Indie Business Blog

Who's next?

Yesterday's announcement by Apple CEO Steve Jobs that he is taking a medical leave of absence has left a lot of people wondering whether more beans are going to spill. After all, it was just last week that he released a public letter disclosing a "hormone imbalance," but also saying it was just a "nutritional problem" with a relatively simple and straightforward treatment program. The New York Times reports that he informed Apple employees yesterday that his health problems were more complex than he first thought, and that he has temporarily turned over the reigns to the company's chief operating officer.

I am sorry to hear of Jobs' health problems, whatever they may be. His combination of an extraordinary vision, a dedicated work ethic and a great management team have made Apple one of the most successful brands in history. And that's actually the good news about the story.

Apple will be fine because no matter what happens to Jobs, the company is positioned for growth regardless of who is at the helm. This kind of planning and management is a cardinal rule of business, yet most Indie Business owners do not plan for a time when they can't run their business anymore. Perhaps Apple's experience will help change that by shedding some light on the importance of asking the question "who's next?" if there ever comes a time when you can no longer lead your Indie Business.

Let's all wish Jobs a speedy recovery and many more years of fun bites at the apple. (Pun intended!)

Here's a solid (but short) article from SCORE to help you establish or refine your succession plan.

Question: Have you considered succession planning for your business? Please share your tips and questions in the comments section below.

The Indie Business Model

Over at the Indie Business Forum, AnikaDiamond007 is overwhelmed with questions about starting a small business. This feeling of overwhelm is something I can personally relate to because I was once there. But overwhelm leads to frustration, and frustration leads to lost revenues when small business owners don't set specific goals and then systematically implement them. To help out, I created a video summarizing my Indie Business Model.

              

This is a summary of the system I personally followed, and I use it with my clients. It works! If you don't believe me, come to my monthly Indie Business Group Coaching sessions on Thursday nights and give it a test drive. Group Coaching is free to the public on the first Thursday of the month, and all other sessions are for IBN members only. If you're not a member, check out our member benefits and join today so you don't miss out!

If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to my blog feed so you don't miss my tips on how you can be successful in small business without pulling all your hair out!