Sales, the unrespected British profession that individuals shy away from. Some hide from admitting they are even in sales, instead preferring to call themselves Business Development Managers or other random titles. Yet being a good, honest, world-class sales person is the one of the only careers where the great art enables greater earnings and I […]

How do you think a member of your team would describe the culture you have instilled in your company? Do you have staff who will start early, stay late and bend over backwards to get the job done? Are your employees happy working for you, or is it just a job to them? Do you […]

You might think of the cost of your business as “sales minus purchases” – and you would be right, for the most part. The question is: do you keep track of all the things you do in and around your business which do not bring you an income, but are still essential pieces of the […]

How well are you taking time to share important life lessons with your children as they grow? Does leadership by example work with a child? I doubt it. Like many things we need time to explain, time to encourage, time to advise. I believe it is critically important to teach our children to value their […]

In 2008 I sold the majority shareholding in Pacific Direct. I had not intended to be out of the business within only a few months; I was infact removed from the board and sacked which was a sad ending but alas all too typical for the well-meaning Entrepreneur who is trying to de-risk some of […]

To start with, I believe all UK companies should be exporting – or at least seriously considering it. There doesn’t seem to be much understanding of the importance and value of exporting our goods overseas. It’s not just about shipping product out of the UK; it creates great value for staff and customers alike, and […]

Over the last couple of weeks we have looked at monthly reporting and the kind of information a business owner should have at their fingertips. In this blog post I will look at the other reports and information I believe are crucial to the success of any business. The very basics: Debtor days: this is […]

Do you even know what cash burn is? These days it seems it’s incredibly easy for someone to set up in business and perhaps even do quite well for a time – but then soon enough growth kicks in, with unplanned for momentum – all good but alas things can collapse around their ears fairly […]

Anyone running their own business needs to be on top of finances. Cash flow can make or break a company, and it’s important that you always know exactly where your money is, allowing you to make the best returns and most profitable decisions. When running Pacific Direct, I had a monthly Misery Day where I […]

When starting a business, actually putting oneself out there and selling can seem a daunting prospect. Even more so perhaps, when the rejections start rolling in! When you’re just starting out, those knock-backs can knock the wind out of your sails. You’ve come up with this brilliant idea or products that improve lives; you know […]