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Finger Bowls and Other Foreign  Objects

21/7/2016

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​Finger Bowls and Other Foreign Objects: Karen Behune Plunkett
Let’s Not Leave
the Past Behind
RAFIH STYLE business
Okay: Let me begin by explaining my wacky title to you. About 25
years ago, in between creating and operating three businesses
and juggling babies, I decided along with a writer colleague of
mine (the illustrious Karen Hall) that writing a book would make
perfect sense. The intent was that our soon-to-be number-one bestseller
would include not only some of my favourite recipes and business tips, but
also a handful of Karen’s humorous tales of adventures and crazy, longforgotten
tidbits and trifles. Clearly, my aforementioned responsibilities
only permitted us to hold a small series of planning and outline meetings;
the rest, as they say, is history.
However, the book’s title – which is also the title of this piece – stuck with
me through several additional business openings and new career paths.
It popped into my head during a planning meeting for a potential new
business when I realized how relevant it still is. From a communications
and technology front, things are evolving at an unprecedented speed.
I remember sitting at my desk at the
brewery in 1999. I had engaged a
coach to teach me how to use (dial-up)
email. I got the hang of it, but it took three coaching sessions. Folks, that
was under two decades ago! Today, it is likely that you can email, text, and
tag faster than you can phone someone. Think about it: How often does
your phone even ring anymore?
While there appears to be no speed limit to the expansion of new
technological vehicles for communication, it’s important to remember
that nothing really changes from a business perspective. The good will
survive, and the weak will not. While the numbers may be more robust,
primarily due to a faster pace of entry for most, the end-user audience
is fairly quick to identify the businesses and technologies that best solve
their problems. Typically, these are problems that nobody knew existed.
Think of Uber, which has been totally disruptive to an historic industry.
Successful technologies along those lines will not only change the way
we think and work. They will also, in the end and for the most part, make
the world better.
This brings me back to my title. If you’re anything like me, I am certain
that you receive an abundance of new “solution vehicles” daily, or even
hourly, via the internet or other networks. I often wonder: If we had the
ability to eliminate the majority of these missives, or sift through them
more efficiently, how much more productive would our time be? While the
embrace of social media is unlikely to loosen, we should remember that
this new paradigm is still in the start-up frenzy stage. It has not yet evolved
to a productive maturity consumption level. This means, for business and
industry if not so much for the leisure audience, that our ability to efficiently
edit and/or participate is still in the fairly early stages.
o
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Key Considerations when starting  a business

4/7/2016

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THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR EVERY NEW BUSINESSWritten by James on Thursday, 30 June 2016 5:19 pm
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Starting a new business can seem overwhelming. However, most successful business owners understand that the upfront costs of a new business are worth the effort in the long run. Still, without proper planning, a new business can have a greater chance of failure. Here are a few things that new business owners should consider to help guarantee success: 
 The Accounting 
 Financial records are vitally important to any business. If you don't maintain proper bookkeeping records, you can over or underestimate your spending, quickly jeopardizing the financial health of your organization. 
 Still, maintaining the books for your new business does not have to be complicated. In fact, since we live in the computer age, it has never been easier for an average person to keep up with his or her business records. 
 There are a number of business accounting programs that are user-friendly and are able to produce reports and records that can be used to evaluate your business’ spending and income for specific time frames. Deficiencies can be spotted before your business takes a turn for the worst. 
 If you don't have time to manage your own financial records, consider hiring an accountant. Having a trained professional to start your bookkeeping process can help ensure that you get off to a great start. In addition, an accountant can help guide you towards the best software for your specific business needs. As you become more familiar with the software, you may be able to perform the data entry functions on your own or delegate the task to a clerk. This can allow the accountant to only be used periodically for a financial review or internal audit. 
 Office Space 
 If you plan to start your business in a physical office location, you should be sure to consider the following: 
 Visibility 
 If your business will be servicing customers who regularly visit your physical location, visibility is important. An office building that is hidden can frustrate potential customers and cause you to lose business. 
Local Traffic 
 Choosing a high-traffic area is also important. Some customers may simply drop in after seeing your building from the road. Thus, a greater amount of foot and automotive traffic around your new space can generate more business. 
 Safety 
 If your business is not located in a safe area, customers are less likely to visit. 
 Cost 
 Be sure that you can actually afford to lease a physical office space before entering into a rental agreement. For new businesses, every penny counts. If you spend excessive money on a physical building, you may not have enough to sustain your other business needs, such as supplies, salaries and other expenses. 
 A virtual office is a great money-saving alternative that offers multiple advantages. There are no rental payments, utility bills or furnishings needed for a virtual office space, and you don't have to worry about travel time for commuting. Instead of spending hours on the road, a virtual office service such as W1 Office in London can allow you to begin work immediately from your current location, allowing your productivity and that of your new business to quickly increase. 
 Employees 
 The strength of your new business will depend on the quality of your workers. Is important to establish a set budget, create strong job descriptions and find people who are well qualified. 
To save time and money, consider remote employees or workers. You can choose great talent from around the globe at affordable prices. 
 If you are starting a new business, there are many things to consider. However, by making the right decisions early on, you can help ensure the growth and success of your organization. 

  Email James about this article  About James


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    Karen Behune Plunkett

    I am a passionate serial entrepreneur who is anxious to share my experiences and knowledge with you.

    I love cooking up ideas -whether original recipes, strategies for success or business opportunities!

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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