BrumPod

A phrase we’ve all heard before - ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ - certainly some truth to it - albeit with some negative connotations.

In this episode we’re discussing generalists versus specialists - which is more preferable? Maybe there’s no right or wrong answer, as there are a multitude of advantages and disadvantages to both.

Whether you’re an employee or a business owner, this topic will apply to you, as you may already fit on one side of the fence on this one, possibly happy with where you are - perhaps you want to change your situation.

Generalists have a good understanding of a wide selection of topics and skills, often transferable across various situations. They can adapt quicker, navigate through uncertainty, and are able to offer a multitude of services, and be better at multi-tasking.

Specialists often earn more money because it takes longer to study to get to that position, becoming an expert your field. You’re often more sought-after by head-hunters, more likely to be a thought-leader, resolve high level issues and streamline work processes.

But on both sides of the scale, there are also disadvantages - it’s up to you to work out which is better to be in your own business situation. Have a listen as we delve deeper.

Resources we refer to in this episode:

https://innovationmanagement.se/2020/10/27/what-are-the-differences-and-advantages-between-a-specialist-and-a-generalist/

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/generalists-vs-specialists/

https://www.brainspire.com/blog/specialist-versus-generalist-in-todays-businesses-an-evaluation

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.  

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Audio Shed - https://audioshedpodcaststudio.co.uk

Twitter: @audioshedstudio

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

With the recent announcement from The Government that so called ‘Freedom Day’ being set for June 21st is now being put back by 4 weeks, it means our plans have now had to change too.

We are now planning on bringing back our in-person networking events, hopefully, in August. But of course, watch this space and subscribe to our newsletter and follow our socials for the latest news on that.

It brings with it the renewed thoughts of the importance of being flexible and adaptable, as changes are likely to happen. Whatever we plan for, hope for it to happen, but expect things to change without much notice.

Our hearts go out to the hospitality venues especially with all their plans for reopening fully in June, only for that now to be delayed by another month. There are stories in the press about venue owners having to throw out stock that won’t last, especially given fridges re being turned off to save costs.

And now Matt Hancock the Health Secretary has also now said that people should restrict their movements in and out of Birmingham in order to curb the rise in the Delta variant of Covid19. Essential travel only. Birmingham’s Health Chief further clarifies things, which we talk about. 

References referred to are below.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-health-boss-explains-new-20822514

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/wolverhampton-nightclub-owner-bins-7k-20823906

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

Business is gradually returning to some sense of normality; people are back at work, shops are open, and for the most part, we can more or less return to life as we kind of knew it.

Many companies are transitioning their office buildings to accommodate hybrid working, allowing for people to continue to work from home indefinitely, and scaling down their premises to have spaces to meet and collaborate, but not necessarily every day.

Companies such as HSBC, Lloyds, Standard Chartered are doing so, as are tech giants such as Twitter, Square and Spotify. It’s likely many more will follow suit over the coming months and years.

We also have exciting news in the fact that we’re planning on bringing back our in-person networking events pretty soon!

We’ll obviously keep everything monitored re. Covid and its problematic variants, but if all goes to plan - we will be back to some semblance of normal events in the near future. Have a listen to find out when! More info will be forthcoming on our mailshot and social channels, so stay tuned…

Sign up to our mailshot here:

https://brummies-networking.co.uk/mailing-list-sign-up/

Resources referred to in this episode:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/05/22/if-you-dont-want-to-return-to-the-office-or-stay-at-home-everyday-theres-now-a-third-attractive-way-to-work/?sh=35e775a83a49

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57230018

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57230017

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57226155

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57225856

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-57232728

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

In this episode we talk to Jenna Lawson and Georgia Beech from Seamless OS, an outsourcing company based in Birmingham.

Throughout this episode, they both highlight the benefits involved in starting your outsourcing journey, the amount of money you might save if you start outsourcing compared to hiring in-house teams of people, or indeed doing various tasks yourself.

And for many small businesses, especially over the tumultuous last year, how outsourcing various tasks can help business owners stop working ‘in’ the business, and get back to focussing ‘on’ their business.

Outsourcing can bring with it a lot more peace of mind for many a business owner, and if you’ve thought about going down this route, then this episode is most certainly for you. Jenna and Georgia offer some brilliant insights into their industry, giving you all the information you need to know.

Seamless OS can be found online at the following locations:

https://www.seamless-os.co.uk

https://twitter.com/SeamlessOS

https://www.linkedin.com/company/seamless-os/

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

With more options to network online than ever, especially during Covid where it’s been of utmost importance, we discuss the latest iteration of platforms - Clubhouse; the audio networking platform that’s slowly taking the world by storm.

Used as a platform that’s akin to Zoom, but without the cameras, people are using it in a multitude of ways; general group chat, Q&As with industry experts, panel discussions, the list goes on.

And of course, as soon as something becomes popular, all the other platforms are now following suit! With LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter now getting in on the action with audio chat functionality.

Which platform will prevail? We’ll have to wait and see. But for now, there is no end of ways we can all network online in some way or another.

Will all this continue well into post-pandemic days? Probably so - but possibly with platforms and users adopting it into various niches, mixing it in with in-person networking once again when it’s safe to do so.

Fancy joining us on Twitter Spaces for an audio chat session sometime? Then follow our Brummies Networking twitter (@brummiesnet) for more details.

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

In this episode we talk to Roger Wood, Director at Midlands based Venture Capital firm Midven.

We discuss the obvious comparison - what does real-world small business investing look like in the real world, and is it anything remotely like what we see on Dragon’s Den? (Or Shark Tank in the USA).

Roger explains all a small business would need to know should they be thinking about seeking investment for their own business.

Key things discussed include; what makes a business investment-ready? What are the main criteria an investor/VC firm looks out for, the absolute musts and must-nots.

What does the application process look like, how long does it take? Plus of course, the all-important how much of a stake a VC will take in return for investment!

So if you have an interest in investment and would like to know more, this episode is for you. Roger explains the process in non-jargon language, and certainly makes the prospect of investment distinctly less scary than the Dragon’s Den!

You can find Roger online here:

https://midven.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-wood-5b3b9a1/?originalSubdomain=uk

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

Covid vaccines have been rolled out at an unprecedented rate. The general mood of the country is gradually improving now we have the roadmap out of lockdowns, with ‘life after lockdown’ being a firm light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

So we ask, how important is hope in business?

Many businesses this last 12 months have innovated their way to staying afloat, and in some cases, success and thriving. Being adaptable to change and uncertain futures has been a key marker in seeing how a business can get through a year of practically no trading, otherwise.

It’s taught us the importance of being resilient to changing times, the drive to continue on, flexibility, and doing everything we can to create a more certain future for ourselves and our businesses despite outside influences.

False hope, going at things blindly, will nearly always end up going badly. Having a realistic, thought-out plan, ensuring you’re planning for the worst but hoping for the best is a healthier mindset to have.

Finding the sweet spot between optimism and pragmatism is key.

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

In the technological age we’re living in, we’re now all too used to being reachable by a multitude of communications media - email, text, social media, mobile phones, video conferencing.

When email came around, people proclaimed ‘the letter is dead!’. Of course that’s not true. 

When texting, WhatsApp, social media etc came about - people then proclaimed that ‘email is dead!’. 

Of course, that’s not true either!

It’s more about its importance in our lives, and how we adapt to technology, to make it work for us - often adapting our uses for certain technologies to make our lives easier.

These days, email is less about sending round-robin chain emails with the ‘latest’ (i.e. ANCIENT!) jokes and what would be the precursor to ‘memes’ - that’s now more prevalent in messaging app group chats!

Email is now used more for official, archival, paper-trail processes, when you need to refer back to information at a later stage.

How important is email in your life? Do you send/receive anywhere near the amount as you used to say 15 years ago?

And with the advent of the smartphone, we’re now all too used to being accessible even out of office hours; which for many, can be detrimental to our mental health. 

Do you check emails at 11pm? Does it affect you? Or do you manage to find ways to switch off most of your communication apps after office hours?

Let us know your thoughts! 

References for this episode:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2021/03/02/microsoft-teams-issues-major-blow-to-zoom-with-game-changing-new-security-features/?sh=4d7b58712dfa

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/e-mail-is-making-us-miserable?utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_022721&bxid=5bd66d132ddf9c619437cd69&cndid=16654856&hasha=8dc340b6d9e768535372efc80e93c40e&hashb=3d27264dfb5cd6c3cfa9656854dad99200485ab2&hashc=69a0659a06a33df1ca19330ca460dd7cbaa6b4176fde35d21c5dd2c7698b4491&esrc=AUTO_OTHER

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

In this episode we look at if it’s possible to run a small business using pretty much entirely free, or low-cost software, as opposed to the ‘big players’ like Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud for instance.

With the notion of ‘buying software outright’ being far less commonplace in this digital age, with subscription models being favoured far more - are the free and low cost options as good for most people? 

What are the downsides?

Do you need software to be up-to-the-minute updated?

Will free/low cost options do much of the same thing?

Will it involve a learning curve? 

Is there a problem with cross-platform compatibility?

We take a look at a few examples, from Adobe Creative Cloud vs Affinity, Microsoft 365 vs OpenOffice/Libre Office/WPS Office, as well as some other software you might not even be aware of.

So ultimately the question is - is using free or low cost software right for your business? Or is it best to stick to the software you know, and just pay the higher costs?

Resources referred to in this episode:

https://www.techradar.com/uk/best/best-free-software-small-business

https://uk.pcmag.com/enterprise/77162/21-free-tools-your-small-business-should-be-using-today

https://www.profitbooks.net/top-free-software-for-small-businesses/

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

A new wearable technology has been launched, called Moodbeam - a smart bracelet that allows employers to track your mental health.

It consists of 2 buttons, you press yellow for if you’re happy, blue if you’re sad.

It allows employers to check in remotely with home-workers to see big swathes of data to see who is ok and who is demonstrating signs of needing wellbeing support.

We discuss whether this is the natural next step for companies to take in order to track and monitor the mental wellbeing of their staff, or whether this all feels a little too dystopian, like an episode of Black Mirror.

Is it the new smart way in this modern digital age to check on vast numbers of employees by putting it in their hands, literally; or does it remove all sense of ‘personal’ and lack the human touch?

Make up your own mind…

We also check back in with the topic of What3Words, the UK mapping company that’s divided the entire globe up into 3metre squares. They’ve come on leaps and bounds since we last talked about it over a year ago, so we check in with how their mapping service is being integrated in different ways all over the world, from emergency services, e-commerce, drone deliveries, car breakdowns, sat-nav & much more.

Resources referred to in this episode:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55637328

https://what3words.com/news/

Brought to you by Brummies Networking, the home of free, stripped-back business networking.

https://brummies-networking.co.uk

Brummies Networking on Twitter: @brummiesnet

BrumPod on Twitter - @brumpod

Produced by Happy Content Co. https://happycontentco.com

Twitter: @happycontentco

Music by Birocratic - birocratic.com

Twitter: @birocratic

BrumPod - The UK Small Business Podcast. BrumPod is designed for small businesses, because 2/3 of the hosts are small businesses! Our goal is to bring you topics that affect you as a fellow small business owner directly; everything from website tools and technology, changes in regulations, business networking tips, business growth.

BrumPod Hosts:

Richard Heathcote (Voice Over Artist) - https://www.richardheathcote.co.uk

Iwan Thomas (Business Coach) - http://www.iwanthomasassociates.co.uk

Jason Jones (Self Storage) - https://www.accessstorage.com

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com