SME Blog

Behind the Cloud - The SME Perspective

Behind the Cloud is a book written by Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com that provides advice to help entrepreneurs become more successful.

You can hear what Mark Benioff says of the book in the video below, but for the typical SME is it worth the read? 

For the most part the book is a success.  The book is a very easy read and keeps the content to short sections of advice divided up into 111 "plays".  Much of it is very sensible for SMEs such as:

Play #9: Listen to Your Prospective Customers

Play #18: Differentiate, Differentiate, Differentiate

Play #95: Build a First-Class Financial Team

Some advice needs to be taken in light of Salesforce.com's position rather than, say, a small one man micro consultancy business.  For example, Play #94: Measure a Fast-Growing Company on Revenue, Not Profitability is not likely to apply if your company is a one man consultancy business.

Particularly fascinating are some comments that go against perceived old rules, but have worked well for Salesforce.com.  Play #56 Embrace Transparency and Build Trust tells of the company's experience on actively opening up to customers, prospects and journalists rather than remaining silent when faced with problems.  Even for a company as forward thinking as Salesforce.com this was "a big leap of faith".  However, with the rise of digital publication and blogging in retrospect it was no surprise that engaging with the individuals in this arena would be more successful than shutting them out.

Overall, a good read for any entrepreneur.  Keep the above in mind and while the book will undoubtedly help, there is still much hard work required by any entrepreneur to bring the areas described in the book together to create a successful business.

10 London based business iPhone apps

The iPhone has proved very popular at work after replacing the Blackberrrys.  With Android in the market the mobile tech sector will be even stronger in the new decade.

Here are my current top 10 business apps:

iThoughts

Mind mapping tool that highlights the benefits of using touchscreen technology. An excellent tool for those that like the mind mapping approach.

Quickoffice

Excel and Word functionality for the iPhone.

WorkSnug

Locate a nearby wireless network (and cafe). Uses the augumented reality approach also found on Nearest Tube.

BusinessWeek

Quality content with good small business and management channels.

National Rail

Obtain the latest train information.

Tube Exits

Shortest journey calculator for the tube. 

Weather Pro

High precision weather forecast. Very good.

Business Card Reader

Import contact information from business cards directly to your iPhone contacts.

Twittelator

Discover Twitter for yourself and join the growing business users.  Alternatively, there is the LinkedIn app.

Xero

Access the Xero accounting system on your iPhone.  Demonstrates how future business systems will integrate with mobile technology.

An absolute mess

As president Obama takes power in the US we must all hope he achieves as much success tackling the current crisis as in his internet campaign.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spoken to many people in the business world.  High level individuals working in the inside of banks, highly successful business owners, respected financial experts and leading professionals.  The one common strand is that we all agree that the situation is an absolute mess.  I'll add my own view is that it is only a matter of time before the UK starts printing money. With this in mind I thought a little light relief was in order.  The video gives tips from Monty Python on how to raise finance in testing times. 

Pivot tables - Excel training

As the downturn cuts there is the evitable squeeze on budgets.  Not surprisingly, for many companies the training budget is on the list to be slashed.   However, there are smart ways to train staff at next to no cost.

For example, Emily Coltman got in touch with me to point out a series of Excel videos that can be obtained for £7.50 (plus VAT).  Add to this piece of information that the cost covers all users in a company then the £7.50 represents superb value.  

The topic of the videos is Excel pivot tables.  If you use Excel regularly then this is a vital topic.  It does have an air of mystery to those not in the know, but is an indispensable skill once gained.

To conquer the topic there are four videos (each less than five minutes) together with supporting spreadsheet and manual.  It is a very clear and concise approach that is a winning formula and at £7.50 it certainly won’t be a drain of the budget.

You can find out more at Glen’s Feechan site at http://www.feechan.co.uk/index.htm?page=excelvideotraining

Simon Hurst Excel Guru

If you are a budding Excel guru or you want to be able to achieve more in Excel faster and quicker then an online visit to Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales can help.  There you will find the Excel Guru in the form of Simon Hurstat their online network IT Counts.

A selection of Simon's tips are listed below:

Useful Excel shortcuts
Office IT Quick tip – Excel data entry
Did you know? Random MS Office tips
Excel and instant year ends
Part 2 – the best ever Excel tip?
Excel functions: MATCH(), INDEX() and the Lookup Wizard
Roadshow day 4, Lancaster - Excel's OFFSET() function

Simon's tips come in bite size chunks at IT Counts.  The online approach works well as many tips include animated screen shots which aids in grasping the concepts. The tips are also permanently online so if you forget a point then the answer is just a click of the mouse away.

If this has given you an appetite for more of Simon's tips then clicking on the link below.  You will have to join the IT Counts online network first - membership is free and open to all.

Simon Hurst's Excel IT Counts Posts

Note:  Once at Simon's web page select "All Dates"