Answer:
were about to go under. They must continually acquire new skills—and continually ask themselves where they want to go and how they will get there.
Of the hundreds of thousands of business ventures that entrepreneurs launch every year, many never get off the ground. Others fizzle after spectacular rocket starts.
A six-year-old condiment company has attracted loyal customers but has achieved less than $500,000 in sales. The company’s gross margins can’t cover its overhead or provide adequate incomes for the founder and the family members who participate in the business. Additional growth will require a huge capital infusion, but investors and potential buyers aren’t keen on small, marginally profitable ventures, and the family has exhausted its resources.