The British Library, located between Euston and Kings Cross stations in London, runs a regular programme of workshops on business and intellectual property topics.
The workshops are generally aimed at a small business audience, last a few hours, and are either free or cost a few pounds. Since they can get crowded - advance booking is essential.
Topics have included Business Planning Toolbox workshop; Walk-in business surgery; Knowing your market; Researching a company; Access to finance; Search engine optimisation to name but a few of the varied subjects on offer.
Many past talks by inspirational entrepreneurs are available in the podcast area of the library's site.
The library holds a large collection of market research reports, fact sheets on starting different sorts of business, and a searchable database of patents. To use these you will need to get a reader pass, but this is free.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Researching for business - London
For those of you living in or near London (England) the City Business Library, located in the City of London near Moorgate, is the largest specialised public reference library in the country dedicated to practical business information. You can use it for free and there are no membership requirements.
The library runs regular 40-minute tours and longer two-hour workshops on how to find information - all of thse are free.
To book a place on any of these courses, telephone the City Business Library on 020 7332 1812 or email cbl@cityoflondon.gov.uk
The library runs regular 40-minute tours and longer two-hour workshops on how to find information - all of thse are free.
To book a place on any of these courses, telephone the City Business Library on 020 7332 1812 or email cbl@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Free (yes, free) books on business
Webooks has some fairly good books on starting a business and starting specific types of business.
The Courage to take the first step
Feeling nervous about starting a business ? I thought this list entitled: "The Key to Changing Course is to Start" was very apt. Aimed at people wanting to start their own business, it's just as applicable to anyone who wants to follow their dream, find their bliss.
1. Start where you are
2. Start hanging out with the right crowd
3. Start tuning into your gifts
4. Start listening more to yourself and less to others
5. Start letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect
6. Start taking action
If we can help you get your business started visit our website and read more about our services.
1. Start where you are
2. Start hanging out with the right crowd
3. Start tuning into your gifts
4. Start listening more to yourself and less to others
5. Start letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect
6. Start taking action
If we can help you get your business started visit our website and read more about our services.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Having a Bad Day ?
Here are a few suggestions for those of you who work from home on what to do when you are having a bad day:
Know when to stop. One bad thing seems to attract another and when you are feeling this way, it is far better to move away from what you are doing. Stop forcing yourself to follow up those phone calls, for example, when you are beginning to believe that you are only going to get "no's". Because that is exactly what you will get at that time.
Take a break. Go out for a walk, do some household chores, go out and buy a newspaper - it doesn't really matter what it is a long as you are able to distance yourself from the stuff that doesn't seem to be going your way.
Have a business buddy. A friend may not understand what you are going through if you phone up for a moan (and can quite often encourage you to moan even more if they are being sympathetic to your needs!) Having one or two business buddies - people you feel you can be honest with and yet can encourage each other to move forward with projects and ideas - can be a lifesaver on a bad day. Having someone who understands but keeps you on track with a little kick up the butt!
Play your favourite tune - playing your favourite upbeat music can lift your mood and make you feel motivated.
Make a daily list of achievements. Write down the 3 things you have been most proud of each day in a journal, diary or on your PC (or maybe even your blog). It could be as amazing as winning a huge contract or as small as making a call to someone you have been putting off for weeks. Whenever you feel like the business is against you, read through your lists and realise how much you have achieved already.
Remember that some days will always be bad days. Not every day is going to be a great day. There will be days that clients cancel, work goes wrong. You can't control other people's (and technology!) actions. The one thing you can control is the way you deal with those actions when they happen.
These suggestions came from the Karen Skidmore Kick-Ass blog (I edited them a bit but I don't think she'll mind !).
I would also add - connect to someone else who works from home using Skype. You don't have to talk to each other, but its kind of like being in an office environment in that you hear papers being moved, the phone rings and so on. You can always hit mute when you don't want the other person to hear your phone conversation. My friend Florence and I passed many a compainable hour working on the lectures we were going to be giving to our students with Skype open and every now and then exchanging a few words - we reckoned we were a lot more productive.
Know when to stop. One bad thing seems to attract another and when you are feeling this way, it is far better to move away from what you are doing. Stop forcing yourself to follow up those phone calls, for example, when you are beginning to believe that you are only going to get "no's". Because that is exactly what you will get at that time.
Take a break. Go out for a walk, do some household chores, go out and buy a newspaper - it doesn't really matter what it is a long as you are able to distance yourself from the stuff that doesn't seem to be going your way.
Have a business buddy. A friend may not understand what you are going through if you phone up for a moan (and can quite often encourage you to moan even more if they are being sympathetic to your needs!) Having one or two business buddies - people you feel you can be honest with and yet can encourage each other to move forward with projects and ideas - can be a lifesaver on a bad day. Having someone who understands but keeps you on track with a little kick up the butt!
Play your favourite tune - playing your favourite upbeat music can lift your mood and make you feel motivated.
Make a daily list of achievements. Write down the 3 things you have been most proud of each day in a journal, diary or on your PC (or maybe even your blog). It could be as amazing as winning a huge contract or as small as making a call to someone you have been putting off for weeks. Whenever you feel like the business is against you, read through your lists and realise how much you have achieved already.
Remember that some days will always be bad days. Not every day is going to be a great day. There will be days that clients cancel, work goes wrong. You can't control other people's (and technology!) actions. The one thing you can control is the way you deal with those actions when they happen.
These suggestions came from the Karen Skidmore Kick-Ass blog (I edited them a bit but I don't think she'll mind !).
I would also add - connect to someone else who works from home using Skype. You don't have to talk to each other, but its kind of like being in an office environment in that you hear papers being moved, the phone rings and so on. You can always hit mute when you don't want the other person to hear your phone conversation. My friend Florence and I passed many a compainable hour working on the lectures we were going to be giving to our students with Skype open and every now and then exchanging a few words - we reckoned we were a lot more productive.
Google Alert yourself !!
Ever wondered how some people find out where they have popped up and been mentioned on various blogs or websites?
Get yourself set up on Google Alerts so that anytime your name or the name of your company is mentioned on a site indexed by Google, you get an email straight to your inbox. Its free!
By the way, I found out about this via the Karen Skidmore Kick Ass Blog
Get yourself set up on Google Alerts so that anytime your name or the name of your company is mentioned on a site indexed by Google, you get an email straight to your inbox. Its free!
By the way, I found out about this via the Karen Skidmore Kick Ass Blog
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hiroshima
I was at a soirée at the Château Versailles Hotel in Montreal this evening and got talking to someone about Hiroshima. We talked about the A building and how this contrasts with the bustle of the street; the Peace Garden and the museum. I will never forget seeing the model of Hiroshima before the bomb dropped and the model of Hiroshima afterwards. If only world leaders could be obliged to go to that museum they would perhaps conclude that war in general and nuclear weapons in particular need to become things of the past.
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