Author Archives: Jon Stow

Customer service is what makes us different

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Jon Stow

  Choices Our prospects need to differentiate between a huge number of offerings. How do they know to choose us? For small businesses it is often going to be through recommendation; referrals. How do we get those referrals? It can … Continue reading →

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Running your business the right way

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Jon Stow

              Most of us are very serious about our businesses. Many people work very hard but do not use their time well. It is so easy to get involved in matters which don’t make … Continue reading →

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Playing at business

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Jon Stow

I don’t think I am unique in believing that I should take seriously every activity which I undertake. This is whether I do it for fun or for money. I don’t pretend to be an expert in my hobbies. I … Continue reading →

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Don’t compare

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Jon Stow

No one can have missed the incessant TV adverts for car insurance and car insurance comparison websites. They are nearly all very annoying and I think insult my intelligence (no snide comments, please). Discounting the one-in-twelve of British motorists who … Continue reading →

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Commuting a life sentence Part 2

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Jon Stow

All our yesterdays It is almost ten years since I was an employee with a large firm, and at the time they were just thinking about the concept of hot-desking. I must admit I did not like the thought of … Continue reading →

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Commuting a life sentence?

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Jon Stow

Here in the UK there was news recently that commuter rail fares may rise by 8% in January 2012 at a time when the economy is struggling and fuel (petrol / gas) prices are very high. We are told that … Continue reading →

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The Frank Sinatra guide to running a small business

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Jon Stow

The local councillor who couldn’t help me might have been a local version of one of those politicians who think it is sufficient to reach high office and do not have a vision or a plan to do anything when … Continue reading →

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The Peter Principle and the newly unemployed

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Jon Stow

I recently asked a local government councillor if he could advise on a local issue. He was of no help whatever. Firstly he didn’t seem to understand the problem and secondly he wanted to pass the buck to someone else. … Continue reading →

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The blog post that never was

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Jon Stow

Since I started blogging in earnest (and do you realise that there are over 200 posts here at On Our Bikes?) I have found that in writing down my experiences I have helped my own business thinking. It has also … Continue reading →

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What information should we share with our customers?

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Jon Stow

A lot of businesses are very secretive about how they work and how they deliver their product or service to the customer or client. I suppose they like to think they are protecting their expertise or intellectual property by not … Continue reading →

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