World of Finances

Financial buyers (aka private equity firms and guys that look like them) have billions of dollars to purchase companies, making a sale to a financial buyer one of the top ways for mid-size business owners to get liquidity in their business (liquidity is a fancy way of saying cashing out / getting the benjamins / I’m rich, bitch!).  Please note that every industry is different, so this will be most applicable for companies in consumer, industrial and services businesses.  Media and technology companies sometimes have their own rules (especially on the profitability side- the other stuff is fairly standard across the board…).

Even if you are a smaller business, these guidelines can help you think strategically about what creates long-term value for a business.  Use these as goals and guidelines as you grow your business. #1- Be On Top…

Who doesn’t like to be on top (minds out of the gutter, please)?  Market leadership is a key desirability factor.

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Whether moving into your first house or replacing an older lawn mower, youve probably been debating how youre going to cut your lawn this year.

Having used both push reel mowers and gasoline powered mowers, the two offer completely different experiences. In fact, I just upgraded my reel mower to a Fiskars Momentum.

I can tell you, without hesitation, I prefer the push reel mower. Here are 5 great benefits that push reel mowers have over gas powered mowers (as well as some caveats to be aware of if you make the switch).

1. Push Reel Mowers are Cheaper than Gas Powered

Push reel mowers range in price from $80 to $200. Most are below $125. Gas powered mowers are generally $200+ and some of the more advanced push models can be as pricey as $500.

But initial price is not where the costs end. With gasoline over $4 a gallon, you can expect to pay a significant amount every year for fuel. You will also have to pay for oil to change the oil.

Not only that, but gas-powered mowers usually dont last as long as reel mowers.

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Equity exchange traded funds rebounded Thursday as Kohl’s led the retail sector to new highs.

ETFs that invest in retail stocks rose Thursday after Kohl’s reported higher quarterly net income and boosted its full-year outlook. Kohl’s shares added 4% in the wake the department store operator’s quarterly update. Sector ETFs that hold the stock such as Retail HOLDRS and Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR were significantly higher Thursday.

Retail HOLDRS

Traders are using options contracts on ETFs to bet on strength in technology stocks and the U.S. dollar, Street One Financial said Thursday. Tech ETFs were pressured by weakness in Cisco as the company’s outlook left Wall Street disappointed.

The U.S. dollar has gained some strength with commodities markets falling on profit taking and higher margin requirements. A weaker euro has dragged on the commodities market and ETFs are moving on the news.

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When it comes to social media, the signal-to-noise ratio is low. That is, theres a whole lotta noise and not much signal. In the words of Clara Peller (RIP), Wheres the Beef?

These days you have about 3 nano-milliseconds to get a readers attention because theyre trying to read your blog post, check email, check in on FourSquare and play CityVille, all at the same timeand lets not even talk about what it takes to KEEP their attention. To get their attention, you need to flaunt your social proof or show them that your blog is worth reading because other people think it is. Judge Judy would call this hearsay.

You see, its not enough for YOU to say that your blog is the best, or award-winning or read by a lot of people; you have to PROVE it.

And, the only way for you to prove it is by highlighting your numbers. Numbers dont lie.

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