Welcome.

America’s economic strength has always been reliant on start-up businesses and small entrepreneurs for new products, job creation, and the development of new brands. This site is dedicated to those Americans who, by choice or necessity, become self-employed and start their own business.

Here you will find the business philosophies and guiding principles we learned over several decades of success with new ventures. They are presented in summary fashion in our Business Blog. More detail can be found in our Speaking Topics, Group Seminars, and Consulting Services.

We are also writing a book, “The Barefoot Spirit,” which chronicles the experiences and business lessons learned building the Barefoot Wine brand.

Since one of our business philosophies is to have fun, we will include a personal blog and some photos. We will add videos and interviews with like-minded business leaders going forward.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Title: SYRCL Wild & Scenic Film Festival Location: Landmark Theater, West Los Angeles, CA Description: The Mono Lake Committee is one of our favorite non-profits. For over 20 years, we have been supporting their efforts to save Mono Lake, reduce water consumption, and change the way the courts look at private property rights vs. the [...]

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Entrepreneurship – Past, Present, Future

Title: Entrepreneurship Past, Present, Future Location: Palo Alto, CA (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) Description: Michael will be sharing valuable knowledge and experience to MBA students as a panelist at this private event being held by the Ohio State University Center for Entrepreneurship. This event includes a panel discussion, audience Q & A session, and a [...]

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Achieve Your Goals by Taking Responsibility for the Other Guy’s “Mistakes”

GET SMART ABOUT STUPID

Whenever you are depending on contractors, government organizations, or outside services, things can go wrong. When they do there is a great tendency to point a finger and find fault with the other guy. Here are some tips that will help your company improve and be more likely to get what you want in the future. [...]

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Academy of Friends 32nd Annual Gala

Title: Academy of Friends 32nd Annual Gala Location:San Francisco Design Center Galleria Description: Academy of Friends annually produces the world’s premier Academy Awards Night Charity Gala as the centerpiece of its efforts to raise funds, award donations, and encourage volunteerism that benefit a diverse set of HIV/AIDS direct care and prevention education agencies in the [...]

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Strategy for Good Summit

Title: Strategy for Good Summit Location: Your phone – it’s a Telesummit Description: Hear from 30 Thought Leaders on Business in Society, including Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey – All in One Place Via Telesummit – Sharing Their Unique Perspectives, Tips, and Strategies on Social Good, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Involvement. This Telesummit is from [...]

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The Advantages of Being a Small Start-Up – Part 4

PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT!

With all the challenges your small start-up faces, you still hold some impressive cards. If you play them right, you can have the winning hand! You face all the challenges of cash flow management, distribution management and personnel management, not to mention the competition, push back and resistance you get when you are new in the marketplace. [...]

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Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value

Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value

Title: Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value Location: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA Description: Brand equity trumps real estate in most acquisitions. Understanding how value is created in the affordable luxury wine industry is the first step in developing a growth platform or exit strategy. Since value is measured by the investor or buyer, [...]

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The Advantages of Being a Small Start-Up – Part 3

YOUR BRAND HAS MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE

By focusing on your customer, and not your big time competitors, your small start-up has the opportunity to address the market with creative and relevant products. In this series we have examined some of the powerful advantages of being small, undercapitalized and able to turn on a dime. These days, with lawyers running the big corporations [...]

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Wildwood Foundation Fundraiser

Title: Wildwood Foundation Fundraiser Location: Wildwood Conservation Foundation & Retreat Center, Guerneville, CA Description: Friday, February 3 — Sunday, February 5 Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey joined fellow donors during this weekend at the Wildwood Retreat Center in Sonoma County to celebrate the birthday of Barefoot Wine Ambassador, Randy Arnold.  To learn more about Wildwood, [...]

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Winning Distribution Strategies

Winning Distribution Strategies

Title: Winning Distribution Strategies Location: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA Successful brand building hinges on diligent management of the 3-tiered distribution channel and appealing to customers at all levels. Houlihan and Jones bring extensive street smarts and proven techniques to attract trade partners and cement their loyalty. This course is designed for owners, national [...]

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