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No place for stress in business March 23rd, 2009

It might sound easier to say than actually live by this philosophy, but its true, “there is no place for stress in any form in business life.” Stress is not only bad for your health it is also bad for your business. It is a major distraction and the main reason why people do not achieve their full potential. So how can you achieve zero stress in a fast paced and potentially stressful environment? Before I launch into telling you how easy it is, I think it important for me to own up and tell you that in my first businesses I was always stressed by something. I would find myself being distracted from time to time on tax affairs, disputes over non payments and… Read the Rest »

Posted in Business advice, Business motivation, Lawrence Jones, People development | 5 Comments »

History in the making? March 15th, 2009

Maybe it is because I have never been to university. Maybe it is because I have no formal qualifications? I don’t know, but I seem to have a desire for continual learning. A search for what drives all things, past and present. You can learn a great deal from the results of everyday life. If you can learn from your mistakes in time you will get to your chosen destination. If you can learn from your successes you will arrive a whole lot quicker. One of the things that puzzled me and still does to a degree is “what makes UKFast more successful when my previous businesses didn’t come close?” It is the same person at the helm, older and hopefully a little wiser, but… Read the Rest »

Posted in Lawrence Jones, People development, UKFast | 3 Comments »

Jim Collins Egg and Chicken concept March 11th, 2009

It may look as though UKFast sprang out of nowhere suddenly winning awards and accreditations for a wide variety of things however what we are now experiencing is nothing new. Countless businesses before us go through the exact same process. We have for a decade (in September) been slogging away with the rest of the world oblivious to our presence. This is typical in the business world, and the best analogy of this comes from Jim Collins the author of the best selling business books “Good to Great” and “Built to Last”. He describes this common scenario in businesses by describing his “chicken and egg concept.” “Imagine an egg” he describes, “sat there doing nothing. Totally uninteresting to the outside world, yet inside there is… Read the Rest »

Posted in Business advice, Business motivation, Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Spirit, Lawrence Jones, UKFast | 3 Comments »

Loyalty Schemes or Scams? March 7th, 2009

In a world where tribal marketing is becoming more competitive by the minute, for the desperate land grab of customers, reward schemes and loyalty cards have become prevalent. But, are businesses thinking these through. Yes in a board meeting it makes perfect sense to group your customers together and give them a shiny piece of plastic and label them as part of the elite few who now qualify for extra benefits. Sounds great? Yes, but what happens when the market changes, or the scheme unravels and it doesn’t financially stack up. BA (British Airways) recently announced an expiration date on their Airmiles. A caveat put in place to protect the business, which ended up having an adverse effect, putting more strain on the airline. What… Read the Rest »

Posted in Business advice | 8 Comments »

A Tribute To Rob Williams Of Dolphin Music March 6th, 2009

Yesterday I wrote a blog about people power which was really a tribute to the colleagues I work with at UKFast. I was drawn to remember the finals of the EY (Ernst and Young) Entrepreneur of the year awards last year 2008. I remember the process vividly as if it were yesterday. I remember going home from the finalist’s day a little shell shocked. The two entrepreneurs who interviewed me had both received venture capital funding to help grow their business. For those who are not familiar with the process it is a little like putting your business on steroids. Although the short term gains are noticeable as the injection of cash excites the company members and gives the previous owners more muscle power, the… Read the Rest »

Posted in Business motivation, Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Spirit | 1 Comment »

People Power March 4th, 2009

In a week where we were lucky enough to win a place in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work, I think it important to take a step back, reflect and take the trouble to thank every single person involved in UKFast even those who are no longer with us and who have moved on to pastures new. They all contribute to our one common objective. One of the big misconceptions which I hear so often from accountants and lawyers, business consultants and the like is that they ask me how will the company keep its potency and retain its focus as the business continues to grow. I always explain that it is the team that grow the business. All of the innovation, passion and… Read the Rest »

Posted in Lawrence Jones, People development, UKFast | 3 Comments »