What it’s about: Hugh MacLeod is a cartoonist and professional blogger, known for his ideas about how "Web 2.0" affects advertising and marketing.
Hugh, was an advertising copywriter when he started blogging at gapingvoid.com in 2001. He started off just publishing his cartoons drawn on the back of a postcard, but now he combines his cartoons with his blog posts about marketing.

Why you should read Hugh’s blog: The post ‘How to be Creative’ is a classic in itself. Hugh shares 36 tips (with cartoons) on being ‘more creative, in art, in business, whatever’ that have worked for him over the years – here are the first six:
1. Ignore everybody.
2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours.
3. Put the hours in.
4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
5. You are responsible for your own experience.
6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

In a nutshell: Witty, wry and addictive cartoons and commentary on marketing.

 

A business that isn’t moving, changing and improving is in danger of becoming complacent, unable to adapt and, eventually, incapable of operating.

Diversification is an important avenue for growth in all businesses, from the tiniest one-person, home-based operation upwards. It can help you weather general economic or industry-specific slowdowns: relying on a single revenue stream makes you extremely vulnerable during tough times. And the new challenges that arise with diversification can reignite the business owner’s enthusiasm, which may be burning low after a series of major business goals has been achieved.
There are three avenues you can take to diversify your business....

 What it's about: Seth on marketing.

Why you should read/subscribe to Seth's blog:  Seth is a prolific blogger, posting regularly with short, thoughtful, sometimes acerbic posts to challenge the way you market your business. And pointing out what others are doing well and not so well.

In a nutshell: Seth's blog easily makes it into the top ten must-read and most-read business blogs so subscribing is a no-brainer for anyone in business wanting to lift their marketing game.

What it's about: Kiva.org is about 'loans that change lives'.

Why you should check it out: If you're wondering how you can 'make a difference' in the world by actively helping another entrepreneur in a developing country - have a look at www.kiva.org.

Why it's cool: Kiva is a brilliant initiative - from the website you can read about various entrepreneurs, choose an entrepreneur and make a loan from $25 - you get updates and get repaid when the business succeeds. These entrepreneurs from Pakistan to Afghanistan only need small loans; to buy a cow or for more inventory for their shop.

How to leverage kiva.org: You can also purchase gift certificates to give to a friend / client to redeem by lending the funds from the certificate to an entrepreneur of their choice.

 Hayley Nicholls of Energy Coaching understands that essentially we all desire to be happy and to have love in our lives and that’s why she’s passionate about coaching women in their 30’s and 40’s to live more balanced and meaningful lives.

 Annie Conza is the dynamo behind Westside Motivation Ltd and her business is all about providing the tools small businesses need to propel themselves forward.
Read Annie's story here...

  You’re in a corporate job.. It’s great… but you’ve always wanted to have your own business… how do you ‘take the leap’?

Tracey of ‘My Canvas’ wanted to be her own boss – here is her story of how she did it.

In the early days of dreaming up Her Business I read one of Anita Roddick's books on her business philosophy – and one particular comment struck a chord with me; that we can't rely on governments or churches to change the world – but business can; through social responsibility and good business practice.

That made me excited about being in business – not only could my business be used as a tool to create my own financial freedom, but through my business positively impacting on the lives of others, I could make an even bigger difference to the world than I could alone.

"Tall oaks from little acorns grow" - David Everett

When you start or buy a business, growth can happen organically or be planned, nurtured and driven.

A worthwhile question to ask yourself is; should I grow this business or not?

Think about the goals you have for the business and for yourself and your family; do you want to make a comfortable living or become a major competitor in the market? Ask yourself what would happen if you strategically grew the business or if you didn't? Sometimes not risking is the biggest risk of all (as the Chinese proverb says; Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid of standing still.)

So you have a business idea… you know it’s brilliant… Or you yearn to be your own boss… but where do you start?

What’s your motivation?
The motives behind wanting to start your own business are important, while they might be optimistic and well intentioned - the reality can be quite different.
You may want to be your own boss yet the impact on your lifestyle and the commitment required from a business could leave you disheartened and scanning the job vacancy websites. Wanting to be financially independent through a profitable business has to be weighed up against the risk of losing everything you own. 

Being in business can be tough…

What keeps you going when you’ve worked until two in the morning to finish a proposal, when you pay your staff but can’t afford to pay yourself, when your new brochure is printed back to front and when you’re juggling eating your dinner, talking on the phone, writing in your diary and hugging the dog/child/spouse?
When money is tight, when you’re tired and feeling overwhelmed and when things just don’t go to plan…. it’s enough to make you think ‘why am I doing this?’
Here are some strategies to help get you through those days:

 Here are eight strategies to help you achieve your big dream – whatever it may be…

1 Just think
Have you ever marked another month off the calendar and wondered where the days went? You feel like you’re on a treadmill; get up, go to work, come home and do it all again. There’s no time to just stop… catch your breath, let alone figure out how you really want to be spending your days – you’re too busy just getting through another day.
So…get ‘unbusy’ - get away from your desk, your phone and your email.