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Silver Fox Advisors History Corner
Silver Fox Advisor's History Corner
The Silver Fox Advisors organization is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, and over the course of the 2026 calendar year, we will be sharing with you some of our history and memories in our Monthly Newsletter. Each month we will feature a brief write—up on some of the more historical high points of the past 40 years in this “Silver Fox Advisors History Corner”. We hope you find this information of interest, as you will probably know or have heard of some of the individual Silver Fox Advisors who made the organization what it is today.
This month we are highlighting the Silver Fox Advisor Newsletter. For more than 25 years, the Silver Fox Advisors have been publishing a monthly newsletter in which we focus on what we hope are interesting, informative, and thought-provoking articles designed to help, educate, assist, and provide guidance for small and mid-size business owners.
In the beginning, the articles that appeared in the newsletter for the most part were obtained from a third-party service that provided newsletter content for numerous service organizations like the Silver Fox Advisors around the country.
Then, about fifteen years ago, several Silver Fox Advisors members formed a group that started authoring articles about business experiences that they had either heard about or lived through themselves. With the number of Silver Fox Advisors members, the organization had, real-life business advising, coaching, consulting, and mentoring articles seemed to literally fly off the presses. Thus, for the past fifteen years, all articles and content in the Silver Fox Advisors Newsletter have been written and authored by Silver Fox Advisors, something the organization is very proud of.
In August of 2025, a “Leadership Training” article was started. These Leadership Training articles are designed to provide readers an opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills so they can become better leaders of their respective businesses.
If you do not receive this Silver Fox Advisor monthly newsletter, we encourage you to sign up to start receiving your free copy today. Just visit our website at www.silverfox.org or call 713.467.5900
Silver Fox Advisors are proven business leaders and entrepreneurs who for 40 years have been giving back to businesses and communities by advising, coaching, consulting, and mentoring in Outreach Programs across the Greater Houston Area.
Silver Fox Advisors are celebrating 40 years in operation in 2026. Our members are proven business leaders who advise, consult with, and mentor other business leaders, CEO Roundtables, and entrepreneurship programs. We would love to be of assistance to you and your business. For more information, visit: www.silverfox.org or call 713.467.5900
The Economy and Its Impact
BUSINESS TIPS FROM THE EDITOR
September 2026
Richard T. Hendee, Editor
The Silver Fox Advisor
“The Economy and Its Impact"
If you follow the economic news and read the economic forecasters’ articles, you are likely getting or hearing some conflicting information. Some economists tell us the economy is great, and the next big boom is right around the corner. Other forecasters tell us to hunker down and get ready for the next big belt-tightening. Who should we believe? In most cases, only time will tell. But if you don’t want to be a gambler with your business’ future, you might want to do some internal and external fact-checking and analysis.
Here are a few suggestions you might want to consider:
- Increase in your operating costs – If you see the costs of the products you are selling increasing over time and you are not passing those increased costs on to your customers, then your profit margins are shrinking every time you sell a product.
- Pricing strategies – If you are having to lower your pricing on the products or services you are selling just to make the cash register ring, that could mean your customers do not have as much money available as they once did, or maybe competitors have lowered their pricing (you should research the why), or possibly you have priced your products or services too high to begin with.
- Market research: Check with your own family and friends to determine what their present buying habits are and if they have changed over the last few months. Are they dining out less often than they did a couple of months ago? Are they finally taking that dream vacation they have been talking about for years? Are they driving their cars longer than before, or did they just buy a new, bigger luxury vehicle?
Keeping your pulse on what is going on around you is probably one of the smartest things you can do as a business owner. Further, it is likely even a better indicator than the predictions you hear about on the news or read about online, opinions written by individuals not living in your neighborhood or working on Main Street USA. If you are a small business owner and trying to figure out what’s right for your business and you are getting overwhelmed, think about seeking some advice or assistance from someone who has been there and done that before. Think about contacting one of our professional Silver Fox Advisors who can provide guidance as you work on your business, not just in your business. We encourage you to visit our website at www.silverfox.org. There, you can learn more about selecting a Silver Fox Advisor to engage to assist you.
