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Tomorrow’s Loot Today!
Do your customers pay it forward?
I wasn’t going to do a tax post, but something unprecedented and rather special happened this week.
One of my newest clients asked if she could pay me a chunk of change now for work I’ll do next year.
After deliberating for several nanoseconds, I agreed.
I like this deal very [...]
Facing the Music
I had it, but lost it.
Early adopters are where it’s at.
While fairly hip to the groove, I got a very nasty shock on dipping my toe in the iTunes pool.
The following lesson may save you from losing your entire music collection.
It also teaches the value of taking extra special care of customers new to what [...]
Cheque, Mate?
Are cheques dumb?
A cheque (check) arrived in my letterbox last week.
It triggered good and bad thoughts.
And you know what that means.
Yes! It’s time to play …
Fortunately Unfortunately!
Fortunately
I’d been waiting on this payment for over two months. I was happy to get the money in any form.
I may even have accepted flour, sugar or [...]
What to Say When You’re Away
Let’s assume for a mad instant that you’re taking time out from your business this holiday season.
‘Time out’ can mean you’re:
Uncontactable for the duration.
Planning to check in from time to time.
In the next room and not really having a break at all.
At your desk, playing Company of Heroes, until the next job hits your inbox. [...]
I Just Bought a Printer
Change = Opportunity.
I just bought a printer.
Usually, this fact would excite only if you needed a printer too.
What should excite everyone is how I bought it.
My method got me a 90%+ user-rated product for 66% of recommended retail price (RRP).
I believe you can replicate this pleasing outcome on other business equipment purchases.
Problem
My HP d145 [...]
Staff Selection – 10 Practical Tips For Removing The Risk
Today we welcome Leon Noone to the Small Business Owner blog. Leon helps managers in small-medium business to improve on-job staff performance without training courses. Leon once told me that some people think his thoughts are unconventional, and as we love sharing other people’s thoughts and experiences related to business we invited Leon to contribute [...]
Calling for Back-Up
Safe and sound.
FINALLY!
For years I’ve lived in fear of losing the Empire Über Komputer to fire, theft, lightning, coffee or head crash.
The loss of my data and documents would be commercially (and emotionally) cataclysmic.
Despite this, my back-up efforts have been patchy.
Until now.
Chequered Past
In the Pre-Feistian Period, I backed up treasured [...]
Is Time Money?
Here’s an old chestnut I hope we can crack:
Can you charge clients for travelling time?
I’ve had bags of trouble with this issue.
My hairdresser has an elegant answer. I’d like to see if you’ve a better one.
Fly Buys
When I started freelancing, I had a weekly two-day gig at a client’s site.
I figured driving to this was [...]
Indebted
Do not collect $200.
Naomi asked how my end of financial year (EOFY) was going.
I reflected that it was rather less cheery than the current crop of pay TV ads.
The source of my ennui is a large sum of money which I’ve earned, but not received.
For the first time in Empire history, I’m thinking debt collection.
I [...]
Policy Shift
After reading The E Myth by Michael Gerber a few years ago, I plunged into a flurry of business systemisation.
Adam codified my thoughts and added his own and we ended up with a 199-page brain dump called The Ways of Empire.
Today, I mainly use this mighty tome for buying pens and acknowledging client payments.
Broken Dreams
Gone [...]
