There’s no question about it; running a small business can be lonely - epsecially in the early years. The chances are that if you run a very small, sole trader or micro business, that you may be doing the lion share of not only the work but also carrying the weight of the business and it’s ups and downs.

One of the key things to do is to ensure that you draw on and draw in a network of  people who you can draw on for their personal and professional support. Some of this will come from friends and family who are most likely to be important in terms of life balance and moral support. Be mindful about taking business advice from these people as they have a vested interest in you and may not have the business insight needed.  The other key element is seeking the support of like minded, but different-skilled business owners and professionals. You may well be able to share knowledge, insight, ideas, resources, skills - often at little or no cost if you are creative.  This is one of the wonderful things about running a business. But also be mindful about when you DO need to invest in experts be it web/graphic designers, printers, tech people, coaches, legal advisers, accountants and addmin support.

The other side of it is to remember that there are some very good sources of free support out there Business Link is one such place. In London they run a very good workshops and events programme which is free. I am also a big fan of the British Library’s Business and IP Centre - which is probably the best physical resource of information, databases, journals available in the UK. They also run a rich events programme. These spaces - along with other small business organisations, Chambers of Commerce and networking events - can be a powerful way of staying connected and making links that can help help you punch beyond your weight.

The last 12 months or so the papers have been rife with bad news (now there’s a suprise) about the state of the economy. So the question on many people’s lips is ‘Is this a bad time for me to start a business or to be running a small business?”

Well the first thing to note is that the very nature of business - and indeed life - is up and down. There will be rich harvests and poor ones. So business never was, or will be for those who seek certainty. And as we all know there are very few of those except change and death - some even avoid taxes.

The second point is that it is important to remember what business is all about. It is about providing people with what they need (and at certain times what they think they need). If you have a close relationship with your customers / potential customers you will ask them what they need and they will tell you. If you do not ask or have a good insight as to what they need at some point your business will die or be left behind. Business is a marraige of three things: doing what you are passionate about; doing that to the best of your ability/professionally; caring about your customer and giving them what they want. If you do these three things - and seek like souls to help you - you will not only survive but thrive.

If you are looking to start or grow a business do check out www.helenparkins.co.uk for the next dates of her workshops and check out my website www.rasaru.com for the next dates of my Making it as an Entrepreneur workshop.

The Golden Age of Business Monday 30 March 2009

The businesses that will survive the Economic ‘Ice Age’ will be flexible, creative, compassionate and customer focused.

Join  leading life & business coach, Rasheed Ogunlaru and marketing guru, Nicole Cohen, for a unique event that will help you and your business into The Golden Age.

‘One Day Workshop’ inspiring networking, empowering discussion

This unique one day event includes practical seminars, discussions and networking with great contacts, and time and space to apply the new ideas to your business

Book now: nicole@marketingym.co.uk or rasheed@rasaru.com or call 020 7207 1082 (Rasheed) or 07887 998 972 (Nicole)

Date: Monday 30 March 2009, 9.30am-4.30pm

Workshop attendees will be free to explore the gardens and Nature Trail or spend a few hours in the swimming pool and jacuzzi after the event.

Special credit crunch price: £99

To book your place:
Simply email nicole@marketinggym.co.uk with Golden Workshop as the Subject Header – please include your full name, company name (if applicable) and phone number.

Looking to to take your business to the next level of profit, performance and profile? Need to become re-focused and re-motivated to overcome your business challenges?

If so join leading life & business coach, Rasheed Ogunlaru for:

Boost your Business Masterclass
10am-4pm on Fri 6 Mar 2009
Business & IP Centre, British Library,
96 Euston Rd, London NW1

This special event will help you take stock, build on your strength, identify opportunities. You will leave with a clear plan of action to boost your profit and performance. This is a tailored workshop designed for sole traders and small businesses. Numbers on this workshop have been specially capped so you can work on YOUR Business.

Special credit crunch Price: £45 inc lunch and refreshments
Book now spaces limited: email rasheed@rasaru.com

Boost your Buisness Masterclass - in partnership with British Library: Rasheed is a leading coach/speaker, a member of small business specialists, Zestworks - and co-author of A Zest for Business. He is the Business coach partner of the British Library.

There’s a lot to take on board when starting a business, and if you’re not sure what you’re doing, you could land yourself in trouble with the law and HM Revenue and Customs, not to mention your customers! This enlightening workshop on 11th February at the British Library’s Business and IP Centre will take the mystery out of it all and is ideal for start-ups.

10.00 - 11.15 Beginners Guide to IP
Learn about the main elements of intellectual property: patents, trade marks, registered designs and copyright.
11.30 - 14.45 Researching a Company
Find out how to find up-to-the minute information about competitors, suppliers or potential customers?
15.00 - 17.00 Helen Parkins - Get it right or pay the price: legal stepping stones to business success
Confused by the terminology? Do you want to know what legal structure is best for your business? Are you sure about the differences between trading as a sole trader, partnership and company? Do you want to know which to register with whom and why? Are you confident about whether you can call yourself an MD, partner, owner, or something else altogether?

Time: 10.00 - 17.00
Place: British Library Business & IP Centre
Date: Wednesday 11 February 2009
Price: £15 including lunch

To register, please email helen@helenparkins.co.uk

Helen is a qualified solicitor turned small business advisor. She has been advising for nearly twenty years and is known for her friendly and practical approach to the law.

This morning I appeared on BBC Breakfast News on the topic of Charisma. The item was on the Charisma masterclass event that my colleague Richard Reid of Pinnacle Proactive and I are running on April 4-5.

But who has it? Can you create it, can you fake it? Clearly the likes of Barack Obama, Richard Branson, Helen Mirren, Oprah Winfrey, Mohammed Ali and Jack Nicholson have it. But so do millions of ordinary people - you may know many yourself and you may well have it.

I started my career in the media, training people to appear on TV and I have also been a singer. In both cases the secret is to be yourself. The Charisma Event will help you find and project their own magic. The benefits will pour into all areas of your life and work.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a member of Zestworks, speaker and life/business coach.

So here we are at the end of the first week in the last year of the first decade in the 21st Century.

January is a time where you may be looking at making a fresh start and progress in your business and personally. The challenge can be, that if you’re not careful, you’ll fall back into the same old habits. It’s important that you keep that fresh Zest in you and your business.

Here are a few tips that may help you.

1. Write a short list of your priorities for your business and your - and focus on it.
2. Have a clearout at work/ home and file things (this will help you be focused / efficient)
3. Take a look at where you are spending time /energy and where you are wasting it.
4. Find a 15 min slot each week where you can take stock and review where you are going.
5. Don’t overload yourself: build in you time, team time, free time, fun time.

If you’re looking to give yourself/ your business a freh start then join me, Rasheed, at my Making it as an Entrepreneur workshop run each month at / in partnership with the British Library Business & IP Centre. Click here for dates, details and booking.

Our friends at the British Library are holding another event that may be of benefit:

Business nightmares and how to recover from them
   The entrepreneurs’ masterclass

Wednesday 21 January 2009 British Library

18.15 - 20.00, networking reception until 21.00
£10 (£7.50 concessions)

Book online now

In turbulent times it’s important to weigh up the risks of starting up or staying in business. But difficult times can bring unexpected opportunities as well.

Hear how a panel of leading entrepreneurs survived their roller coaster ride and built business success on the back of the lessons learned.

Our entrepreneurs:

   Rachel Elnaugh, one of the original Dragons’ Den team and founder of Red Letter Days
   Gavin Griffiths, writer and ex-owner of the Erotic Review
   Bradley Chapman of business networking site Millionaire Impossible
   Aamir Ahmed of furniture company dwell

Details and booking

Are you ready and raring to go in 2009? Ready to make the most of the opportunities that come your way? Ready to consolidate your business and to move onwards and upwards? Ready to make this year your best year ever?

We’re here to help in any way we can, so please drop us a line or call if you think we can support you in boosting your business.

And look out for our new events coming very soon - more details will appear here and on our website shortly!

If you run a business there are two sides to this; sorting out your business, and giving yourself a well-earned break.

Your Business: Take time, take stock, thank your customers and suppliers -don’t take any of these things for granted. Make sure that you’ve made provisions for and communicated any changes/ closures over the holiday season and make sure you know what the impact will be on cashflow.

Now that you’ve looked at your business, it’s time to get yourself organised. Christmas can be a wonderful, festive, family and spiritual time for many - but it can also be a time of iscolation, stress, pressure and debt. So here are a few simple tips to help you.

Time: Decide who you want and need to spend time with and how much time is healthy for you and them. There’s no point anyone overstaying their welcome.

Money: Set a budget that you can afford and stick to it. You are not Santa; it’s not job to bestow gifts to the whole world. If money is tight then agree with friends and loved ones not to buy gifts or to perhaps limit gifts to children.

Communication: Once you know what you’re doing then communicate this to those involved as soon and as warmly as possible. This gives everyone time to plan, adjust and accept. Heart-felt communication may also re-build bridges.

Children: Remember it is time and love that they really need from you, not money.

Food and drink: Know your limits and stick to them. Piling on the pounds is far easier than losing them. Have fun and be measured. You’ll be pleased you did come January.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a  life & business coach, motivational speaker and author. He is a member of small business specialists, Zestworks.