Company Shortcuts Blog

When the cat’s away…

Culture Leadership Nicola Cook
/ By Nicola Cook

“When the cat’s away the mice will play” (meaning when the cats not around to watch, the mice will get up to all sorts of mischief.) So what are your people doing when they’re not being watched? Do they do the same things they would if you were physically there? It’s the ultimate culture test. […]

From Vision to Exit – An Entrepreneurial Journey

Guy Rigby is the Head of Entrepreneurs at Smith & Williamson, and we were lucky enough for him to attend one of our Club dinners. Guy shared some amazing nuggets of wisdom about his own experience and entrepreneurial journey, along with those he’s helped. Below are some of the highlights… GR: Demand is what makes […]

Avoiding the Competency Trap

Leadership Nicola Cook Strategy
/ By Nicola Cook

“The honest answer is after we reach £1M I haven’t a clue what I’m meant to be doing!” That was the comment, fresh out of the mouth of one of our Business Accelerator Club members during our initial coaching call. I was quizzing her on the size of her vision and testing the level of […]

The Ultimate Budget Planner Template

Are you ready? Making a budget – It’s that time of the year again when you should be digging out your budget planner template and planning your next financial year. Regardless of the timing of your financial year-end, there is something about the half-year mark or the close of a calendar year that signals the end of […]

Are you intimidated by your bank?

Money Nicola Cook
/ By Nicola Cook

Every growing business needs working capital and that may mean raising funds to cash flow growth. Knowing what capital you need to expand is one thing, your propensity to handle risk is another BUT where you acquire the cash for working capital to fund growth is another. There obviously is more than one source. […]

Are You Business Fit?

Culture Leadership Nicola Cook
/ By Nicola Cook

The first decision I made at the turn of the year, which I announced to the Company Shortcuts team at our first strategy meeting – is that from now on we are closing the business from 4pm on the 23rd December until the first working day of the New Year. You can imagine – that announcement […]

Good strategy, Bad strategy…

Leadership Nicola Cook Strategy
/ By Nicola Cook

is the name of the book I’m currently devouring… And it comes highly recommended. Suddenly so much of advice I’ve previously been given makes sense! I’m only at the beginning of the book and already have pages of ideas and ‘grey time’ thoughts scrawled down for myself, and although I have many insights to […]

How Much Are You Prepared to Give Away?

… and no I’m not talking equity rather your role? I heard a great nugget recently from Anthony Fletcher, the CEO of fast-growing business Graze. “If you plan to grow your business by 30% you have to find someone to do 30% of your own job” The inability to consistently prune your own role (and then everyone else’s) is […]

4 Critical Questions to Ask Yourself

Culture Lara Morgan Money Strategy
/ By Company Shortcuts

I thought I would share some wise words from Lara Morgan which I trust you find valuable and take time to read, reflect and act. From Lara’s desk… Now is the time with a single-minded focus to answer the following 4 critical questions… 1. Do you have the right people to drive your researched strategy? […]

Growth Gems – One for the Office Wall!

Here’s our list of Growth Gems … what else would you add? If habits maketh the man … what habits make a truly outstanding sales professional? One to download and stick on your office wall perhaps and ask your team to add to. 40 #GrowthGems guaranteed to improve sales performance Get in front of the […]