3 Simplicity Principles That Can Help Your Business

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Simplicity principles|3 Simplicity Principles That Can Help Your BusinessThere are all sorts of different things that go into making a business successful – with many of these variables being highly industry specific and nuanced, and many of them having to do with fairly common-sense things such as consistency, the ability to work hard, and so on.

One of the principles which is most consistently promoted by successful business owners, however, is the need to emphasise a degree of simplicity. In the words of Warren Buffett, “the difference between really successful people and everyone else is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”

The simpler you can keep things, the more you’ll be able to focus your limited time, energy, and resources on the most essential tasks at any given moment.

So, here are a few simplicity principles that can help your business.

Be willing to absorb costs in exchange for enhanced efficiency, reduced micromanaging, and more available time and awareness

Many entrepreneurs naturally fall into the trap of trying to do just about everything in-house, at least initially, as a cost-saving and bootstrapping strategy.

The bottom line, though, is that it’s often a much better idea to be willing to absorb certain costs upfront in exchange for enhanced efficiency, reduced micromanaging, and more available time and awareness. In other words, it’s worth paying for simplicity.

Something as simple as using the services of a professional Machine Tool Repair Company, or outsourcing your businesses computing solutions, can mean that you not only get higher quality work done on those dimensions of your business, but that you also have more resources freed up for working on your USPs.

If the project you’re working on doesn’t motivate you, there’s a good chance you should drop it

It’s a simple truism of life, and business, that we will all sometimes have to grind through on tasks that we don’t much enjoy, and that we would rather not have to deal with.

Chores are unavoidable – but if you notice that there is a major project or initiative you’re working on in your business that simply doesn’t motivate you, there’s a good chance that the best approach for you might actually be to drop that project or initiative upfront, and focus your energies on something that does motivate you.

In business, you need to be able to create products and services that will inspire your prospective customers and clients and fill them with enthusiasm. If what you’re working on doesn’t even fill you with enthusiasm, that doesn’t bode well.

Focus on doing a few things well, rather than doing everything decently

In business, there is always the temptation to try and do more, and more, and more – across a broader range of dimensions – in order to try and “cover all the bases” and appeal to as many prospective customers as possible.

Ultimately, though, trying to do too much simply leads to chaos, excessive complexity, squandered resources, and a good deal of stress. It also tends to lead to you becoming a “jack of all trades and master of none.”

Instead, focus on doing a few things well, rather than doing everything to a decent – or mediocre – standard.

Identify your USPs, filter out as much of the rest as possible, and work consistently.

Benefits Of Migrating To Cloud Computing

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Benefits Of Migrating To Cloud Computing

More and more companies are moving their data to the cloud. The benefits of cloud-based computing are substantial and companies of all sizes and sectors are able to access these advantages.

Migration is the moving all of your data and applications away from a physical IT infrastructure onto a digital one is called cloud computing.

But, before you think of fully migrating to Cloud storage, you first need to consider an IT equipment disposal plan through a server disposal service provider or company. Here in Newark CA, there’s an expert by the name of “Dataknox” that offers complete equipment disposition, reverse logistics & equipment buyback, Cloud and asset management services.

However, some companies are still reticent to embrace cloud computing due to a number of concerns. They may not trust a solely, cloud-based system, fearing that it is more vulnerable to a cyber attack. Some companies do not like the thought of being beholden to an internet connection to run all of their key services.

Moving your IT functions to the cloud has a number of benefits:

  • Cost reduction
  • Scalability
  • Unlimited storage
  • Business continuity and disaster recovery options
  • Automation of common tasks
  • Security
  • Agile response
  • Increased uptime
  • Eco-conscious compared to standard IT systems

The most well-known cloud providers include Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. The type of contract chosen depends on the storage and performance needs of the company.

Gartner’s research states that 83% of companies will be using cloud-based platforms bt the end of 2020. The industry itself is thought to be worth $240 billion annually.

Cost Reductions

Traditional IT systems use more hardware, which raises the overall cost of buying, installing, and maintaining your IT system. IBM estimated that IT labor costs are reduced by over 50% when a company switches to cloud computing.

By using a specialist such as cdsla.com to manage migration, you can further reduce costs by transferring your data and applications quickly and efficiently, causes little to no disruption to your services.

Reduce Downtime

Downtime is bad for business. It can cost companies money and their reputation. Standard, physical IT systems experience 4 times more downtime than cloud-based systems.

When deciding whether or not to move to cloud computing, consider how the impact of your IT systems going down for any length of time would affect you.

Scalability

Your cloud services can expand or contract in response to your business needs. This allows companies to adapt to changes without having to spend money on hardware to cope with temporary increases in demand.

If there is a sudden increase in demand for services, a cloud-based system can cope with these without any interruption.

Environmentally Friendly

The advent of cloud computing has decreased data center energy consumption by almost 40%. That is a huge reduction and one that can be further improved as more businesses move to the cloud.

Business Continuity

If there was a sudden emergency that stopped you accessing your place of business, or affected your data (such as a ransomware attack), how would you deal with it? Cloud computing can allow you to fail-over to backups almost instantly as part of a robust business continuity plan.

If someone is threatening to hold your data hostage unless you pay them, you simply failover to your backup systems.

Taking Inspiration From Google For Your Business Premises

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Taking Inspiration From Google For Your Business Premises

Renowned for creating incredible workspaces that aim to increase productivity in their staff, Google has 70 offices in 40 countries, each of them carefully designed to be an appealing and inspirational place to work. Here are just a few of the most exciting and design-led Google offices around the world.

Google Zurich, Switzerland

Step inside Google’s European engineering HQ, and you’d be forgiven for assuming you were atop an Alpine ski resort. In fact, you’re in one of the company’s many zoned conference areas, which encompass a snowy “North Pole”, complete with penguins, an aquarium chill-out zone, and swing chairs for (literally!) hanging out while you work.

Google Tel Aviv, Israel

Another innovative Camenzind Evolution design that can inspire your business, this sales and engineering hub sits in a prime spot in Israel’s coolest city, focusing on Google’s EMEA activities. The office has themed designs across its seven floors. Each reflects an authentic Israeli scene; hence an in-house orange grove tipping a wink to one of Israel’s most famous exports, corridors mocked-up to look like heritage cobbled streets (complete with window-boxes bursting with colourful blooms) and even a tractor-turned-lounge to complete the weird and wonderful décor.

Google London, United Kingdom

The Central St. Giles Building in Covent Garden is situated in the heart of London’s theatreland, playing host to Google’s London “Super HQ” within an unmistakably British space. Designed by British firm Penson, the patriotic theme starts from the Union Jack-swathed reception and continues on throughout the building with Chesterfield-buttoned velour lounge seating in British Racing Green, reminiscent of a vintage town hall, and kitschy chintz wallpaper and wing-back armchairs suggestive of a retro “Granny Flat”. This quirky style of interior design celebrates all things London with tongue firmly in cheek.

Google Amsterdam, Netherlands

Finally, engaging local design firm D/DOCK to refurbish its Amsterdam offices, Google’s newly refreshed reopened in January 2014. With eco credentials just as impressive as the design focus, this makeover adhered strictly to an approved materials list that minimised toxins, while maximising efficiency in power and water consumption. You can easily take inspiration from this, creating an industrial environment by engaging a pallet supply company and re-using materials and equipment in order to create an office space that inspires and amazes all at once. The wellbeing of the staff was also a major driver, with all employees afforded a 180° view across Amsterdam from the multitude of windows that line the offices. Thoughtful decorative touches appear everywhere, with bikes featuring heavily in the design (a nod to Amsterdam’s pedal-power transport culture), plus cute and comfortable 1960s caravans, complete with deckchairs and faux grass, repurposed as enticing meeting rooms for staff to enjoy.

As you can see, Google has gone a long way to ensure their office spaces are inspirational and truly incredible. You can take this approach with your business premises, irrespective of whether you have a number of offices or you own a warehouse. You can still make the place exciting while productive and adhering to safety regulations.

Is Your Business A Target For Criminals?

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To answer the question of the title simply, it should be stated that: yes, businesses are more at risk of being targeted by criminals than private citizens and public sector entities. This is simply because it’s assumed there is more of value to take from a business. As such, we’re going to look at the major criminal risks facing your business and how to make sure that you’re protected.

Theft

If you have any physical assets of worth, be they retail goods, business equipment, or digital hardware, then there is a real risk of theft. Investing in the physical protection that you need is crucial. Smart CCTV systems linked up to digital alarm systems can help you spot and act on signs of theft as early as possible. Ensure that you’re protecting against internal loss caused by theft from employees, as well. Use an inventory management system to ensure you track every asset and know where it is located at all times and who has access to it. For higher value assets, consider using GPS trackers so that, even if stolen, you can track them down and get them returned in more cases.

Fraud

For businesses that conduct any kind of high-value transactions, there is always the risk of fraud. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to protect yourself from it, as well. Ensure you safeguard access to any financial accounts, by making sure that they require multiple layers of authentication to access and by doing employee background checks to make sure you’re not being targeted by career criminals. Investigation software can help you make better use of the reams of data that modern businesses tend to have to deal with, making it easier to find the facts behind a case of fraud. Lastly, make sure that you invest in fraud protection insurance so that any costs you do accrue can at least be recouped.

Cybercrime

More and more businesses are relying on increasing levels of digital technology, meaning that we tend to store more valuable data on digital systems and also need them to carry out core business functions. As such, preventing hacking attempts is crucial. Make sure you work with a digital security expert to find and close vulnerabilities in all your hardware, software, and networks. Teach your employees the importance of good cybersecurity practices such as password security and never leaving their terminals open and accessible to anyone who might find it. One of the latest threats, ransomware, also shows the importance of investing in enterprise-strength anti-malware software. There is a digital threat race ongoing, and you need to be continually improving your defenses to make sure you don’t get left behind.

Assume that your business is at risk of being targeted by criminals, then figure out what those risks are and make sure that you’re doing what you can to protect against them. Whether it’s theft, cybercrime, fraud, or otherwise, you can’t let your business stay vulnerable. Complete your risk assessment and find what kind of protections you must invest in.

How To Improve Your Professional Development

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | How To Improve Your Professional DevelopmentWhatever your role – business owner, team leader, staff member – it is human nature to want to learn new skills and grow as a person. Personal and professional development are both key to this, but it is the latter – development in the context of the workplace, such as skills that can be used in your career – that can occasionally be difficult to know where to start with.

Primarily, there are a few key principles to remember:

  1. Stay motivated
  2. Increase how much you read
  3. Learn from different industries
  4. Get feedback on what you’re learning
  5. Attend a training program
  6. Assess your progress

The Basics of Professional Development

If you’re not motivated, you’re unlikely to learn anything new, or at least anything new quickly. If you struggle with self-motivation, perhaps you could team up with a partner and set each other targets to push each other. This will also help vary the way in which you learn, as you can share hints and tips for what methods are working. The most obvious method for widening your professional horizons is to read more. Reading books not only based in your field of work but other ones as well will give you a wider, more rounded outlook on your job.

Getting in touch with people in other businesses and industries and asking what sort of professional development they have done – or what skills they need for their job – is also a good idea. Developing yourself in the context of your own position is obviously useful for the present but equipping yourself with knowledge and skills of other positions will make you a more attractive worker or business partner in the future.

Once you have started learning a new skill or studying a new business practice, it’s never a bad idea to ensure you’re working along the right lines by either getting feedback or checking your progress against examples. For instance, if you’re learning more about search engine optimization, looking into case studies for SEO is a good way of gauging your understanding against real-life examples.

Working with experts in the field you are studying and trying to grow your understanding will also improve your rate of development. If it’s a skill that you can enroll in a training course for, consider doing so. If you can, contact somebody who has already completed the course to ensure it’s worth the investment. Always find professionals with a lot of experience and with proven examples of their training improving a business.

Embarking on learning a new skill, developing your existing ones, or any other form of furthering your professional improvement can seem like a daunting task. It is never easy to remove yourself from your comfort zone, but pushing yourself and surrounding yourself with knowledge will help you do your job better and encourage those around you to do the same. Assessing your progress as you go along – looking back and seeing where you were at a week, month or year ago – will demonstrate how far you have come and motivate you to go further.