2018 is coming to a fast close How will you finish out the Year? Goals Have you accomplished your 2018 vision and goals? How are you doing on your Q4 90-day goals? Financials Are your financials in order? Will you make more money this year than… Read More »
The Town of Sweet Pickles
The Town of Sweet Pickles Recently a good friend of mine was reflecting on her childhood and a favorite book series called Sweet Pickles, written by Jacquelyn Reinach. What a Mess tells the story of Goof-Off-Goose who relaxed in her hammock while the entire town of Sweet Pickles was busy getting ready for the first snow…. Read More »
You Should Pay the Tax Man
You Should Pay the Tax Man It seems that more and more businesses are operating in tax-avoidance mode. I understand the desire to not pay The Tax Man more than your fair share, but in minimizing your tax burden, you may be creating bigger problem. The Problem As a business owner in tax-avoidance mode, you… Read More »
Put Your Calendar to Work
Business Breakthrough #3: Put Your Calendar to Work Never walk into your day with an empty calendar. Without priorities set ahead of time coupled with time set aside on the calendar, the day will simply take over. That’s exactly what you don’t want. Every night before you leave the office, make a list of six things… Read More »
Learning the Language of Business
Learning the Language of Business I was recently sitting at the chef’s counter of my favorite restaurant, the Hairy Lobster, watching the chef and sous chefs work their magic to produce what I consider the best food in Portland, I was thinking about mastery and the language required to achieve it. These chefs have learned… Read More »
How Pruning Produces Results
How Pruning Produces Results Recently I went home to southern California to visit my mother who is 89. It’s been a number of years since I’ve been home, and she was excited to show me her roses, which were blooming profusely. She explained… Read More »
ARE YOU TRYING TO GROW A TREE IN A FLOWERPOT?
ARE YOU TRYING TO GROW A TREE IN A FLOWERPOT? When I was Chief Operations Officer for the largest deciduous shade tree nursery in the U.S. Located on 4000 acres in Oregon, we also had 85 acres in container grown trees or trees in plastic pots. We would plant fully-grown trees from our fields… Read More »
Developing a Gratitude Framework
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude “Gratitude can be cultivated at any age,” said Jennifer Breheny Wallace in a recent Wall Street Journal article.* The author cited a 2012 national online poll of 2000 adults, which found that 59 percent of those surveyed thought that most people today are less likely to have an attitude of… Read More »
Gary Furr Consulting—The Most Helpful Family Business Professional
Gary Furr Consulting—The Most Helpful Family Business Professional At the November 2017 Excellence in Family Business Awards presented at the Austin Family Business Program, a part of Oregon State University, our client The Higher Taste, a vegan and vegetarian food processor, was awarded the Generational Development Award. In… Read More »
Winning Like a Formula One Team
WINNING LIKE A FORMULA ONE TEAM In April I was invited to attend the Formula One Races in Shanghai with a group of expats. I had planned to be in China to continue work on a project there, so attending the races came at just the right time. In preparation for the race I watched… Read More »