ARTICLES BY ARLIN SORENSEN

• Considering An Exit Strategy: A Business Legacy Conversation

  7/1/2016

  We’ve been reviewing some of the information around business valuation and legacy. Part of that includes evaluating how you begin planning for your exit from the business. It will happen someday.

• Prepare For The 4 D’s: A Business Legacy Conversation

  6/27/2016

  Part of planning and preparation means being ready for the unexpected. There are four D’s that can drastically reduce the value of a company.  It is true for a sole owner, but obviously the likelihood increases with more people involved.

• What’s Your Number? A Business Value Conversation

  6/22/2016

  In the April HTGWAY, I talked about two legacies that we’ll leave as business owners – a personal legacy and a business legacy. Both are critical and obviously related. But let’s focus on the reality of how most of us view our business in regard to provide a legacy – it is a major (if not the major) source of funding four our retirement and future. It’s that simple for most, if we miss in creating enough value in our company we will fall short in having enough dollars to fund our lifestyle in retirement the way we wish it to be.

• The Impact Of M&A On The MSP Market

  4/22/2016

  It’s all the rage right now.  Everyone seems to be a buyer or seller; some are even trying to play both sides of the M&A puzzle.  It is hard to find anyone who is not actively considering M&A as a strategy for growth or exit.  And while it may be exciting and the seemingly best option for growing or transition, it also comes with some baggage that can become detrimental if not managed well.

• Arlin's Suggested Reading List

  4/12/2016

  These are the ten books I recommend as the foundation of a strong business library. While the Bible may seem like a strange first choice, I find that spending time in that book of wisdom each morning grounds me in truth and helps focus me on the things that matter. The other nine are important books that provide a broad base from which to build a strong business mindset.

• Myth Vs. Facts Of Being A Business Owner

  4/1/2016

  This April Fools we thought it timely to look at some of the myths that trick small business owners. Do you recognize any of your thinking in the myth column?

• Attributes Of Successful MSPs

  3/29/2016

  I’m fortunate to work with hundreds of MSP’s through our HTG Peer Groups each quarter, both here in North America as well as Europe and Australia/New Zealand.  Not only do we facilitate two-day interactions with these great leaders, but we benchmark their financials and have them follow a rigorous framework of planning, goal setting and accountability. 

• Infographic: My Top 5 Trends In IT

  3/1/2016

  Here are the 5 big trends I am seeing currently in the IT industry.

• Leveraging The Power Of Perspective

  2/17/2016

  Perspective. What exactly does that mean today and why is it important? Over the last year I’ve come to truly appreciate the importance of perspective when it comes to planning. It is a core element to the Paterson Center tools – StratOp and LifePlan – where about 2/3 of the focus is actually taking a look backward to determine how we got to the place we are today.

• Network Or Community? IT Solutions Providers, You May Be Missing Out

  1/20/2016

  The difference between networks and communities is networks connect, communities care.

• A Christmas List For The Small Business Owner In Your Life

  12/23/2015

  Running a company isn’t as simple as most business owners thought, and the longer they do it, the more disenfranchised they become. It just wasn’t supposed to be this hard. How do you buy a gift for a person like that? Here are a few thoughts on what small business entrepreneurs and owners might like.

• What Effect Are M&As Having On The Channel?

  10/23/2015

  M&A is definitely the buzz in the channel today. Not only on the IT managed services provider (MSP)/solutions provider front, but also in the vendor/cloud provider area as well. Things are changing rapidly as companies acquire, merge, partner, or find any number of ways to combine forces. The landscape changes daily, and the discussion is about where the next deal will come from. 

• What To Consider When Planning Your Business Exit Strategy (Part II)

  8/20/2015

  In the first post of this series, I talked about the financial preparation required to maximize your outcome when you exit your business. Of course, that assumes you will sell or value the company at exit.

• What To Consider When Planning Your Business Exit Strategy, Part I

  7/24/2015

  One of the areas I spend considerable time on is helping business owners prepare for and then complete an exit from the business they often founded and have worked in for decades. Let’s get one thing straight:  It is a big deal for an entrepreneurial owner to exit his or her business. In fact, it is a very big deal. The saddest call I receive comes from a small business owner that has worked in their company for decades. It was their creation, and they have poured sweat and blood into building it to where it is today.

• The Best Business Advice: Don’t Worry About What Other People Think

  7/15/2015

  I grew up in a family where advice was flowing most of the time, whether solicited or not. My dad was always providing his perspective on life and all things happening around us. For a lot of years, I really didn’t appreciate it so much. But as I grew older and actually began to listen to what he said, it suddenly became a lot more relevant. Now that he’s gone especially, I recognize the brilliance of much of what he shared and wish he were still here as I know I have more to learn.