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Business Tips From The Editor - September 2025

BUSINESS TIPS FROM THE EDITOR

September 2025

Richard T. Hendee, Editor
The Silver Fox Advisor

         “Wall Street Journal/Vistage Small Business August

 2025 Small Business CEO Survey”

As many small business owners work through their issues of the day, month, quarter, or the year, some occasionally wonder as they have their morning coffee and closing beverage if they are the only business experiencing the issues that they are.

 Last week, I saw an August 2025 small business survey that I thought was interesting and decided I would share the results with our readers so they can get some information on how other small businesses are currently feeling. Below is the data from that survey:

·        24% of small business owners say the economy has improved compared to a year ago; 44% say the economy has gotten worse.

·        32% of small business owners believe the economy will improve in the next 12 months; 35% believe the economy will worsen.

·        44% of small businesses plan on increasing employees this year; 12% plan on decreasing employees this year.

·        35% of small businesses are expecting to increase fixed investments.

·        57% of small businesses expect increased revenues in the next 12 months; 16% believe revenues will decrease.

·        43% of small business owners believe profitability will increase in the next 12 months; 25% believe that profitability will decrease.

·        32% of small business owners are positive about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its expected impact on their business. 28% are neutral. 24% are negative and 16% are uncertain.

·        24% of small businesses plan on hiring additional workers within the next 12 months as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s passage. 23% plan on giving raises to existing staff. 21% plan on purchasing business property or equipment; 14% plan on making a significant new or increased capital investment.

·        80% of small businesses think AI will help them in their business.

·        58% of small businesses use generative AI.

·        83% of small business owners believe that technology helps them compete.

OK, so now you have a little better idea about how your peers are thinking about some key business issues and positions. Whichever quartile you fit into, you will have a better understanding that you will not be making the decision alone. Only time will tell if the decision was a good one or maybe a not so good one. 

If you need help with assessing or making a decision in your business, I would recommend you seek an experienced business advisor, coach, consultant, or mentor with a financial or business background for your business: Contact a Silver Fox Advisor. Remember, having experience on your side always helps.

We encourage you to visit our Website at www.silverfox.org or www.silverfoxadvisors.com to select a Silver Fox Advisor and also to learn more about the Silver Fox Advisors and their businesses, as well as our great programs and community outreach endeavors.         

LEADERSHIP TRAINING/MENTORING SECTION - September 2025

LEADERSHIP TRAINING/MENTORING SECTION - September 2025

Last month the Silver Fox Advisors announced a new section in its monthly newsletter which is called the Leadership Training/Mentoring Section.  

 In this section a thought-provoking situation will be presented. In most cases these situations will be real life circumstances. Our readers will think about them and play them out in their minds or on paper, as they consider what they would do or should have done if these incidents actually happened to them in their businesses.

 Being a good leader requires you to be able to react to unexpected happenings or developments. Our Silver Fox Advisors have experiences that they want to share with you that they have managed through, with the hope of providing you with some touch points so you can become more than a good leader but a GREAT LEADER.

 There is an added benefit: if you respond to us and provide a reply to this situation, and your response is selected as the best, you will be awarded a seat at one of our Lunch & Learn events.

 This month’s situation can be viewed from the standpoint of a member of the management team but it also can be viewed the point of view from the business owner’s standpoint.

 SEPTEMBER LEADERSHIP SITUATION

a.      She speaks out inappropriately during meetings and engages in circular reasoning, holding the rest of the team hostage.

b.     She presents data that is erroneously applied to a large team of people, presenting the data as fact.

c.      She dresses inappropriately.

d.     She engages in behavior that is insubordinate, often arguing with Executive Leadership.

e.      She does not complete projects on time and always has excuses for not being able to meet the deadline.

f.        She does not follow all policies and procedures.

For your redirection you have:

a.      Spoken with her on multiple occasions one-on-one.

b.     Written her up for insubordination.

c.      Met with her weekly to keep her goals on track.

d.     Included the owner in the weekly meetings.

e.      Collected a binder’s worth of documentation for poor performance.

The owners have indicated you still do not have enough documentation to “legally” let her go.

 What are your next steps?

Please provide us a brief write-up of What are your next steps? Send your write-up to Lynn Rosado at [email protected]

In our October 2025 Newsletter one of our Silver Fox Advisors will provide a response to what he or she would have done and what precautions he or she would have taken in this September Leadership Situation. 

If you need assistance in becoming a better leader, I recommend you start by contacting the Silver Fox Advisors. Silver Fox Advisors are former or present business owners themselves, and they have leadership experience in running a business, and in some cases several businesses, and have dealt with unforeseen and unplanned situations throughout their careers. We encourage you to visit our website at www.silverfox.org to select a Silver Fox Advisor and also to learn more about the Silver Fox Advisors, as well as our great programs and community outreach endeavors.