Sheila Elliott’s Tips for success

Sheila’s Tips for success

(Source: The Voice)

BE CLEAR

The very first thing you need to do before you set up a business is to be clear about your vision, because all too often people go into business without having a clear vision about what it is that they really want to do.

BE PASSIONATE

You need to be passionate about what it is that you’re doing because business has its peaks and through and when you start your business it’s passion that will enable you to drive it forward

GET TRAINED

You have to make sure that you have adequate training. It’s nice to have free training, but very often they are not adequate, they are incomplete, and if that’s all people are relying on, then they are already on the road to disappointment.

INVESTMENT

You have to be willing to invest the time and effort in understanding what your market will actually need and not thinking that you know it all. You need to talk to people and find out what it is that they need and look at ways that you can deliver that service.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY

Within the black community everyone is trying to do things singularly, they don't want to partner with other people. But if you look at the businesses that are actually thriving and you look at the history of black success, it started off with two people. There has to be a culture of partnership, a culture of trust, and that's a tip I would give to people.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

I can't ignore the element of personal development. Very often people want to go into business but they don't want to develop themselves, and we need to get that culture right. People will buy your service, but it's not just your service that they're buying, they're buying you and your product. If you don't develop yourself, you will not be able to develop your product.

FINANCIAL KNOW-HOW

You need to understand about the financial language. Borrowing money I from the bank will involve you speaking the Language that you're not used to. You need an understanding of how the financial market works. You don't have to be an accountant to do that, you just need to understand basic financial statements.

Sheila Elliott Is the Managing Director of BSS Management Consultancy and the author of My Business Is My Business.

www.businessservicessupport. com

www.sheilaelliott.com

www.mybusinessismybuslness.com

How to build a great business / Sheila Elliott

How to build a great business

Edited by Dionne Grant (Source: The Voice)

BLACK ASIAN and other ethnic minority businesses make up nearly 20 percent of London's small business community.

Up to 60 percent of small businesses cease trading within the first five years, and this rate of failure can be partly attributed to a general lack of business expertise and understanding. Former accountant turned successful business advisor and author of book, My Business is My Business – Learn How To Earn a Fortune, Sheila Elliot shares her tips far success.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO WRITE MY BUSINESS IS MY BUSINESS?

The reasons for doing this book was because in the United Kingdom, despite there being a lot of growth in black and ethnic minority businesses, this did not always equal success. The London Development Agency (LDA) recently did some research that showed despite there being a lot of growth in the market among ethnic minorities, there has also been a lot of failures too. The Asian market is growing significantly within the ethnic minority market but the Afro-Caribbean and the African communities are not doing as much as they can do. The book also,

highlights a number of weaknesses and soft skills in this group.

WHY DO YOU THINK BLACK BUSINISSE AREN’T AS SUSTAINABLE AS WHIT BUSINESSES?

I don’t believe that the support out there is the right one for that particular community. There are a lot of courses that focus on the technical skills as opposed to focusing on nurturing the developmental aspects of people's lives, A lot' of people from our community know what they want to do, but they need a little bit more support and hand-holding, and that’s not necessary available through the likes of business links or the agencies, There is a little bit of coaching, but not predominant.

WHAT ONE THING PEOPLE CAN PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK?

The importance of attitude and technical skills as a success formula; 85 percent of our success is to do with our attitude and our relationship with one another - not necessarily how much academic qualifications you have. I would like to encourage BME (Black Minority Ethnic) communities to become entrepreneurial. They need to recognize that there is a formula to succeed in business, and they need to be willing to invest their time and thoughts into learning that formula and applying it. They need to avoid going for that short cut methodology that many people have fallen victim to, only to find themselves very disappointed the day after.

Be the Inspiration

Successful men use YouTube to reach youths

by Cecelia Layo Fadehan (Source: The Voice)

REGGAE REGGAE sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots is among 19, successful black men who are using the internet to inspire black youths.

The men have teamed up with youth mentoring scheme Reach to launch Be the Inspiration, a YouTube-based project aimed at encouraging youngsters to succeed by talking about their experiences.

"We are working towards a society where every black boy and young black man can fulfil his potential," said Reach chairman Clive Lewis.

Other men telling their stories include Colourful Radio co-founder, Henry Bonsu, actor and playwright, Kwame Kwei-Armah, and Kush Films director Marlon Palmer.

The 'Reach programme is a government-funded organisation created in response to the growing epidemic of violence among black boys.

It is the first ever national role model scheme. As part of the scheme, 20 men have been nominated by the black community to serve as role models. Their names will be announced in December. .

To. see some of the videos, go to: The Voice

Black women now outstrip whites on pay

Black women now outstrip whites on pay

David Leppard and Holly Watt (Source: Sunday Times)

The average earnings of black women in Britain are now higher than their white counterparts,
according to government statistics.

In a landmark social development that suggests the erosion of a
long-standing racial barrier, the figures show “black Caribbean” women earned on average £462 a week – 6% more
than white women – in the three months to October this year.

That is a reversal of the previous year’s figures, when white women
earned more than 7% above their black counterparts. The figures show that black
women’s earnings overtook those of white women in the first three months of
2008 and the pay gap has increased gradually since then.

The data were gathered for The Sunday Times by the Office for National
Statistics. They are based on the labour force survey, the most authoritative
and up-to-date study of pay and conditions.

Yana Johnson, a cosmetics entrepreneur [Yana Cosmetics] whose parents moved to Birmingham from Jamaica in the first wave of immigration after the
second world war, said she was pleased by the findings. “[My parents were] part
of the Windrush generation,” she said. “When that generation came over they had
to work really, really hard and they sometimes felt they missed out on
opportunities, so they were determined their daughters wouldn’t miss out.”

Colleen Harris, the first black press officer at Downing Street and founder of Dignity Management Consultancy,
which advises on equality, said she was “ cynical about the figures”. But she
added: “Black women do work very hard, and often they are the single earner in
a household and have the whole weight of a family on their shoulders.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said the figures may be
explained by the fact that half of all black women live in London, where average pay is higher than elsewhere in
the country.

It also said black women tended to take less time off work when having
children, meaning they suffered less of a pay penalty when returning to work. Many
work in health or social services where pay has been rising.

Black women have made other strides in recent years. There have been two
black women in the cabinet in the past decade, including Baroness Scotland, the
attorney general.

Last year 49.1% of black Caribbean
pupils achieved five GCSEs from A* to C, compared with 44.4% the previous year.
Girls do particularly well, with 56.2% gaining five good GCSEs. The
underperformance of black boys, however, is still a concern, with just 41.5%
achieving the best grades.

One Laptop per Child : Zimi's Story FULL

One Laptop per Child : Zimi's Story FULL
Uploaded by olpcfoundation

Get your message heard

Get your message heard

Making your business stand out in the crowd is the key to effective marketing on a budget" writes JAYNE ATHERTON (Source: Metro.co.uk)

Finding money to market your business can be painful in an economic downturn. Advertising budgets are among the first to feel a financial squeeze but losing touch with your customers can be an even bigger threat.

Yet small businesses are often in a better position to sell them selves effectively in a recession because they are less likely to be tied down by tradition and bureaucracy. And hard times can mean there are fewer competitors in the marketplace, which makes the job easier.

“The nervous [businesses] will be getting out of your way so there is less competition from start-ups and smaller businesses,” says entrepreneur and business, coach Jonathan Jay. “Excellent sales and marketing always wins and if you really focus on this area of your business and don't allow your attention to be diverted by other areas of your business, then you can come out of the recession stronger as a result.”

Jay, who made millions by selling a life-coaching business he set up with just £150, believes finding something in your business which makes it stand out from the crowd is key to marketing on a budget. And if you can't find something different then simply invent it.

Unique selling point

“Devising a unique selling point (USP) will help, says Jay. “ Most business will tell me they offer great service but if it’s not unique then you are needlessly setting yourself up against others on a level playing field. If your business doesn't seem to have something uniquely special then you have to be creative.”

“You could introduce, for example, a fabulous discount or an unbeatable money back offer for customers who are unsatisfied. Such an offer will get people talking and your business noticed. It shows you have confidence - although you have to be sure that the majority of your customers will be completely happy.”

Surviving a recession also involves a high degree of analysis. It’s the time for business to dust off their existing marketing plans and look at what potential customers are learning.

“It's the job of every business owner to be brutally honest about what's working and what’s not – even more so in a recession,” Jay adds.

“Sometimes the result can, mean taking a radical step and doing things differently. Business owners have to be pragmatic and speak to their customers in a language they understand”

Know your customers

Word of mouth is one of the best marketing tools but often people don't tell anyone if they are happy with a product or service, so it can't always be relied upon. “Marketing isn't just about building a brand, people have to buy stuff, too, and getting to grips with who is doing that involves tracking orders more carefully, so you get to really know your core customer, because their needs and demands can change very rapidly,” says Jay. In my experience, most business plans have been written to appeal to the bank and are hardly ever looked at again. But to market effectively in a downturn, you have to sharpen up the basics and your company needs to be able to define itself with clarity and precision, and haye that message backed up with testimonials from satisfied customers.

“This message can. then be used in every communication you have with the customer, whether it's on the phone or through a website. Check that your staff know it, too. When you get the basics right, you will start to get noticed.”

101CityDel / Oliver Parker

v  Errand service for city workers

Olivia Benson (Source: Manchester Evening News)

A FORMER architectural technician has launched an errand service for time-strapped city worker. Oliver Parker, who is from Paris and came to Britain 10 years ago, believes his business, 101CityDel.com, will prove a hit from office workers and executives alike.

101CityDel.com offers a range of services, from delivering a sandwich to your desk or a meal at home to dog walking, going to the post office, buying a gift and wrapping it, organising dry cleaning, dropping off cars and even the weekly shop.

Oliver started with two employees and has received orders from hungry workers who can also shop on his website for goods such as jewellery and electrical items. He has also secured a number of deals with restaurants to supply meals to people at work and at home.

Charges for delivering sandwiches start at £2.50, while shopping and other errands start at £9.50. 101CityDel.com will also deliver out of the city centre. Oliver says he got the idea while working at an architect's practice in Manchester city centre.

"Often, when there was a deadline to meet, I sat at my desk going hungry and regularly thought it would be great to email or call for a sandwich to be delivered." Despite the looming recession, Oliver, who has been busy delivering leaflets to companies and homes across Manchester, is confident that demand for his services will be strong.

He says: "A recession will not affect people's appetites and there will always be people who are hungry and tied to their desks, or have forgotten to buy a present for someone's birthday.

"101CityDel.com plugs a gap in the market for a quick and professional errand service to meet the needs of busy people.

Mads Kjaer, Founder and CEO of MyC4

Marcia Hutchinson / Primary Colours

Top businesswoman proves that diversity is a winner

By Maxine Myers (Source The Voice)

A BUSINESSESWOMAN whose publishing and learning development company helped thousands of children learn about and embrace cultural diversity, has been honoured for her work.

Marcia Hutchinson, founder of Primary Colours, was named Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the recently Held Yorkshire Black Enterprise Convention. “I am thrilled to have received this award,” said Hutchinson, who set up her company in 1997.

OPPORTUNITIES

Through learning resources such as books and CD ROMs, the company helps schools with diversity consultancy, training and engagement opportunities for staff and pupils. "Last year our in-school work reached over 22,000 children and 2,000 teachers, while nearly 40,000 people read our books. This award is testament to how far we have come so far," Hutchinson said.

More than 400 business representatives came out to the Leeds United Conference .centre to celebrate the achievements of the black community in Yorkshire. Andy Kemp, a member of the judging panel at this year's award ceremony, said black businesses in Yorkshire are thriving.

 

MARKETS

This year's entries graphically demonstrate the impressive rise of the region's black entrepreneurs, and that black business no longer exists in just a few niche markets. The black business community is playing an increasingly important role in providing jobs and contributing to the local economy,” he stated.

To Be an Entrepreneur

So you want to be an entrepreneur? How to decide if starting a business is really for you. Jon Gillespie-Brown - Source: Start Your Business Magazine

It may just prove to be the most cost-effective tool for the self-evaluation of budding entrepreneurs. Engagingly written and organised, the author seems to escort the reader along a rite of passage, a somewhat more light-hearted version of the Herculean tasks. "Together we will break down your lifestyle, traits and attributes," Gillespie-Brown writes, "and, just as importantly, your potential to develop these things". The approach adopted in this book consists of a series of Mentor Lessons which cover advantageous traits of entrepreneurs and how these can be developed. However, all of this is done in a way which is neither irrelevant to the reader nor in a condescending manner.

The personal questionnaires and lessons throughout do in fact feel more like an informative seminar, rather than a mundane account of entrepreneurial endeavours. The result of this combination between being both informative and highly personal, is that the reader takes in all the essential points, the excuses that hold people back from being entrepreneurs and also emphasises the need for maintaining close circles.

The Real Deal - James Caan (From Dragon's Den)

For someone whose business ethos is to go against the crowd My story from Brick Lane to Dragon's Den is written very much in the vein of inspirational stories. Source: Start Your Business Magazine

Not to tarnish James Caan's golden touch in business, but his rags to riches story doesn't break the mould in innovative stories. However, like most things in life it is in the detail where the interest lies. After all didn't Shakespeare begin his plays with the outcome divulged in the prologue? Yet his audience would stay and watch for the plot details to unravel as the how's and why's of the outcome came to light.

Now Caan is no Shakespeare, but the details that pepper his life are unusual. Beginning with Caan's colourful background, this chronological account commences with his childhood in London's Brick Lane as a Pakistani immigrant. Armed solely with his fathers advice Caan recounts his rapid rise through the 'rules of business'. Leading us to his current work for charities in Lahore, Kashmir and Kosovo and his new found value of money.