“People who don’t take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year.

People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year.”

Peter F. Drucker

“Never was anything great achieved without danger.”

Nicolo Machiavelli

Author of  “The Prince”

History Rhyming?

Mark Twain once remarked that history doesn’t repeat itself…. but it does rhyme. Check out this article from National Review Online that makes some intriguing suggestions that the coming century may be in many ways like the one we left behind thirteen years ago. Victor Davis Hansen’s brief article, Our 20^th Century Future, is worth a few moments of your time.

 Owners vs. CEOs

Many business owners call themselves CEOs….but are they really? Are you? Is your boss? It’s an important distinction. Do YOU manage like a CEO…or an owner? Check out this Forbes Article for some excellent insights and additional reading on some differences that might make all the difference to your career or you company. (Shameless Self Promotion Department: If it’s time for you to move from being an Owner to being a CEO, it may be time to explore Vistage membership. Whether you’re a CEO, or business owner who wants to be a CEO, let’s talk about it).

Retiring on The Kindness of Strangers

Many business owners are betting that the sale of their business at some future date to some as yet unknown person or company will fully fund a luxurious retirement. That assumption, combined with the need to put every dollar we can back into a growing business, may mean that the usual retirement options (401-K, profit sharing plans or deferred comp) are underutilized, or perhaps completely neglected. Learn a little more by checking out this brief article on how many business owners’ retirements may be problematic .

Econ Recon

Economist Brian Wesbury looks ahead at mid-year and doesn’t see big downsides…. but no big upsides either. Learn why he thinks the economy will continue to be a plow horse. 

Vistage Staff Economist Alan Beaulieu takes issue with an inconsistent Fed and looks ahead at the housing market in 2014.