Originally written by Alice Feilden on Small Business
Whether you’re a start-up founder or an entrepreneurial veteran, there are always new lessons to be learned. These six business books – which were all shortlisted in the prestigious 2021 Business Books of the Year – will help you stay inspired, motivated and on your toes, ready for the next challenge.
Winner –The Unfair Advantage – Ash Ali and Hassan Kubba
The co-authors of this year’s award-winning business book of the year, Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba, met years ago at a business dinner and quickly became friends. At the time, Ali, who had great success as Just Eat’s first marketing director, was concentrating on angel investing. Kubba decided to join him and watch the entrepreneurial pitches whenever he had the time.
“I used to ask these people in pitches, what’s your unfair advantage?” says Ali. “The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones that know what their unfair advantages are and how to double down on them.”
The philosophy outlined in the book, which points out flaws in the hustle and hard-work culture, instead encourages self-awareness and reflection to maximise business and entrepreneurial potential.
“Our book is not prescriptive,” says Ali, who had grown tired of self-help books “always
Tag Archive for Running a business
Hot Business News Today
6 things playing games can teach us about business
by Ben Fowler • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Ben Fowler on Small Business
Games are often seen as a fun way of passing time and considered a distraction from education and professional success. However, we’re turning that view on its head. We believe games are actually an abundant source of business lessons that SME leaders can benefit from. We launched the Let’s Play Business! podcast to help business leaders understand the lessons that can be drawn from the games around them, many of which they’ve probably played at some point in their lives.
6 things games can teach us about doing business
We’ve had some excellent business leaders on as guests, including Chris Rhodes, operations director at The Tech Dept, and Susanna Lawson, CEO and co-founder of OneFile and 2017’s Businesswoman of the Year.
Here are the top tips discussed in the first four episodes:
#1 – Strategic thinking – defend what can be defended, consolidate and build back up
Both Monopoly Deal and chess are great at encouraging strategic thinking, with players asking themselves, what actions can I take now to improve my current situation and what actions will have the most significant impact? When you’re running a business, the same applies, especially when the challenges are multiple and often
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Free Webinar | Feb 22: How To Manage a Successful Business During Challenging Times
by Entrepreneur Insider • • 0 Comments
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 was a challenging year. It was a year that tested entrepreneurs, like you, in ways that they have never been tested before. So how is it then, that some entrepreneurs found success and growth during these unprecedented times? Find out during this webinar!
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What are the benefits of agile working? – a small business guide
by Timothy Adler • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
On the face of it, it seems ridiculous that post Covid-19 hordes will commute into cities so they can all sit down at their desks at precisely the same moment.
When all of our working day is spent looking at screens, why does it matter where you physically are
And what does it mean for the future of the office, which some now see as a relic of Victorian working practices?
The future, according to some, will be agile working – a blend of coming into the office for collaboration and team meetings, and working remotely.
>See also: What is an agile working environment?
Agile working is nothing new – as with many other aspects of our lives, all the pandemic has done is accelerate what was happening anyway.
When the pandemic hit, ASDA dispersed its thousands of headquarters staff back to their homes.
Simon Halkyard, ASDA head office resourcing manager has said, “It’s amazing what you can do when you are forced and have no time to over think it. Should this be the new normal, even after the lockdown is lifted. Why restrict your business to only employing people in one location when you can reach a nationwide
Hot Business News Today
What are the benefits of agile working? – a small business guide
by Timothy Adler • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
On the face of it, it seems ridiculous that post Covid-19 hordes will commute into cities so they can all sit down at their desks at precisely the same moment.
When all of our working day is spent looking at screens, why does it matter where you physically are
And what does it mean for the future of the office, which some now see as a relic of Victorian working practices?
The future, according to some, will be agile working – a blend of coming into the office for collaboration and team meetings, and working remotely.
>See also: What is an agile working environment?
Agile working is nothing new – as with many other aspects of our lives, all the pandemic has done is accelerate what was happening anyway.
When the pandemic hit, ASDA dispersed its thousands of headquarters staff back to their homes.
Simon Halkyard, ASDA head office resourcing manager has said, “It’s amazing what you can do when you are forced and have no time to over think it. Should this be the new normal, even after the lockdown is lifted. Why restrict your business to only employing people in one location when you can reach a nationwide
Hot Business News Today
Entrepreneurial Takeaways From 2020 to Guide Your Next Big Move
by Kyle Zink • • 0 Comments
Examining the unexpected and unprecedented challenges of the past year can show the path for a successful 2021.
Hot Business News Today
How to choose a debt collection agency
by chrisleslie • • 0 Comments
Originally written by chrisleslie on Small Business
Recent reports in the press advising that banks may be looking to bring in third-party debt collection to collect Bounce Back Loans (BBLs) that go “bad” raises a number of important issues.
Debt collection agencies have always supported banks in collecting non-performing loans, credit card debts, mortgages etc. so to that extent the story is nothing “new”. What is new, perhaps, is the tone in which the story is being reported, and that seeking professional help is a sensible step for banks and Government to protect what is, in many ways, the public purse.
Certainly, whether directly or indirectly, the availability of credit impacts us all, and we should applaud those who take steps to strike the correct balance. Banks fear they may be “overwhelmed” with the task and are, understandably, concerned about protecting their reputations. They are also concerned about the increased blurring of the lines between personal and business debt, and the accelerated focus on vulnerability. Which is precisely why expert help is required.
>See also: Nearly two thirds of Bounce Back Loans could go bad, says government
How to choose a debt collection agency
Bringing this debate into the open raises another important issue, not least
Hot Business News Today
How to choose a debt collection agency
by chrisleslie • • 0 Comments
Originally written by chrisleslie on Small Business
Recent reports in the press advising that banks may be looking to bring in third-party debt collection to collect Bounce Back Loans (BBLs) that go “bad” raises a number of important issues.
Debt collection agencies have always supported banks in collecting non-performing loans, credit card debts, mortgages etc. so to that extent the story is nothing “new”. What is new, perhaps, is the tone in which the story is being reported, and that seeking professional help is a sensible step for banks and Government to protect what is, in many ways, the public purse.
Certainly, whether directly or indirectly, the availability of credit impacts us all, and we should applaud those who take steps to strike the correct balance. Banks fear they may be “overwhelmed” with the task and are, understandably, concerned about protecting their reputations. They are also concerned about the increased blurring of the lines between personal and business debt, and the accelerated focus on vulnerability. Which is precisely why expert help is required.
>See also: Nearly two thirds of Bounce Back Loans could go bad, says government
How to choose a debt collection agency
Bringing this debate into the open raises another important issue, not least
Hot Business News Today
How to chase debts and get paid
by suechapple • • 0 Comments
Originally written by suechapple on Small Business
Cashflow, as every business owner knows, is essential to business survival. Businesses go bust not only because they lose clients or an important contract, but more often than not because they run out of cash. Businesses fail with money still owed to them, money that, if they chase debts, could have led to a very different outcome indeed.
So how do you collect a debt that’s owed? Look at it a different way. Why do you have a debt in the first place and what’s stopping you from getting paid?
There are many reasons and excuses and you’ve probably heard most if not all of them before: we’ve not received your invoice, the boss is out, you’ll be in the next pay run, the cheque – as always – is in the post.
>See also: Banks may call in debt collectors to recoup unpaid Bounce Back Loans
Know your customer
But go back a step further. What do you know about your customer? Are they a good credit risk? Do they have an established reputation? In credit management terms “know your customer” is the first – and arguably the most important – step in how to get paid. Think
Hot Business News Today
How to chase debts and get paid
by suechapple • • 0 Comments
Originally written by suechapple on Small Business
Cashflow, as every business owner knows, is essential to business survival. Businesses go bust not only because they lose clients or an important contract, but more often than not because they run out of cash. Businesses fail with money still owed to them, money that, if they chase debts, could have led to a very different outcome indeed.
So how do you collect a debt that’s owed? Look at it a different way. Why do you have a debt in the first place and what’s stopping you from getting paid?
There are many reasons and excuses and you’ve probably heard most if not all of them before: we’ve not received your invoice, the boss is out, you’ll be in the next pay run, the cheque – as always – is in the post.
>See also: Banks may call in debt collectors to recoup unpaid Bounce Back Loans
Know your customer
But go back a step further. What do you know about your customer? Are they a good credit risk? Do they have an established reputation? In credit management terms “know your customer” is the first – and arguably the most important – step in how to get paid. Think