Watch the Cash
Businesses go broke for one reason: they run out of cash. Mike explains the best piece of advice he ever received from a mentor: ‘Watch the cash, laddie”.
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ARTICLES – FROM THE ARCHIVE
Older Entrepreneurs
Some people think business is a young man’s game. They’re wrong on two counts: women excel, and the evidence suggests that older entrepreneurs also have a greater chance of success. Mike finds out why.
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Know Thyself
The common picture of the relentless entrepreneur forging ahead against everyone’s advice does nobody any favours. Mike says this heroism is overrated: smart entrepreneurs open their eyes and ears to everyone around them.
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Working a Room
Plenty of people find networking scary. It doesn’t have to be; and that’s partly because we can all fall back on a little civility. Here’s Mike’s tips for working a room full of people without annoying anyone!
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As One Door Closes…
Many people use redundancy as the chance to investigate entrepreneurship. Sometimes it’s the right answer. Sometimes it’s not. Mike examines the right way to handle being let go – and the opportunities it presents.
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A Friend in High Places
Not everyone can have the Prince of Wales as a mentor, but the Prince’s Trust highlights the value of getting a mentor: someone who’s been there and worn the T-shirt to help you out. Here’s Mike’s advice for finding a mentor.
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Adding Consultancy
We live in a service economy. People want solutions, not widgets – and Mike says it can be very profitable to sell the all-in answer to people’s problems…
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The Networking Myth
Networking has become a bit of a science (instead of fun!). And worse still, especially with LinkedIn, many people just try to grow their networks in size. Mike says that’s bonkers: there’s an ideal network for you, your contacts, and your business.
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Let Battle Commence?
Some folks quote Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’ as the template for business. It’s not the Beermat way (although it’s a good read!). Mike says smart businesses – especially smaller ones – are born to collaborate.
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Intrapreneurship in the Public Sector
Intrapreneurship – being entrepreneurial in-house – is a hot topic in big businesses. Here, Mike argues that the public sector has more to gain than most.
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Leadership
At Beermat, we’re pretty skeptical about some models of leadership. Mike says leaders do need to be visionary, communicative and energetic. But they don’t have to be gung-ho and unwavering: we prefer something more collaborative – the right metaphor is sport, not war.
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Intrapreneurship and Structure
We’re big fans of intrapreneurship; the chance to bring entrepreneurial zeal to departments and companies. Here, Mike debunks the myths that hold intrapreneurship back, to make sure that both a company and its intrapreneurs can live side by side.
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Two Cheers for Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs are great! But they’re also human, and that’s why Mike says they need help. The Beermat Cornerstone model is the answer.
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Sole Traders
Sole trading is hard: you take all the risk and your rewards are limited by what you can fit into a day. But there’s a strategy for sole traders to maximise their chances of success and the rewards they achieve, and Mike says it’s all about knowing what you’re good at.
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Alliances
It takes time to get bigger, so smart start-ups leverage the strength of like-minded partners. Here Mike explores the characteristics that make a great partnership, even when they’re much bigger than you!
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The Legend of the Lone Entrepreneur
The lone entrepreneur, fighting battles with a world that doesn’t understand, is a popular one (and some nurture it as part of their personal image). But in most cases, it’s an undeserving myth. Great entrepreneurs deploy their vision, but they also deploy a great team too. In this article, Mike shows you how to do it.
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Lessons from Menlo Park
Inventors aren’t automatically entrepreneurs. Because great ideas don’t automatically become great businesses. Mike looks at an inventor who did achieve fame and fortune – not least by relying on some talented help: Thomas Alva Edison.
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The Finance Bogeyman
Mike asks a really simple question: why is it that finance is always the entrepreneurial weak spot, the bit that go-getters hate? Perhaps it’s fear, perhaps it’s because money demands discipline, not exuberance. Either way, the finance bogeyman needs taming. Here’s how to do it.
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The Technology Trap
Technology is everywhere – and for 20 years it’s been a rich seam of innovation and profitable business. But Mike says more tech isn’t always the answer – and selling amid the noise of a tech-driven world is harder than ever!
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Life after 25
No, this isn’t about getting older! We’re talking about the number of employees. Because after 25, a company suddenly, magically and irrevocably changes in character. It becomes more administrative – a different beast to the startup. And not everyone will cope with the change. Here’s Mike’s advice.
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The Sales Cornerstone
Two revelations: entrepreneurs aren’t necessarily great salespeople; and salespeople don’t necessarily wear fat ties and shout a lot. At the heart of a great business is a great sales cornerstone, and here Mike explains what to look for.
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Building a Dream Team
If there’s one thing that characterises Beermat, it’s people. And once you’ve got your Cornerstones, the five people at the heart of the business, you’ll need even more people. They’re your Dream Team, and here Mike explains what they look like.
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Brunel
The man behind the Great Western Railway was a true entrepreneur: ambitious, indefatigable, enthusiastic, eternally curious. And he was blessed with the technological advances of the Victorian era too! Take a stroll with Mike into the world of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
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