Memos to Dan: Entrepreneurial Lessons from a Father to His Son

Memos to Dan: Entrepreneurial Lessons from a Father to his Son is a collection of real-life stories of a small business owner – equal parts thoughtful, insightful, funny and serious. Loaded with examples of the advice and guidance offered, Memos to Dan focuses primarily on one entrepreneurial business thereby providing a consistent thread of understanding. Organized in a logical and easy-to-follow framework, Memos to Dan carries you through the critical steps to evaluate and launch your idea’s commercial opportunities. The fifty memos allow for reading and thinking through a few key topics at a time. They also include “Key Takeaways” to facilitate future easy reference. Your product or service idea is just the start, Memos to Dan will help you:

• Evaluate your own fit for small business ownership and leadership
• Analyze the commercial viability of your idea
• Set a clear vision and strategies for success
• Execute your plan on a day to day basis
• Hire and inspire a talented and diverse team
• Address the myriad of administrative responsibilities
• Avoid letting the business run your entire life
• Eventually prepare for a successful transition / sale

Todd Stetson has spent 30 years working at Court Products, first as an employee, then as an integral part of reshaping its path to eventually owning it. He has served on his community's park board as an elected official and as a member of the board of directors for a local community bank. Todd graduated from the University of Wyoming with a BS in Marketing. He captained and assistant coached the UW Swimming Team. Todd and his wife, Kathy, have two children, Danny and Julie and one granddaughter from Danny and his wife Laura. Outside of his professional career, his passions are hiking and photographing wildlife in the mountains.

Lynn Stetson is a financial risk management executive with over 30 years of experience. He has functionally reported to the Board of Directors of two Dow 30 companies - Bank of America and GE Capital. He has held roles covering consumer, small business and global investment banking risk, including five years in London where his family enjoyed living in and traveling throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Lynn and his wife, Kathleen, have two children, Clare and Griffin. Lynn enjoys the discovery of learning from new people, new activities and new destinations. Like Todd, Lynn graduated from the University of Wyoming and captained the UW Swimming Team. He also earned an MBA at Indiana University.