Who is the article for? This article is for business owners who are either sole traders, or have up to ten staff to manager and organise and need to understand how their business is ‘traveling’ financially in order to make positive business decisions. What is the article about? This article is about how micro and …
Without being an Accountant. INTRODUCTION Have you ever felt that if you had a better understanding of the books that you would be able to strategically grow and cut waste at the same time? It is a fact that the vast majority of accounts are not set out in a way that an owner can …
It is a sad fact of life, that in any free trade economy, that growing enterprises or at least those transitioning between sizes, either remain in a frustrating state of transition or fail. In a competitive market place, customers are no longer satisfied with anything but a first-class product or service. The successful businesses of …
The are two options available for writing the system. These are as follows: The “Standard” Based Approach The Quality Manual is written summarising each of the procedures of the “standard” ISO 9001 series. Theoretically, this covers the business processes. In practice, …
Is your business obsolete? Conventional wisdom may be used to carry out activities that revitalise under-performing organisations that are in deep financial difficulties. Yet I believe it is possible to consider the deeper problems that are causing …
Why Planning is Fundamental to your Organisation It is the only common activity throughout all aspects of business It is the most underrated aspect of business management and business development Fundamentals of Planning Focuses the purpose of the business Is the way to link the owners Vision to Operations Identifying strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and …
Company Action Plan The first action to take when starting a plan, is a long-term vision for the company over the next two to three years. Not just overall, but for all sectors of the company. These visions should then be listed in order of significance and next step …
Believe in Yourself and Your Business Owning and running your own business is much more than a job. It is a way of life that has no room for lukewarm enthusiasm or a half-hearted desire to win. The stakes are very high; the rewards for those who can succeed are great, but the penalties for …
Review and Challenge Your Paradigms Success in most things we do in life is dependent on our willingness and ability to make changes as they are needed. The problem is that we are all creatures of habit, and for most of us, making changes, especially those that we feel are being forced on us by …
a) Encourage Change . . . but Hold Fast to Core Values In Key #2, the importance of having a business vision was emphasised. A clear vision of the kind of business you want in the future can only flow out of your values. Your values are your fundamental beliefs and principles – your internalised …
Plan, Plan, Plan . . . Plan If your business is going nowhere or not in the direction you want, maybe a lack of planning is the problem. Planning is the primary management task, the importance of which can never be overstated. To go into business without a business plan is extremely foolish; to try …
Build a Committed Team and Lead by Example Providing added-service is an important part of creating and using your firm’s competitive advantage. It supports ‘delight-level’ quality, but must consist of more than just giving smiles. It is something all your work-team must do, and it involves attitude. It goes beyond the expected and involves many …
Innovate to Become Unique Associated the delivery of quality as a source of sales (and customer loyalty), is differentiation or being unique. Among the questions most frequently asked of small firms are: “What’s so special about your business?”, “Are you different from your competitors?” , “How are you better?” , “Exactly how?” and “Tell me …
Be Totally Responsive to Customer Wants To survive the growing pains of the tidal wave of change, developing and growing in the 21st Century as a viable business- a winner – requires that you become 110% responsive to the wants of your customers and of prospective new customers. The bottom-line prescription for business survival is …
Focus on Vital Priorities [Putting First Things First] Management is about making the most efficient and effective use of available resources for the purpose of achieving those things that are important. One of the most difficult resources to manage well is time. How often have you said or thought things like: “I never have enough …
Have a Vision, Purpose and Destination The starting point for any business is its end, or the final position the owner-manager wants to go through the growing pain to achieve, because every business should be created for a purpose – a reason! You should have a result, destination or goal in mind for your business. …
Work ON your business, not just IN it. Your business is not your life – just a part of it, albeit a vital part! If you allow it, your involvement can become a trap. Once you can accept that your purpose in life is not to serve your business, you will begin to understand why …
