poor leadership skills and ego can produce horrible decisions. Who’s going to tell the emperor he has no clothes?

To avoid the pitfalls inherent in family business ownership decision making, get yourself a boss. Or at least make sure someone is looking over your shoulder.

Suggestions to protect you from yourself -

1. Build a trusted Board of Advisers and give them some real authority to veto bad decisions
2. Appoint an official arbitrator to settle disputes between family members quickly and in the best interests of the business
3. Find a great accountant and attorney and report to them on a monthly basis. Allow them complete access to your books and have them each conduct a surprise audit once a year.

Owners of family businesses are in the enviable position of having greater control over their lives. But you’re human. You make mistakes. You don’t know everything. You have family problems. And you have a healthy ego or you couldn’t run a business.

*************************************************************************

Smart marketers know personalization

A recent survey of marketers around the country show that the benefits of personalized marketing – online and offline – has been embraced:

My relationship with my dad hasn’t always been smooth. He cast a big shadow growing up. Tenacious worker. Big personality. Serial Entrepreneur. He made his own way.

It’s tough to follow in those footsteps. They are as unique as his fingerprints.

Over my 25 years as a marketing man, I’ve made it my business to study human nature. How individuals and groups work, think, and act. Once I became a dad about 12 years ago, I included myself in my study of humanity.

It’s amazing what you find when you look in the mirror…and the face of your child. That face is the most honest reflection of yourself there is.

In my son’s eyes I can see the effects of my actions on him and those around me. He’s made me want to become a better man, and he remains my life’s greatest motivation.

When I began looking at myself in earnest. I could also see my father. His struggle to be a better man, the best dad he could be.

He was not blessed with the best of role models. Born in the Warsaw Ghetto at the dawn of the Nazi invasion. Growing up in post WWII Germany and developing a thick skin.  Immigrating to America as a plumber, and later driving a cab in NYC to pay for his education as a mathematician.

This background does not create a “New Age” father. But it does teach survival, persistence, and intense love and loyalty for family and friends. Pretty good stuff.

No, things were not always smooth growing up. But looking into the mirror today, I can honestly say that my dad stands side by side with my son as the best teachers a man could ever have.

Happy Father’s Day dad…and to all the fathers who love their children as much as mine has me.

Posted by: Steve Banis

A complete “irrational obsession” with your happiness.

Arranging events and handling all the details

Personal shopping

Providing and obtaining all sorts of help for your projects

Ensuring you look your best and are well fed

Provides words of encouragement…and valuable constructive criticism

Evaluates potential partners and offers an honest opinion

Picks up your dry cleaning, does your laundry, and drives you where you need to go

Carries you around for up to 9 months or more when you can’t take care of yourself

Is elated with your victories and devastated by your defeats

Knows you better than you do

Loves you unconditionally

Thanks mom.

Posted by: Steve Banis