Running A Business - Articles, Tips, Advice and Guidelines On Running A Business For Women Entrepreneurs

When Julie Deane’s daughter Emily, then 8, was bullied and harassed at school, the mother of two became determined to move her to a 12,000-pound a year private school

where she could be safe but finding employment that could cover the costs proved impossible. So out of that resolve was born The Cambridge Satchel Company, a business Julie started from her kitchen table with only 600 pounds and her mother’s help.

Improving the performance of your team is crucial for your business growth

If your goal is to have a business that operates without being totally dependent upon you, you need to develop a team that is self-sufficient.

As your business grows and becomes more complex, things are going to come up that you haven't anticipated. Your team will be part of the solutions, but it may also, at times, be part of your problem. There will be misunderstandings. There will be mistakes.

There's a logical sequence to building a business, whether it's online or offline

There are certain things that must be done in order to see your business grow. By committing to follow these eight steps, you can attract more clients and have the kind of income you want.

1. Get Clear On Who You're Targeting

Before you begin any marketing, you must find your target audience. Do your research and discover who your products or services can help the most. Without a clear understanding of exactly who you're targeting, your marketing can't be effective.

Q: What Should You Highlight With Your Staff Tributes, Awards And Commendations?

A: What gets rewarded gets done, so recognize and reward a lot! This is especially so if want to learn how to change company culture.

First, reward all the traditional categories:

Sales achieved, goals accomplished, customer compliments received. Then add some spice to really promote efforts on how to change company culture!

Celebrate new accounts, repeat orders, projects completed under budget, money-saving ideas, increased efficiency and, of course, improvements in customer service. To learn how to change company culture, you need to reward the actions you want to become ingrained.

Acknowledge achievements of individuals:

Most productive person, most consistent performance, most outrageous extra effort! This can also help in efforts to learn how to change company culture.

Every Business Experiences Slowdowns At One Time Or Another

Right now, there is not only a slowdown, their is downright malaise. I believe it is a collective emotional depression, fueled by the news media's relaying every message of doom and gloom possible. If it's not war, its the economy and now, sadly the grim reality of the Gulf oil spill. Not only does it paralyze us with fear, it creates a sadness that kills initiative. Seemingly hopeful messages that the economy is "about to pick up", merely slow it down even more as investors wait for everything to finally hit bottom, dropping the other shoe, so to speak.

Customers are holding off on selling their homes, buying goods and services, starting home improvements. We're cutting back, canceling subscriptions and memberships and forgoing travel. We seem to have pulled in our nets, waiting for better weather. Seems like the right thing to do.

Just remember that business is all about cycles. The wheel, albeit turning slowly, will turn upward once more. It simply has to and it will.

So what are small businesses supposed to do while at the wrong end of the cycle? Sitting around complaining and waiting for things to change is not the answer. My suggestion! Be like a farmer!