Monthly Archives: December 2011

New beginnings and old habits

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Jon Stow

Tonight we will no doubt have some Saturday Night Fever to celebrate the coming New Year. Never can I remember so much doom and gloom in the media about the next twelve months. There are two ways of looking at … Continue reading →

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Why we need to be realistic about our business ambitions

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Jon Stow

“We pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having, they are not to be cheaply won, but exact their dues of work and self-denial, anxiety and discouragement.” LUCY MAUD … Continue reading →

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Why it is the season for bright ideas

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Jon Stow

Christmas is upon us. Unless our business is a 365-day-a-year sort of business we do need to take a break for a few days. It will do us good. If you do have a 365-day-a-year business I am sure you … Continue reading →

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Why we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or a colleague or prospect either

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Jon Stow

First impressions First impressions are important. When meeting someone in business for the first time I am sure we all do our best to present ourselves well. That is simple commercial sense. Sometimes if we get a poorer impression of … Continue reading →

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Why managers and workers need to respect each other

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Jon Stow

Respect is our starting point Respect is one of the most important qualities we can have in business. We need to respect our clients. We need to have their respect by delivering quality service; the very best we can do … Continue reading →

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How to annoy me on-line

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Jon Stow

Something we often forget is that we are all different, even on-line. There are tools that some people think are absolutely wonderful and think bring them success. Maybe they do! But a lot of those things others think are really … Continue reading →

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Why we don’t need social media for business

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Jon Stow

Losing the plot? Well, we tend to forget that social media is (are) a means to an end. Or maybe it was just me. I can’t speak for you. Like lots of people I have embraced Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, signed … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, Social media | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Conversations make team work

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Jon Stow

As you may remember, I believe that there is a difference between hearing and listening. Listening is the bit where we actually take in what someone is saying rather than just appearing to be polite by giving them time. Listening … Continue reading →

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Your customers are not a process

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Jon Stow

Most of us here provide a personal service to our customers, whether that is as in my case providing help and support with my clients’ businesses and taxes, or for you perhaps web design or delivery of packages. In a … Continue reading →

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Smile!

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Jon Stow

  Hospital soap If you have read this blog for a while you will know that I feel very much that lazy management can result in poorly run hospital wards, especially geriatric wards.  Currently my wife and I are visiting … Continue reading →

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