Category Archives: Business planning

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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Hard times and worse horrors

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Jon Stow

Small businesses are under the cosh in the UK. Our markets are very difficult. People don’t want to buy even when we can help them save money. I don’t sell answers which are not worth a lot more than they … Continue reading →

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Business is so simple – no science involved.

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Jon Stow

I meet lots of business owners. They may be highly gifted, but in one sense they are simple souls. They are in business to make money. That means profit. We who are business owners but who advise other businesses need … Continue reading →

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Working for Godzilla

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Jon Stow

A couple of weeks ago I saw an interview on a news channel with a client of one of my former employers, which was a very large firm. This ex-client of mine who I believe is also an ex-client of … Continue reading →

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Banking on being individual

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Jon Stow

In a discussion I was having with my bank’s call centre the other day I was complaining about an unreasonable charge for a payment made to my account. When I said I had been charged for something which had not … Continue reading →

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Telling your customers they are stupid

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Jon Stow

The other day my Mother-in-Law’s TV went wrong. It was only about four years old and was a well-known brand. It wasn’t cheap. I know because I was there when she bought it. The lady is not able to get out … Continue reading →

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Business gym cracker

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Jon Stow

Recently I have been getting back into the routine of going to the gym. I am quite an “old hand” at the gym, but having been “injured” a while back I got out of the habit. Still, I am going … Continue reading →

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Keeping up with the game – the fear factor

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jon Stow

The last figures I saw indicated that 80% of people in the UK had access to or used computers. That leaves 20% who don’t. The figures are pretty much the same in the US. I guess that doesn’t mean that … Continue reading →

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Running your business in the dark

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Jon Stow

There is a lot to be said for ploughing (plowing) your own furrow in business. Many great and successful business people have been famous for doing that, whether we are talking about Richard Branson, Anita Roddick, Steve Jobs or Warren … Continue reading →

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Franchising, redundancy money and elephant traps

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Jon Stow

The offerings If we have endured the shock of redundancy there is often a feeling that we must move on as soon as we can. Many older people in that position, by which I mean thirty-five upwards, may well have … Continue reading →

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