Michael Taplin's Blog (7)

DON"T PANIC!

The best advice ever, for troubled times, was in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. On the front cover were inscribed the words “Don’t Panic”. The next time I saw these words I was sitting in a cable car between Sentosa Island and the World Trade Centre in Singapore, being rocked violently in a tropical storm. As the lightning flashed around us I looked down at the exit (?) door, and read the advice. “If this car stops, wait, DON’T PANIC”. There was no handle. No way out. The ground was 200 m… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on January 27, 2009 at 9:13pm — 1 Comment

Congratulations to the people of America

As I listened to the inauguration speech of President Barack Obama, I found myself reflecting on a number of matters. Firstly, I congratulate the American people for having the courage to elect a President who is determined to reunite them. When President Obama succeeds in his stated goal of gathering all the people to rebuild America in the spirit of the founding fathers, he will have done the world a great service. For the last four years, we in the small nations have watched dismayed and help… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on January 20, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

T is for Trust

Trust is the vital ingredient in web marketing. Yes, the T word, not the S words, spam, scam, spyware and all the other web words. The only reason people buy professional services from you is because they trust you. Traditionally, they trust you because they have been told about you by a friend, or you were recommended by another professional. It works. How do I know? For 20 years every new client, every new assignment, has come to my partner and I by referral or recommendation. This has happen… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on January 14, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Good forecasts take the worry out of business.

http://sta.rtup.biz/profiles/blog/new# A reliable forecast is difficult to achieve. Ask your local weather forecaster! In business the variables are just as complex. The science is not as good. Your judgment is critically important. Times are tough out there in financial markets so if your banker is pressing for your updated cash flow forecast, you had better do a sales forecast first. Judgment can be dramatically improved with good technique, so I have prepared two whitepapers and two online… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on October 23, 2008 at 4:02pm — No Comments

Can you see the future?

Would you like to learn about a thinking process that will help you create the future you would like? Is it possible to craft a strategy that unlocks a path to the future you would like to create for your business. I firmly believe that it is, and its not metaphysical witchcraft either. Let me explain. It is well accepted that a clear vision of your goal acts as a guiding compass, probably by guiding the decisions you make on a daily basis, at the subconscious level. Less well understood it is t… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on October 19, 2008 at 4:15pm — No Comments

New thinking on business strategy

If you don't know where you are going, any road will do. This old advice is still true today. When I take on a new client as a mentor I generally ask them "what do you want your business to look like in 5 years time?" Too often they are so tied up in the day to day routines to have given this any recent thought. I ask them to draw a picture of what they want their business to look like 5 years from now. I show them how to build the picture up like a jigsaw, and make the pieces fit together. I sh… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on September 16, 2008 at 3:15am — No Comments

What do members want from Startup.biz?

I am new to this idea and slowly finding my way through it, and this has raised for me more questions than answers. My title question seems to be important, because so much of what I read is either exhortation to get into it and make money, and much of what comes to me is offers of free information and activities based on an assumption of what I need. I don't want to assume anything about you. I know what I can offer but I don't know yet what people want, or more importantly need. I know that I… Continue

Added by Michael Taplin on September 11, 2008 at 7:13pm — No Comments