The Bank CEO Network has been helping Community Bank CEOs improve their banks’ performance for 17 years. The information and ideas gained from industry experts and other CEOs can be especially useful in difficult times. If you are a community bank CEO, we invite you to contact us to see whether The Bank CEO Network might be a good option for you.

Bankers speak candidly about the Services of The Bank Advisory Group

“We have used The Bank Advisory Group for over ten years to analyze bank purchases, review overall bank performance and do ESOP valuations. Our board and senior management have always respected their professionalism, financial review and candid remarks. As a result, we believe we are getting a thorough analysis, whether it be for a merger or a financial review of our bank.”

Robert A. Hulsey, President and CEO

American National Bank of Texas, Terrell, Texas

($1.5 billion total assets)

Well, at least I thought I had learned that lesson.  Yesterday, I met a very beautiful lady with years of experience and loads of very important friends. Sitting in the room with her I felt like the grandmother that I am.  That is I felt like that until…

Until I asked myself how I could help this beautiful, successful, lovely lady.   You see, servant leadership only counts when you actually apply it.

On the surface it would seem that she needed nothing from me.  She had it all. But I managed to quit comparing myself to her and her enormous success.  I actually managed to think of her and not ME, though admittedly it took a while.  I began to listen with the purpose of finding out how I could help her.

In the end I learned that she has a tremendous responsibility to put on a conference and she needs some breakout sessions of real interest to the attendees.  I introduced her to the work of the I-Opt Survey of Information Processing Styles and explained that I would be glad to teach a session on it to her attendees.

I don’t know if she will actually decide to use me in that role but in the process I had introduced her to a valuable tool she can use in her own business.  I had helped her.

That is how simple Servant Leadership is.  Seek more to serve than to be served.  It isn’t all about me.  And it isn’t about you either.  It is about how we can help each other.

Mercy Ships has indicated that they are receiving donations to fund a medical mission to Haiti.

As they have years and years of experience and well equipped ships to meet medical needs in third world areas, I recommend them to you as a trustworthy place to give to help Haiti.

To contact them regarding their plans for a medical mission email them at www.info@mercyships.org

To donate you can go to http://www.mercyships.org/HaitiRelief

In a recent email Don Stephens, the founder of Mercy Ships said:

“Sam Smith, CEO of Mercy Ships, emailed me regarding the most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in more than 200 years: “The impact of this tragedy is ten times that of any hurricane. Please lift up the people of Haiti in prayer.”

Our Disaster Relief teams are working to provide relief to those in greatest need. Your financial support can help us bring hope and healing to the people of Haiti where it is so desperately needed.”

Please prayerfully consider a donation at this time:

http://www.mercyships.org/HaitiRelief

As we receive more information about the conditions in Haiti, we will provide more detailed reports about Mercy Ships’ response.

On behalf of the people of Haiti, we thank you for your prayers and financial support.

– Don Stephens

Founder/ President
Mercy Ships

We are not economists, not accountants and not futurists.  We are more accurately compared to a barometer.  We know when the pressure is rising.  In 2009 there was a confluence of decreased capital along with decreased demand.

Usually, when there is a tightening of credit or capital there will be an increased demand for our funding to meet working capital needs.  In general, this was not true in 2009 because simultaneous with the freeze in the capital markets, there was a sudden drop in demand.

Our seasoned and stable clients were able to weather the storm because they were not heavily laden with long term debt.  They used our services to meet payroll and fill existing orders.  Then, the “great wait and see” began.

There was a collective “breath-holding” among the major large companies who use the goods and services of our clients.

Well, we now think there has been a collective sigh.  It is not a strong wind but a noticeable sigh.  It seems like our clients are experiencing an up tick in demand for their goods and services.

I know this is not scientific evidence of a turn in the economy.  It is simply the result of over 20 years of watching from the ground level how our economy actually works.  So, be encouraged.

This video was shared globally to Keith Ferrazzi’s list and blog:

My article recently published in Houston Performance Magazine (use promo code inhouston):

Eric Standlee

Fortunately, with American Prudential Capital, we are able to help companies fund their stability and growth without such collateral.

We factor a company’s business-to-business accounts receivables (invoices) and provide them with 80% of the funds within 24 hours of approval. When the invoices are paid, we forward the remaining payment to the company minus an agreed upon fee.

No need to wait on clients to pay in 50.8 days (average) or worse!

No long term debt to repay!

No loss of ownership (equity) in your company or your soul!

Plus (+), we are much more fun to work with than someone who thinks that they can hold your soul hostage! Ahhh, you can really rest in peace.

]]> http://www.americanprudential.com/blog/2009/06/25/whats-your-business-worth/feed/ 0 http://www.americanprudential.com/blog/2009/06/02/changing-with-the-times-financing-the-changes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=changing-with-the-times-financing-the-changes http://www.americanprudential.com/blog/2009/06/02/changing-with-the-times-financing-the-changes/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:43:27 +0000 Eric Standlee http://www.americanprudential.com/?p=1017 Warren Buffet is quoted as saying, “Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy. Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful.” Dave Ramsey said during his Town Hall event on April 22, 2009, “We don’t have to participate in the recession.”

Instead, this can be a really great time to start a business, which is antithetical to what people presume. The down market can provide lower costs of real estate in terms of leasing space and lower labor costs because people are willing to work for less or for deferred payments with the option of equity.

Larger groups of people are open to taking that chance of being an entrepreneur, because being laid off is that kick in the pants they needed to take their idea to the next level. It is our belief that these people will be the ones to help lead the country out of this recession.

However, funding a new business can be a challenge. Asking for loans from your family can be a dangerous undertaking. After all, you want to be able to go home at Thanksgiving, no matter what happens!

Things to consider include whether you have enough operating capital so that if you have clients that don’t pay their invoices for 30, 60, or 90 days, you can still operate your business.

Or you can work with American Prudential Capital who can fund your accounts receivables immediately and collect your invoices while you focus on growing your business and creating success.

Small businesses created more than 60 percent of all new jobs in the past decade; today, about half of all private-sector jobs in the United States are at small companies like Moore’s. They generate more medical and technological patents per employee than big corporations, and history shows that they’re the first to begin hiring at the end of a recession. In short, small business has long fueled our country’s growth and expansion. But that’s the insidious trap of the current credit crunch — it’s threatening to squelch American innovation, which could hold the key to our recovery.

via Room to Grow: Economic Trouble for Small Businesses | Your Money Guide | Reader’s Digest.

Our firm specializes in funding these companies.  We can help.

Eric Standlee