David Mellor Mentoring http://www.davidmellormentoring.com Professional Business Mentoring Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:41:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Expert Article #15: New Year resolutions to build your business http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2012/01/25/expert-article-15-new-year-resolutions-to-build-your-business/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2012/01/25/expert-article-15-new-year-resolutions-to-build-your-business/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:40:20 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=722 Happy New Year! Following on from last month’s article about planning for 2012, I have put together a new year checklist featuring some useful lessons I’ve learned as I’ve worked with a variety of businesses to tackle growing pains, challenging business environments and tighter client budgets. I hope this will be a useful reference as you plan your year ahead. If you’d like to add your own resolutions, thoughts or ideas, please do so via the comment form below.

You can download the article here: DavidMellor_January2012_Newsletter

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2012/01/25/expert-article-15-new-year-resolutions-to-build-your-business/feed/ 0 Expert article #14: Planning for a successful 2012 http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/12/14/expert-article-14-planning-for-a-successful-2012/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/12/14/expert-article-14-planning-for-a-successful-2012/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:03:37 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=716 A wise man once said: “no one plans to fail, but many fail to plan.” As 2011 draws to a close, what better time to reflect back on your successes and challenges in the year gone by, and what you want or need to do differently to achieve your goals for 2012?

To help you plan for a more successful 2012, I’ve drawn up a list of key questions and issues to consider, which you can find here: DavidMellor__Planningfor2012

I hope these will be useful food for thought as you look ahead. After all, a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow!

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/12/14/expert-article-14-planning-for-a-successful-2012/feed/ 0 Expert Article #13: Building a Successful Portfolio Career http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/11/30/expert-article-13-building-a-successful-portfolio-career/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/11/30/expert-article-13-building-a-successful-portfolio-career/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:59:10 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=707 A portfolio career is not a new concept, but it is one which is becoming increasingly popular as people seek the flexibility and variety that many corporate jobs cannot offer. What do portfolio careers look like, and how might you go about creating your own? In this article I use my own portfolio of activities and those of a group of “portfolio careerists” to paint a picture of how a successful portfolio career can be created, and the challenges and opportunities it provides. For a full transcript, please click here: DavidMellorMentoring_PORTFOLIO CAREER_2011

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/11/30/expert-article-13-building-a-successful-portfolio-career/feed/ 0 Expert Article #12: How Effective is Your Board? http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/10/27/expert-article-12-how-effective-is-your-board/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/10/27/expert-article-12-how-effective-is-your-board/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:54:07 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=699 As your business grows, you will need to develop a robust Board of Directors to steer it to continued success. Unfortunately, this is far easier said than done! This month’s expert interview is from me and my fellow Board member, Paul Chapman of Azure Partners, who has some very useful criteria to follow if you want to develop an effective Board. I hope you find this useful.

The article is available to read (and act upon!) here: David_Mellor_Mentoring_How_Effective_is_your_Board_Oct_2011

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/10/27/expert-article-12-how-effective-is-your-board/feed/ 0 Expert Article #11: The role of the Finance Director and the art of raising business finance http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/08/23/expert-article-11-the-role-of-the-finance-director-and-raising-business-finance/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/08/23/expert-article-11-the-role-of-the-finance-director-and-raising-business-finance/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:51:39 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=667 As an ambitious company, how do you go about securing funding to expand your business? And what should a Finance Director do to help you understand and grow your company?  In this month’s expert interview I’m discussing the role of the FD and the art of raising business finance in a challenging climate with Dick Haynes, Managing Director of Haynes Financial Ltd, who has carved out a successful career as a “virtual” FD.  The interview is available as a podcast or as a downloadable document here:

To download the pdf of this interview, please click here:

ExpertArticle_Raising_Business_Finance_August2011

Or you can listen to the audio version here:

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/08/23/expert-article-11-the-role-of-the-finance-director-and-raising-business-finance/feed/ 0 Expert Article #10: How to Build a Successful Consultancy http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/07/29/expert-article-10-how-to-build-a-successful-consultancy/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/07/29/expert-article-10-how-to-build-a-successful-consultancy/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:57:43 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=654 Many people setting up in business choose to do so as a consultant. What are the elements which make a successful consultancy, and what should you guard against as you build your consultancy business? In this month’s expert interview I’m discussing how to make a consultancy business work with Andrew Pullman, Managing Director of People Risk Solutions, a successful HR consultancy servicing a wide range of City clients. It’s a clear and insightful summary of the skills you need to build a successful consultancy business, and some of the challenges you will need to meet.  The interview is available as a podcast or as a downloadable document here:

To download the pdf of this interview, please click here: DavidMellorMentoring_ExpertArticle_Building_Successful_Consultancy_July2011

Or you can listen to the audio version here:

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/07/29/expert-article-10-how-to-build-a-successful-consultancy/feed/ 0 Expert Article #9: The Art of Rainmaking, or how to acquire more (and better) clients http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/06/17/expert-article-9-the-art-of-rainmaking-or-how-to-acquire-more-and-better-clients/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/06/17/expert-article-9-the-art-of-rainmaking-or-how-to-acquire-more-and-better-clients/#comments Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:17:43 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=614 For a business to succeed, it needs clients. Indeed, most businesses need more clients to become more successful, but trying to find those clients can be difficult and daunting. Unless, that is, you’re a rainmaker: someone who has the skills to expertly find and acquire new clients. In this month’s expert interview I’m discussing the art of rainmaking with Dr Cliff Ferguson, founder of www.rainmakersuk.com and an authority on the art and science of new business development. It’s a fascinating insight into the key skills you need to become more successful at attracting and winning new business. The interview is available as a podcast or as a downloadable document here:

To download the pdf of this interview, please click here: Rainmakers- DavidMellorMentoring_ExpertInterview_June2011

Or you can listen to the audio version here:

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/06/17/expert-article-9-the-art-of-rainmaking-or-how-to-acquire-more-and-better-clients/feed/ 0 Expert Article #8: Top Tips for Effective Networking http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/05/16/expert-article-8-top-tips-effective-networking/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/05/16/expert-article-8-top-tips-effective-networking/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 10:27:18 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=594 Networking can be a very powerful tool in launching and building your business, but it is often misunderstood or badly done. In this month’s expert interview, I discuss the art of effective networking with Jeremy Taylor, Chief Executive of Cadia, the Gatwick Diamond Business Association, which represents over 350 successful companies in and around Gatwick.  The interview is available as a podcast or as a downloadable document here:

To download the pdf of this interview, please click here: TopTips_Networking

Or you can listen to the audio version here:

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/05/16/expert-article-8-top-tips-effective-networking/feed/ 0 Expert Article #7: Building a Successful Franchise Business http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/03/31/expert-article-7-building-successful-franchise-business/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/03/31/expert-article-7-building-successful-franchise-business/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:16:49 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=582 Buying a franchise may appear an easy way to start your own business, but before committing your funds and time, it’s worth listening to the lessons learned by an experienced franchisee. In this month’s expert interview, I’m chatting with Chris Griffin of the WSI internet marketing franchise about the challenges in setting up as a franchisee and the lessons he has learned along the way. Our interview offers an invaluable insight into the potential and pitfalls to buying a franchise. The interview is available as a podcast or as a downloadable document here:

To download the pdf of this interview, please click here: Building_a_Successful_Franchise_Business

Or you can listen to the audio version here:

]]> http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/03/31/expert-article-7-building-successful-franchise-business/feed/ 0 Expert Article #6: Building a Successful Team http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/02/25/expert-article-6-building-a-successful-team/ http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/2011/02/25/expert-article-6-building-a-successful-team/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:16:13 +0000 admin http://www.davidmellormentoring.com/?p=539 Creating or building a team can be hard work, but your company’s growth may depend on your ability to take your team from “norming” to “performing”. How can you make sure you are developing a high-performing team, and what are the obstacles that may get in the way? In this month’s expert interview, I’m chatting with Berry Winter of coaching and training experts Jamberry Ltd about the processes and challenges involved in building a successful team.

To download the pdf of this interview, please click here: Building_A_Successful_Team

Or you can listen to the audio version here:

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