"We are not a real estate company"

When I was a kid - come to think of it, it was around 2008 - I thought the value of a business is the assets he owns. It wasn't quite like that, but that's what I thought for the most part. At the time, I was coordinating the sale varnishes and paints to multinational I was going to work on. I remember staying up late into the night with my future colleagues making and undoing lists.

The company that was selling the business also had an apartment in which they had operated at one point. When I reached out to discuss it, they told me that they were not a real estate company and therefore not interested in the apartment. Not you a discussion, a little negotiation, at least out of politeness. I remember it was a big surprise to me then. I thought that anyone is interested in a property, even an apartment. Now I know - or I think I know - how to value a business and at what price it could be sold, but that's for another time.
What I mean is that an asset has value to a business as long as it is useful to that business/product for it. Otherwise it is just a real estate investment, which increases or decreases in value depending on market. For the business it's just money tied up. Liquidity with which it could expand into other markets, give birth to new products/models, create brands and increase their visibility. In a word - or several - it could increase.
What I have noticed lately is that - as I thought then - so do many Romanian managers in Wood Industry. For them it's much more important how many assets they have than what the sales of the businesses they run are worth. I think they are very influenced by the way we are. We like to be owners.
I may be wrong. I really wish you would contradict me. You can do it a little below, in the comments area, on my personal facebook or linkedin page, where it's easier for you. I promise to reply to all comments. Ready....steady....go