Selling the Empire’s of Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart and Simon Cowell

Today I was sitting at my desk and for some reason I started thinking, “If I were selling the business empires of Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart and Simon Cowell, what would be the marketing message they would want me to communicate to potential buyers?”. After laughing OUT LOUD all by myself in my office J, here’s what came to my mind (I’m still smiling as I type this!):

Oprah Winfrey
“This company has been an unexpected spiritual journey for me and my wish for the new buyer is that the legacy of living your highest life and best life would be continued for our viewers, our readers and for the amazing person that sees the value in this company and desires to take it to the next level.”

Richard Branson
“Building this company has been an amazing seat-of-the-pants ride for me and the next man or woman who takes it over better have their knickers on tight!”

Donald Trump
“This is THE most AMAZING and OUTSTANDING organization on the planet and anyone who wouldn’t pay top dollar for it is a fool. You’re fired.”

Martha Stewart
“You will never find a more neatly organized and categorized set of financial statements and business processes anywhere. In fact, every strategy, decision and tactic we have ever made during the history of this company has been documented and placed in color-coded binders, with a cross-referenced alpha-numeric labeling system and placed in a water and fire proof vault. Would you like some oolong tea and a scone while you thumb through the volumes?”

Simon Cowell
“If you are as borrrrring as a karaoke cabernet singer on a cruise ship, don’t even bother making an offer. Bloody hell. Next!”

I’m still lol! I’ve got to get out more often!

When the day comes to sell YOUR empire (small or large, it’s all relative!), what will your marketing message be? Be sure to make it provocative enough for someone to want to learn more and eventually sign on the bottom line, but resist the urge to overly “fluff” things up because fluff usually goes flat during due diligence.

I’m Julie Gordon White, America’s Favorite Business Broker, signing off for now.

Take care, talk to you soon! jgw.

"The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true." -Oprah, Oprah's Life Class

"There is a process for success. We must each figure our what that particular process is for our own life." -Oprah, Oprah's Life Class

"Your life is a reflection of the way you think. What you believe is what you become." --Oprah, Oprah's Life Class

"Only YOU have the power to make the changes you want in your life." -Oprah, Oprah's Life Class

Great fun today presenting on LinkedIn Basic & Advanced for #IBBA... Hunt me down at ExitJourney.com if you want the slides! #ExitJulie!

I'm looking forward to flying to Phoenix tomorrow to speak at the Int'l Business Brokers Association Fall Conference. Will I see you there?

Join me this morning on my "...5 Fixes Fast" interview on Small Business Trends Radio @smallbiztrends at 10:30 PST! http://bit.ly/sfQoDe

Thx!! @SannWoods @smallbiztrends 1:30p EST Tomorrow W/@pinkbizbroker "Why Most Businesses Can't Be Sold & 5 Fixes FAST" http://bit.ly/sfQoDe

Million $$ Idea: 1) Uncover the 3 Needle Movers that will exponentially improve your customer's lives 2) Create and deliver those solutions!

Let's talk! Catch me with Anita Campbell tomorrow on @SmallBizTrends Radio at 11:30am PST!

"Failure is time released success."

I'm just back from a 4-day High Performance course and WOW! My energy is exponential! Stand by for my take-aways in this week's blog post!

I'm speaking at the Santa Clara Bar Assoc on business transactions. Any questions you want me to ask the attorneys? #smallbusiness

Now is a great time to buy your business real estate > RT @bizsugar: SBA 504 Business Loans Helping Drive Recovery http://t.co/JiXE8HLG

5 Business Lessons We Can Learn from Kim Kardashian

A $10 million dollar wedding and 72 short days later, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are calling it quits.  Surprise, surprise.

Thinking about it, there are actually 5 really great lessons that Kim and Kris can teach partners in business. 

In fact, I think business partnerships are even harder than romantic partnerships because at least romantic partnerships have love as the glue.  In business partnerships, money is the glue and when it comes to people's money, Elmer's isn't going to cut it.

After unfortunately selling many companies due to partnership disputes, here are five things business partners can learn from our favorite tabloid friends:

1. Discuss critical issues before becoming business partners.
Kris wanted to build their nest in Minnesota, but Kim said Hollywood or the highway. Didn't they discuss this before he gave her a $2 million dollar engagement ring?

2. Get to know each other (well) before starting your company.
The love birds got engaged after 2 weeks or something ridiculous like that. Entrepreneurs spend more time with their businesses (and business partners) than they do with their life partners. You better know which side of the desk the other one wants to sit on before agreeing to invest your entire future together.

3. Make sure your have a rock solid partnership agreement. 
Kim is worth an estimated $35 million, and while Kris is no slacker with $8 million, you can be confident that her pre-nup agreement will ensure how any assets will be dispersed and that Kris will not get one dime of her reality fortune.

4. Spend your resources strategically and slowly. 
Kim and Kris blew $10 million on the wedding day alone. If your company has that level of discretionary cash, make sure you have a well-thought out strategic plan and input from experienced advisors before you go on a spending spree!

5. Cut bait quickly. 
If the writing is on the wall, it's better to divide the marbles and go home now.  Don't wait until the business and your lives become so intertwined that the mo hill becomes a mountain.  Often it's the decisions that you don't make that do more harm than the decisions that you do make.

Who knew we could actually learn something from these two?! 

What else can we learn from these unlikely business consultants?

Post your thoughts below and I promise not to sell them to People Magazine :)

Jim Collins & Confessions of a Turtle

I just finished reading an expert from Jim Collin’s new book (with Morten Hansen) called “Great by Choice.” I am a huge fan of “Good to Great” and “Built to Last”, so was excited to get a peek at his latest release. The excerpt is titled “How to Build a Great Company in Tough Times,” and as usual, Jim doesn’t disappoint.

The theme of this piece reflects on my personal philosophy of slow and steady wins the race. I am comfortable admitting that I probably won’t be the first person across the finish line, but I do know without a doubt that I will always finish when others fail because they burned out during the journey.

Jim’s book addresses this concept, but adds something even more powerful that I have to confess I am not very consistent with. That idea is to have both “a floor and a ceiling” for achievement, and never fall below or above your commitment. He calls it “The 20-Mile March”. Here are few key snippets from the story he tells about two explorers on separate quests to reach the South Pole. They both embark at the same time and have the same environmental circumstances to deal with, but at the end of excursion, the 2 explorers had completely different outcomes.

“The 20-Mile March is more than a philosophy. It's about having concrete, clear, intelligent, and rigorously pursued performance mechanisms that keep you on track. The 20-Mile March creates two types of self-imposed discomfort: (1) the discomfort of unwavering commitment to high performance in difficult conditions, and (2) the discomfort of holding back in good conditions.

Twenty-Mile Marching helps turn the odds in your favor for three reasons.

First, it builds confidence in your ability to perform well in adverse circumstances. Confidence comes from actual achievement, accomplishing stringent performance standards year in and year out, no matter the industry conditions. Accomplishing a 20-Mile March, consistently, in good times and bad, builds confidence

Second, 20-Mile Marching reduces the likelihood of catastrophe when you're hit by turbulent disruption.

Third, 20-Mile Marching helps you exert self-control in an out-of-control environment. Most elements of operating a business are beyond our control- financial markets, customers, employees, but if we focus on an achievable goal that all team members can align themselves with we can manage our way to success in spite of all of the chaos around us.”

As I begin my 2012 planning, I am going to make a commitment to the “Weekly Discipline” I will adhere to in order to achieve my floor and ceiling achievement goals. Slow and steady still wins the race, but you have to be clear and consistent about your training. That is the secret sauce to getting to your desired finish line again, and again and again!

Want to become “Great by Choice” too? Comment below and I will send you my Weekly Discipline Worksheet to get you started in the right direction so we can step into the winner’s circle together!

Love this: "...what looks like a dark patch in the quest for success is the universe pointing you in a new direction." ~Oprah #smallbusiness

Match Made in Business Heaven

Had the pleasure of matching up a wonderful business owner (seller) with a wonderful business buyer yesterday.  They will work together over the next 3-5 years to help the seller realize much more that her original 7 figure valuation.  This economy does not have to hold you hostage! My mission is to teach all of you how to maximize your value IN ANY ECONOMY! xoxo J

Now releasing ALL 27 Broker's Secret for your future selling success! Get your 60 Second Secrets at www.ExitJourney.com. Please RT!