Practical ‘How to’ business guidance and advice

Straight-talking tips and advice on a wide range of business and entrepreneurship topics from an experienced expert.

Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | Get yourself the job you want... | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Successes & failures: Invaluable lessons from entrepreneurs | Understand yourself and read behaviour quickly

Trust Builds Business
ByPeter Harrington May 10, 2011May 25, 2020

Building trust in business is everything, but how do you do it? Here’s a starting point. Can you recall a moment where someone you didn’t know well demonstrated real trust – in a risk situation? What happened next? In little time strong bonds may have developed, sometimes at surprising speed. And the relationship changes for…

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Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Understand yourself and read behaviour quickly

When Customer Demand Dies: What to do?
ByPeter Harrington May 2, 2011November 15, 2018

After 5 long hours stood by the roadside that hot summer’s day back in 1988, I was beginning to doubt my lift chances. Bank Holiday traffic joining the M50 showed no interest in me. Could I get home? Could I even get out of Wales..?

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Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Successes & failures: Invaluable lessons from entrepreneurs

How to Shape Your Business
ByPeter Harrington February 7, 2011January 10, 2019

After several years working very hard on my first venture, an experienced mentor and friend drew me a simple diagram to demonstrate how to run a much more effective company. “It’s all about knowing how to shape your business and getting the direction right” Chris said, taking his pen off the paper and sitting back…

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Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | De-mystifying finance and making money | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice

Figuring out pricing
ByPeter Harrington January 7, 2011September 18, 2018

Many start-ups wrongly copy the hitchhiker when it comes to figuring out pricing. An outstretched thumb works by the road, but a finger in the air almost always plucks financially flawed figures. Pricing products or services (especially the first time) isn’t easy, but considered calculation based on some key principles can make all the difference…

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Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Understand yourself and read behaviour quickly

Playing the Business Dating Game
ByPeter Harrington January 3, 2011January 13, 2019

This article may be about playing the business dating game, but it is accompanied by a warning: Networking is a very important activity for people running start-up businesses, but it can kill you..!

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Get yourself the job you want... | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Successes & failures: Invaluable lessons from entrepreneurs | Understand yourself and read behaviour quickly

The Thick-skinned Entrepreneur Goes Further…
ByPeter Harrington December 12, 2010October 15, 2018

Even as a thick-skinned entrepreneur, at the start of any day hitchhiking, there was always a feeling of nervousness. It typically happened just before sticking out my thumb or holding up a sign. This is the moment of truth. You’re declaring your presence and your reason for being to all passing motorists…

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Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | Great teaching: Entrepreneurship, enterprise & business | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Understand yourself and read behaviour quickly

How the entrepreneur can read minds
ByPeter Harrington December 10, 2010September 18, 2018

Developing an insight into the behaviour of others is a powerful advantage in entrepreneurial life. Some find building relationships easier than others. But regardless of your ability, understanding how the entrepreneur can read minds requires practice and some understanding of behavioural theory…

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Common-sense sales & marketing: What works? | Get yourself the job you want... | Practical 'How to' business guidance and advice | Understand yourself and read behaviour quickly

Rugby Legend Stops for Hitchhiker
ByPeter Harrington November 19, 2010May 12, 2020

The car stops. You open the vehicle’s passenger door and eye the driver. In those first 7 seconds you’re tuning into one thing… A short conversation ensues about direction and destination. But the verbal exchange masks the important stuff. Because the decision to accept a lift is never a small one. You’re checking out the…

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