As I was growing my first business, we relied on banks a lot and stuck with the same crew all the way through – Nat West, which became part of RBS, now mainly owned by the Tax Payer due to mis-management. Since I moved on from that business, which was creating well over a million [...]
Continue Reading →Why Mission Statements Are Wank
I went to see a company today and on the wall was a mission statement, part of which said… We aim to be innovative and creative in all that we do. I can’t think of a less innovative or creative way to say that.
Continue Reading →While All Around You Lose Their Heads…
The economic outlook seems more depressing than ever. It’s tough out there, without a doubt. But, I have a circle of five business owners I speak to regularly. We (me included) are all pinching ourselves wondering what we are doing wrong / right. Business is good. For some, it’s better than it’s ever been.
Continue Reading →Doing Fewer Things Well
Optimising your business offering is essential for any company – especially retailers.
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Who Goes First. Liverpool or Man Utd?
Hypothetical thought, but it’s got me thinking. News International are taking a bashing right now and it’s getting worse by the day. I have to wonder if they can survive in the UK. As a large shareholder (not majority) of BskyB, they are often seen as the owners. Sky is synonymous with Rupert Murdoch and vice versa [...]
Continue Reading →Bye Bye Client, I Need My Reputation
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the service industry – specifically consultancy – is that you can not control the entire outcome of a project. This is especially true of my digital marketing consultancy, which is very much based on results.
Continue Reading →Balancing Innovation
Some companies don’t innovate and their product offering dates, sometimes rapidly. Others innovate but not with a focus on what a client would want… They end up with some clever ‘stuff’ that no-one wants to pay for. Some companies innovate too much. It’s a great position to be in if you are product-led and have [...]
Continue Reading →Tech Will Eat It’s Own
I always prided myself on being able to see where my industry (design/web) was going. Then over a period of about six months, I became confused and decided I needed out of owning a business in the sector. Two years later – they are doing fine without me with a more defined business strategy and [...]
Continue Reading →Building Reputation Takes More Than Marketing
I went to Venice at the weekend. The Hotel we stayed at was exceptional – Hotel Giorgione. As we were checking out, both myself and my wife commented to the man on reception how much we had enjoyed the hotel. “In that case, can I ask you a big favour?” “Can you please review us [...]
Continue Reading →We All Need A Little Disruption
I was walking to catch a train this morning. Head down, thinking about everything and nothing and then the woman in front of me just stopped. I think she may have past somewhere or forgotten something. Anyway, I crashed right into her. Poor thing. When you’re used to something going the way it aught to [...]
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