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Taking more vacations increased the value of my company. How cool is that? Read more
Norm Brodsky
Recent Street Smarts Articles
Norm Brodsky, Recession All-Star
Inc. columnist Norm Brodsky just sold three businesses. Two of them were started just as the economy slipped into recession, in 1990 and 2000. ... Read more
The Offer: Part 11
I'll be over here if anyone needs me. Read more
The Offer: Part 10
In which our columnist finally finds the pot at the end of the rainbow. Read more
The Long Road to Nirvana
Part One Norm discovers that getting a substantial offer for your business can actually be a little scary. Part T... Read more
The Simon Cowell of Sales
Few things are more fun--and productive--than critiquing someone else's sales performance. Read more
"You Do What?"
"I import dirt," he said. And if he can keep his focus, it just might work. Read more
Follow the Numbers
It's the best way to spot problems before they become life-threatening. Read more
Do You Really Know Your Problems?
Entrepreneurs have a tendency to see what they want to see. Read more
What Are You, a Bank?
You probably lend your customers more money than you realize. Have you checked lately? Read more
Proof That Good Entrepreneurs Can Make Bad Investors
Or how I figured out how to handle my own money. Read more
Free At Last
There's nothing like getting rid of those personal guarantees. Read more
Taking On Starbucks
How independents can hold their ground. Read more
The Offer, Part Nine
What I learned from my fiasco. Read more
The Offer, Part Eight
You have got to be kidding me. Read more
The Offer, Part Seven
I've just about had it. Are we going to make this deal happen, or not? Read more
The Offer, Part Six
The paranoia moment. Are they stalling? Is this deal about to fall apart? Read more
It's All About Trust
Confronted with the offer of a lifetime, our columnist concludes it's time to sell. Part 5 of a series . Read more
Should Norm Sell? The Readers Have Spoken
By better than a five-to-one ratio, readers who wrote in think Norm should sell. Here's what some of them had to say: Read more
The Offer, Part Four
We interrupt these negotiations while a bunch of outsiders critique my very existence. Read more
The Offer, Part Three
I can sell my businesses for more money than I ever thought possible. But then who will I be? Read more
The Offer, Part Two
After spending decades building his businesses, our columnist managed to negotiate the offer of a lifetime--by refusing to negotiate. Read more
The Offer, Part One
You'd think he'd be celebrating, but our columnist has discovered that getting a great offer for your business can be a very scary proposition. Read more
Are You Listening to Me?
You can if you want to--but you have to make your own decisions. Some advice on how to give, get, and take advice. Read more
Keep Your Customers
It's hard to make the Inc. 500 if you're always churning clients. Read more
What Your Employees Think of You
You think you know, but you don't. Here's how to find out. Read more
Listen Up!
We all like to think we listen to our customers--but do we really hear them? Read more
Sam and Me
Sometimes, even headstrong, go-it-alone entrepreneurs need a partner. I know. Read more
What Are You Trying to Do?
When you are starting a business, it's amazing how easy it is to lose track of your real goal. Columnist Norm Brodsky explains Read more
The One Thing You Can't Delegate
Defining--and enforcing--your company's culture may be your most important job. Read more
Targeting Norm
Believe it or not, some Inc. readers have the unmitigated gall to challenge our columnist's thinking. But don't worry, Norm can take it. Read more
The Most Important Resource
Time is more valuable than money--a lesson many business owners learn too late. Read more
Be Prepared
When your contract with a longtime client expires, do you reread every word of the original contract? No? Let me tell you a story. Read more
How Much Risk Can You Take?
There are two kinds of entrepreneurs. You need to know which kind you are. Read more
The Name Game
Few things are less important to the success of a business than figuring out what to call it. Read more
Marketing for Dummies
Because only dummies would waste their money on it. Read more
The More, the Merrier
An industry isn't mature--and you can't be secure--until a lot of other people are doing what you do. Read more
Dealing With Cost Hikes
Lots of people will tell you now is the best time to raise prices. Don't follow them! Read more
How to Lose Customers
It's easy. Just convince them that they're getting a lousy deal. Read more
Let the (Political) Games Begin
What do you do when the government wants to replace your business with a big swimming pool? Read more
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