by Peter Crocker

From product design and processes to marketing and language, small businesses need simplicity to prosper. So why is it so elusive?

“Less is more”, “short and sweet” and “Keep it simple stupid (KISS)” are powerful philosophies. They sound straightforward, but are actually tricky for small businesses to attain.

Things start off simple. Innovative products, start-up business models and fresh ideas are generally born into the world polished up and free of baggage. But then they attract the sticky tentacles of complexity. Simplicity drifts into chaos as ‘stuff’ flies in to fill up the vacuum.

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by Peter Crocker

Elite sports people often have a routine they go through before a game to help them get ‘in the zone’ to perform at their best. This powerful concept can apply to business professionals too.

Also referred to as being ‘in the flow’, ‘in the groove’, or simply ‘completely absorbed’, the concept has been studied by psychologists for many years. (more…)

By Steve Manning

Well, exercise could be the answer! We all know the physical benefits of regular exercise. It’s good for our heart, lungs, muscles…pretty much our whole body. But did you know that exercise can also help maximise our productivity at work?

Generally speaking, we tend to feel great after a good dose of exercise. Our respiratory system is activated, our blood is pumping and our mind is alert. Almost every part of the body benefits from the activity and there’s a good chance that your mental state will improve. Therefore, it makes sense that after we’ve exercised, we’re in a better frame of mind to launch into some productive work.
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by Steve Manning

Working for myself and being able to do it from home is fantastic. But there are some downsides of course, and one of them is a lack of motivation on the odd occasion.

The surf might be calling or the kids hollering, but you know you need to bunker down and keep working. After all, that thing called ‘income’ is kind of important!

So in this article, I’ll share 5 tips that I use to motivate myself when lack of motivation strikes.

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by Peter Crocker

It’s easy to criticise large institutions for their bureaucratic processes and customer service shortcomings. But, by examining what they do well, there’s a wealth of ideas for small businesses. Here are seven…

1. Be firm.

Try negotiating the price of a Big Mac, or getting a cinema to change the time of a movie. It’s easy to get pushed around as a solo operator – weekend work, rush jobs and discounts. For the sake of your sanity, credibility and profits, it’s often best to confidently put your foot down. “This is how we do things around here. This is how much it costs. End of story.” (more…)

by Steve Manning

Ok, I’ll admit it. Some of my best ideas occur when I’m naked. Yes that’s right – the shower is the place where I often do my best thinking.

And that got me thinking (in the shower of course); where do other soloists come up with their bright ideas and solutions to life’s problems? Is there a certain place or time of the day when their mind is at its clearest and most productive? (more…)

by Peter Crocker

In my earlier article Confessions from an email addict, I spilt the beans on my compulsive email behaviours. Despite some frank self talk and bold promises, I’m sorry to report that my email addiction continues.

Behaviour such as checking email in the middle of the night and getting anxious if away from email may seem extreme to some. However, it seems I am in good company with 81% of Flying Solo readers polled saying they were addicted to email and heartfelt email confessions coming in from 60+ readers!
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by Peter Crocker

When I woke up the other morning at 3am to go to the bathroom, I thought it would be a routine pit stop. How wrong I was. Seeing the office door ajar, I quietly crept in and did the unthinkable.

I woke up my peacefully slumbering computer and hit ‘Send/Receive’. I even glanced at my mobile phone to check for missed calls!

Surprisingly, apart from a few eyebrow-raising spam emails, there was no-one urgently needing my attention in the middle of the night. Did I really think there would be?

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by Peter Crocker

Meetings, deadlines, multi-tasking, smart phones, caffeine and chaos: it seems business is all about busyness. Ask people how they are and you’ll often get “Mate! Busy!”

But why is busyness considered a virtue? Surely running around like a headless chook is a sign of failure? At the very least it’s a symptom of bad time management, a lack of discipline or poor planning.
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by Peter Crocker

So your customer rings and says, “I need something fast, cheap and cheerful, nothing fancy. Could you have a quick look?” Don’t believe it. This is false economy and the result can be less than satisfying for all involved.

Having done quite a few of these small ‘favour’ type jobs over the years, I can tell you that often they cause the biggest headaches.

Quickies are often identified by language such as: “throw something together”, “mock something up”, “just give us your top-line thoughts”, “take a quick squiz”, “while you’re here”, or, “don’t spend much time on it!”

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by Peter Crocker

Recently, I was talking to a friend who described his excavation business as a ‘time-hungry beast’. It sits by his side all day, every day, at night and on weekends with its gaping mouth drooling for time and attention. But I realised “That’s life.”

Wherever you turn there’s family, friends, customers, television, kids, telemarketers, books, chores, telephones, advertisements, daydreams, meetings, Gordon Ramsay and exercise all wailing at you for a piece of your time. (more…)

by Peter Crocker

Whether you’re leading a team from the corner office, crafting clothes from the kitchen table, working in a shop or bringing up children, I hereby declare you a solo business owner. You are the CEO of You Inc.

Life’s big challenge, just like in business, is turning the limited resources available into something we find rich and rewarding. (more…)

by Peter Crocker

There are two basic ways to keep your money box full: 1. Make more money, 2. Spend less money.

I’ve always thought maximising your income through professional development and better business operations is the best way to go, but losing site of costs can be, well, costly.
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by Peter Crocker

Here’s something that used to happen to me all the time, and it completely infuriated me…

I’d head into my home office around 8.15am all ready to go. I’d pop back out and boil the kettle. Open up the email, check who won the cricket, drop by a few of my favourite sites. I’d re-boil the kettle. Clear out my spam, respond to some emails and read a few newsletters. I’d finally make my coffee, ponder my non-flowering frangipani tree and check my list. (more…)

by Peter Crocker

If you’ve been around a corporate environment, you’ll be familiar with the concept of the ‘off site’, ‘away day’, ‘strategic review’, ‘conference’, or ‘executive retreat’.

Apart from an excuse to over-indulge at the gala dinner, hug your work colleagues and sit on the photocopier, there’s a good reason all major companies do this – because it works. (more…)

by Peter Crocker

Soloists are generally 110% passionate about what they’re doing. Passion is a good thing, right? Maybe not when it comes to effective decision making.

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