Archive for September 2011
Small Business – Location, Location, Location
Moving to London is one of those activities that most young people consider at least once in their twenties and which many act upon. Some subsequently leave, others stay for decades. The ‘brain drain’ south is a cause of concern for northern counties like Yorkshire, as well as Scotland and Wales. People are lured by the promise of a massive capital city, with plenty of jobs and opportunities. The only problem is that because there are millions of people competition for jobs and customers is fierce, and let’s not forget, the London lifestyle is not to everyone’s taste.
Businesses can thrive in London if they prove popular – there are certainly customers if you can attract them and there’s plenty of contacts. However, with sky-high rents and the personal cost of living quite painful, London is not always the best option for starting out. Neither, for that matter, are other big cities like Birmingham and Bristol. It depends of course on your business and life-style expectations, but smaller cities like Inverness can be surprisingly business friendly.
Part of the reason for this is that enterprise committees and development agencies may be very keen on creating or maintaining jobs, therefore strongly encourage new business in their jurisdiction. In Inverness, Highlands and Islands Enterprise has invested heavily in the area in the last few years, drawing money from the EU and Scottish Executive.
The investment project into the University of the Highlands and Islands has also contributed to economic growth. However, Inverness is popular with professionals who simply want to escape from the rat race. With outstanding scenery close by, including the Great Glen and its most famous inhabitant, the Loch Ness Monster, businessmen and businesswomen simply choose to make the move and then look around to see where they can use their skills.
With the flexibility now offered by the Internet, an increasing number of small businesses can be run from rural premises. It is not always necessary to have an ‘office front’ in a reasonably well frequented location. Boreas Books, retailing fine or rare books and first editions, is located in the Orkney island archipelago and could not be further from a metropolis, but still prospers. Offering an exclusively online service it has no need of over-the-counter sales.
It is increasingly tempting to combine running a small business with enjoying a comfortable life-style. Of course, the glitter of big cities cannot to denied, but if you need something quieter, fresher and perhaps more child friendly, then setting up a small business [http://www.business.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?site=bbb&task=channelFWvi2&value=5793&target=_sel] in a less metropolitan area could beautifully let you combine business with pleasure.
To find out about the business potential of less urban places you have a number of options: contact Regional Development Agencies, Business Link or local entrepreneurial groups. Otherwise, for a fee, special marketing companies will send you over a deluge of statistics. If the figures look good and you need to escape from the city, consider whether your small business – and your family – would do just as well, if not better, in another location.
Disclaimer:
This article has been written for information and interest purposes only. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author only, and should not be construed as advice or used to make financial decisions. Expert financial advice should always be sought and any links contained within this article are included for information purposes only.
Business Management – What Does the Bible Say?
This article is about a business management and the example of a man named Boaz. In the course of life you may elevated to manage people in a work force. Remember, it is a privilege to manage the greatest resource on the planet, men and women. Let us take a look at one man and how God used his life to be a blessing to others. This author recognizes that some may not recognize the Bible as a management hand book and that is okay. That being said let us turn our attention to the book of Ruth in the bible.
We will pick up the scene with the arrival of one of the central figures a man named Boaz. What this author finds interesting is the way Boaz greets his farm hands with the greeting, “The Lord be with you.” It seems to me that Boaz is not simply greeting his crew with an empty greeting. Here is a man that is concerned with his workers. As a leader in any business, managers or owners must have a deep concern for the people that are placed under them. A quality manager takes the time to know his people.
The reaction of his workers is one of blessing. The people in the field seem to understand that for them to be blessed Boaz must be blessed also. The relationship here cannot be missed in business. If you are running a brick and mortar business or an online business this relationship dynamic must be at work. The online world as well as the offline world must have people that will give value first, then reap a harvest. We can see that Boaz is the alert owner because he sees a new person, Ruth, in the field. She is not a worker but a gleaner. Gleaning was the way that God provided for those who had little to nothing to eat.
Ruth is not asking for a handout here. She is willing to work. Managers must be on the lookout for this type of person. This kind of person will give the value first and is willing to wait for the harvest. Boaz then is willing to go beyond the norm for her. Are you a manager or sponsor that has overlooked this kind of person? Look at your down line or the people that you manage and look to be a blessing not only to them but also their families.
Jim Collins puts it this way, “Get the right people on the bus.” These people will be attracted to you only if you become one of the people who learn to add value to other peoples lives. Business managers must look for ways to be a blessing everyday. Greet those below you in a happy way and let them understand that, yes, you have a business to run but you are concerned for their welfare. Doing this will help you build a productive work force.
Functions Of Business Management
It has been said that leaders do the right thing and managers do things right. While this is a subtle distinction between leaders and managers, in business, it can be the determining factor between failure and success. Unfortunately, it is one that often goes disregarded. Typically, the term management refers to the actions involved in four common functions of business: planning, organizing, leading and coordinating of resources. In order to better recognize and fully appreciate the functions of a manager and how they operate, one must first understand what the basic functions of management are.
Whether the system is an organization, department, business or project, the planning process typically includes similar activities that are carried out in some sort of sequential order. Often, a plan is implemented in a cautious and well defined manner. Part of the planning process involves some sort of organizational behavior. Organizing is typically viewed as activities utilized in an effort to collect and configure resources in order to implement plans in an efficient fashion. The role of an organizer involves a broad set of activities, and is often though of as one of the major functions of a successful manager. Organization can span many aspects of business.
While organization plays a crucial role within the management ranks, leadership and the ability to lead people must not be taken for granted. A leader can be thought of as someone who provides direction in an effort to influence people to follow a certain direction. Managers are individuals who are able to motivate by using a variety of well established methods such as facilitation, coaching, mentoring, directing, and delegating. Managers that have the ability to lead do so with a wide variety of styles. A great leader must be able to evaluate his or her resources and leverage them accordingly.
In today’s business market, managers are in high demand. The world has an endless amount of work to be done and needs all the help it can get; however, one must remain cognizant of the fact that management is not simply a job, but rather an art form. Globally, people can be managed in a similar fashion. The skills of a superior manager remain the same across board. If one can master the four management functions of planning, organizing, leading and coordinating of resources, their opportunities are endless.