Articles 
Business is going well, so why do you need a business plan?
As a business adviser, I work with owners of all sorts of businesses – creative and otherwise. One thing that a surprising number of business owners have in common is that they just don’t plan their business. Even established businesses need a plan When most...
What’s the difference between a mentor and a business adviser?
The word ‘mentor’ goes all the way back to Greek mythology (it was the name of young Telemachus’s adviser in Homer's Odyssey). And just as Shakespeare gave us many words that have percolated their way into everyday speech – including, interestingly, the word...
Is there a gap in your management team?
A recent study found that small businesses are missing out on valuable guidance from non-executive directors and business advisers. Lack of understanding on how to find and engage with advisers means business owners are not benefitting from the experienced...
How to employ the 5 qualities of a good business adviser
What’s in a name? Business adviser, mentor, coach or consultant – when you need effective business advice, it’s far better to focus on attributes rather than labels. But what are the key attributes of a good business adviser? And how can you make those qualities...
Summer is over, now what?
The summer is drawing to a close, and what a summer it was. By now, your team should be back at work, hopefully well rested and looking forward to the months ahead with renewed vigour. But as the business owner, how are you feeling? Did your business cope without...
Is your team engaged with the business’s purpose?
When I start working with business owners, one of the first things I ask is, ‘What is the purpose of your business?’ In other words, why does the business exist? Surprisingly, this simple question often causes some debate. This is particularly true where the...
Half-way through the year, is your business plan on track?
Unbroken sunshine, daily heatwave warnings, England securing their place in the last 16 with barely a bitten nail in sight – it’s been an unusual midsummer, and one to enjoy. But you might also be looking at the wall calendar and thinking, ‘Where has 2018 gone...
The myth about ‘Working on your business’
Michael Gerber has a lot to answer for. As the author of The E-Myth: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, he provided great insight and a compelling formula for owner-managers wishing to grow their businesses. One of the principles, which has...
Change that sticks, not slips: creating the right environment for improved performance
A lot is written about change: that it is inevitable, that it is disruptive, that it is good for us. As a business owner, change is fundamentally what you are about. Change is how you and your business improve and grow. Change is what moves the business forward....
Business continuity: can you put your company into the recovery position?
At some point, your business may be faced with a huge challenge, one that may even threaten its very existence. How well prepared are you? Have you thought through a business continuity plan? Have you contemplated disaster recovery? Assessing the risks to your...
Testimonials
We have talked to other business owners and they are taken aback that we forecast our revenues, costs and cash flow
Meret Maynard
Outspoken Projects
Downloads
We’ve written a number of guides on selected business subjects that will set you and your business in good stead for whatever future you may choose.
These are free for you to download and to make use of in your business, so please help yourself.