I have just read a fun article, describing 10 “best” ways to murder your own business.

But just like any crime scene, future assassins learn from the mistakes of others. They plot their own acts of doom, hoping that they will cover all their paths and never be caught.

Interestingly enough, many businesses close down due to the mistakes from top management, and not because of market conditions. Yes, that applies to Enron and to your local speciality restaurant.

A few weeks ago, I encountered one such act of attempted murder.

The setting was a small office in central Tel Aviv. The business had established itself over approximately 5 years, but was stagnant. The CEO, an experienced man of commerce, argued that he wanted to grow though increased export sales. Fair enough.

• I then proposed a series of possible action items, all of which were rejected, because he would be too busy to attend to them. I argued that after some initial explanations, the new tasks would be my responsibility. NO! He could not let that happen.
• I suggested that he should let me bring in extra sales. NO! it would take too long.
• I offered to secure a loan at good conditions, thus allowing him to recruit more resources and free up his time. Silence! Not even a “no”.

As you can imagine, the conversations did not lead into a long-term business relationship.

The CEO did not get it. He is a man who has founded and built up a small successful business. He will be an essential part of its future achievements. However, for the moment, his strategy is only satisfying his own need for importance rather than the revenue stream of his pride and joy.

He has created a silent and blunt murder weapon that he is in close danger of applying. But from his perspective, he is innocent of any wrong doing.