Member Spotlight
Paula Durrant is a tax accountant for small to medium businesses, and high income individuals. Read more
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What say you?
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
63% - Sure! The more the merrier.
28% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
8% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Profile | Trish Weston
Trish Weston
Trish Weston left her promising academic career at 20 and ran off and joined a business. She learned many tricks in this magical world - how to juggle (20 things to be done by yesterday); how to make things disappear ("Where is that invoice?"); and most importantly, the art of walking the highwire ("What, no safety net?").
Trish has since left this crazy life and spends her days having wonderful conversations with people about what really important to them - in life and business - and how they can make their own world seem less like a circus.
Trish is an Accredited Life Coach (LCA) and, now, has post graduate qualifications in Psychology.
Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself - George Bernard Shaw
Articles by Trish
A little clarity for Big Decisions
12 May 10Trish WestonBig Decisions are those once or twice a year ideas that blow into my business like a welcome breeze, bringing fresh perspectives and limitless possibilities. Read more
Comments: 3Meeting your clients' needs
13 Sep 09Trish WestonWhen cashflow gets tight, a natural response is to start eliminating those expenses that aren’t ‘essential’. How do you meet your clients' needs and ensure that you don’t get crossed off their essentials list? Read more
Comments: 2Understanding your needs as a soloist
05 Jul 09Trish WestonTo succeed in your solo business, you have to understand your physiological and psychological needs. So how do you identify these needs and get your business to satisfy them? Read more
Comments: 8Career change: My new brilliant career
24 May 09Trish WestonThere is plenty of career advice out there for job jockeys who want to change their employer. But what about a career change for soloists? What do you do when you’ve lost heart in your business? How do you tell it “I’m just not that into you”? Read more
Comments: 16Dealing with non-paying clients
17 Mar 09Trish WestonI recently had my first non-paying client as a soloist. And, if I may share, it hurt. As someone who likes to go on about the importance of building great client relationships, this really stung. Read more
Comments: 34How will a sea change affect your business?
08 Feb 09Trish WestonThe decision to make a tree or sea change is relatively easy. But have you thought through how your solo business might be affected by such a move? Read more
Comments: 12Business survival skills: Five tips
11 Dec 08Trish WestonRebounding from a Really Bad Day is essential for the soloist, so here are some business survival skills to make bouncing back easier. Read more
Comments: 11Getting clients: Who are your people?
26 Oct 08Trish WestonIf you’re struggling to find and connect with new clients, then perhaps it’s time to turn to your people. Today, I got a call which dramatically changed the way I viewed getting clients. Read more
Comments: 19Organic business: Why I’ve gone organic
18 Sep 08Trish WestonAs a soloist, I’ve struggled to find the right amount of structure to keep my business fresh, enjoyable and with a healthy cash flow. I have discovered over time that the organic business approach works best for me. Read more
Comments: 19Business emails: Five simple rules
07 Jul 08Trish WestonThe proliferation of mobile phones and ever-changing rules and etiquette around their use got me thinking about another modern day bugbear of mine – the incorrect use of business emails. Read more
Comments: 14The soloist’s business support team
28 Feb 08Trish WestonHow many of us would achieve what we do without our partners, friends, peers, family and pets who make up our unofficial business support team? It's time these silent partners got due thanks for the part they play in making our businesses a success. Read more
Comments: 5Economic sustainability: When everyone profits
27 Jan 08Trish WestonWe are acutely aware of cash flow, ROI, profit and assets in our solo ventures. But when we look at how our business impacts upon the economy sustainability of our communities, we discover that we're not the only ones who can benefit from our business. Read more
Comments: 1People skills: Creating a sustainable business
16 Dec 07Trish WestonHaving good people skills and treating people we work with well is an important aspect of creating a sustainable business. This area, however, doesn’t get a lot of attention despite its presence behind many of our concerns about work and fairness. Read more
Comments: 7Seven ways to create a sustainable business
07 Oct 07Trish WestonThe evidence is everywhere. If we don’t treat clients with respect, we lose them. If we take non-renewable resources from the planet, they run out. It’s time to look past our financial bottom-line to see how to create a truly sustainable business. Read more
Comments: 11The best things about being my own boss
09 Sep 07Trish WestonI bounced out of bed this morning. No alarm clock, no “just five more minutes”. It was my first day of freedom after spending eight months working for someone else and I am once again able to appreciate the great things about being my own boss. Read more
Comments: 16Mixing solo business with employment
29 Jul 07Trish WestonMost of us reckon our solo business ought to provide all our work, career and financial needs. But rather than going it alone all the time, maybe there are benefits to mixing your business with part time employment. Read more
Comments: 14How to cope with low morale
14 Jan 07Trish WestonIf you are a business owner who struggles to cope with low morale, be assured you're not alone. Losses in enthusiasm are particularly common after the initial six or twelve month honeymoon period. Read more
Comments: 4Work attitudes: Four lessons learnt from my four hour day
05 Nov 06Trish WestonWhat seemed like a simple reduction in work hours turned into a valuable experience in understanding my work attitudes and how I work best. Read more
Comments: 13Work less: Why I changed to a four hour day
01 Oct 06Trish WestonMy four hour day started innocently enough. There was no revolutionary zeal nor aspirations to the loafer’s lifestyle. My idea to work less came simply from my desire to more fully enjoy my work. Read more
Comments: 7Setting up your Business Action Group
27 Jul 06Trish WestonIn an earlier article we talked about getting together with other soloists to support and grow your business through a Business Action Group (BAG). If you’re thinking “This is for me” then here are the steps to setting up your very own BAG. Read more
Comments: 11Business Action Groups: Your Success is in the BAG
22 Jun 06Trish WestonWhen you work in isolation, running a successful business isn’t just about getting clients but about building relationships in a supportive environment. That's where Business Action Groups (BAG) come in. Read more
Comments: 3Join the community! It’s free.
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