Cool things

Dealing with angry customers in your business

At some point in your business, you might encounter unhappy clients or customers. It could be that a fault in your product or service was found, a mix-up took place or an unexpected misfortune occurred. Whether the concern was caused by internal or external factors, businesses have the responsibility to look into the complaint and even appease the customer.

How to pivot a business

During interesting times, such as a global pandemic and an economic crisis, some industries and businesses suffer due to little, no or negative growth. It often happens during normal days as well, when the market does not seem to be enthusiastic about a brand or certain products or offerings. There are several moments when a business hits a plateau or reaches a downward slope. When this occurs, maybe it’s time to revisit your goals and if you need to do a pivot.

Letting go of employees

Certain circumstances may cause you to rethink your current organisational line-up and let go of some people in your team. Staff members performing poorly at work, acquisition or merger that may result in redundancy or financial difficulties or disasters that force businesses to downsize. Firing an employee is not always easy and may sometimes be unpleasant.

The 5 C’s of PR Crisis Management

Unforeseen circumstances are not uncommon in any business and industry. You may not fully prepare for it but you can somehow mitigate the ill effects of a crisis if you just know how to handle it. There are many aspects of crisis management. Some may be working directly in the frontline to lessen the problem, others may be looking for a concrete solution, while others may be tasked to face and update the public.

Practising hygiene and sanitation at work

With the rise of so many illnesses and the world coming face-to-face with a pandemic, it is high time that we revisit our sanitation and hygiene practices at work, whether you do it from home, from the office or at the field. Nevertheless, it is a must to observe cleanliness at all times to keep you and people around you healthy and fit and safe from infectious diseases.

An entrepreneur’s daily checklist

The life of an entrepreneur is demanding. It means facing risks, meeting challenges head-on, taking responsibility for lives reliant on you, and dedicating yourself to bring the business forward towards your goals. If you take a look at it, it is not an easy role, but the emotional, financial and social gains of its success are tremendous.

10 Biographies to Inspire Your Entrepreneurial Journey

If you’ve got some “me” time or when you’re stuck indoors for some reason, why not spend it by poring yourself on reading materials that will inspire and energise you to keep going in your entrepreneurial journey? A good start is to look into the life stories of business leaders who withstood adversities and exhibited determination and persistence in achieving their dreams.

Skydiving your way to the entrepreneurial path

Skydiving is an activity that may not be for everyone. People with a fear of heights may be averse to jump from a high altitude into the unknown. It takes knowledge, presence of mind and courage for one to do so. This is what many business owners stand out as they are ready to take the risk just to achieve the goal they have in mind.

How do you find the right suppliers for your business?

Customers prefer brands that offer quality goods and services as well as great value for money. Thus, having the right suppliers that can provide you with the best materials at affordable prices will be instrumental in becoming the no. 1 choice of your clients. You must select suppliers that fit your needs and styles. How do you go about it?

Preparing for a media interview

Business owners, especially those of startups or small and medium-sized enterprises, are usually the face of their company as they carry the name on their shoulders. People’s trust in a brand is heightened when they are familiar with the person or individuals behind it. Moreover, an entrepreneur’s story plays a significant part in conveying the narrative behind a business, product or service.

Innovate your products and services to grow your business

In a world where competition and survival are inherently embedded in our DNA, the playing field in the entrepreneurial space becomes tougher and tougher every single day. There is no room for complacency, which can only drag a business towards a downward slope. It often calls for a lot of creativity and innovation to bring your venture a notch higher than it used to be.

When your entrepreneurial journey hits a plateau

The path of entrepreneurship is full of twists and turns, as well as potholes and mounds, that makes the journey challenging yet exciting. It’s a rollercoaster ride that can take you up and down, which can often cause you to stumble or lose your balance. But what if you’re going through a smooth ride, like a paved highway, only to find out that you’re going flat and no growth at all?

To be or not to be (a multi-tasker)

Every morning, you browse through your emails on your laptop while sipping coffee, then answering and making calls in between. In one sitting, you have ticked off several tasks in your to-do list. It goes on for the rest of the day. Yet, before the morning is over, you are already exhausted, often skipping lunch and short breaks or spending sleepless nights finishing a lot of things.

The entrepreneurs’ new clothes

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language."

These are the words of renowned fashion designer and entrepreneur Miuccia Prada. True enough, individuals are often sized up according to how others see them, including the clothes they wear. Entrepreneurs are no exception. But with more business owners becoming younger and more modern, their fashion style has also evolved.

Checking out your competition

In every industry, competition exists as there will always be various businesses that will offer similar goods and services. Even for industries where monopoly ensues, there are still indirect competitors that can provide alternatives to consumers. When you run a business, you do not operate in isolation, so you also have to be conscious not only of your market but also of other players in the field.

The importance of insurance to your business

At this age when climate change is causing natural calamities more frequently, plus with the threat of cyber-attacks, fraud, terrorism and other man-made disasters, it is vital to protect your business from such possible scenarios that may cause damage to your venture. It becomes imperative to avail of insurance for you and your business that will allow you to be in a position of confidence during times of uncertainty.

Messaging apps for entrepreneurs on the go

Running your business often requires you to be out in the field and travel for meetings or official engagements. Sometimes, you have to manage your team and your transactions from a remote location to ensure that everything is running smoothly. While you can communicate using SNS and calls, they are sometimes not enough to help you keep track of things. That’s where instant messaging apps can be of value to you and your venture.