The Power and Risk of a High Performing Board When Cheryl became CEO of her family’s second-generation business, she inherited a board made up of close friends of her father. They were loyal, but meetings were quiet. Everyone agreed with the CEO, even when the strategy was unclear. As growth slowed, Cheryl realized what she was missing: a [ Read More ]
“I thought I had more time.” That’s the most common phrase we hear from business owners after an unexpected exit — whether it’s due to a health crisis, a surprise opportunity, or simply burnout that came on faster than expected. And yet, over and over again, leaders delay business succession planning. Not because they don’t care — but because [ Read More ]
“We just assumed you’d be here.” That’s what the operations lead said to her founder, after he announced—abruptly—that he was stepping away. There was no handoff. No plan. Just silence, followed by uncertainty. And while they managed to keep things moving, no one would describe what followed as smooth. Long-standing team members left. Clients began asking questions. Trust wavered. [ Read More ]
Succession Planning Isn’t About Leaving, It’s About Leading Better When you hear succession planning, what pops into your head? For many business leaders, it feels tied to retirement or selling the company — events that may be far off in the future. But the truth is, succession planning isn’t about the day you step away; it’s about strengthening [ Read More ]
If you’re a business owner who doesn’t have a plan for how your business will continue without you, you’re not alone. ~70% of family-owned businesses fail to survive the transition from the first to the second generation, and only about 12% make it to the third. 47% of family business owners looking to retire in the next five [ Read More ]
Maximum Fire Protection is a family-owned and operated full-service commercial sprinkler company in Milford, Ohio. In 2013, after nearly 30 years in the sprinkler business, Renee Hoderlein and her husband, Nick, teamed up to build their own company. Their mission was to provide superior, personalized service and value by working closely with customers from project design to completion.Over the [ Read More ]
If you’ve ever visited the Aileron Campus, you’ll quickly notice our love for capturing thoughts, ideas, and processes visually. Our walls are lined with dry erase boards, and our team regularly uses flip charts to display information. We believe in the power of making ideas visible, whether it's through whiteboard sessions, process mapping, or collaborating with a thought [ Read More ]
As a business owner, you make investments in your company every day, but have you considered investing in an outside board? We’ve debunked five myths about outside boards and show you how this valuable resource can accelerate your growth. Myth 1: Only large companies use a board of advisors. No matter your size, boards are a great way [ Read More ]
Every journey has a starting point, and for Danny McGeady, now owner of JEM Designs, it began with a desire for freedom. Dissatisfied with corporate life and craving independence, he went on to start his own path at 24 years old. With little expertise but a strong determination, Danny took the leap into entrepreneurship, co-founding JEM Designs in [ Read More ]
America’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy; small businesses are responsible for 63% of new jobs in the last 25+ years, represent 99.9% of all businesses in America, and employ 46% of America’s private sector employees. It’s clear business owners and small business leaders have one of the most important roles in our society — and [ Read More ]
When it comes to a Board of Advisors, these five qualities separate the exasperating from the exceptional. Does your board have them? A cohesive, high-functioning Board of Advisors can be an invaluable source of wisdom, accountability, and support for a business owner. But if the board is ineffective, misaligned, or poorly managed, it can consume a business owner’s [ Read More ]
At Aileron, we practice customer intimacy and frequently conduct customer research so we can design services and content that support our community of business owners. Part of our process involves completing the Strategyzer Value Proposition Canvas. This tool helps us more deeply understand business owners, the challenges they face, and the outcomes they’re after. Since we started collecting [ Read More ]
