Almost everyone wants to be successful. While the definition of success will vary depending on who you ask, many consider it the ultimate goal in their personal and professional lives. Much has been written about how entrepreneurs and executives should “hope for the best and prepare for the worst”…But what happens once you or your business experiences initial success or substantial growth? What do you do now?

We here at Talley & Company believe that success is something that is continually created, not acquired. It is created by aspiring individuals who have no limits in terms of how they approach and execute creativity, intelligence, ingenuity, talent, persistence and determination. We’ve worked with countless inspirational athletes and entrepreneurs over the years and picked up some pointers along the way.  Here are a few that we’d like to share with you as you chase down your own personal version of success. 

Keep a positive attitude. Many entrepreneurs and executives face unexpected negative consequences after experiencing initial success, such as anxiety over being able to maintain their “winning streak”, fearing that they are being set up to fail, and experiencing the envy others feel towards their accomplishments. While some stress may be a good thing, when stress turns into anxiety, it can be detrimental both to your mental health and to the health of your business.

term goal or objective and work backwards to figure out what it will take to accomplish it.  But why start at the end?  Many times, the end-result seems so far away and impossible to reach.  Through backward planning, one can mentally prepare him or herself for specific challenges and milestones that need to be achieved to reach an important goal.

Don’t be afraid of letting go of the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. You are bound to run into unforeseen challenges as you achieve success and grow your business. For an example of this, see our recent

ress turns into anxiety, it can be detrimental both to your mental health and to the health of your business.

Set bigger goals and work “backwards”. Once you’ve achieved initial success, map out your next long-business lessons write-up on Pablo Escobar.  A business in growth or scale mode faces a whole new set of different challenges and opportunities that may require a change in attitude and approach. Your ability to recognize this can mean the difference between spinning your wheels and achieving your next milestone.

Talley & Company understands the challenges facing entrepreneurs with generating and protecting income. Whether you’re looking to improve your profitability, build your brand through a business transaction, or wish to guarantee a legacy for your family, Talley & Company is the consulting and financial services firm dedicated to strategic business solutions that deliver meaningful results.

Connecting Entrepreneurs to Capital

Roughly seven years ago, the economy dipped into a deep recession and the ensuing “credit crunch” made it difficult for many small businesses to secure the capital they needed. Banks effectively closed the door on many small businesses seeking capital that did not fit their “deal” requirements.  Seeing an opportunity, many alternative lenders jumped into the marketplace, willing to provide capital at a time when traditional lenders were reluctant to take on risk. Fast forward to today: the rise of online and marketplace lending means small business owners have access to more options than ever to fund their strategic growth objectives. So what’s the right choice for your business? The answer might not be so simple.

Much like first time home buyers trying to pick the right loan for their mortgage, many business owners are overwhelmed by the countless options available in the capital market.  So many choices can lead to a lot of confusion.  Some lenders will talk to you about APR, others will offer you a short-term cash advance, and more will throw in various hidden fees that may be difficult to discern from all the details –and the list goes on and on.  Taking into consideration all the variables, the real challenge is not merely finding financing or capital resources, but ensuring they are a good fit for both you and your organization’s needs.

Talley Capital Group has managed complex financial transactions that maximize value for our clients while earning their trust and building a strong network within the banking and private equity industries. Securing financing or capital resources can be a complex process. Structuring a favorable deal requires extensive knowledge of debt and equity capital markets and sources, the analytical skills to compare competing offers, and the transaction expertise of a knowledgeable advisor to maximize after-tax value. Talley & Company can help you develop your best financing options, identify prospective banking institutions or private equity groups that fit your deal, and work with you diligently to obtain the capital that is suitable for your organization’s unique needs.

For more information about how Talley Capital Group can help you plan, negotiate, structure and execute on your growth strategy, contact us today.

August 1, 2014

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s $2 billion bid for the Clippers looks to be a gross over-valuation, at least according to the bid book of sale put together by Bank of America. Reporters from ESPN.com got hold of the valuation numbers through documents introduced in the trial determining whether Shelly Sterling has the right to sell the team without Donald.

The bid book showed Ballmer’s $2 billion offer for the Clippers is 12.1 times the expected 2014 revenues of the team. Purportedly, Bank of America also showed the average of teams sold over a five-year period was 3.4 times total revenue, and that no team has been purchased for more than five times its total revenues.

In the case of the Clippers, revenue alone might present an under-valuation if the team’s alleged years of mismanagement were to be taken into account. The Clippers also have a pending national TV deal that could be a slam dunk to raising the franchise’s popularity and profits.  

Of course, Ballmer’s serious bid is probably about a lot more than him just wanting to make another profitable business deal. Among the billionaire set who have most of what money can buy, we expect there’s immeasurable enjoyment and prestige to owning one of 30 teams that besides their exclusivity, hardly ever go up for sale. For this alone, any team on the NBA is a statistical anomaly in the world of business dealings. Like any near-priceless objet d’art up for auction, the emotional value of ownership can be equal to, if not greater than, the investment value.  

Outside of these outliers, most buyers looking to acquire a business, whether as a singular investment or a complement to an existing company, are more likely to focus on the financial returns they can expect to get for their purchase price. B2B valuation and legal advisory professionals, including those at Talley and Company, can provide comprehensive data and due diligence in these situations to enable decision-makers to make the most profitable investment choices. 

Before entering into any buy/sell agreement, Talley & Company can help you determine both optimal deal pricing and structure to achieve your goals from an ROI and tax perspective, accounting for factors that include revenues, future opportunities and contracts, industry trends, and market share. Of course, if you just plan to make a must-have power bid like Ballmer, at least you’ll know what you’re getting into and how far from the baseline to overshoot.