Man at computer in dark room

Are you enjoying lockdown?

Yesterday I had a meeting at lunchtime, so I had to take a late lunch. As I sat in the kitchen munching on my sardines, I switched on the TV. The “hard news” of the lunchtime bulletin gets replaced with softer stories early in the afternoon. So, while I was …

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crystalball

Can you predict your future?

On Friday morning I was listening to a radio phone-in when the presenter said, “Please, no more calls about a Brexit deal…!” He then went on to say “We have no way of knowing what will or won’t be decided. There are a bunch of people locked in a room …

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Christmas presents

Are you ready for Christmas?

OK, I know, it is September, and I am talking about Christmas. Sorry for bringing it up so early. Even if you are not Christian and don’t celebrate Christmas, late December is still an important time of the year for businesses. It’s the traditional time when people hand out business …

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Graph showing two waves

Can your business survive a second wave of COVID-19?

Last week, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that a “second wave” of COVID-19 seemed inevitable. We have known about the pattern of viral infections for centuries, so it should have been no surprise to our leaders that this second wave was coming. The problem for businesses is that …

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emailoutofcontrol

Is your email out of control?

Last week I had a bit of a panic with my newsletter. As always, I check my email just after 10:00 am to see that the message has been delivered OK. However, by 10.15 nothing had arrived, and I was worried that it hadn’t been sent. So, I logged into …

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algorithm

Can you beat an algorithm?

Algorithms frequently get things wrong. You can’t get rid of them entirely. But you can re-focus your business efforts so that you don’t need them so much and don’t get affected by their inevitable mistakes.

man in home office on telephone using computer graphicstock

Should you go back to basics for selling?

This week has been somewhat frustrating in the Jones household. It all started when I noticed that the butter I got out of the fridge was slightly softer than usual. I put it down to the hot weather. After all, the outside thermometer in the back garden was reading 34 …

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video conference flickr

Have you got “Zoom Anxiety”?

Twice this week I have been on video conference calls when people were reluctant to appear on-screen. They had their cameras off and were replaced with an icon and their name. One said she didn’t want to switch on the webcam because her hair was a mess. The other individual …

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podcast pixabay

How to do business online

This is an interview I did for “The Leadership Podcast” covering a range of issues on how to do business online, particularly following the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Whenever people take a break they reach for their mobile phone and that's a bad idea

When you take a break do NOT pick up your mobile phone

It’s a pretty safe bet that whenever you take a break, you reach for your mobile phone. It’s such a habit that it is seen as “normal”. Indeed, just stop off at a motorway service station and you’ll see hundreds of people sitting in cars or at the restaurants all …

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