Things have been tough recently, we’ll make no bones about it, but if the answer to our title question is a resounding yes, or even just a maybe, this is an exciting time. And regardless of whether you’re a get-it-all-down-in-Excel person, or are happy just to jot things on a piece of paper, your mind is no doubt buzzing with all sorts of ideas and questions.

Strategy can be a scary word for a small business. However, having a clear strategy for the direction of your business can help you make clear decisions about where you want your business to be.

Many business owners only start to think about the true value of their business as they approach retirement and begin to explore the possibilities of selling their company. But what they tend to find out is that the things that add value to the business are the very things that help grow a business successfully.

When I first went self-employed, some eight and a half years ago now, one of the pitfalls I hadn’t planned for was how to make effective decisions.

One of the biggest challenges in today’s world is the lack of accountability. We see world leaders not being held accountable on issues of equality and diversity or climate change, we see celebrities and politicians acting as though they are above the law and it has an impact.