Priced to sell - one of the biggest challenges that I face as a business broker is helping folks to realize that they're "in their own way" when they overprice.

Often, this one decision will dissuade most prospects from even looking at your business & seriously consider the opportunity.

Sure, there are benchmarks & rules of thumb. In the end a business broker earns his commission by advising about the importance of timing & making course corrections, as things develop - much the same way that a pilot isn't paid to push buttons. When Starboard #3 engine flames out on that dark & stormy night, you'll be glad that he's paid six-figure salaries and has logged over 30,000 flight hours!

We've all heard of furniture liquidations - I recently listed an importer of some exotic, high-quality pieces. With his lease expiring, this seller is ready to sell everything at cost. It's a shame because he's put a lot of hard work in building both his brick-and-mortar retail & online presence.

Unfortunately, the seller got in over his head with trying to start this business while working a demanding full-time job. I told him that we'd see what we can do. So here it is.. http://www.bizben.com/listings/86165

Our first touch points are going to be similar import sellers. After that, I plan to talk to more traditional furniture stores. We've already gotten some interest generated. Meanwhile, I'll be checking with my personal network of business buyers.

Currently marketing a mailbox store with one coming online shortly, as well as yet another by week's end. It's a deal card straight out of Cash Flow 101 -

Turnkey business opportunity - seller's done all the hard work of buildout & set-up; ready for new owner to make profits..

http://snipurl.com/t16c

Two key things that are particular attractive - an excellent lease and franchise-like training & support without franchise fees. Timing-wise buying it now sets up a highly profitable holiday season!

Attended eBig panel discussion meeting last night on Email campaign tips & tricks - some of the areas covered included CAN-SPAM compliance by Anna Billstrom, strategies & tactics by Jerry Hart of Hart Creative Marketing, and analysis Greg Fox of iPost.

This definitely ties into the concepts of Permission Marketing presented by Seth Godin - one of his main points being that the days of interruption marketing / ads, are over. Unless your message somehow swims to the surface, it will be drowned out & lost - there's just simply too much noise out there, fighting for scraps of mindshare.

It's been some time since I've written - many things going on..

After joining Bluekey Business Brokerage Mergers & Acquisitions, it's been pretty much non-stop!

Also, some interesting ventures are developing. Due to confidentiality agreements, I can only really say that they are real estate-related and very much like venture capital (VC) firms.

Rarely do I run out to get the latest anything, but I had to make an exception for Dr. Wayne Dyer's Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling.

One of the recurring ideas echoed in his work is how we're often in our own way, i.e. our egos get the best of us, and we disconnect from our Source. When we are "in spirit," we live the inspired lives that we're meant to live; we become the beings that we're meant to be.

Brainjams - 2/25/06 Barrows Hall

This amazing event started off like something out of the Matrix. I thought that the first "test" was a cryptic sign indicating the event was on the 8th floor when the elevator only had 7 floors! So, I step in to see what happens.

At the very moment that I arrive on the 7th floor, a mysterious man simply points to the elevator across the hall. Ah! button for 8th floor! :)

Things seem to settle back to a feeling of normalcy, as I find folks chatting over some coffee & other refreshments. Finally, the session kicks off with discussion by the organizer Chris Heuer and guest co-moderator Lee Felsenstein.

We broke out into smaller groups to explore some major themes asking the basic question - how is technology & community working together? I thought this was an interesting connection to our efforts for SFTX. Within our group we noted that some major interest areas included:

1) making community tools more accessible
2) harnessing self-interest for greater good
3) getting to better "what you know" ABOUT "who you know"

In one of the subgroups I participated in, we talked about the key motivational archetypes in any community:

- Selfish interest
- Social need
- Benefactors

Another interesting discussion was on what makes a community relevant. (This is similar to the idea of self-interest, vs. the common good) These factors seem to be -
1) meaning - what significance does the community have in a person's life?
2) timeliness / convenience - what will it cost for me to be involved? how much flexibility do I have in the level of commitment?
3) tools - in what ways does the community enable me? why should I go with this one vs. another?

On the walls, there were posters such as this one: "Law of 2 Feet" - if any person finds himself in a situation where they are neither learning or contributing, they must use their two feet and go to some productive place

Beyond that, I enjoyed meeting some of the other participants. I can certainly see other connections developing from this dynamic group.