Category Archives: Business planning

Closed and open networks in the 21st Century

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Jon Stow

Under orders Do you like being told what to do? As a small business owner, I don’t, and I don’t suppose you do either. To be honest, I never really have liked being told what to do. When I was … Continue reading →

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Telephone blues

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Jon Stow

As some of you may remember I think it is very important that the published telephone number of any business is answered in person by a human being. I tried to contact a couple of sole trader business advisers last … Continue reading →

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How to get the right result in your service purchasing

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Jon Stow

We know what we want? It is easy to think we know what we want when buying in services, but we do need to check what our supplier thinks we have asked for. After all, if we buy a new … Continue reading →

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Wrapped-up people

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Jon Stow

Have you noticed how some people carry on in their own little world oblivious of their surroundings. They don’t see the sights and hear the sounds around them, or rather they see and don’t observe, and they hear but don’t … Continue reading →

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The Water Margin guide to business

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Jon Stow

  The expression “small business” has many meanings. There is no way of knowing whether we mean a business with fifty employees or just one person on her or his own. What I am going to say apples to the … Continue reading →

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We can’t micro-manage our network or you can’t please all the people

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Jon Stow

As you all know I care very much about reputation – not just mine but those who I like and think should be more careful. So as far as I am concerned, I don’t like open criticism of other individuals, … Continue reading →

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Don’t follow your dream? You can if you plan it.

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Jon Stow

  I am all in favour of dreams. I have them myself. The trouble is that as a tax and business adviser, I have come across a lot of shattered dreams.   Life by the sea I was reminded of … Continue reading →

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Let another brain take the strain

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Jon Stow

Are you good at everything? I’m not. I doubt many people are. Do you like having to do everything in running your business: both the creative and the mundane? Of course what is mundane to some is interesting grist to … Continue reading →

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Telephone warning for start-ups and all small businesses

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Jon Stow

When we start our shiny new businesses we are eager to get all the basic services in place, and these days that includes our telephone and broadband services. Read the small print It is tempting to choose the best price … Continue reading →

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The fear of the unknown

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Jon Stow

The premise of this blog is my story of starting my own business by accident, because I became unemployed and couldn’t find another job. I had no choice. Of course prior to my involuntary arrival in what was a freelance … Continue reading →

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