Category Archives: Business planning

Small business and swimming out of your depth

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Jon Stow

  A week or so back I was watching an antiques and collectible show on the TV. It was one of those where people bring along some item in the hope that one of the dealers on the show will … Continue reading →

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Ignoring the signs

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Jon Stow

It is great when our businesses are running smoothly. It is easy to take our eye off the ball, and not think about the future. It might be that there is plenty of income coming in, but are we relying … Continue reading →

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Seth Godin and the Time Machine

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Jon Stow

Seth Godin said recently that we need the drive to want more and to be better. Our businesses and indeed our lives would be no fun if we knew we had achieved all we could, and that there was nothing … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Telling your clients they are wasting their money

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Jon Stow

A lot of my work with clients is helping them get out of a mess. Usually that is because they have made mistakes in dealing with their taxes or have “forgotten” to declare certain income or gains. Sometimes there is … Continue reading →

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Verbal understandings are not contracts

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Jon Stow

  In my business I think it is important to have agreements in writing with my clients so that they know exactly what I will be doing for them in conducting their affairs (and what I will not be doing). … Continue reading →

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Stress and the small business owner

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Jon Stow

Stress is a major threat to the health of a small business, quite apart from being a threat to the owner suffering the stress. It affects productivity, it affects creativity, and it can affect the way we interact with our … Continue reading →

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Getting the sack

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Jon Stow

Getting the sack is what launched my “career” as an independent person. Yet as an employee, if you are “terminated” it is a terrible shock, the stuff of nightmares. I had a bad dream about it last night; being called … Continue reading →

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