News
May issue of Recent Focus just released:
In this issue:
- How you can achieve more by doing less
- Business Coaches: Are they worth it?
- Is your family business fraught with conflict?
Article of the week: How to keep your customers paying on time, every time
In a perfect world you wouldn't start a job unless your customers paid the entire price up front. Unfortunately things don’t usually work that way. Find out what you can do to reduce the risk of not getting paid, and what you can do with debtors or won't or can't pay.
NZ Herald: Keeping it in the family has some points of difference
Earlier in the week we came across this article in the NZ Herald. It talks about the key differences between family businesses and other types of businesses ... such as corporates etc.
If you didn't see this article when it was first published, you can check it out here.
April issue of of Recent Focus just released
In this issue:
- How to build great teams
- The 10 biggest mistakes commonly made by small business owners
- How to find your ideal professional advisor
NZ Business articles
The April issue of NZ Business magazine included these two interesting articles:
- Boosting your bottom line from the top - Sue Hirst explains how you can boost your profit by analysing the profitability of each of your products and/or services.
- Adjusting the cashflow - some quick tips on managing your cashflow.
March issue of of Recent Focus just released
In this issue:
- Are you using these 7 key steps to planning your wealth?
- Do you have a winning strategy for your business?
- Legal & financial structures that work
How to find the root-cause of business problems: The 5 Why's problem solving tool
Most of us know the story about Toyota and their 5 Whys, but this article came across my desk this week, and it was a timely reminder about how asking the right questions is often the key to success ... especially when it comes to finding the root-cause of business problems.
If you've forgotten about the 5 Whys, take a few minutes to refresh your memory.
February issue of Recent Focus just released
In this issue:
- Feature Article: What's the problem with plans?
- What a business plan can do for you and how to use it (guest article)
- Too busy working IN your business to work ON it?
The Kiwi SME in 2013
New Zealand is one of the easiest places in the world to start a business . But is it a little too easy....? This short article puts SMEs into perspective and considers whether, in fact, starting a business in NZ should be a little more difficult ...
Read this great article recently published in NZ Business Magazine.
January issue of Recent Focus just released
- Feature Article: Are you going to get caught in any of these disasters? - The 7 worst stuff-ups of 2012
- 7 ways to get your New Years Resolutions to Stick
- 9 Small Business Blunders
December issue of Recent Focus just released
Read all about the simple but important things you should be doing as you finish 2012.
November newsletter just released
In this issue:
- How to maximise your team's buy-in
- Are you struggling to find a work/life balance?
- Feature Article: How to plan for a successful 2013
NZ Business articles
The Dec/Jan issue of NZ Business magazine included these two interesting articles
- Succession lessons: Roman Style - The highlighted paragraph in the 2nd column is, in our experience, very true and worth considering.
- Business Mentors comes of age - especially note the highlighted paragraph in the last colum.
Jazz Mania 2012 - The Waitakere Brass Band
On November 4th our client Ron Archer (Byron Fashion Marketing Ltd & Waitakere Brass Band member) was instrumental (no pun intended) in yet another successful Jazz Mania event. Held annually, this fundraiser attracts the support of the business community and political leaders alike, and takes place at The Trusts Stadium in Henderson.
As regular attendees and supporters ourselves, we've found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening and this year was no exception. Special guest artist Leza Corban, also proved to be a great vocalist as well as a relaxed and humourous MC.
Together with the Leza, and The Massey High School Big Band, The Waitakere Brass Band put on a great show. If you missed out this year, ask us to send you a reminder next year. Sponsoring a table is a great way to get your business noticed by the local community, as well as a good opportunity to invite your friends, family or business acquaintances to a fun night out.
October newsletter just released
In this issue:
-
News Flash - A star in our midst
Also in this issue:
- Too busy working IN your business to work ON it?
- How to get your employees to do what you want them to.
- 5 ways to make sure you provide great customer service
- Who's on your team of committed advisors?
- Feature Article: Why you should have both eyes on your cashflow
Just Published: Quarterly Focus
9 things your clients want
As a professional advisor what your clients want and what you deliver can be two difference things. Working alongside business owners for 30+ years, it’s become pretty clear what the priorities are for small business clients.
Here are the top 9 things business owners want from their professional advisors:
New Article: Have you got a real business?
We talk about what it takes, and the components you'll want in place, if you're interested in having a REAL business.
Read the full article.
New Article: How to find your ideal professional advisor
Read about what it takes to find your ideal professional advisor and whether your existing professional advisors fit the bill or not.
August newsletter just released
- Are your affairs in a mess?
- How well do you know your competitors?
- Feature Article: How to keep your customers paying on time
New Article: Are you losing truckloads of money on your insurance?
Find out what most business owners don’t know about their insurance premiums and how you can buy insurance a smarter way.
Special FREE Offer for the month of August only
Are you paying more than you need to for your insurance?
Check out our Special FREE Offer and to see if you qualify for one of 10 FREE Risk Insurance Audits were giving away during August.
New article: 9 ways to get the best out of your professional advisor
Do you leave your professional advisor’s office feeling confused? Do you come away shaking your head and without all the answers you were looking for?. Our article gives you 9 ways you can get the best from your professional advisors.
July newsletter just released
- Will your business survive to the next generation?
- Why it's worth renegotiating with your bank.
- Have you got a REAL business?
New article: Business Coaches - are they worth it?
If you’ve ever wondered about hiring a business coach chances are you’ve weighed up the cost of engaging one vs the payoff you’ll get. Our article discusses the pros and cons of business coaching and what you will need to invest (and we're not talking money) in order to get the best out of it..
June newsletter just released
- State of the business owner - planner or pessimist?
- The 10 biggest mistakes made by small business owners
- What small businesses can learn from Google.
New article: What small businesses can learn from Google
Small businesses tend to dismiss Google as a wholly unattainable model for running a business. But here are 5 Google mantras that could be applied to your business - to create agility, employee engagement and stonger business results.
May newsletter just released
- Is your business prepared for the unexpected?
- 4 ways to make your business great
- What's the problem with plans?
April newsletter just released.
It talks about business blunders, high frustration levels & raving advocates.
Two great articles from NZ Business magazine -
March newsletter just released.
Find out how to make sure you solve the problem and not just the symptom.
Success Stories
"A small one-man band, Shane Griffin worked long and hard in his paintless dent removal business aptly called Dent Devils Limited .... read the full story
5 ways to get more cash in your bank account - fast!
If you're looking to improve the amount of cash in your bank account, our latest newsletter gives you 5 strategies and tactics you can implement within a month.
Are you sick & tired of hit & miss sales results?
Check out our special FREE offer (limited time only) - contact us to see if you qualify.
Latest MYOB Business Monitor lists the top 10 priorities for Kiwi businesses in 2012
- Focus on customer retention strategies - 35% of businesses
- Increasing business activity in new markets - 33%
- Focus on customer acquisition strategies - 31%
- Increasing the number of products or services offered by the business - 27%
- Sales of products / services offline - 27%
- Sale of products / services online - 25%
- Increasing spending on online marketing & advertising - 23%
- More sales promotions - 22%
- More investment in IT systems & processes - 22%
- Increasing salaries & wages - 20%
January 2012 news
If you haven't seen it already, our January newsletter highlights the top 3 for 2011.
Our very first success story for 2012 talks about Vicki & Chris Pine and their industry-leading business, DentureTech Limited.
Success Stories
We've been busy getting a head-start on our series of Success Stories. Some are now available on our website. Others are yet to come.
In our latest Success Story we talk about Steve Turner, Al Wilson and their web and print design business. The two lads from Manawatu had an idea and started to run with it. Without much business nous but with loads of talent and the desire and enthusiasm to make a go of it ... more
Our December Newsletter talks about the 3 important things you should be doing as you finish 2011.
Latest article - How to maximise your team's buy-in
One of the greatest assets your business has is your people. Often they are viewed as a liability because of high staff turnover and lack of commitment or buy-in. Turning them from a liability to an asset does not happen by accident nor does it happen overnight. ..... more
Success starts with a dream
John Haylock's 3 step process for achievement -
- Dream the dream
- Take advantage of the right circumstances
- Put in the time.
Read this short one-page article
This page will be regularly updated with -
- Articles of interest - either from ourselves or others
- Celebrating our client's successes
- Our recent reads
and more ...
Make sure you check it out regularly.
September newsletter
just released