Business Insight with Norman Younger - Sharing 25 Years Experience

When faced with the onslaught of messages thrust in our faces most of us hardly give a second thought as to whether we're looking at a branding opportunity or an advert - in fact we just call them adverts. "To advertise ehre call this number" shouts out an empty billboard. 
Once we're in business and need to start getting our own message out it takes on a whole new relevance. Listen and learn how and why to distingish between branding and advertising.

Industrial espionage. A grand and exciting expression that has you imagining massive all sorts of cloak and dagger scenarios. In truth it is about keeping your business to yourself, to be precise making sure nobody is going to spoil your plans because they knwo what they don't need to know. It matters not the size nro the location nor the sector in which you operate. You need to understand the importance of that old adage "need to know basis".

Very few things in business canmatch the frisson of a start-up as it shifts into the next gear. But it's so easy to miss the point and get bogged down in useless activity. Listen how to do it and what to beware of, with simple lessons learnt from fledgling republics who declare independence.

The tragedy in Ukraine needs to introduction nor any more column inches. When you face a bully who has parked his or her tanks on your lawn ( literally in this case) how should you respond? The bravery and determination of the people of Ukraine under a steadfast leader shouts volumes for us all.

Peloton. A stockmarket darling throughout Covid, but now a poster child for the wrong reasons. Listen and learn how errors made by multinational corporations should focus YOUR mind on how to handle problems affecting your product or service when clients are directly affected, and why you shouldn't simply kick a known problem into the long grass.

A new year, a new start? Maybe, or perhaps simply the year you will give serious thought to how you can implement changes for the better and get out of the business rut that has plagued you for so long. But it's important to ensure that there isn't just change for change's sake but that it is properly thought through and meaningful. Listen and start thinking how YOU can change YOUR business.

In the last podcast we looked at what might be driving your employee's request for an increase in wages.  Now we look at your considered and measured response. As if often the case in business getting it wrong can be catastrophic but with the right approach it is not difficult to get to right.  All it takes is a listening ear and an open mind.

It's all over the headlines and cannot be ignored. It's what employers fear the most, as does the Bank of England! But how to respond, especially if you've only ever known a benign wage environment? Listen and learn how to manage demands from employees so that it's a win-win and both sides come out satisfied.

The French Foreign Legion is the stuff of legend, often shrouded in mystique and myth. There is one aspect of it that it is best known for that can be applied to your business - the ability to "forget the past" and take on a new identity. This isn't about going bust or changing the firm's name - it's far more subtle than that but the general principle is the same. It's about reimagining and realigning your business. Listen and be inspired!

Making mistakes is part and parcel of business life, it's just a matter of how serious they are and what the consequences are. When blue chip companies or household names make them the financial press likes to crow about it but once we strip out the screaming headlines what is the real story? What went wrong and why? And most importantly are there any lessons for us?