Sozo Firm, Inc.

01/04/2026

Most new entrepreneurs believe their biggest challenge will be finding customers. Or building a great product. Or competing in a crowded market.

In reality, many businesses don’t fail because of a lack of demand – they fail because they run out of cash.

Cash flow is one of the least understood, least anticipated, and most underestimated risks in business. And for new business owners especially, it often comes as a complete surprise.

(Link to article in the comments below.)

18/03/2026

The moment a customer walks through your door, a silent evaluation begins. Before they see your products, compare prices, or speak to a salesperson, they are already forming opinions about your business. Do I feel welcome here? Will someone help me if I need it? Is my time respected?

In an era where customers can buy almost anything online or choose from countless competitors nearby, first impressions are no longer a courtesy – they are a competitive advantage. A poor greeting, or no greeting at all, can quickly send a customer elsewhere. Even if you carry the exact product they need, poor customer service may cost you the sale before the interaction truly begins.

Greeting the customer is often the first – and sometimes most important – step toward closing a sale and building long-term loyalty. Let me give you five proven ways to properly greet customers, along with some practical guidance to help your organization elevate its customer experience.

Link to article is in the comments below.

13/03/2026

Ask ten managers what the hardest part of leadership is, and you’ll likely hear ten different answers. Some will say terminating an employee. Others will point to making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. Still others will struggle with the emotional complexity of leading former peers or friends.

Yet across industries, roles, and organizational sizes, one challenge consistently rises to the top: managing conflict between employees.

Conflict is not a sign that something has gone wrong. It is a sign that human beings – each with different values, personalities, pressures, and communication styles – are working together.

Click the article link below to learn some tips on resolving conflict in the office.

https://www.andrewjensen.net/tips-on-resolving-conflict-in-the-office/

09/03/2026

Through 25+ years of working with nonprofit organizations, we've had the privilege of seeing the sector from many different perspectives. As a consultancy firm, we've advised countless nonprofits and worked directly with well over 100 nonprofit organizations across a wide range of missions.

Along the way, we've seen firsthand the challenges these organizations face – from limited resources and fundraising pressures to operational and leadership hurdles.

Despite the obstacles that can come with nonprofit work, it remains one of the most rewarding sectors we've ever worked in. We love partnering with nonprofits because their work is ultimately about helping others and creating meaningful, lasting change – something that truly makes a difference over the long term.

For those considering working for a nonprofit, in the article linked below, Andrew Jensen explores the pros & cons of working in the nonprofit sector.

https://www.andrewjensen.net/pros-and-cons-of-working-in-nonprofit-sector/

06/03/2026

For many years, universities have played a central role in preparing students for the workforce. A college degree has traditionally signaled that someone possesses specialized knowledge and the intellectual discipline required for a professional career.

Today, however, the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence is raising a new and increasingly uncomfortable question for universities and students alike:

Could certain college degrees become obsolete?

https://www.andrewjensen.net/which-college-degrees-could-become-obsolete-because-of-ai/

22/02/2026

Organizational Governance Is a Discipline, Not a Performance.

True governance is not measured by the thickness of board packets or the frequency of meetings.

It is measured by independence of thought, depth of inquiry, and courage of accountability.

Boards must continually ask themselves:

Are we genuinely testing strategy?
Are we probing risk meaningfully?
Are we holding leadership accountable with clarity?
Are we prioritizing mission over comfort?

If the honest answers are uncertain, the board may be operating closer to theater than to stewardship.

Optics can reassure stakeholders temporarily.

But only substance protects institutions long term.

Governance is not about looking responsible.

It is about being responsible – especially when the questions are uncomfortable and the answers are complex.

Anything less may satisfy form.

But it will not safeguard the future.

Updated on March 14, 2025 by Andrew Jensen Leave a Comment Governance Theater: When Oversight Is Just Optics In boardrooms across sectors, there is a version of governance that looks impressive from the outside. There are thick board books. Detailed dashboards. Formal committees. Annual retreats. Ca...

18/02/2026

American higher education is approaching an inflection point that many leaders have quietly feared for years and only recently begun to confront openly.

A shrinking population of traditional college-age students, rising skepticism about the value of a degree, escalating operating costs, and fragile institutional business models are converging into a crisis that will reshape the sector over the next decade.

The question is no longer whether higher education will change. The question is which institutions will adapt with intention and which will be overtaken by forces they failed to take seriously soon enough.

Article link in comments.

16/02/2026

Nonprofit boards are designed to safeguard mission, steward resources, and provide collective oversight. The chair of the board is entrusted with facilitating that work – not dominating it.

But what happens when the board chair becomes a narcissistic, authoritarian presence? When disagreement is punished. When dissent is mocked or belittled. When loyalty is rewarded and independent thinking is persecuted. When the board feels less like a governing body and more like an audience.

Updated on February 16, 2026 by Andrew Jensen Leave a Comment When the Board Chair Becomes the Bully: Governance Hijacked by Narcissism Nonprofit boards are designed to safeguard mission, steward resources, and provide collective oversight. The chair of the board is entrusted with facilitating that....

10/01/2026

As we look back in thankfulness on the past 20 years of services, we're thankful to have had the privilege of serving the manufacturing industry, helping metal, tools, parts, and furniture manufacturers.

09/01/2026

As we look back in thankfulness on the past 20 years of services, we're thankful to have had the privilege of serving religious organizations including churches, ministries and schools.

08/01/2026

As we look back in thankfulness on the past 20 years of services, we're thankful to have had the privilege of serving the automotive industry, helping auto & truck sales businesses.