Author Archives: Jon Stow

Losing sight of the sale

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Jon Stow

Eyeing the prospective customer I went to the local optician a couple of weeks ago. I had the usual eye test and photos taken of my retinas, and all was fine, except I needed to have my prescription changed. That … Continue reading →

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How not to run a business

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Patience is a virtue? This week I have witnessed some very poor business management, or more to the point, no management at all. As it was in a hospital I have also come to understand how the word “patient” … Continue reading →

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Wasting our most valuable resource – time

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Jon Stow

Neighbourhood watch One of our neighbours – and I hope he doesn’t read this – spends hours of his time and quite possible six to eight hours a week cleaning and polishing his car. He seems to get a new … Continue reading →

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Content marketing and specialist articles

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Free stuff? I read in various places that content marketing doesn’t work for specialist businesses. I beg to differ. I run a specialist business, which advises on tax.  In fact I have a niche within the tax business. I … Continue reading →

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Reputations, referrals and let-downs

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Jon Stow

If we get a referral from a colleague or fellow business person, it is very satisfying of course, but we have to live up to the recommendation. If we run our businesses as efficiently as we can and offer a … Continue reading →

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Your customers are your most valuable business assets

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Jon Stow

  More clients? The other day a local business lady said “I really need more clients”. Well, most of us would like more. However, what our friend was really saying was that she had lost quite a few recently. I … Continue reading →

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We who hesitate

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Jon Stow

The art of procrastination I was amused by this good piece by Rowan Pelling, about procrastination. Mind you, four years tax returns outstanding? I am sure we can help. Horace is described as a self-help writer in the BBC piece. If … Continue reading →

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Quantum hop

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Regrets, we have a few I guess most of us remember certain points in our working lives where we think we could have made a better decision. When it is a question of our own careers as employees we … Continue reading →

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Names you shouldn’t call yourself

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Jon Stow

It is no secret that I don’t like the term “social media expert“. You can’t be an expert on a vast subject and know everything that is going on. You have to be a specialist in some areas, know how … Continue reading →

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Do you really have a business? Part 4

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Jon Stow

A few years ago I said I would help a friend who was thinking seriously about buying a nightclub or “venue”; that is one which had live entertainment. Of course I was happy to help my friend, and said she … Continue reading →

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