I get a lot of requests for online business ideas and whilst many of those asking are dreaming of building a business worthy of the being on of the top ten Internet business ideas, most people just want an idea that they can pursue part time, as a home based business. I usually advise the [...]

A reader asks: I was working on a business idea with and someone who I shared the idea with took my idea and my business name and started the business. Is this legal. It’s morally questionable, but yes, it’s perfectly legal (see the post Can I Steal Someone Else’s Business Idea for more information). I’m [...]

One of the most powerful sales tools is often abused and can be an obstacle to effective selling. I have lost count of the sales people that I have interviewed over the years who seemed credible but were incapable of making an effective sales presentation. They immediately forget all the things their sales training and [...]

Time is one of our scarcest resources. So learning how to better manage your time, especially as you go about starting a new business is a very worthwhile investment. So obviously anyone writing a book on time management would be excellent at it. Better still when trying to promote their book they’d understand the limits [...]

A reader asks: I have been debating whether starting a business is the right thing for me. Any advice? I’ve no idea if starting a business is right for you and nor does anyone else, not even you! So why not start one now and find out. It’s the only way you’ll ever know. Just [...]

If like me you live in the UK you’ll no doubt recognise the leaflet on the right. It’s the Government’s information leaflet about the Big Bad Swine Flu that was going to kill millions of us! You know like Bird Flu did a few years ago, you remember that don’t you? Surely you must, millions [...]

A reader asks: Can you suggest any business ideas for 2010? Yes, check out the business ideas section of this website, it’s full of business ideas that you can implement in 2010, or 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and almost certainly even in 2015 and beyond! Seriously, just because it’s January and a new year has [...]

If, like me, you live in the UK then you’ve no doubt enjoyed/suffered (depending on your point of view) quite a bit of snow over the last week. Unfortunately, early on in ‘the big freeze’ a friend of mine was caught out by the conditions and had a small crash. Fortunately no one was hurt [...]

So, it’s a New Year! What does 2010 hold for you? Will there be ‘green shoots’? Are we out of recession? Is it going to get tougher or easier in these coming 12 months? Sorry, I’ve absolutely no idea – check out the horoscopes page for that one please! What I can predict that it’s [...]

Reading John’s recent posts on customer satisfaction and, having given the matter a deal of thought recently, I thought it would be constructive to summarise some simple initiatives that Business Owners can take to improve the level of satisfaction they achieve for their customers. Organisation Consider customers and their needs as you design your organisation. [...]