DISQUS

Alx Klive · 3 months ago

Great point Nic. A return for shareholders can come in different ways and is not necessarily predicated on profits as you say. Another source of return for shareholders could be a share buyback.
csertoglu · 3 months ago

Great point Nic. One additional axis that may be considered is value creation. I see companies that turn a profit (spammers, etc.) that can identify an opportunity and go after is aggressively, that end up generating returns to their shareholders. I find it hard to call them successful. There needs to be "thick" value for success.
Philip Wilkinson · 3 months ago

Nick - are you sure success isn't just about how many times you can get your business name mentioned at networking events and dinner parties? ;-)
brisbourne · 3 months ago

:D

That warm glow inside is no substitute for a good meal...
martinowen · 3 months ago

Until there are profits, any enterprise is less than a zero sum game. In a buy out, or even in an IPO, losses are passed from one investor to another. It is only when a product/system/service is actually genreating added value can it be successful. Individual investors can be successful - but that would be as a result of some other investor's loss. Only when returns exceed investment is there a real "success"