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The Anatomy of a Business Plan

This month we are focusing on the Anatomy of a business plan. This is a much discussed and written about topic in the small business sector, and we hope to clear up some of the myths and issues around this during the next month.

So if you are in the need of a business plan, financial plan or wanting to apply for funding, then this is where you need to be during the next 4 weeks.

Not only will we post articles here on this blog and related social media sites, but also our weekly Master class webinars (here) will take you step by step through all the aspects.

A series of video courses will also be posted on Udemy.com that you can attend and get all the required information.

So there is very little excuse for you now to not know how to map out and compile a kick-ass business plan.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:43+02:00July 1st, 2013|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

The Big “F” of doing business 2

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In this series I have take a number of ‘F’ words and unpacked some lessons we can all learn from how to do business more effectively and efficiently.

The next set of ‘F’ words are Fix Faster. In the first article of this series we spoke about learning to fail fast, this is and always should be backed up by Fix Faster. This means that as fast as you fail, you as a business owner, should be fixing the problems faster. It does not matter who is at fault, or why it went wrong, what is important is how fast it is fixed. If you are so inclined you can do the blame game off line at a later stage, but make sure that whoever was affected, no matter how small the issue, is made right and is notified.

When issues are raised online, a good rule to follow is to acknowledge it online, fix offline and then acknowledge it online again. Never get into trying to argue and fix online. This will lead to some serious arguments and will always bring in hordes of chatter that could destroy your online reputation.

Fix, make good, feedback and acknowledge: the road to maintaining your reputation as a customer centric business. One that will be around next year.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:44+02:00May 14th, 2013|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

Registrations open for Boot Camp 2013

If you have a business that needs to be taken to the next level and if you have the ambition and drive to make this happen, then we invite you to apply to be a part of the next Entrepreneur Boot Camp.

This six week programme consists of weekly half day workshops, homework assignments and links to mentors, coaches and resources. This is a fast track business development programme aimed at getting both you and your business refocused and moving in the right direction.

Requirements:

  • You are the business owner in Cape Town
  • Your business has been operational and trading for more than two years
  • You have a plan and ambition to grow your business, even if it is just in your head
  • You have time to attend weekly workshops in the southern suburbs of Cape Town
  • You are willing to put in some effort to get results

Investment: The investment from your side will be R3000, payable in two equal payments of R1500, on registration and then before week 4 of the programme. This is a subsidised amount and is matched by funders and investors.

Dates: The programme will run for 6 weeks starting in the last week of May 2013.

Applications: If you wish to apply to be considered for this programme then please complete the online form on www.ei.co.za/bootcamp

By |2013-05-08T07:30:27+02:00May 8th, 2013|Business Resources, EI Clients|0 Comments

Creating videos for your business

Did you know that YouTube is the second most used search engine on the web? Creating videos for your business could and should be one of the most critical marketing channels that you can be involved in as a business owner.

Making videos is not always the expensive and technical challenge that you may think it is. A simple set of short videos is easy to compile and will put your brand in front of the world in a visual and creative way.

Here are some examples of the types of videos that you can compile for your business;

A short interview with the business owner or customers talking about the benefits of your products

Using a number of still photos, create a collage of your offerings. This done to music or a voice over is always a great way to promote your brand

Instructional video for the safe use of your product to enhance the customer experience

Promotional video to show case an event of upcoming competition

Demonstration or product reviews

I trust that this has given you some enthusiasm to start your business videos. For some examples of what we have done drop by our FaceBook page here.

If you need any assistance, advice or guidance with these, please do not hesitate for a moment to contact myself and we will talk you through some of the issues you may have.

Get those marketing juices and lenses (or cell phones) focused.

By |2013-05-03T07:33:06+02:00May 3rd, 2013|EI Videos, Marketing, Social Media|0 Comments

Brain fit = Business Fit

Getting your body fit requires exercise, spinning classes and gym sessions. Also involved is a balanced diet and reduced ‘bad’ foods. Getting your bran fit requires regular exercises, concentration classes and brain gym sessions. It also requires a good diet and reduced ‘bad’ food.

In order to build a successful business your brain should be in peak performance followed by a healthy body. Healthy body, I cant help you out with see Robin Buck for that, but healthy mind is my game.

A number of concentration exercises and focus sessions will soon see your brain learning new skills and making new connections to support those new found skills. Brain gym is as important as body gym, just less sweaty and expensive but a whole lot more fun.

We offer a 90 day Brain Fit programme that you can purchase online and enjoy in the comfort of your office or home. Within the first 2 weeks you will begin to notice your concentration and recall ability improving followed by creative thinking, visualisation and problem solving. We will also teach you about good and healthy brain foods and what to avoid to keep your brain fit.

We are currently recruiting a number of people to proof our newly released programme and will be writing about their experiences here each week. If you want to be a part of this trial email me here or wish to purchase the programme go here for more details.

By |2013-04-05T10:04:29+02:00April 5th, 2013|Business Resources, Leadership|0 Comments

Do you use Twitter to grow your business?

Using social media has become an essential part of running a business in these connected times. It has always been easier to use FaceBook and YouTube to promote our business but Twitter is now making a huge effort to get small businesses on board to promote and sell whist building customer loyalty.

This short video released this week by Twitter will give you some tips and tools to do just that:

By |2016-11-01T10:20:44+02:00April 2nd, 2013|Business Resources, Social Media|0 Comments

The Big “F” of doing business 4

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In this series I have take a number of ‘F’ words and unpacked some lessons we can all learn from how to do business more effectively and efficiently.

The next set of ‘F’ words are Financially Flippant. Far to many business owners do not know what financial management is or entails. I have seen many business owners living out of the till and treating the businesses money as their own. spending it on personal things, food and fuel and never recording these expenses as such. then when it comes time for reconciliation and financial statements they run around wondering why they struggle with cash flow.

Financially flippant business owners are not able to measure cash flow, manage expenses or risks. They also struggle with growth because there is not a solid base to grow from. Business owners need to become wise in their financial management and measure, manage and reward on all aspects of their business.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:44+02:00March 27th, 2013|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

Human Rights and Wrongs

This week we celebrate Human Rights day in South Africa. A day when we get to look back at the checked past of our country and celebrate our constitution and the access to human rights as citizens of a free democracy.

Or is it? Jobs and secure employment is still only available to the elite and well connected. Being employed in a stable job is a privilege not a right, as is access to clean water, toilets and housing. The majority of the people in SA are no better off almost 2 decades after the ANC took over. Blame is still placed on Apartheid and the race card is played at every opportunity.

For the majority of people finding income to cover monthly expenses is a constant battle. But yet we see the fat cats of government, corporate and well connected gravy train ride-alongs gleaning huge sums of wealth for themselves and their friends.

Entrepreneurship and self-employment has become a forced way of life for many with little or no support from local government, and no regard to their struggles by central government, SARS or the Labour courts.

The daily grind we see people having to get through in order to survive and trying to make ends meet, whilst trying to cope with the high levels of crime, child abuse and violence against women, is not something we will be celebrating tomorrow.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:44+02:00March 20th, 2013|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

The Big “F” of doing business 3

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In this series I have take a number of ‘F’ words and unpacked some lessons we can all learn from how to do business more effectively and efficiently.

The next set of ‘F’ words are Future Focus. Any business needs to have their sights firmly set on the future in relation to where they are going and how they will get there. Beginning with the end in mind gets one to the end faster. We facilitate a process with our clients whereby they have a constant eye on their futures through good goal setting, planning and mile stone measurement.

It is critical to keep the course of your business set on a single fixed point. I heard a story that a jet liner travelling across the Atlantic is off course 98% of the time. It is only through the hundreds of minor adjustments it make that it is able to get to its destination across the ocean. The same applies to ourselves and our businesses. We need to know the destination, then make daily adjustments to ensure that we remain true to our vision and arrive at our destination.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:44+02:00March 19th, 2013|Business Resources, EI Clients, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments
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