Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
The Curtis family, like any other, has its ups and downs.Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head every now and then, and Mom andDad don't always see eye to eye. The Curtises also run a smallbusiness, and this makes their interpersonal relationships all themore important . . . and complicated. And while the Curtises arefictional characters, their story--told in the interactive CD-ROMmovie "A Matter of Time"--can help real-life familybusinesses contend with the unique issues they face.
Created by MassMutual: The Blue Chip Company, "A Matter ofTime" doesn't profess to know all the answers, but it doesoffer several solutions to issues family businesses face, includingestate and strategic planning, leadership development, andcompensation and performance. (Plus, the movie contains some prettyengaging scenes, especially the harrowing episodes where nonfamilyemployees get caught in the middle of family disputes.) Users canchoose from different scenarios, which are then played out, orclick on characters to see what they're really thinking.
"Family businesses tend to be successful, but they have aheck of a time moving from one generation of management andownership to the next," says Peter O'Neil withSpringfield, Massachusetts-based MassMutual. With more than 12million family-owned businesses in the United States, "AMatter of Time" is more than good drama--it's a valuabletool for family businesses. Contact your local MassMutual officefor more information.
Hire Hopes
By Cynthia E. Griffin
Small business is bullish on hiring in '97.
Looking to hire? You're not alone. According to a quarterlysurvey of more than 400 small-business owners and opinion leaders(delegates to the White House Conference on Small Business) from across section of companies, BIZ Experiencess are optimistic when itcomes to hiring. The National Small Business AttitudesSurvey, conducted by Cicco and Associates Inc. in Murrysville,Pennsylvania, found that 38 percent of BIZ Experiencess questionedplanned to hire employees during 1997.
"We had not expected BIZ Experiencess to be as optimistic asthey are regarding hiring," says John Cicco, president of themarketing research firm, which has assessed small-businessowners' attitudes in 46 such surveys since 1987. "Butwe've found it's very close to last year's number [40percent of those surveyed in 1996 planned to hire], and wehaven't gotten the indications we normally see for arecession."
The study, which received responses from businesses in 14industries, found that larger firms (those with 21 or moreemployees), older firms (at least 10 years old), and those owned byopinion leaders tended to be more optimistic about hiring.Fifty-six percent of larger businesses were planning to hire thisyear, compared with 33 percent of smaller businesses. Companies inthe service sector were also more willing to hire, as werecompanies owned by men.
Read All About It
What are business owners reading these days? The top 10 businessbooks at press time (based on net sales) were:
1. Ernst & Young Tax Guide 1997, by Editors, $14.95(John Wiley & Sons)
2. Wall Street Money Machine, by Wade Cook, $24.95(Midpoint Books)
3. J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax Guide 1997, by J.K.Lasser, $14.95 (Macmillan Publishing)
4. Milionaire Next Door: The Surprising Truth About Wealth inAmerica, by Thomas J. Stanley and William Danko, $22(Longstreet Press)
5. The Dilbert Principle, by Scott Adams, $20 (HarperCollins)
6. Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook, by ScottAdams, $16 (Harper Collins)
7. What Color Is Your Parachute 1996, by Richard NelsonBolles, $14.95 (Ten Speed Press)
8. Personal Finance for Dummies, by Eric Tyson, $19.99(IDG Books Worldwide)
9. Investing for Dummies, by Eric Tyson, $19.99 (IDGBooks Worldwide)
10. Financial Peace, by David Ramsey, $21.95 (PenguinUSA)
Contact Sources
MassMutual--The Blue Chip Co., (617) 527-0444;
Cicco and Associates Inc., Murrysville, PA 15668, (412)325-4600;
