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.

Startup Business Bootstrapping
Entrepreneurial, independent and self-reliant? Why not consider startup business bootstrapping your venture Failure has a wonderful capacity to reveal opportunities that otherwise remain hidden. Disastrous 'A' Level results in 1984  forced me to take a gap year. Whilst I envied friends destined for university, part of me delighted in the chance to step off the education treadmill... Read More

Achieving business competitive advantage
Watford Gap Service Station on the M1 is the only place where I have encountered real competition for a lift. Hitchhiking north from London one sunny Sunday afternoon, I was dropped off at the services only to find myself staring at a long queue of hitchhikers all desperate to travel my way. Buggar! Read More

Succeed with a Market Focused Strategy
Succeed with a market focused strategy Businesses that have learnt how to succeed with a market focused strategy are far more likely to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, far too many small businesses adopt a product focused strategy and fail to understand the market(s) being served. Market Research is considered a distraction rather than the guiding light. And this is a key reason why so many businesses fail early... Read More