Back to the future…
At the very moment when the present least resembles the past, it makes little sense to look back in time for clues about the future” This interesting quote comes from an article in the latest Harvard Business Review (Jul-Aug 2020). So, if we can’t use the past to predict the future, how do we plan […]
Strategy & Storytelling
Question: How do you engage your stakeholders with your business’s strategy? You may have a strategic plan which you share. You may cascade key information throughout the organisation. You may hold events where you tell your people what the strategy is. You may even have a lovely diagram that shows your mission, vision, values and […]
How to use the Business Model Canvas as an effective planning tool – VIDEO
The Business Model Canvas is my favourite tool to use with business owners – it is really simple to use but also very adaptable. In this video I talk you through what the Canvas looks like and we explore each of the 9 building blocks. I then show different ways that you can use it […]
My business has survived its first year! by Danielle Heward, DH Professional Solutions
I originally set up my company as a vehicle to operate as a contractor project manager in October 2019, which is what I did for the first five months of my company’s existence. At the time there were already some significant tax legislation changes on the horizon for the private contractor market (the dreaded IR35 […]
Understanding changing habits
Us strategists do love our 2×2 matrices and I came across another one this week in the latest Harvard Business Review (Sept-Oct). In an article entitled ‘Adapt your Business to the New Reality’ it talks about how businesses need to understand the changing habits due to Covid and assess whether they are temporary shifts or […]
The simplest solution
Any idea what this is? I bought this a few years ago to help me lose weight! The idea was you wear it round your waist and it stops you over-eating as it tightens. Yes, I was taken in by the photos of the slim models…and yes, it has pretty much sat in a drawer […]
Evolution elimination
I was fascinated to read today that babies are no longer being born with wisdom teeth, as we evolve at a faster than at any time in the past 250 years. Dr Teghan Lucas, of Flinders University in Adelaide, said faces are becoming a lot shorter, with smaller jaws meaning there is less room for […]
The demise once again of the cinema
Cineworld announced this week it is closing it’s doors for the unforeseen future. The final nail in the coffin was the delay once again of the latest James Bond film. I am old enough to remember when cinemas were hit by the advent of video stores. It was a treat to walk to your local […]
How to plan ahead when the future is uncertain
Most of will think of strategic planning as a classical discipline used by many businesses. They aim to be the biggest and the best in their market and will follow a standard approach of: Analyse their market Write a plan Execute that plan Simple? Yes! However, this only works when your market is highly predictable. […]
My passion is….
Last year I had a wonderful two week holiday to Mauritius where we stayed at the Westin Hotel, which is owned by Marriott. The service was exceptional and all the staff were all amazing. It doesn’t matter what their role was, every one was polite, respectful and keen to know we were having a good […]