Run Your Own Business: Teach Yourself

Paperback

Published: 29/01/2010

Extent: 160 pages

Series: TY Business Skills

 

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Summary:

Running your own business can be a daunting, challenging and sometimes stressful experience, but also one of the most rewarding. This book expertly guides you through the principles of running a successful business. Crammed with practical advice - from assessing pro's and cons, to motivating yourself and adopting effective practices, it will prove invaluable as you tackle one of the biggest adventures of your life

NOT GOT MUCH TIME?
One and five-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

AUTHOR INSIGHTS
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

TEST YOURSELF
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Extra online articles at www.teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding of running your own business.

FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER
Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.

TRY THIS
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

• Over 100 practical ideas to keep your business on the right track

• Written by an innovative and experienced business advise who offers tried and trusted advice.  

• "Practical advice perfectly packaged" - Media Week

Table of Contents:
01. Where do I start?
Assume that you have something to offer
Research your market thoroughly
Write a simple, realistic plan
Invest in a distinctive identity
Get connected

Write down everyone you want to get in touch with
Do everything when you think of it
Keep inventing new ideas for contacting someone
Try to have 20-30 meetings fixed for the next 4-6 weeks
Never cancel a new business meeting because you are “too busy”
03. Getting the money right
Concentrate on the money, but don’t become obsessed with it Try to avoid the most time-consuming issue ever: other people
The price-quality equation: If you cost a lot, you must be good
Aim for 50% repeat business within 3 years
04. How to communicate effectively
Choose the right method of communicating
Become adept at describing what you do in less than 30 seconds
Meet lots of people and stay open-minded
Rewrite all your marketing materials
05. Taming the telephone
Don’t call it “cold calling”
Don’t use jargon to disguise what you do
Offer to solve their issue quickly
Don’t start discounting before you have even met
Be natural and human
06. Understanding time
Corporate time moves slower than normal time
Whatever you plan to do, start now
07. How to conduct yourself
You are the company culture
Only do business with people you like
Subsume your ego
Do not distinguish between nice and nasty things to do
Never moan
Never do anything unless you know why you are doing it
Remember that Plan B is often more productive than Plan A
08. Meetings can be fun
Research everything thoroughly
Give them a list of ways in which you can help
Listen more than you talk
Be more positive than everyone else in every meeting
Never be late
Be spontaneous and act naturally
09. Staying sane and relentlessly enthusiastic
Take the issues seriously, but not yourself
Never do one thing for too long
Don’t forget to build time off into your year plan
If you have had a good day, reward yourself
Get your working environment right
10. How looking back helps you to look forward
Look back at all the customers you have worked for
If something you offer is very popular, work out why
Resurrect something you used to enjoy doing
Remember: everything you achieve, you have done yourself

About the Author(s):
 Having run many types of business, worked with 300 clients, and won 35 awards for creativity and effectiveness, leading troubleshooter Kevin Duncan expertly guides you through the principles of running a successful business.

Readership:
Small business owners

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