Jim’s father had been a formidable presence in his life. Dad’s story as an entrepreneur had been like so many you read about. He started working on an idea in his garage as a young man. Found a market for his product. Found the capital he needed to grow his capacity to deliver his product. Hired some good people. Dad gave himself 110% to the business right into his late 70s and then he died leaving Jim with full responsibility. It was the moment Jim had been waiting for and he had plans. Jim had served his father and the company faithfully. As the sales and marketing manager, he had made his own contribution to the company’s success and growth.

Sometimes Dad was a roadblock to Jim’s ideas. Dad was old school in many ways. “God helps those who help themselves,” he often said. "They give me their time. I give them a check. As long as it clears the bank, I’ve done my part.” Jim wanted to do more. He saw the 150 people employed at the company as people to reach. He saw the community where the company was located as a place to impact. He had charitable causes he wanted to support.

Jim’s first meeting with the accountants his father had used for the last twenty years was an eye-opener. The ratios were okay, but the margins were weak and had been for years. Jim had listened to his father complain often about the company’s financial performance but at the same time had seen him take plenty of money out of the company and pay Jim and a few other key people pretty well.

Jim left that meeting with all kinds of questions as to where he should start. His aspiration was a model triple-bottom line business, but he now realized that he was looking at something almost more like a turnaround. This wasn’t quite the moment Jim thought it was going to be.

Consider the following:

1. How should Jim look at his situation?

2. Where should his current focus be?

3. What advice would you give him?

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