Five Reasons to Read Donald Dell’s New Book “Never Make the First Offer”

Posted in Closely Held Businesses and Business Start-Ups on October 9, 2009

Donald Dell, a pioneer in the world of professional sports representation, shares his four decades of deal-making experience, compelling war stories, and humbling lessons learned representing some of the most influential athletes of our generation—from Jimmy Connors to Michael Jordan.  This book is a great read for any business executive or owner interested in negotiating strategies and tactics, and a must read for anyone interested in the sports industry (particularly professional tennis).  In particular, you will learn:

1.         The immeasurable value of a sense of humor in negotiating business transactions (especially a self-deprecating sense of humor).

2.         The “dirty” little secret of Dell and his then-client Jimmy Connors that arguably impacted the outcome of the 1983 U.S. Open men’s final.

3.         The importance of trust and authenticity in being a successful business person.

4.         Why litigation and “scorched earth” tactics rarely make sense from a business perspective.

5.         How it came to pass that a young Donald Dell got reamed out by Donald Rumsfeld (and the lessons learned from it).

 

Virginia Business Owners Beware of Corporate Maintenance Scams

Posted in Closely Held Businesses and Business Start-Ups on October 9, 2009

A wave of corporate compliance scams has struck unsuspecting business owners across the country in recent years.  The scam is pretty straightforward.  An official-looking letter is sent to a business owner calling for payment in exchange for preparing what are described in a misleading fashion as “legally required” corporate forms.  Ominous warnings of the dire consequences of noncompliance are vividly described.  The letters are strategically designed to resemble forms issued by state agencies, presumably in the hope that recipients will falsely assume the letters originate from state government agencies and, therefore, pay the bogus fee.

State agencies across the country are clamping down on these corporate maintenance schemes:

If you receive suspicious solicitations in the mail regarding registered agent or other corporate compliance services, consider doing the following before submitting any personal information or paying any money:

  • Read the fine print.
  • Conduct some basic due diligence on the company sending you the solicitation (a Google search will often provide a wealth of insightful information about the company soliciting your money).
  • Call the Virginia State Corporation Commission or a business attorney to confirm state filing requirements and other corporate compliance questions.