Author: admin

Finally I have succumbed to the sleek design curves and purchased an iPad Air which means that I now have a set of Microsoft, Blackberry and Apple. A net book and smartphone and a tablet and all playing their part in supporting me to run a successful business and each able to collect and sort email, open documents and add value to colleagues and clients.

It is tempting to dismiss tech as a fad, or a marketing con to get us to buy the latest must-have go-faster wonder product and yet there are some great bits of kit out there which genuinely improve our productivity. It took me a while to see how an iPad would help me and I use it mainly for blogging, emailing and taking notes on Microsoft’s excellent OneNote app, which gives you a free day book and note taking device that syncs seamlessly between Apple and my trusty Sony netbook.

The other thing about an iPad is that to my knowledge it is the only device which can work Google, Apple and Microsoft apps in the same place. I’m not a big Apple fan and yet from a business perspective need to make sensible decisions that improve productivity and increase my ability to make use of ‘edge time’ (which are those little pockets of time we have between meetings and when waiting for our next client).

The other great thing about a tablet device is that you can watch TV whilst sunbathing in the garden……but that’s a whole other story….we can all make tech dance to our tune!

So, this week have a think about technology and what you could do differently to improve your productivity or to have more fun in the sun! What little bit of kit could make a difference to your day?

Next week: The Power of Silence

PS if you have an iPad the best keyboard is the Apple Bluetooth one as it supports auto capitalisation and auto full stops, which sounds like a small point, but makes a big difference when typing a lot of emails. And of course a tablet plus a keyboard becomes a tiny and very useful laptop type device.

Last week, I was teaching a group of people how to set themselves up in business and one of the questions that came up was about pricing and how you go about getting people to pay you.

We need to price ourselves according to the niche we are in and what the market will bear. Too cheap and we could look like a misfit, or a purveyor of poor quality, too expensive and we could find ourselves without any clients.

However there are times when people will attempt to either ask us for free goods and services, or to haggle for a better price. Customers are entitled to ask for a discount and we suppliers are entitled to say a polite ‘no thanks’.

Asking for what we want cuts both ways and the simple message this week is that if we are in business and ask for a fair price then we stand more chance of getting it. We don’t have to assume the client is looking for a discount and therefore offer them a more timid price, before they have even asked us for one.

When asked how much we charge we can take a breath, fix the person with a steady eye and tell them the price of our goods and services. In short, we can ask for what we want.

If the client wants to pay then we have earned more money, and if they don’t there may be another possible client just round the corner.

Good business starts with the confidence to ask for what you want and it also means asking from the money! If you have a bad debt and don’t ask for the money you are essentially working for free, and that’s a quick road to ruin!

So, this week think about what makes you worth your value and how much will you be asking for next time you are asked?

Have fun!

Next week: The joy of tech!