Running a business

Running a Business: Getting outside help




Outside help (consultants, agencies, freelancers) bring fresh eyes and new solutions for your business problems.   However, it is always better if you bring yourself up to date on the best ...
Running a business

Running a Business: Handling 13 common employee problems




As a business owner, you will have to deal with many kinds of employee-related problems. Some common examples of employee problems:   - Poor performance: Is it chronic? What do the employee...
Running a business

Running a Business: How to motivate your employees




Goal-setting, regular appraisals and training plans are not enough to motivate your employees. Time to read up on your Maslow.   Here's a short checklist about how you motivate your ...
Running a business

Running a Business: How to motivate yourself




1. Get perspective: Get in touch with the reasons you set out on this course. Are you still on the path?   2. Break it down: If the goals (of the business plan) are simply too big, break in...
Running a business

Running a Business: Strategic thinking




There are many tools and techniques for strategic thinking about a business: Porter's 5 forces, 7 S, etc. Just Google them.   But the best strategic thinking methods are simple: &nbs...
Running a business

Running a Business: Delegating and getting more work done




You can't do everything yourself.   That's why you brought in the experts. Now give work to them.   Empower them to make decisions, and back them up when they need. &n...
Running a business

Running a Business: Keeping your people/team happy




The salary bill is every business's top cost. No people, no business. Unless you are a one-person army clicking away on the computer in a basement.   The best way to keep anyone happy i...
Running a business

Running a Business: Recruiting people




The things to look for in candidates when you are interviewing is to see:   1. If their skills and work experience fit the job description you have in mind (remember, job descriptions in st...
Running a business

Running a Business: Taxes




A good business works on maximizing profits first, minimizing tax outflows second. Although many business in the tech, pharma and financial sector do both very well at the same time.   A bu...
Running a business

Running a Business: Doing business with the right suppliers




You start to make (or lose money) not when you are selling to customers but when you are buying from suppliers. Look for trusted suppliers.   Ask around in the industry.   The be...