1.0Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD.https://www.bgs.com/blogCarole Clark Isaksonhttps://www.bgs.com/blog/author/carole-clark-isakson/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="lEsM5t22By"><a href="https://www.bgs.com/blog/2016/10/20/is-it-real-or-make-believe/">Is it Real or Make Believe?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.bgs.com/blog/2016/10/20/is-it-real-or-make-believe/embed/#?secret=lEsM5t22By" width="600" height="338" title="“Is it Real or Make Believe?” — Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD." data-secret="lEsM5t22By" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(c,d){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(d.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage);else if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(!t);else if(!(t.secret||t.message||t.value));else if(/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret));else{for(var r,s,a,i=d.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),n=d.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),l=0;l<n.length;l++)n[l].style.display="none";for(l=0;l<i.length;l++)if(r=i[l],e.source!==r.contentWindow);else{if(r.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(s=parseInt(t.value,10)))s=1e3;else if(~~s<200)s=200;r.height=s}if("link"===t.message)if(s=d.createElement("a"),a=d.createElement("a"),s.href=r.getAttribute("src"),a.href=t.value,!o.test(a.protocol));else if(a.host===s.host)if(d.activeElement===r)c.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)c.addEventListener("message",c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),d.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),c.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(o);else{o=!0;for(var e,t,r,s=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),a=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.*rv:11\./),i=d.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),n=0;n<i.length;n++){if(!(r=(t=i[n]).getAttribute("data-secret")))r=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),t.src+="#?secret="+r,t.setAttribute("data-secret",r);if(s||a)(e=t.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),t.parentNode.replaceChild(e,t);t.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:r},"*")}}}}(window,document); </script> by Carole Clark Isakson My daughter and I recently enjoyed the weekend Renaissance Festival.We expected to be delighted by the disguises and costumes and this event did not disappoint! The make-believe is fun and often we’re too excited to question – “ who is behind the mask?” Possibly my character, possibly my training, but I’m always curious as to what lies behind the facade, so I asked one particular long-haired-leather-wearing-sword-wielding giant of a man what he did during the week, “I sell car insurance!” he happily told me. Love it, that radical change between real and make-believe is fabulous… in the entertainment industry! However, in the more traditional business settings disguises and make-believe can be dangerous. All kidding aside, this is a question we need to ask ourselves in ANY business setting… with whom am I doing business? Start by asking this question with regards to your suppliers, customers, and business associates. Suppliers may all look excellent at first, as you are greeted with professional marketing pieces and a vibrant website. But who is behind that mask? Before betting some of your company’s success on a supplier, ask some hard questions. What is the company’s financial condition? Has it been sued? Filed for bankruptcy relief? Owe taxes? Many of our attorneys can check...https://bgs.com/wp-content/uploads/renfestpic-91x300.jpg