Author Archives: Jon Stow

Cheapskate prospects

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Jon Stow

Well, a cheapskate is not really a prospect, as why would you take on a client who was not prepared to pay you a proper fee or have any respect for what you can do for them? The other day … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, Customer relations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How to lose a customer in one easy lesson

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Jon Stow

A couple of weeks ago I needed to buy some software and found a company that seemed to offer what I wanted: a single license for a one-off project. I chose them because although I am very happy with my … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer service | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Where we are now

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Jon Stow

We can all look back and regret decisions we have made. I could if I felt like it. Should I have been more serious about that girl? Should I have had ambitions to be a Lloyd’s broker when I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Are your prospects in harmony with your business?

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Jon Stow

I guess we can all make a splash once to get noticed, and a joke might be the way to do it. Will prospects really remember a business for the one joke, repeated over and over again, or will they … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, Sales | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Unreliability, sickies and trust

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Jon Stow

A long time ago, when I worked in London, I had a female colleague who called in sick on a Thursday every four weeks. No one thought too much of it and if we are honest, we supposed there might … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gym crackers

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Jon Stow

Our local leisure centre has had a change of provider. One well-known company has taken over the running of it from another. However, they do seem to have management problems under the new regime. In recent weeks, my wife and … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations, Customer service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

If you are not special, you are not trying

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Jon Stow

I have had my run-ins with telecoms companies in the past, and very frustrating it has been. For the third month in a row, my business broadband provider, which is one of the smaller ones, failed to process my monthly … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer service, Sales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rushing around achieving nothing

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Jon Stow

We all want to make money and have a better life. What we really need is one good business. Now I know the old adage about not putting all our eggs in one basket, but it is very difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Admitting our mistakes

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Jon Stow

We all make mistakes in our businesses. Usually they are not serious, and should normally mean an apology to our customers or clients. Recently I forgot a client had given me a document and I asked for it again. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations, Customer service | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Encouraging the shrinking violets

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Jon Stow

When we are managing a team in business, we will have one or two people who shine more brightly. They will show their talent and volunteer for difficult work. They are great to have working with us. There may also … Continue reading →

Posted in management | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment