I was speaking to a friend / fellow businessman earlier this week about his goals, targets and business… After a discussions about 2011 so far, the economy and life, he went on to ask if I would write a blog post about our own month end process.

Month end to me is an allocation of time at the end of each calendar month to look over the month passed. If you keep a daybook and update your company accounts on a weekly basis then this allocation of time does not need to be massive! We often have a coffee in the afternoon, along with a 30/45 minute chat about our own facts / figures… Remember, a company is only as good as its accounts, so if you do not keep purchase and sales ledgers, check the bank daily etc then I can imagine month end being a nightmare! Our month is officially sealed when all of the month end processes are complete…

(more…)

Being in business it is a good idea to monitor both time and events as effectively as possible. New to this then you may find a recent blog post on the 80 / 20 rule in business of interest to you.

This weekend (mid-way point of 2011) is the perfect time to sit back and ask questions such as; how has this year been for me so far? Have I stuck to various goals and targets set six months ago? Has business been how I imagined or have I had to evolve or change business strategies? Have I tried new marketing techniques, did they work? Do I need to cut costs or overheads to keep things ticking over? … In a nutshell, how are things developing for you and your business?

(more…)

As owner of your own business you will need to be able to manage multiple projects and juggle a variety of different tasks when necessary. Your to-do list may look one way at 9am and another at 11am, welcome to the world of business, a fast paced, ever changing way of life that offers as many challenges as rewards.

I have met business owners and entrepreneurs over the years that knew a little about a lot, rather than a lot about a little! Two other characteristics that jumped out with these individuals was a thirst for information and a passion to do better, a mind-set that helped them manage multiple projects and create successful businesses.

Yes, knowing how to manage multiple projects in business requires a certain mind-set; getting stressed or overwhelmed when things are difficult will not get the job done! Managing multiple projects is a handy skill to have when running a business, so being super organised and having a to-do list set in stone each day can really help you tackle multiple projects effectively, even manage multiple businesses!

(more…)

Have you recently found time is not on your side since setting up a new business?

Maybe you are searching the web for time management skills, free time management solutions, tools or general tips on how to cram more hours in the business week?

Well, first things first… Welcome to the world of business, a fast pace and difficult existence that tends to challenge us all from time to time! Managing your time (and the time of others) is just one of many factors you will need to address now working for yourself or employing staff, good time management in business will ensure both growth and success… It also means you get the job done on time!

Firstly, if you are running a business or working towards a goal half-heartedly then I would say stop now, re-boot and think things over! You should always be 100% committed to the task at hand, believe in your brand and feel passionate about what you do! I am not saying time management in business is ‘work every evening / weekend or else quit’, however in the early stages of a business your company will need some extra TLC, just like a new-born baby needing its parents at the drop of a hat (or stinky nappy)! Remember; if running a business was easy, then everyone would be doing it!

(more…)