The Up and to the Right | Small Business | Practical, Actionable, Sustainable Improvements

The Up and to the Right | Small Business | Practical, Actionable, Sustainable Improvements

By beyond50percentBusinessEntrepreneurship
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The Up and to the Right | Small Business | Practical, Actionable, Sustainable Improvements episodes

  • Up and to the Right | 2016 Week 45 | Backups on a Budget
    Have you ever lost valuable data on because of a hard drive failure? Lost a USB drive? Just accidentally deleted a file that you really needed?
    Data loss happens!
    It's actually easy to put together a working backup system that will give you good data protection and the piece of mind that goes along with it. The great news is that it doesn't have to be expensive or complicated and you probably already own most, if not all, of the equipment that you need.
    Why backup?
    Aside from simply wasting time recreating work you've already done here are several categories of documents that you should really consider having a backup for:
    Tax/Accounting
    Legal/Business
    Customer Service
    Intellectual Property
    Production
    Compliance (ISO, FDA or OSHA to name a few)
    Losing data in these categories can be pointedly damaging to your business.
    How to backup?
    Download the worksheet in the resources section above and listen to the podcast and walk step by step how to put together a simple but flexible backup solution for your business.
    What will you need?
    Internet Service
    Printer/Scanner (if you need to backup paper documents)
    External hard drive
    Online backup solution such as Crashplan, Carbonite, iDrive or Backblaze (there are more)
    So that's about it folks... It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!
    43 min
  • Up and to the Right - 2016 Week 44 | Be a Choosey Tool User

    Tools are in important part of developing, producing and distributing our products, and in the operation of our businesses and in personal lives. 

    Finding the best tool for your business may be less simple that a quick google search. A bit of introspection and answering a few specific questions can put you on the road to choosing tools that are well suited to achieving the results improvements that you're expecting. Change Costs 

    Cash out to purchase the tool. Time to learn the tool. Time to implement the new tool across your business. Emotional/Personal Energy - change is draining! The impact of not working on other parts of your business while your working on the above... Tips for Tool Choosers 

    Marketing is nice but the results in your business come first. Explore tools that complement what is already working for you and your business. Is it only available from one source or can it be easily replicated/replaced. Will it be there when you need it (portability)? Can you afford it? Don't fall for the 'Can you afford not to...?' sales pitch! Questions to Consider 

    What tools are you using now? What new habits, if any, will this new tool require? Is that really feasible (a little self aware honesty will save you and your coworkers a lot of grief here)? Why doesn't that tool achieve the results you want? Where does the system break down? Where is your system working (This is probably the most important question.)? 

    So that's about it folks... It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

    39 min
  • Up and to the Right - 2016 Week 44 | Be a Choosey Tool User
    Tools are in important part of developing, producing and distributing our products, and in the operation of our businesses and in personal lives. 
    Finding the best tool for your business may be less simple that a quick google search. A bit of introspection and answering a few specific questions can put you on the road to choosing tools that are well suited to achieving the results improvements that you're expecting.
    Change Costs
    Cash out to purchase the tool.
    Time to learn the tool.
    Time to implement the new tool across your business.
    Emotional/Personal Energy - change is draining!
    The impact of not working on other parts of your business while your working on the above...
    Tips for Tool Choosers
    Marketing is nice but the results in your business come first.
    Explore tools that complement what is already working for you and your business.
    Is it only available from one source or can it be easily replicated/replaced.
    Will it be there when you need it (portability)?
    Can you afford it? Don't fall for the 'Can you afford not to...?' sales pitch!
    Questions to Consider
    What tools are you using now?
    What new habits, if any, will this new tool require? Is that really feasible (a little self aware honesty will save you and your coworkers a lot of grief here)?
    Why doesn't that tool achieve the results you want?
    Where does the system break down?
    Where is your system working (This is probably the most important question.)?
    So that's about it folks... It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!
    39 min
  • Up and to the Right – 2016 Week 44 | Be a Choosey Tool User
    Tools are in important part of developing, producing and distributing our products, and in the operation of our businesses and in personal lives.

    Finding the best tool for your business may be less simple that a quick google search. A bit of introspection and answering a few specific questions can put you on the road to choosing tools that are well suited to achieving the results improvements that you're expecting. Change Costs

    Cash out to purchase the tool. Time to learn the tool. Time to implement the new tool across your business. Emotional/Personal Energy - change is draining! The impact of not working on other parts of your business while your working on the above... Tips for Tool Choosers
    Marketing is nice but the results in your business come first. Explore tools that complement what is already working for you and your business. Is it only available from one source or can it be easily replicated/replaced. Will it be there when you need it (portability)? Can you afford it? Don't fall for the 'Can you afford not to...?' sales pitch! Questions to Consider
    What tools are you using now? What new habits, if any, will this new tool require? Is that really feasible (a little self aware honesty will save you and your coworkers a lot of grief here)? Why doesn't that tool achieve the results you want? Where does the system break down? Where is your system working (This is probably the most important question.)?
    So that's about it folks... It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!
    39 min
  • Up and to the Right - 2016 Week 43 | Re-Introducing Up and to the Right

    Well, I tried something out that didn't work very well. I originally thought it would be helpful for Up and to the Right to support a month long 'mini course' for small business owners.

    As it turns out it was not as helpful as I'd hoped and difficult to produce so I'm switching things up.

    So... Re-Introducing... Up and to the Right, the no nonsense podcast bringing you the Art and Science of Business. This is where we cover things that matter to small business owners, startups and people interested in becoming entrepreneurs. We talk about increasing revenue not buzzwords; decreasing costs not short term trends; good operating practices not theories. This is about sound business principles and how to apply them in your individual business situation.

    37 min
  • Up and to the Right - 2016 Week 43 | Re-Introducing Up and to the Right
    Well, I tried something out that didn't work very well. I originally thought it would be helpful for Up and to the Right to support a month long 'mini course' for small business owners.
    As it turns out it was not as helpful as I'd hoped and difficult to produce so I'm switching things up.
    So... Re-Introducing... Up and to the Right, the no nonsense podcast bringing you the Art and Science of Business. This is where we cover things that matter to small business owners, startups and people interested in becoming entrepreneurs. We talk about increasing revenue not buzzwords; decreasing costs not short term trends; good operating practices not theories. This is about sound business principles and how to apply them in your individual business situation.
    37 min
  • Up and to the Right – 2016 Week 43 | Re-Introducing Up and to the Right
    Well, I tried something out that didn't work very well. I originally thought it would be helpful for Up and to the Right to support a month long 'mini course' for small business owners.

    As it turns out it was not as helpful as I'd hoped and difficult to produce so I'm switching things up.

    So... Re-Introducing... Up and to the Right, the no nonsense podcast bringing you the Art and Science of Business. This is where we cover things that matter to small business owners, startups and people interested in becoming entrepreneurs. We talk about increasing revenue not buzzwords; decreasing costs not short term trends; good operating practices not theories. This is about sound business principles and how to apply them in your individual business situation.
    37 min
  • Up and to the Right - Podcast 2 - March 2016

    You've listened to the first two episodes and you've done a little homework of your own and now it's time to catch up with how things went for me as I went through the same exercises that you did.

    My own notes for this project are  here!

    Increasing Value

    Yeah... I changed the focus here a little bit. While increasing revenue is important (and what I originally wrote) it's more important to consider increasing value to your business not just the number of sales or the total revenue number.

    I shared an overview of my own revenue model and how it relates to the value topic.

    Decreasing Cost

    Some artistic license was taken here as I worked on reducing cost for my SCUBA blog but the principle is the same.

    Saving Time

    Templates are a great way to save time and I made one for the Up and to the Right podcast outline. I also developed the calendar for 2016 for all the projects we'll be doing for Up and to the Right.

    The Grind

    The Grind was more fun than I expected it to be. I opened an Instagram account as I mentioned last episode with no plan on how to use it. As I thought about how to at least get to know the service I decided to throw some of my own personality into the business and began a series called Where did I leave my coffee cup? It's not rocket science but it will be fun and I'll learn how to use the tool. Plus as I'm typing this show note I just thought of something to add to it so check it out on my Instagram!

    I also found an article to help overcome social media writer's block from Forbes.com.

     100 Killer Ideas for Your Social Media Content

    I finally chose Quickbooks Online instead of Xero... you'll find out why.

    For those of you still reading... so... I know I uhm... say 'so' a lot so... uhm... I'll work on that :).

    19 min
  • Up and to the Right - Podcast 2 - March 2016
    You've listened to the first two episodes and you've done a little homework of your own and now it's time to catch up with how things went for me as I went through the same exercises that you did.
    My own notes for this project are here!
    Increasing Value
    Yeah... I changed the focus here a little bit. While increasing revenue is important (and what I originally wrote) it's more important to consider increasing value to your business not just the number of sales or the total revenue number.
    I shared an overview of my own revenue model and how it relates to the value topic.
    Decreasing Cost
    Some artistic license was taken here as I worked on reducing cost for my SCUBA blog but the principle is the same.
    Saving Time
    Templates are a great way to save time and I made one for the Up and to the Right podcast outline. I also developed the calendar for 2016 for all the projects we'll be doing for Up and to the Right.
    The Grind
    The Grind was more fun than I expected it to be. I opened an Instagram account as I mentioned last episode with no plan on how to use it. As I thought about how to at least get to know the service I decided to throw some of my own personality into the business and began a series called Where did I leave my coffee cup? It's not rocket science but it will be fun and I'll learn how to use the tool. Plus as I'm typing this show note I just thought of something to add to it so check it out on my Instagram!
    I also found an article to help overcome social media writer's block from Forbes.com.
    100 Killer Ideas for Your Social Media Content
    I finally chose Quickbooks Online instead of Xero... you'll find out why.
    For those of you still reading... so... I know I uhm... say 'so' a lot so... uhm... I'll work on that :).
    19 min
  • Up and to the Right – Podcast 2 – March 2016
    You've listened to the first two episodes and you've done a little homework of your own and now it's time to catch up with how things went for me as I went through the same exercises that you did.

    My own notes for this project are here!

    Increasing Value

    Yeah... I changed the focus here a little bit. While increasing revenue is important (and what I originally wrote) it's more important to consider increasing value to your business not just the number of sales or the total revenue number.

    I shared an overview of my own revenue model and how it relates to the value topic.

    Decreasing Cost

    Some artistic license was taken here as I worked on reducing cost for my SCUBA blog but the principle is the same.

    Saving Time

    Templates are a great way to save time and I made one for the Up and to the Right podcast outline. I also developed the calendar for 2016 for all the projects we'll be doing for Up and to the Right.

    The Grind

    The Grind was more fun than I expected it to be. I opened an Instagram account as I mentioned last episode with no plan on how to use it. As I thought about how to at least get to know the service I decided to throw some of my own personality into the business and began a series called Where did I leave my coffee cup? It's not rocket science but it will be fun and I'll learn how to use the tool. Plus as I'm typing this show note I just thought of something to add to it so check it out on my Instagram!

    I also found an article to help overcome social media writer's block from Forbes.com.

    100 Killer Ideas for Your Social Media Content

    I finally chose Quickbooks Online instead of Xero... you'll find out why.

    For those of you still reading... so... I know I uhm... say 'so' a lot so... uhm... I'll work on that :).
    19 min

About The Up and to the Right | Small Business | Practical, Actionable, Sustainable Improvements

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Welcome to Up and to the Right, the no-nonsense podcast where we blend your passion with proven business principles and practical tips, empowering you to create the impact and success you envision.