Write Away

Welcome back. Today’s post discusses the value of working with others, either on ideas for a new business or in actually starting something up together. I think there is a common view, that starting a business is something you do on your own initially, and this can mean that would-be entrepreneurs miss out on valuable advice and input from others. A few years ago, I enrolled on a course called Teamstart, the basic premise being to bring a group of people together who either had a business idea, or just a burning desire to work for themselves. The six-week programme consisted of different modules linked to starting a business with a number of workshops included, where you were put into pairs or groups to come up with, and work on, various business ideas. I made lasting friendships from the course, but it also taught me that two or three heads can definitely be better than one when you’re trying to come up with that elusive business idea or concept. So if you’re struggling in this a

Welcome back. This is the first in a series of posts on websites specifically aimed at start ups and small businesses, links to the websites covered will be at the end of the post. The internet is a mine of information on a whole host of different subjects, resources and advice for small business and start ups are no exception. You can spend hours browsing through hundreds of websites without finding exactly what you are looking for. One of the aims of this blog is to keep you informed about interesting and useful online resources and websites that are aimed at small businesses and start ups. One of my favourite online resources is the Enterprise Nation website Enterprise Nation was founded by Emma Jones, who has started several small businesses of her own and launched the site to build an online resource and community of small businesses that could support each other, and very good it is too. As a spin off from the Enterprise Nation website, Jones has also founded another website,

Hello all, well this is it - my first post on the "Write Away" blog. Firstly, thanks for checking the blog out, hope you like it. I'm an accountant by day, and that keeps the bills at bay, but I've always wanted to work for myself, and write, and this blog is all about achieving those goals and working for myself, as a freelance writer. Lots of people have an ambition to start up a business or work for themselves, I'm no different, but I want to do something about it now, and share my experiences with you. I'll try to dig out those "off the beaten track" web resources for new businesses, pass on any tips and tricks I learn along the way and even share some useful financial management information, but, hopefully, in a concise and informative way. I hope you'll stay with me on the journey (and tell anyone else who might be interested) Until next time.