inspiring and empowering women in business
Editorial
Become an expert
- Published 11/08/2008
58% of people have never read a non-fiction book after they left school…if you read for half an hour a day, you’d read over 40 books a year which would make you an expert on your topic of business, relationships or health.
Ten timely tips to help you focus
- Published 8/08/2008
1: 20 minutes of planning saves an hour of execution2: List everything you need to do today - in order of priority
3: For each paper that crosses your desk; act on it, file it or toss it
4: Schedule time each day to read and respond to email messages
5: Slice up big projects into 'bite-size pieces'
6: Plan your meeting agenda in advance - cuts meeting time in half
7: When leaving a message on voice mail, say your phone number twice - clearly and slowly
8: When you estimate time for a project, add about one-third to cover unforeseen glitches
9: Schedule blocks of open time to recharge your batteries
10: Use your diary system to manage your busy life at work and at home.
Ten Commandments of Small Business – and Career – Success
- Published 6/08/2008
These simple thoughts may help you cope with the challenges of owning your own business.
1. If you use what you have, you'll have what you need.
2. Before buying anything, ask yourself: Do I really need this? Can I buy it used, borrow or lease it?
3. Every day, tell yourself, I can't do it all, and get some help.
4. No matter how busy you are, take a break for lunch. If you don't want to eat a big meal, take a walk or a nap.
5. Every day, see your business as others see it. Walk out of the office and walk back in again through the front door.
6. Thank everyone you work with, every day. Thank your employees, vendors, clients and customers.
7. Use first names when appropriate. People like to be recognised.
8. At the end of every day, praise yourself for what you have accomplished.
9. At the end of the day, forgive yourself for all your mistakes.
10. Make a list of what you need to do tomorrow and get a full night's sleep.
By Jane Applegate
Featured Articles
Obstacles that can get in the way of your success
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 8/08/2008
- developing you
Are these ten obstacles standing in the way of you and your business success
1. Your business controls you instead of you controlling your business.
You developed your business so that you could have a better life. Your business has grown and now consumes the majority of your life. Operating your business has cost you what you wanted it to give you... a better life.
101 ways to make a difference to the world
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 6/08/2008
- inspired business
We all want to make our impact on the world but how can we do it?
There are numerous ways that your business can make a difference. Here's a list to start you thinking and by putting those ideas into place you'll be able to make your own special impact on the world.
What is RSS?
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 31/07/2008
- business resources
Here's a great explanation
Is Your New Business Going to Make It?
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 10/07/2008
- starting up in business
"Owning my own business." It sounds like a wonderful idea: making your own choices, setting your own goals, keeping your own money. However, not every business makes it out of the starting blocks, and not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur.
Before you look outward to the benefits of owning your own business, look inward and make sure that you are 'entrepreneur material.' At the heart of every new business is the entrepreneur, the base upon which all other aspects of the business will rest. The qualities of this entrepreneur will be reflected in the ultimate success or failure of the new venture.
Survival tips for managing during tough times
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 8/07/2008
- money , business resources
Periods of economic decline have direct impact on your profitability and on relationships with suppliers, customers and even employees. Yet the fact that conditions are changing opens up opportunities for resourceful companies to outsmart larger competitors who, during a downturn, carry on business as usual or are unable to adapt quickly - except to fire employees. Entrepreneurs who survive and even prosper during hard times must be able to look beyond the present, to see their business from a new perspective, and do business differently.
Here are 14 specific recommendations for small business owners and managers to follow during economic upheavals!
Maximise your motivation
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 29/06/2008
- planning and goal setting
Have you ever wanted to accomplish something, only to find that your motivation just wasn’t there? If so, you’re not alone. All of us encounter times when we seem to be driving with our brakes on and our willpower needs some energising.
Recent Articles
The way of the future for reading books, blogs and newspapers
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 17/06/2008
- FEATURED BOOK
A portable reading device has been talked about for what seems ages… and now perhaps it’s here. The Amazon Kindle.
Released at the end of last year, and currently selling for $359 (US) the “ipod of digial books” allows you to download e-books, books, newspapers and blogs onto the reader. Apparently the device uses e-paper, so it looks and reads like real paper.
So at last there’s a portable reading device to take on the bus, to the beach and into the bath…
That’s great news for bloggers and e-book authors; making their content a whole lot more accessible to the reading public who don’t like to read off their computer screens.
And good news for the environment…. No printing out documents onto paper… just download them to read on the Kindle.
Check out the Amazon spiel at:The Power of Strategic Thinking
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 22/05/2008
- developing you
To be a truly effective manager, you must develop skills in strategic thinking. And what exactly is strategic thinking? Strategic thinking is top-down, big-picture thinking, which essentially requires you to envision the ideal outcome for your business. That vision sets the direction for the organisation. It also serves as a tool to help you confront change, and plan for and make transitions. Read complete article....
FEATURED BLOG: Guy Kawasaki
- By Fiona Powell
- Published 13/05/2008
- FEATURED BLOG
Guy Kawasaki blog – How to change the world
What it’s about; It’s about Guy Kawasaki. He commentates on Venture Capital, marketing and presenting and general innovation and trends in business.
Why you should subscribe/read it: Guy started blogging end of Dec 2005 and he’s worked hard to get into the Top 100 blogs list, so he blogs regularly and wisely (no, he didn’t invent the motorcycle… as one of his hilarious – though adult rated - posts alludes to). Check out his ‘top’ voted posts for a quick insight into the diverse content his blog offers.
In a nutshell: It’s a top 100 blog with some valuable business gems
Recent Blogs
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'Duh' Moment about going it alone.
By wilma ham | 29/07/2008How is this for an interesting observation. Because I don't know how to do things together I do them alone.As a result I get exhausted and I don't do half the things that I want to do. W...
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'Duh' moment about being a mum.
By wilma ham | 19/07/2008Is there hope for mums yet? In the 1980 I left Holland convinced Rotterdam was the most boring city in the world. It had its center and culture destroyed in the war and new buildings eracted, while ...
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You never conquer mountains; You only conquer yourself
By Georgie Powell | 8/07/2008-Jim Whitaker; the first American to summit Everest
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'Duh' Moment about relationship killers
By wilma ham | 27/06/2008Imagine this scene. One winter afternoon John lights a fire so I am snuck and warm. I have done the washing, the shopping and loving my life full of all the exciting things we are doing. I return t...
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The purpose of life is above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.
By Georgie Powell | 17/06/2008-Leo Rosten