Profit is not an accident
Lately, I’ve been fascinated watching my daughter, Isabelle, grow from a baby into a toddler. On many occasions, I’ve observed her squint her eyes, steady her body, and push her chubby little legs – onward. Gazing toward me, she would stagger forward, fall repeatedly, and get back up again – eager to continue walking until she has mastered the technique. …
You’ve survived the startup stage of your business. Great work. What could be more fascinating and challenging than giving birth to a company? Well, like parenting, the hardest (and most thrilling) part is yet to come. Most entrepreneurs think that setting up a business is the most dangerous stage in their entrepreneurial venture. Yet the truth is, growing a business …
How would you face an upset customer? Or if you’re the business owner or manager and you rely on your staff to resolve customer complaints, how do you know it is done successfully? Do you have an effective complaint management system in place in case of problems or breakdowns? As a growing business, you will inevitably receive negative feedback or …
Like most business owners, you’ve probably heard (or learned from experience) that positive workplace culture leads to high performance. That’s why you only hire competent, trustworthy, and enthusiastic people who share your values and vision in the first place. You understand that a healthy and strong company culture largely depends on the right mix of talents. Everyone you employ contributes …
A complaint is like an expensive piece of diamond jewellery concealed in an old newspaper. If you knew what’s hidden beneath the aged yellowish newspaper, you would be too eager to unwrap it. But seldom do people see beyond the ugly mask most complaints wear. Once you see the value that complaints add to your business, you will begin to …
Time management: it sounds easy enough. However, when you own or manage a small business, it’s too easy to get pulled from one crisis to the next and lose sight of all of the things you wanted to accomplish during the day. Ways to get more out of your day Good time management is a skill, just like sales or …
I attended a local solicitors’ office this morning and upon arriving was immediately impressed with the appearance of the reception and waiting area. The receptionist greeted me warmly and instructed me to sit and wait for the solicitor to see me. Unfortunately, it was from here that it went downhill. Although I was right on time for the appointment, I …
You’ve decided to take the plunge to start your own business. Now you have the task (fun, difficult or both) of naming your business. Following are some tips to consider when choosing a business name. Define your brand’s attributes before you choose a name. When deciding on a name take these attributes into consideration to ensure the name reflects them. …
Practicing excellent customer service is a very important factor in effectively running a business. It is vital as it is all about the people who help your business to function… your customers! They are the backbone of any organisation as they provide stability and are the main resource the business depends on to be able to operate. Without them your …
All too often I see the turnover of a business climb only to find the profits remain stagnant or worse dwindle. Consequently, the owners and staff are working harder for little or no gain. So what are they doing wrong? There could be a number of reasons, but generally it boils down to one, or a combination, of the following: …
You may not have immediate plans to retire or sell your business, but is it on the cards in the next 5 or 10 years? The key to setting any goals is to “begin with the end in mind” and it is no different when planning your exit from the business. There are a number of ways to exit your …
The pricing strategy of a small business often determines the ultimate success or failure of that business. Small Business Owners commonly set prices with a view of being the cheapest in the market, with no consideration as to the total costs involved with delivering their product or service. The following factors should be considered when setting prices: The total costs …
