Category Archives: Business planning

Slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in small businesses

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Jon Stow

Literary truths I have borrowed from Shakespeare in the title, but also remember Enid Blyton who inspired me to be a bookworm as a child: “What does it matter if things go wrong? l sing and I’ll whistle my brave … Continue reading →

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Business partnerships and collaborations – Part 2

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Jon Stow

Love and marriage In Part 1  I said that a business partnership is like a marriage. It joins together two or more people in a close relationship in which they have to co-operate and work with each other. In any … Continue reading →

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Business partnerships and collaborations – Part 1

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Jon Stow

It can be lonely being in business on our own. We might want to work with someone else. Maybe we have met someone and dreamed up a great idea for a business, or perhaps a great product. We have that … Continue reading →

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Lucky or what?

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Lucky, lucky, lucky In business as in so many contexts, we hear others say “Some people have all the luck”. Well, is that so? Are some people just lucky or is it something else? What is luck? Is it … Continue reading →

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Deserving of our full attention

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Jon Stow

On our recent travels we have had our peace disturbed by people who are unable to resist talking and texting on their mobile / cell phones in public places and especially in restaurants. Call me old-fashioned (did I say that?) … Continue reading →

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Selling yourself short

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Over-delivery As I said the other day, restaurants so often show the best and worst examples of how to do business, all in an hour or so. On our recent trip away, my wife and I visited another bar-restaurant … Continue reading →

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Doing far too much not well enough

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Riding for a fall My wife and I have been away recently, which has meant eating in restaurants rather more than we usually do. I love restaurant watching. So often one can see in a very short time the … Continue reading →

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Being too sure of yourself

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Jon Stow

We have worked hard to be where we are. We have tried to learn all the demands of the business we are in. We keep ourselves up to date with every bit of news in our industry, every change in … Continue reading →

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Do you offer a service or a process?

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Old chestnut I have been involved in an on-line debate covering the old chestnut of price versus value. This is a very important issue in most service businesses and particularly for smaller businesses., because we all need to think … Continue reading →

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Forgetting why we work

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Jon Stow

It’s no secret that I believe in taking breaks from work because it helps me relax and be more efficient. Enjoying ourselves and having a bit of fun is good for us. What I find really frightening is when I … Continue reading →

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