In my work life, I come in contact with a lot of start up micro businesses and have discovered some of the mistakes they have made. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to learn from them, and hopefully avoid the same mistakes ourselves.
Here is a collection of mistakes made by start up micro businesses that I have seen firsthand. I hope by sharing them, you can avoid them on your solo journey.
1 Making decisions based upon advice you heard at the pub rather than paying for, listening to and acting upon specialist advice.
2 Advertising beyond your business’s capacity to serve.
Providing discounted or free work for friends/families/charities and not leveraging off it.
3 As discussed in the article on five tips for naming your business splurging on branded stationery, and then changing the business name, structure or contact details and the stationery has to be thrown away.
4 Designing a website with no contact details, and pages which do not link pack to the home page.
5 Incorrect contact details on anything!
6 Not understanding property insurance – what is insured and under which policy? Check with your insurer as sometimes home insurance will extend to the home office, however you will need to let them know about it.
7 Focusing on the parts of the business that you enjoy to the neglect of the parts of the business that don’t interest you.
8 Purchasing software when similar freeware is available to download from the internet.
9 Using a spam filter that treats potential new customers email as junk.
Delaying issuing invoices because you are too busy earning money and have no time to bill clients.
10 Not chasing payment of invoices in a timely manner and continuing to work for a client when payment is overdue.
11 Registering for GST, and all the paperwork that comes with it, before it was economically necessary to.
12 Confusing your bookkeeping records by not having a dedicated business account, or by paying for personal expenses through the business.
For better of worse, those were just a few mistakes made by start up micro businesses in the journey of growing their business. What mistakes did you make in your first year in business?
Heather Smith, an MYOB Certified Consultant and Specialist Trainer, provides business management software solutions which generate accurate and timely financial information that the business owner can use and understand.
15 Secrets of Great interviewing
Interviewing is the most important part of selecting the right candidate to work for you.
Here are some quick tips on how to interview successfully this week......
Interview tip 1 - Don't be like most interviewers!
Prepare well in advance for the interview.
Go over the all the employees' CV's and try not to be like most interviewers who make up their minds about a candidate in the first 4 to 5 minutes ---- and then spend the rest of the interview asking questions merely to confirm their initial assessment.
Try to keep an open mind. Remember most interviewees are very nervous at the beginning of the interview.
Interview tip 2
Dress professionally on the day of the interview. Your conduct will reflect on your company, and will leave an impression in the mind of the interviewee.
Interview tip 3
If the interviewee has some disability such as hearing problems or the use of a wheelchair, prepare appropriate accommodation before the interview.
Interview tip 4
At the start of the interview, introduce yourself to the candidate in a friendly manner. Make her feel at ease from the very start of the interview. And try to be aware of what is called the 'Primacy-regency effect'.
This is where most interviewers remember, what happens at the beginning and the end of the interview, but tend to forget what happens in the middle. Is that you?
Interview tip 5
Be fully informed about the needs of your company and the job responsibilities the person occupying that position will have. This way you will know what to look for when you are interviewing applicants.
Interview tip 6
Pay close attention to the interviewee's body language. Does he appear confident? Does he make good eye contact during the interview?
Interview tip 7
Listen carefully and attentively to what the interviewee is saying. Your listening skills can help you detect things you may otherwise miss. Does the candidate really believe what he is saying?
Interview tip 8
Are you aware of what career psychologists call the 'Halo Effect' - and how it might affect your judgment?
If the candidate before the candidate you are interviewing was very good -- or very bad, this can radically influence your rating and perception of the candidate you are presently interviewing. This is the 'halo effect'.
It's like having to give a speech in a wedding - just AFTER the best speaker in the room has spoken. Your speech may be very good but people will subconsciously judge it against what they have just heard. As an interviewer try to beware of this.
Interview tip 9
Tell the interviewee what she can expect from the job. Let her know what your company does and what her job responsibilities may be. Does she seem fazed or excited by this responsibility?
Interview tip 10
Find out about the candidate's goals or aims in life to make sure they are compatible with the goals of your company. This can also tell you whether the candidate will feel fulfilled and happy at his work environment.
Interview tip 11
Ask open-ended, behavioral-based questions to get the candidate talking and reveal his or her true character.
Extensive research supports behavioral interviewing questions (i.e. using past performance as a reliable indicator of future performance) as the most effective interviewing technique available to evaluate suitable applicants - so use plenty of them. ( If you want to hire the right person you MUST ask these questions)
Interview tip 12
Make sure the interviewee has all the necessary technical skills required. If something is not clear from his resume this is your only chance to get it clarified.
Interview tip 13
Always ask about previous work experience. This can often be an excellent indicator of the applicant's future job performance. Also it can let you know if the employee has the skills that you need.
Interview tip 14
Avoid making snap judgments on the candidate. Have an open mind throughout the interview.
Interview tip 15
Be aware of illegal questions. This way you will be less likely to discriminate on the basis of such factors as age, etc.
Susan O'Neill, Chief Interview Advisor
At long last, a Software Program to help you create a great interview!
Hiring the right people is crucial to the success of every organization - and as interviewers the onus and pressure of hiring falls totally on YOU.
Here are some quick tips on how to interview successfully this week......
Interview tip 1 - Don't be like most interviewers!
Prepare well in advance for the interview.
Go over the all the employees' CV's and try not to be like most interviewers who make up their minds about a candidate in the first 4 to 5 minutes ---- and then spend the rest of the interview asking questions merely to confirm their initial assessment.
Try to keep an open mind. Remember most interviewees are very nervous at the beginning of the interview.
Interview tip 2
Dress professionally on the day of the interview. Your conduct will reflect on your company, and will leave an impression in the mind of the interviewee.
Interview tip 3
If the interviewee has some disability such as hearing problems or the use of a wheelchair, prepare appropriate accommodation before the interview.
Interview tip 4
At the start of the interview, introduce yourself to the candidate in a friendly manner. Make her feel at ease from the very start of the interview. And try to be aware of what is called the 'Primacy-regency effect'.
This is where most interviewers remember, what happens at the beginning and the end of the interview, but tend to forget what happens in the middle. Is that you?
Interview tip 5
Be fully informed about the needs of your company and the job responsibilities the person occupying that position will have. This way you will know what to look for when you are interviewing applicants.
Interview tip 6
Pay close attention to the interviewee's body language. Does he appear confident? Does he make good eye contact during the interview?
Interview tip 7
Listen carefully and attentively to what the interviewee is saying. Your listening skills can help you detect things you may otherwise miss. Does the candidate really believe what he is saying?
Interview tip 8
Are you aware of what career psychologists call the 'Halo Effect' - and how it might affect your judgment?
If the candidate before the candidate you are interviewing was very good -- or very bad, this can radically influence your rating and perception of the candidate you are presently interviewing. This is the 'halo effect'.
It's like having to give a speech in a wedding - just AFTER the best speaker in the room has spoken. Your speech may be very good but people will subconsciously judge it against what they have just heard. As an interviewer try to beware of this.
Interview tip 9
Tell the interviewee what she can expect from the job. Let her know what your company does and what her job responsibilities may be. Does she seem fazed or excited by this responsibility?
Interview tip 10
Find out about the candidate's goals or aims in life to make sure they are compatible with the goals of your company. This can also tell you whether the candidate will feel fulfilled and happy at his work environment.
Interview tip 11
Ask open-ended, behavioral-based questions to get the candidate talking and reveal his or her true character.
Extensive research supports behavioral interviewing questions (i.e. using past performance as a reliable indicator of future performance) as the most effective interviewing technique available to evaluate suitable applicants - so use plenty of them. ( If you want to hire the right person you MUST ask these questions)
Interview tip 12
Make sure the interviewee has all the necessary technical skills required. If something is not clear from his resume this is your only chance to get it clarified.
Interview tip 13
Always ask about previous work experience. This can often be an excellent indicator of the applicant's future job performance. Also it can let you know if the employee has the skills that you need.
Interview tip 14
Avoid making snap judgments on the candidate. Have an open mind throughout the interview.
Interview tip 15
Be aware of illegal questions. This way you will be less likely to discriminate on the basis of such factors as age, etc.
Susan O'Neill, Chief Interview Advisor
At long last, a Software Program to help you create a great interview!
Hiring the right people is crucial to the success of every organization - and as interviewers the onus and pressure of hiring falls totally on YOU.
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