“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” (Albert Einstein)  Change can be uncomfortable and often we humans love to avoid it. In business, however, being brave enough to embrace change could be the difference between going under and thriving. All business owners should be constantly on the lookout for opportunities to improve their products, services or offerings.  A good pivot into a new area, technology or even target customer base could be just the ticket your business needs to position itself for a very bright future. But how do you know when it’s time to change tack? Look out for these six signs… 1. These are not the results you were looking for Achieving results takes time. But if you’ve held the line consistently for a year and the business isn’t expanding – or worse, is in decline – it’s probably time for a change. Don’t let emotions take over – now is the time to be honest with yourself and take a long, hard look at your marketing plans, and your product. Most good pivots don’t come from hard shifts but from subtle changes to products and offerings. If the customers aren’t biting, now is the time to ask them why.  2. The market has changed We live in an era of technological advancement and massive change. If you’re still doing things the way you did them five years ago (or perhaps even a year ago, depending on the industry) it might be time to start looking at changing. As a business owner, you need to constantly make adjustments to your service or product to suit changing market conditions. If a new technology or way of doing business has popped up, you need to understand how it impacts your business and develop a plan to match the new conditions. If you can’t, then it may be time to think about moving into an entirely new industry or shutting down entirely. 3. People can’t see your vision In business, we often speak about the elevator pitch – the quick two-minute description of what your business does and how it does it differently. If your elevator pitch is generally met with blank stares, and you never get enthusiastic responses, then you either need a new elevator pitch or a new business model. 4. You’re constantly exhausted Working hard to get a new business going is par for the course, but if you’re putting in the hard hours and it’s not catching on, then something is going wrong. The pivot you need may be something as simple as better marketing, or a slight adjustment to your product – but it’s important to act sooner rather than later. 5. You’ve got cash flow issues Temporary cash flow issues are one thing, but if you’re permanently battling, then something has gone wrong. Perhaps your pricing structure is wrong, or perhaps you are in the wrong game altogether. Persistent cash flow issues are a sign that you need to rethink your business model.…

“He who buys what he does not need, steals from himself.” (Swedish Proverb) Many think of corporate travel expenses as being a non-negotiable, and expensive part of doing business. The thing is, it is possible to cut back on travel expenses without cutting out the necessary requirements and little luxuries. Here are our four top tips for saving money on your corporate travel account. 1. Plan ahead Most corporate travel is not an emergency. Whether you need to pitch to new clients in London, attend a conference in Los Angeles or visit a supplier in China, proper planning can save a great deal of money. All travel expenses increase the closer you get to the departure date. Simply looking at the necessary travel for the year ahead, scheduling it in advance and booking comfortably ahead of time will save you a significant amount. Flights are generally at their cheapest between 30 and 60 days before departure.  Taking this one step further, you can also make sure you aren’t travelling during peak times. If you need to visit your clients every second month, make sure your trips don’t coincide with large conferences or entertainment events as these can drive up hotel costs.  For domestic travel it makes sense to try and fly on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, as flights are generally cheaper than on other days. Early morning or early afternoon flights (before 3 PM) are not only cheaper, but also tend to have fewer delays and cancellations – which means there’s less chance of additional accommodation or car hire charges. 2. Set up a travel policy In order to effectively plan ahead and book all that’s needed, you need to implement a company-wide travel policy. This policy should cover all aspects of travel including:  The booking process for accommodation, flights, transfers, vehicle rentals and everything else. Expenses and meal allowances. The approval and reimbursement process. 3. Be as loyal as possible Hotels and airlines offer loyalty programs that reward their most frequent travellers with perks like airport lounges and dining discounts, but they also offer important benefits for the business. Airline loyalty members often get to cancel their bookings or change dates at a reduced fee, and the frequent flyer miles and rewards can add up to other free travel benefits. Hotels are much more forgiving on loyalty members when it comes to late and early check-ins and room upgrades. And they typically offer a guaranteed discount on their room rates. 4. Use an agent Travel agents are basically a free (or at least very cheap) service for the people who use them. Often the prices are the same whether you book yourself or do it through an agency because the agent commissions are already built into the prices of the rooms, flights and car rentals. Booking with an agent can save your HR, receptionist or PA valuable hours that could be put into something more productive.  Agents are already experts so paying them a small service fee (if required)…