Small Business Newsletter: Flying Solo’s Soapbox

Welcome to the home of Soapbox, Flying Solo’s solo and small business email newsletter which provides a weekly jolt of soloist wisdom along with links to our latest articles on running your own business.

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Here, you can browse past editions and join lively discussions on a wide range of topics related to starting, growing and running your own small business.

Soapbox articles

• Happiness is hard work

  We know from our 2008 survey Understanding Micro Business – coming your way again very soon incidentally – that soloists are a sunny bunch with average happiness levels rated as 8 out of 10.

  • 09 February 10
  • Sam Leader
  • 6 Comments

• In praise of blooming late

  Scan the blogosphere or bestseller list and you'd think that no-one over thirty succeeds at business. Not so. Some things take time and so they should. After all, what's the rush?

  • 02 February 10
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 39 Comments

• How do you get in the zone?

  Elite sports people often have a routine they go through before a game to help them get ‘in the zone’ to perform at their best. This powerful concept can apply to business professionals too.

  • 26 January 10
  • Peter Crocker
  • 23 Comments

• Six degrees of connection

  Occasionally you’ll be exposed to some thinking that you then can’t shake from your mind. This happened to me whilst listening to a program on good old ABC radio recently. See what you make of it.

  • 19 January 10
  • Sam Leader
  • 24 Comments

• Looking the business

  A very popular area of the Flying Solo online forums is where members invite feedback to a new business concept, website or logo. Those responding don’t mince their words and that’s half the magic. Here’s what I’ve learned.

  • 12 January 10
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 3 Comments

• Is work life integration a pipe dream?

  I’ve recently become fascinated by the idea of ‘work life integration’. Ok, so I haven’t even mastered ‘work life balance’ yet, but that concept is so last decade!

  • 05 January 10
  • Peter Crocker
  • 45 Comments

• Best of 2009

  It’s the time of year for me to cast my eye over 2009’s articles and select a handful for your holiday reading. We’ve seen some crackers this year… here are a few of my favourites.

  • 22 December 09
  • Sam Leader
  • 3 Comments

• Get crafty for the year ahead

  As 2009 hurtles to a close and the prospect of a break looms, now is the perfect time to capture your vision for the year ahead. Here’s how to do it.

  • 15 December 09
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 19 Comments

• Cut to the chase

  When you run your own business, you’ll inevitably be presented with great-sounding opportunities by prospective partners. But beware, most of what glitters is not gold.

  • 08 December 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 15 Comments

• Give yourself a break

  I strongly believe every soloist should have a plan for taking time away from their business. Now is the ideal time to work out how you’ll get time out in 2010. Here are some tips that may help.

  • 01 December 09
  • Sam Leader
  • 16 Comments

• Just tell me what you want!

  One lesson learnt from a decade of coaching is the power and value of questions. Are you asking the right ones?

  • 24 November 09
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 21 Comments

• Client Christmas gifts: hot or not?

  Up until last year I thought giving clients a gift at Christmas – or at least a card – was a sure-fire winner. It turns out there is a very passionate divide on the subject amongst business owners.

  • 17 November 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 47 Comments

• Treating customers like criminals

  Hands up who likes getting told off? I’ve had a number of interactions with businesses that have made me feel like a naughty child.

  • 10 November 09
  • Sam Leader
  • 37 Comments

• All puff, no substance. That’s enough about me.

  Back in April I wrote a piece on common website mistakes and took a swipe at ugly sites designed purely to hook people in. I copped some flack and was accused by some of being precious and superficial.

  • 03 November 09
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 22 Comments

• Beware tired and emotional typing

  We’ve all said things we regret. In the real world, a sincere face-to-face apology and explanation can usually put things right, but in the virtual world our words can take on a life of their own.

  • 27 October 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 22 Comments

• A moving story

  Before embarking on the journey, I wondered why moving is said to be one of the most stressful things you can do. Shove a few things in boxes, put them on a truck - how hard can it be?

  • 20 October 09
  • Sam Leader
  • 42 Comments

• How acronyms help articulation (HAHA!)

  It seems increasingly difficult to get far into a business conversation before someone chucks a curve ball question that leaves you tongue-tied. Enter the soloist’s saviour, the acronym.

  • 13 October 09
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 14 Comments