Small businesses are under the cosh in the UK. Our markets are very difficult. People don’t want to buy even when we can help them save money. I don’t sell answers which are not worth a lot more than they cost, but prospective clients still take a lot of convincing. All of Europe is struggling…
Monthly Archives: November 2011
Mud-slinging and reputations
Muddy waters Two people I am acquainted with (and you will find no clue here as to who they are) have had really bad things posted about them on other people’s websites. One has suffered mainly innuendo about his business activities. The other has had an outright accusation that he is dishonest and a liar….
Business is so simple – no science involved.
I meet lots of business owners. They may be highly gifted, but in one sense they are simple souls. They are in business to make money. That means profit. We who are business owners but who advise other businesses need to remember this. I always try to remember that I am in business to make…
Working for Godzilla
A couple of weeks ago I saw an interview on a news channel with a client of one of my former employers, which was a very large firm. This ex-client of mine who I believe is also an ex-client of the firm I used to work for was one of the most difficult people I…
Banking on being individual
In a discussion I was having with my bank’s call centre the other day I was complaining about an unreasonable charge for a payment made to my account. When I said I had been charged for something which had not cost the bank anything to do, I was told that apparently their right to take…
Getting on the customer’s wavelength
Poor reception One of the most difficult obstacles I had when starting in business on my own was in persuading my prospects to listen to what I had to offer. Often they were just not tuned in to listen to me, and I guess what was worse was that I was not tuned in to…
Telling your customers they are stupid
The other day my Mother-in-Law’s TV went wrong. It was only about four years old and was a well-known brand. It wasn’t cheap. I know because I was there when she bought it. The lady is not able to get out of her flat any more. My wife and I needed a quick solution because being…
Business gym cracker
Recently I have been getting back into the routine of going to the gym. I am quite an “old hand” at the gym, but having been “injured” a while back I got out of the habit. Still, I am going well now and I am pleased how my fitness has returned quite rapidly. What has…
Monthly Archives: November 2011
Hard times and worse horrors
Small businesses are under the cosh in the UK. Our markets are very difficult. People don’t want to buy even when we can help them save money. I don’t sell answers which are not worth a lot more than they cost, but prospective clients still take a lot of convincing. All of Europe is struggling…
Mud-slinging and reputations
Muddy waters Two people I am acquainted with (and you will find no clue here as to who they are) have had really bad things posted about them on other people’s websites. One has suffered mainly innuendo about his business activities. The other has had an outright accusation that he is dishonest and a liar….
Business is so simple – no science involved.
I meet lots of business owners. They may be highly gifted, but in one sense they are simple souls. They are in business to make money. That means profit. We who are business owners but who advise other businesses need to remember this. I always try to remember that I am in business to make…
Working for Godzilla
A couple of weeks ago I saw an interview on a news channel with a client of one of my former employers, which was a very large firm. This ex-client of mine who I believe is also an ex-client of the firm I used to work for was one of the most difficult people I…
Banking on being individual
In a discussion I was having with my bank’s call centre the other day I was complaining about an unreasonable charge for a payment made to my account. When I said I had been charged for something which had not cost the bank anything to do, I was told that apparently their right to take…
Getting on the customer’s wavelength
Poor reception One of the most difficult obstacles I had when starting in business on my own was in persuading my prospects to listen to what I had to offer. Often they were just not tuned in to listen to me, and I guess what was worse was that I was not tuned in to…
Telling your customers they are stupid
The other day my Mother-in-Law’s TV went wrong. It was only about four years old and was a well-known brand. It wasn’t cheap. I know because I was there when she bought it. The lady is not able to get out of her flat any more. My wife and I needed a quick solution because being…
Business gym cracker
Recently I have been getting back into the routine of going to the gym. I am quite an “old hand” at the gym, but having been “injured” a while back I got out of the habit. Still, I am going well now and I am pleased how my fitness has returned quite rapidly. What has…
-
-
Jon Stow Consulting Tax Blog
- HMRC targets property rentals
- Business tax and snake oil schemes
- Income tax issues with ownership of rental properties
- Capital tax issues with ownership of rental properties
- Urgent – Important changes to tax treatment of Furnished Holiday Lettings losses
- A brief tax guide to buying and selling family and owner-managed companies
- Furnished Holiday Lettings – the latest news
- Jon Stow’s Ezine Articles
- Why Customer Service is Important Even to Those Who Are Not Customers Yet
- Why Quality is Important - Lessons From BMW
- Why We Need to Take an Outside View in Business
- Avoid False Economies in Business - Seeing Value Over Cost
- Why a Business Plan is Not Just For the Bank
- Why We Need Need to Respect the Feelings of Our Prospects and Clients
- Responsibility and Leading From the Front
- Networking - The Folly of Hunting Rather Than Farming
- Networking is a Long Game
- How to Avoid Giving Free Advice
- Twitter is currently flying the fail whale
-
-
- Jon Stow Consulting Tax Blog
- HMRC targets property rentals
- Business tax and snake oil schemes
- Income tax issues with ownership of rental properties
- Capital tax issues with ownership of rental properties
- Urgent – Important changes to tax treatment of Furnished Holiday Lettings losses
- A brief tax guide to buying and selling family and owner-managed companies
- Furnished Holiday Lettings – the latest news
- Jon Stow’s Ezine Articles
- Why Customer Service is Important Even to Those Who Are Not Customers Yet
- Why Quality is Important - Lessons From BMW
- Why We Need to Take an Outside View in Business
- Avoid False Economies in Business - Seeing Value Over Cost
- Why a Business Plan is Not Just For the Bank
- Why We Need Need to Respect the Feelings of Our Prospects and Clients
- Responsibility and Leading From the Front
- Networking - The Folly of Hunting Rather Than Farming
- Networking is a Long Game
- How to Avoid Giving Free Advice
-
- Twitter is currently flying the fail whale