『The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.』のカバーアート

The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.

The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.

著者： The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.
無料で聴く

Small business, sales, marketing, how to get stuff done. マネジメント マネジメント・リーダーシップ マーケティング マーケティング・セールス リーダーシップ 経済学
エピソード
  • The Best Time to Start Improving Your Business Is Today – Podcast

    The Best Time to Start Improving Your Business Is Today – Podcast
    2026/07/31
    There’s an old saying: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.  It’s a useful way to think about business. Most of us can identify something we wish we had started earlier. Perhaps it’s a better website, an online booking system, a stronger local presence or a clearer plan for attracting future customers. It would be nice if those things were already established—but they aren’t. We can’t change when we started. We can decide what we do next. What are you planting today? A tree takes years to mature. Changes within a business might take a few months or several years to bear fruit. Either way, the principle is the same: if you want the result in the future, you need to plant the seed now. That doesn’t necessarily mean making a large investment. Some of the most valuable first steps cost very little: Taking time to think about where your market is headingDeciding what you want the business to look like in a few yearsUnderstanding how customers will discover and buy from youIdentifying the systems and processes you’ll needChoosing one practical improvement you can begin today Thinking is still free—and it may be one of the most productive things you do. Your customers are changing This matters particularly now, as artificial intelligence begins to reshape the way people work, search and buy. We may still be in the early stages, but change is coming. Businesses shouldn’t necessarily fear it. Instead, they should consider how to position themselves to benefit from it. Whether you work in sales, manufacturing, plumbing, legal services or accountancy, it’s worth asking: What will our customers expect from us?How will they find us?Which channels will we need to use?What could make buying from us quicker and easier?Where can technology improve the service we provide? Businesses that start considering these questions today will be better prepared when the market shifts. Build for convenience—and keep it local Customers increasingly expect to interact with businesses online. That makes a good website, e-commerce where appropriate and online booking increasingly important. At the same time, local presence still matters enormously. If you operate locally, you can understand that market, tailor your message and influence outcomes more effectively. An office in Horsham may need to market itself differently from an office in Leeds, even when both provide the same core service. The strongest approach combines convenient digital services with genuine local knowledge. Take the first step You don’t need to transform the whole business today. You simply need to begin. Set aside some time, examine the options and decide what needs to be planted now. One thoughtful decision today could become a valuable part of your business in the months and years ahead. The best time to have started may have been years ago. The second-best time is today. Listen to the accompanying podcast episode for the full discussion. Ready to get some help on this. Use the form below. Get In Touch Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Message Send Message
    続きを読む 一部表示
    6 分
  • Podcast – May 2026 Small Business Distraction

    Podcast – May 2026 Small Business Distraction
    2026/05/12
    Doing Nothing Might Be the Most Productive Thing You Do Welcome back to the podcast. Running a small business often feels like organised chaos. You walk into the office in the morning and before you’ve even had a coffee, something is already demanding your attention. A customer problem.A staff issue.A VAT return.A marketing problem.Another thing that suddenly feels “urgent”. And before you know it, the whole day has disappeared reacting to noise instead of building the business you actually wanted in the first place. The Groundhog Day Problem Most small business owners eventually hit the same wall. You sit at your desk on a quiet Friday afternoon and ask yourself: How did I end up here?Why does every week feel the same?Am I actually moving forward?Or am I just surviving? For many people, business becomes Groundhog Day. Same problems.Same distractions.Same routines.Same stress. Nothing really changes. That is not a great way to run a business.And it is definitely not a great way to run a life. Because the whole point of building a business is that it should support your life, not consume it. Your business is supposed to create freedom, income, flexibility, and choices. It is supposed to help you live the life you want to live. Instead, many people end up trapped inside the thing they created. The Cost of Constant Distraction One of the biggest problems in modern business is distraction. Phones ringing.Emails pinging.Staff interruptions.Social media.New opportunities.New ideas.New fires to put out. Entrepreneurs are naturally wired to look for opportunities. That is part of the reason many of us started businesses in the first place. But constant movement is not the same as progress. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is stop. Not forever.Just long enough to think clearly again. Why Doing Nothing Matters There are moments where the smartest decision is to deliberately step back. To sit quietly. To observe. To think. Not react. Not answer emails. Not chase another shiny object. Just stop and look properly at what is going on. Because when you finally create space, you begin to notice things. You spot the friction.You see where problems are forming.You notice what is draining energy.You see the gaps. Some problems are real.Some are imagined.Some are future problems waiting quietly in the corner. But until you stop and analyse them properly, you never really solve them. The Power of Quiet Space Ideas rarely arrive when your brain is overloaded. They show up when the noise disappears. That might be: Sitting quietly in the officeGoing for a walk without your phoneDriving aloneTaking an hour away from the businessHaving a quiet coffee with no distractions The moment your mind becomes still, your perspective changes. You stop staring at the tree in front of you and finally see the whole forest. That is where clarity lives. Your Business Needs Space to Breathe Most people think productivity means constant action. But businesses often grow because of better thinking, not more frantic movement. The irony is that doing less can sometimes create more progress than doing everything. When you create space: Better ideas appearBetter decisions get madeProblems become clearerOpportunities become obviousStress starts to reduce And over time, the business starts to change. Not because you worked harder.Because you finally gave yourself enough room to think properly. Final Thoughts If you are running a small business, try this. Give yourself permission to stop for a while. No phone.No noise.No reacting. Just think. Observe. Take stock. You may discover the thing holding your business back is not lack of effort. It is lack of space. Anyway, my name is Richard Smith. And if you need practical, hands-on help with your small business, head over to Small Business Ninja Let me know how you get on. Get In Touch Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Website Send Message
    続きを読む 一部表示
    5 分
  • April Podcast – Small Business? Do This.

    April Podcast – Small Business? Do This.
    2026/04/24
    This episode is aimed at small business owners who feel stuck, overworked, and not getting the return they want from their business. The core message is simple: Your business should serve your life, not control itCutting costs has limitsGrowth comes from using what you already have better, especially your existing customers The focus is on shifting from chasing new business all the time to building stronger relationships with current customers. Key Ideas 1. Your Business Should Give You Freedom If your business feels like a bad job, something is wrongThe goal is income and flexibilitySystems and processes create that freedom 2. Cost Cutting Is Limited You can reduce staff, marketing, travel, overheadsBut there is a ceiling to how much you can cutIt will not solve the core problem on its own Cost control matters, but it is not the growth strategy 3. Stop Chasing, Start Farming Most businesses spend too much time hunting new customersExisting customers are: Cheaper to sell toEasier to deal withMore likely to buy againAlready trust you They are your real source of profit 4. Big Businesses Do This Well Examples like Amazon, eBay and Tesco show the model: Regular contactSmart offersStrong customer dataConsistent reminders Small businesses can copy this in a simple way 5. Simple Customer Retention System Step 1: Contact Recent Customers Look at your last 10 customersSend a simple messageNo selling, just checking in Step 2: Build Habit of Communication Set aside 3 to 4 hours per weekMake contact normal, not occasional Step 3: Add Light Marketing Send updates or newslettersShare useful or relevant informationEvery business has something to say 6. Emotional Benefit Talking to customers builds confidenceReminds you that people value what you doMakes the business feel more in control Practical Takeaway Pull your last 10 customersSend a short message todayBlock out time each week for contactStart simple updates No systems needed yet, just action Get In Touch If you are tired of chasing work and want a business that actually pays you back, start fixing this properly. If you want help putting the systems in place, building customer retention, and turning your existing client base into consistent income, get in touch. We will show you how to turn what you already have into something that actually works. Bottom Line New customers cost moreExisting customers are easier moneyConsistent contact creates repeat businessRepeat business creates stability Stop chasing. Start building. Get In Touch Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Message Send Message
    続きを読む 一部表示
    6 分
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
まだレビューはありません