MENTORED BLOG

To be in business, courage is a virtue that is non-negotiable. Business owners have to be courageous about many aspects of their business, particularly when it comes to utilising digital platforms to promote themselves, the brand or the product or service they're offering. Courage is a mid point between being reckless and being a coward. For everyone, the midway point between these two extremes will vary. It's about finding the right amount of courage to suit you and the demands of the [...]

We discuss the importance of emotional intelligence with Julian Carle, an expert in corporate education. An important topic in today’s business environment - Julian explains how by leading with an emotional intelligence mindset, you can help motivate employees, drive productivity - and ultimately, increase the revenue of your SME. So… Why is emotional intelligence so important? Emotional intelligence has become increasingly recognised as an important trait in the professional world. The idea behind it is, people who are emotionally intelligent are more self/socially aware [...]

We talk to Peter Foster, from Financial Strategic Insights, about financial forecasting. His 7-step process and key tips will absolutely help you make sure you’re getting right when it comes to financial forecasting. This post will take you through: What exactly is financial forecasting Steps to getting your financial forecast right How to get the most out of your financial forecast What exactly is your financial forecast? Financial forecasting is unquestionably one of the most important things to get right in your business. Getting [...]

Running a business with your other half can pose many challenges, but success stories do exist. This week on SME Experts, our hosts Matt Purcell and Matthew Holland talked to Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Gavin Brown, about how to avoid stress, anxiety and resentment when starting a business with your spouse. This blog includes: The positives of owning/managing a business with your partner The negatives of owning/managing a business with your partner If you own a business in a relationship, how do you get it right? [...]

“Always be ready to sell.” Co-hosts Matt Purcell and Matthew Holland talk to Business Sales Specialist, Paul Smith, from Mentored Business Sales about how SME owners can prepare their business to ensure they get the best price possible. This post will include the following: What you need to have ready to sell your business Why it’s important to be prepared What you can do today to help your business sell Takeaway tip   Make sure you’re sale ready Having your business ready to sell is [...]

Achieve your goals faster and with less friction. This week, our co-hosts Matt Purcell and Matthew Holland talked with JP Mills from the CFO Centre about how you can build your SME by using a part-time CFO (Chief Financial Officer). This post will include: The benefits of utilising a CFO at the growth stage of your SME The consequences of not focusing on a financial strategy How a CFO breaks down what needs to be improved in any business - ‘the 12 boxes’ Takeaway tip [...]

Be prepared Taking the next step in your business can be a daunting task, so it’s important to make sure you’re prepared. Too many small businesses go in under-prepared at the start. Too little planning, too little capital to back them and too little prior experience in running a business. It’s about having the systems and processes in place, as well as having everything mapped out so you’re ready to make that step. Most of the businesses that fail are expecting to build their [...]

Is the customer always right? To help find an answer, George James, an award winning cafe owner and expert in customer service was brought onto the show to discuss and reveal the secrets to improving customer service in your business. Tackling the question Is the customer always right? It’s a difficult question but should not be left unanswered. The customer is the main reason you go into business and they should be at the forefront of every move you make. After all, without [...]