How often do you say “I’ll do it sometime”? If you’re anything like me, it’s probably very often indeed. All those tasks that don’t have hard deadlines, so it’s OK to put them off in favour of the ones that do. You can do them tomorrow. Or next week, perhaps. Or sometime. The problem is […]
Sometime Starts with an N Read More »
“Silence is golden”, according to the classic Sixties song, echoing the old proverb “speech is silver, silence is golden”. Profound philosophy, perhaps, but definitely not a philosophy to be applied to your business. Silence isn’t golden so much as likely to cost your weight in gold. Getting the Word Out You can build your
Silence Isn’t Golden Read More »
I’m self-employed. Alternatively, I can (and do) legitimately describe myself as the owner of a business. But, as the only participant in a sole trader organisation, self-employed is a good description. Perhaps you have the same status, or a similar one. If so, you’re probably concerned by Chancellor Philip Hammond’s recent pledge to crack down
Self-Employment — the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Read More »
I recently visited the water mill at Mill Green, near Hatfield. If you don’t know it (and if not I can recommend it), this is a still-working mill that’s thought to have been there for over a thousand years. I had a long chat with the current miller/curator about the history of milling and grain
What Has a Water Mill to Do with Modern Business? Read More »
A few weeks ago, I attended The Creative Expo at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield. It was a business show specially geared towards the creative industries, and I found it an excellent event, although it could have done with being better attended. At the same time, it was mainly (though not entirely) focused on
It’s been far too long since I posted my last blog. That’s largely for the positive reason of being busy, but there is an irony that I’m overdue on my own blog because of making sure clients’ blogs get posted on time. “Do as I say, not as I do” certainly applies here. We all
Should Priorities Always Come First? Read More »
In recent months, I haven’t ventured far outside the excellent 4Networking and Business Buzz for networking and picking up tips. So it’s a little surprising that last week I went to two different events on consecutive evenings. Both were excellent, and both were very different. Digital Networking Evening — The Lodge, Ware Wednesday’s event was
Two Excellent Training/Networking Events Read More »
In a recent speech about Brexit, Theresa May claimed that the process wouldn’t be “plain sailing” and there would be “bumps in the road”. Politics and Brexit opinions apart, the comment did leave me wondering why anyone would attempt to sail on a road — with or without bumps. This isn’t May-bashing — she was
Plain Sailing on a Bumpy Road Read More »
On the 29th, it’ll be Michaelmas, not a day that features on most people’s calendars these days. At one time, though, it was the most important date in the financial year, when annual rents and many other payments were due. It might seem an odd date to pick, but the reason would be obvious to
Michaelmas and the Work Ethic Read More »
When you’re building up a business, especially when you’re doing it on your own, it’s tempting to throw yourself into working 24/7. After all, the work’s got to be done, or the clients might not come back. That’s not 100% wrong, of course. It’s hard work to build up a business, and you have to
A Question of Balance Read More »