It was one of those moments that did not seem very important at the time. I only half listened to the interview on a sports talk radio program many years ago.

I was heading toward a school where my fellow committee members and I were about to make a decision on the merger of several small parish grade schools into a single larger, more economical one at a central location. We had held many fairly contentious meetings over the past several months listening to both sides of the issue.

The radio interviewer asked the man who had just been promoted from assistant coach to head coach at his university, "What is the biggest difference between being second in command and the head honcho?"

"That easy," he replied, "I never knew what a difference there was between making a suggestion and making a decision. The former is easier but the latter is more exhilarating."

Wow! Doesn’t that say it all?

We committee members were in the same position. The talking was over. It was now time to fish or cut bait.

How does that little story relate to you?

Here you are as an entrepreneur giving up the corporate life—whether through downsizing or retirement—and taking a new seat on the bench. You no longer are going to make recommendations. You are going to say yes or no. Black or white. New or used. This employee or that employee. This vendor or that vendor. Forty hours or eighty hours. The proverbial buck is going to stop with you.

It’s exciting and it’s frightening.

And it’s finally your time. Now it’s you who will make the decisions instead of suggestions. Congratulations and enjoy the ride.

Bill Sheridan

Popularity: 5% [?]