Shape up and ship out
After several years working very hard on my first business 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 getting the shape and direction right" Chris said, taking his pen off the paper and sitting back in his chair. I peered at the illustration. None the wiser I looked up at his smiling face and asked him to explain. What he told me influences my thinking everyday... Read More

Small Team Challenges
Small team challenges. Is the entrepreneur better working alone? Flush with hitchhiking success, I regularly encouraged friends to thumb lifts and wherever possible join me on my travels. I genuinely wanted to share the road freedom I had discovered. However, only a few ever followed. On the odd occasion I hitched in company, I discovered the differences small team challenges bring compared to working alone. Read More

Don’t waste time applying for jobs
Don't waste time applying for jobs if you know a better way Sometimes when people ask for advice about employment, I'll suggest they don't waste time applying for jobs. The process is inefficient as well as frustrating and the chances of success are often very low... Read More

Figuring out pricing
Avoid guesswork when figuring out pricing 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 between business success and failure... Read More

Playing the business dating game
Playing the business dating game requires excellent communication skills 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..! Read More

The Thick-skinned Entrepreneur Goes Further…
Rejection hurts but the thick-skinned entrepreneur goes further... 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... Read More

How the entrepreneur can read minds
Find out how the entrepreneur can read minds 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... Read More

Those first 7 seconds: Judging people effectively
We gather critical information in those first 7 seconds 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… Read More