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December 30, 2008
Five tips for companies going green and examples of how going green saves money
These five technology tips on how small businesses can support the environment and potentially save money in the process are based on guide from British Telecom (BT):
1. Use audio conferencing facilities instead of travelling to meetings - If every small business in the UK replaced 10 meetings a year with audio conferences, small businesses could collectively save more than 1.7 million tonnes of CO2. Cutting back on travel would also cut cost of air tickets, train tickets and petrol.
2. Cut out unnecessary trips back to the office by using mobile technology - Using mobile devices to communicate can reduce employees having to to make additional trips back to the office after meetings. With a reduction in employee car travel to the equivalent of two working days each year, small businesses could save save more than one million tonnes of CO2, as well as saving on fuel costs.
3. Turn off computers and non operational electrical equipment at the end of each day - If every small business in the UK forgets to switch off just one PC monitor at night, they could be together be wasting enough energy for every person in London to microwave at least two dinners each. Together with helping the environment, turning off equipment will reduce electric bills.
4. Use recycled stationery and save paper - If every small to mid size business (SME) switched to recycled paper, they would collectively save billions of litres of water.
5. Operate flexible working - If the equivalent of one employee working from home just one day a week for one year was made policy, small businesses could collectively save 516 million kilos of CO2 in reduced travel.
Posted by David at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2008
Is Owning A Small Business Good For Your Health?
In spite of long days, waning credit and constant stress, owning your own business can be good for your health, according to a report from Premierline Drect, a business insurer.
More than 80 per cent of the UK's small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners said they felt their stress levels had not changed since they launched their company. Half claimed they felt less stressed. Some 81 per cent said they were able to sleep peacefully at night, with less than half saying a business problem had kept them up at night. A quarter also claimed they were drinking less alcohol since starting their own business, with 32 per cent arguing they had more time to spend on their interests and hobbies.
Overall, SME owners said they felt they had achieved a better work/life balance than in previous employment, with more than a third spending more time with family and friends.
Small business health check:
| IS owning A Small Business Good For Your Health? | ||
| Painless Health Check For Small Business Owners | ||
| Increased | Decreased | COMPONENT BEING CHECKED |
| Your stress level | ||
| Sleepless nights | ||
| Alcohol consumption | ||
| Time spent on hobbies | ||
| Time With Family and friends | ||
Have a great day!
Posted by David at 4:15 PM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2008
Why Entrepreneurs Are Working Longer Hours?
Entrepreneurs have extended their working days amid mounting concerns about the recession, new research has revealed.
More than a quarter of UK entrepreneurs have increased their hours to compensate for fears created by the economic downturn, according to a report published by Tenon Forum, an independent think-tank.
Small and medium size business owners have added approximately eight hours to their average week as a direct result of the current crisis, the report claimed.
Redundancies have also risen across the sector. More than a quarter of those questioned said they had already made staff redundant, with a further 24 per cent saying they intend to cut salaries by an average of 9 per cent over the next 12 months.
The issue of staff bonuses remains contentious, with 14 per cent of entrepreneurs saying they will use them to encourage staff retention, but 54 per cent admitting there would be no additional incentive other than the usual pay rise.
Carl Jackson, head of Tenon Recovery, said: "It's no surprise that entrepreneurs are increasing their hours to stay afloat, as we continue to see record numbers of failing businesses and no sign of the recession easing. However, it is encouraging to see small businesses being realistic and taking practical steps to see them through the downturn".
Posted by David at 1:02 PM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2008
You Are Going To Love This Interview on Small Business Innovation
Pause for a moment and put aside your cash flow and small business financing woes and admire the ‘out of the box’ thinking that has resulted in this unusual small business busting loose from the mire of naysayers and gloom peddlers.
If you put your mind to this kind of problem solving chances are your business will do just fine despite the economic downturn.
Background
The business sells lobsters but faced with the challenges that beset most start-up business the owners approach was to distinguish them from the competition. They decided to bring prospective customers close to the niche experience of catching their own lobsters through virtual reality, using the Internet
They came up with this ingenious plan of selling the rights to the lobster traps (just like selling the rights to a product or asset) to customers who can experience catching and eating their own lobsters, without physically laying traps and doing the hard work.
This is their first year and they are on track to generate $1.5m in sales. They are leaving a wake behind them of clueless people.
The owners are not part of the Internet Marketing crowd, but they have used the Internet to build a distinctive brand. I teach this to my small business clients.
The business is owned by two brothers and one of them used the business a case study while attending business school.
Everyone told them the business would fail but they ignored conventional wisdom.
I just love this story because it is so typical of the challenges faced by most start-up businesses and yet it demonstrates with a little of out of the box thinking, any business can set themselves apart from the competition and go on to be successful.
Read the script of this inspirational small business interview and take notes. Keep the notes in your bedside cabinet and read it last thing at night and in the morning, before you start work. Meditate on it for a while and soon you’ll begin to hatch innovative business ideas of your own.
Go get it!
Posted by David at 7:45 PM | Comments (0)
