Cover Story
Untitled Page
JAMES G. ELLIS
Dean, Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California
During
this difficult economic time, I would tell small business owners and
entrepreneurs to always remember one idea: Define your core
competencies and stick with them.
Successful small business
owners typically start their ventures with a clear focus, and that
focus defines who they are and their place in the market. As we all
face the challenges of this economy, now is not the time to risk assets
or people on unproven new ventures. The key for savvy entrepreneurs is
the need to identify their strengths and build on them while keeping an
eye on defining the evolving needs of their customers and the market.
As
I look at real-world examples, I can point to Brian Sullivan, a USC
Marshall MBA who started a company called ForwardLine about six years
ago. The company is a lender for small businesses that are looking for
loans for immediate capital needs. ForwardLine has rigorously adhered
to its targeted approach to small business loans, and today, in a world
where money is extremely tight, the company continues to provide its
services to small businesses, helping them to grow in a contracted
lending market.
Andrew J. Policano | Anil Puri | Esmael Adibi
Abe Helou | Linda A. Livingstone | Timothy Peters
Ahmad Hosseini | James G. Ellis
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
JAMES G. ELLISDean, Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California
During this difficult economic time, I would tell small business owners and entrepreneurs to always remember one idea: Define your core competencies and stick with them.
Successful small business owners typically start their ventures with a clear focus, and that focus defines who they are and their place in the market. As we all face the challenges of this economy, now is not the time to risk assets or people on unproven new ventures. The key for savvy entrepreneurs is the need to identify their strengths and build on them while keeping an eye on defining the evolving needs of their customers and the market.
As I look at real-world examples, I can point to Brian Sullivan, a USC Marshall MBA who started a company called ForwardLine about six years ago. The company is a lender for small businesses that are looking for loans for immediate capital needs. ForwardLine has rigorously adhered to its targeted approach to small business loans, and today, in a world where money is extremely tight, the company continues to provide its services to small businesses, helping them to grow in a contracted lending market.
Andrew J. Policano | Anil Puri | Esmael Adibi
Abe Helou | Linda A. Livingstone | Timothy Peters
Ahmad Hosseini | James G. Ellis
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
Abe Helou | Linda A. Livingstone | Timothy Peters
Ahmad Hosseini | James G. Ellis
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
