Newsroom: Resource Sheet

Management Consulting to Small Business Owners, Change Management, Coaching and Mentoring to Owners Planning Their Exit Strategy, Radio Journalist and Author on Small Business Growth

    Key areas of business expertise:
  • Establishment and Management of Critical Management Systems
  • Startups and Turnarounds
  • Change Management
  • Strategy and Planning
  • International Management
  • Product Development
  • Customer Service Management

 

Former Partner with Ernst & Whinney and Ernst & Young, Tom Long is an expert on management issues and strategies for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. Drawing on years of experience in start-ups and turnarounds at large companies including Procter & Gamble, R.R. Donnelly & Sons, Oracle Corporation, Computer Associates and many small, start-up businesses, Tom has led efforts in all aspects of business growth. Among the topics he can discuss:

Death Of A Business - 5 Threats to the Growth and Survival of American Small-Business

Based on a research study sponsored by Solid Oak Consulting, this topic is focused on major reasons for business failure, marketing mistakes made by most companies, the impact of "flat world" realities on small business and pitfalls during three common stages of business growth.

Why Baby Boomers Are Forming Their Own Companies At An Ever Increasing Rate.

Baby boomers are leaving corpotate life at an increasing rate as they reach retirement age or are caught up in the downsizing trend. Rather than retire, however, many of the Boomers are becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own businesses. Tom can discuss the issues these new entrepreneurs face as they strike out on their own.

The Biggest Mistake an Owner May Make.

Why are most small businesses not saleable at the time the owner chooses to transition? Recent studies of small and medium sized private businesses in the US show that 85% of the business owners have no exit strategy. Further, these owners have 75% of their net worth tied up in their businesses. Tom can discuss ways to determine if a Small Business is saleable and what to do if it is not.

Key Issues for Entrepreneurial Start-ups.

There are over 20 key areas to consider and manage as part of a business start-up, but many new entrepreneurs focus on only a few of them. Most often, they are the technical aspects of the business related to the specific skills of the owner. Tom can discuss the larger set of critical success factors and the specific tasks associated with each factor.

Why Business Executives Need a Mentor or Coach.

What having a personal trainer is to your body, having a business coach or mentor can be to your mind and your business. Coaches use experience, established programs, questioning skills, listening and motivational techniques to help owners build the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to improve their professional and personal lives. A coach is a collaborative partner who helps an owner accomplish things. Tom can discuss why some of the world's most successful executives have had a mentor or a coach to help them succeed.

Why Organizational Change Often Fails.

Business constantly faces the need to change. This may be in response to competitive pressure, a result in new products or services, changes in the economy or government regulations or to gain a competitive advantage. In most instances, management focuses on change as if it is an event and not on the process of change. As a result, all too often, the desired change fails. Tom can discuss the issues leading to change management failure and ways to avoid that failure.

 

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Newsroom: Press Releases

2007

10/1/2007 • Death Of A Business - 5 Threats to the Growth and Survival of American Small-Business

8/1/2007 • Tom Long To Give Seminar on Guerrilla Marketing For Consultants to MSPC

7/18/2007 • Tom Long To Give Marketing Seminar Sponsored by Standard Bank

6/22/2007 • Tom Long Receives Certification as a Senior Mentor by CMT International

6/20/2007 • Tom Long Is Awarded Certification as an Innermetrix Consultant

5/17/2007 • Tom Long to Lead AMA Seminar on Change Management

4/2/2007 • Tom Long to Teach Graduate Course on Consulting at DePaul University

2/15/2007 • Tom Long Leads Teleseminar on Networking: How Do I Get The Most Value From My Membership In A Networking Group?

2/7/2007 • Presentation to the Midwest Society of Professional Consultants: "I've Started My Independent Consulting Practice - Now What?"

1/20/2007 • Tom Long is Certified as a Guerrilla Marketing Coach

1/10/2007 • Tom Long Joins the Board of the Midwest Society of Professional Consultants (MSPC)

2006

11/29/2006 • Tom Long Leads Teleseminar on Networking: Developing Your 60-Second Informercial

2005

2004

2003


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