It’s exhilarating working with SME’s, especially when
they’re brimming with dreams and possibilities. It’s an inspirational moment in
time that I love being a part of. Excited, flushed faces beam with the belief that
they’re going to change the world. Unfortunately as time passes, those flushed
faces can often turn into stressed, furrowed brows and they appear to have had
the stuffing knocked out of them.
After 22 years in business, many of which have been working
with SME’s it’s a sight that’s sadly all too familiar. I’ve seen it happen to
bosses, friends and even my own parents. Unfortunately the dream disappears and
reality kicks you in the bollocks. Staff need to be paid, cash flow needs to be
managed, detached bank managers dealt to, marketing planned and executed, new
business won, clients serviced and if you are lucky you might even be able to
pay yourself. You look back and wonder, “Where the hell did I go wrong?”
Dreams fuelled by passion will only get you so far. Many
don’t plan the launch of their business properly and are ill prepared for the
challenges a new business can bring.
The good news is that much of the pain and suffering can be
avoided and you can live the dream. In the next few weeks I’m going to try and
pass on some of the wisdom I’ve gained simply through my own experiences in the
hope of keeping your dreams alive. Here are some of the topics I intend to talk
about:
1.
It’s all about capital – avoid starting a
business without a little bit of a buffer.
2.
Plan for growth – write a strategic growth plan
that has clear objectives and actions
3.
Process, process, process – you are never too
small to put processes, policies and procedures in place, they can save you a
whole lot of pain as you grow
4.
People power – how to recruit the right people
and how to keep them
5.
Number crunchers can save you money – hiring a knowledgeable
accountant is an investment not a cost
6.
Legal Eagles – why having a good lawyer could
save your arse
7.
Not all Bankers are W*****s – building a good
relationship with your bank manager can save your bacon
8.
Build a sustainable brand – if you think your
brand is your logo then you need to think again
9.
Marketing effectively – if you think ‘I’ve built
my website, job done’ think again – but it doesn’t have to be costly or
complicated
10. Keep
the faith – if your idea is truly phenomenal and you’ve done your due
diligence, then don’t let people with their own negative slant on the world get
to you
I know it seems like a bit of a tease blog, but I wanted whet
your appetite for the blogs to come. Hopefully, this series will go a long way
towards ensuring the future of your dreams.
