1. How To Be More Profitable and Successful Tips For Survival In An
Economic Downturn
Plus, How To Control Costs And Remain Competitive In The Face
Of Recession
To be successful, a company must focus as many of its resources
as possible on the business itself, its core competencies and
revenue generating activities. Whilst the company’s underlying
infrastructure is necessary for doing business it does not directly
produce revenue.
The `bottom line` is that if a company can minimise the costs of doing business and
maximise the focus of its resources on its core competency, then the company will be
more profitable and successful. As such, it makes sense to examine infrastructure related
expenses, and see if they can be reduced through outsourcing. Often at times, an
outsourcing company can provide a better service than what can be provided in house,
but at a lower cost, with efficiency + effect and with less complexity. This not only
reduces costs, but it also frees up staff to focus on the company's business objectives.
This will increase sales and net profit.
As critical as email is to most companies, it is important to remember that a company's
mail servers are a part of the company's infrastructure, and are not usually directly
related to the products or services that the company offers to its customers. However,
without email, a company can also grind to a halt, with orders not being received and
important communication not getting through. It therefore makes the most sense to
outsource the company’s email solution to an experienced provider to manage. Although
the reasons behind this choice are mostly financial, businesses find the ability to shift the
responsibility of operations as well as the responsibility of complying with various federal
regulations more to their benefit. This will be very successful and reduce costs plus gain
efficiencies.
For example Microsoft Exchange Server (the most widely deployed business email
solution) is one of the most complex Microsoft products ... With complexity, comes cost
due to the expertise and support required to keep it running smoothly. Alongside this
comes the initial hardware acquisition costs, and the cost of the Windows and Exchange
Server licenses paid to Microsoft. More costs come in the form of spare parts, overtime
for the administrative staff, especially if you want 24x7 reliability, and other maintenance
related expenses.
Outsourcing your mailboxes to a Mail Hosting company not only allows you to avoid the
initial start up costs of deploying an Exchange Server, but the ongoing costs are usually
less as well. The reason why this is possible is because Mail Hosting companies typically
divide server resources among multiple clients. This means that several companies are
sharing the expense of the hardware, software, as well as monitoring and maintenance
costs, rather than your company having to cover the entire costs.
CAVENDISH

2. Other benefits include:
• Reliability - hosting companies have the resources to have a fully redundant and
clustered environment
• Disaster recovery - hosting companies are more likely to have a significant backups set
up on a regular basis, so if disaster strikes data can be restored quickly and efficiently
• Regulations - regarding the security, management, and retention of email. Complying
with these regulations is as tedious as it is expensive, with a hosting company able to do
it for you!
Now is the time to take on board the publication `Quantum Leap to Success` this
publication is very comprehensive and full of solutions for your success. Visit
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk for full details. Click on the publications button.
Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn
1. CASH IS KING
Manage cash - if you are out of cash and out of credit, you are out of business. You need
a good 13 week cash forecast, generated NOT from the income statement but from a
detailed understanding of receipts and disbursements. Monitor trends in your cash flow
to keep on top of any sticky situations.
2. COLLECT WITH PASSION
On a related point, manage receivables aggressively. Businesses are holding on to their
cash longer than before, resulting in late payments. These late payments are having a
ripple effect through the SME community. Receivables will trend up, and some of your
customers may become troubled as well. Do not keep extending credit. Right now you
should invest into the very powerful business model `Be Paid On Time` MasterClass
Model.
Please visit www.cavendish-mr.org.uk for comprehensive details. Click on the
publications button.
3. DO NOT DEPEND ON ANYONE
Keep a close eye on your suppliers, and have alternatives. In a downturn, some of your
suppliers may become troubled as well, and you need to think about alternative sources
for your critical inputs.
4. YOU CAN ALWAYS CUT MORE
You can forecast expenses, you cannot forecast revenue. Look for places to cut
expenses. When times are good, companies tend to add staff and expenses that are nice
to have, but not critical. It’s time to take a fresh look at those.
Keep focus on core markets and spend money solely in those areas. Avoid putting cash
and time into areas that have proven less profitable.
Many companies begin by cutting advertising / marketing budgets. This can be a
mistake. Instead of cutting these budgets, review the methods you are using. Are there
more cost effective routes to market? Does your current strategy bring in the right
results? If not, rework your efforts to deliver the best possible results.

3. If you have debt financing, stay in communication with your creditors. Do not wait until
it’s too late before speaking with your lender. When you are already in a crisis and
haven't provided any warnings, situations may prove tricky. Maintain constant
communication. It will help you should you ever need to renegotiate terms.
6. BUSINESS SURVIVES ON THE BOTTOM LINE. NOT THE TOP LINE
Do not worry about growing revenue. Worry about growing profit.... Make sure you
understand what drives profitability in your business. To spur demand, you may have to
get creative with pricing and product offerings, and you do not want to put something
out there that is actually unprofitable.
Consider diversifying to make the most of potential opportunities. Others’ weaknesses
and instability could work to your advantage. You never know – you may identify a new
market.
Also, take on board a Non Executive Director with skills, experience and wisdom who has
been successful in business. This is an investment not a cost!
How To Control Costs And Remain Competitive In The Face Of Recession
As the global economy stares in the face of recession, small businesses are trying to
keep their heads above water. The dilemma is trying to control costs while also ensuring
they remain competitive.
The first areas where budgets are cut is often IT and technology or marketing, however
both are part of the life-blood that keeps businesses running. Without marketing how can
you, as a small business, grow? And without IT and technology, you may become
inefficient, slow and unresponsive. Therefore the challenge faced by small businesses is
how to invest sensibly, while also being efficient and cost-effective. It sounds like a
contradiction, but it is possible!
A web presence is part of both of these functions: Marketing as it is the face of your
business and most often a source of revenue whether directly or indirectly; and IT, as
your website is only working for your business, when it is live – if a website fails then it
will cost you awareness as well as online sales. For a small business your website is even
more important, it is an opportunity for you to compete on a level playing field alongside
larger competitors. A small business can have a `big reach` if you optimise your website
and providing it is always available.
It is the technology piece in particular, of creating and managing a hosting solution for
your website (or any online application) that can be a major challenge for small
businesses. The decision on how to host your website is very important. Hosting it
yourself may appear to be a low cost solution initially, but when you consider the capital
outlay for hardware, plus the technical ...skills needed to provide support, as well as the
specialist security expertise, which is vital for a company doing business online – it all
sounds a bit daunting for a small business. Not to mention the internet is 24/7 so your
website needs to be as well.
Entrusting your website hosting to a hosting provider removes the enormous burden of
having to worry about whether your website is online and that it is secure. However if
you decide to go down the hosting route, you must select a partner who can deliver,
especially important in recessionary times. Your hosting provider will take the risk of the
upfront capital outlay of the servers and security devices such as firewalls, therefore you
need to ensure the provider themselves has enough cash to do this on your behalf. You
certainly do not want to choose a provider who is struggling themselves as if they do go
under, what happens to your website then? Will it go down with them?

4. As a business you need to be confident that your hosting provider is credible, has
experience and is financially stable. They need to guarantee 100 per cent network uptime
for your website and deliver 24/7 support to get your site back up and running as soon
as possible if hardware fails. Of course they must also have the knowledge to help and
advise you on how to develop your solution as, hopefully your business grows. This
means they are truly your partner and a resource you can use, to enable you to focus on
your core business – keeping existing customers and generating new ones.
For more in-depth information with many solutions visit www.cavendish-mr.org.uk
I am here to help you and your business be more successful, so give me a call and we
can discuss the way forward to increase the `bottom-line` of your business.
Colin Thompson
DDL: + 44 (0) 121 244 0306
Mobile: 07831 588310
Main T: + 44 (0) 121 244 1802
email:colin@cavendish-mr.org.uk
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk
www.colinthompson.org.uk
View my profile on
Check out www.cavendish-mr.org.uk for details by clicking on the publications button.
View the 3 minute movie for inspiration below and turn up your speakers.
"Two little words that can make the difference: START NOW."
Click on the images below for more helpful information that will drive the `bottom-line`
in the upwards direction. Plus, many more helpful `Success Tools`.

5. How are you planning your successful future?
Now invest in the publication `Accelerate with Impact` - you
will benefit from reading this inspirational book.
`Accelerate with Impact` - by Colin Thompson ISBN: 978-1-84549-289-2
Invest in this publication which will help you to be successful in business life and in
general life. This book can be purchased from;
www.amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.com
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk
www.arimapublishing.co.uk
and all High Street bookshops worldwide
Books to help you with your success;
`Formula for Success` by Colin Thompson - Foreword by Karl George OBE
`Quantum Leap to Success` by Colin Thompson - Foreword by Sir Maurice Donn
`Driving the Business Forward` by Colin Thompson - Foreword by
Dr Luis Bravo-Sampedro
`Riders of the Storm` by Colin Thompson - Foreword by Dr Tim Watts
Check out www.cavendish-mr.org.uk for details by clicking on the publications button.
Are you ready to commit to making a Quantum Leap in your performance? Then, we
invite you to invest in the publication `Quantum Leap to Success`. Please use this
website www.cavendish-mr.org.uk as a resource centre for daily motivational quotes,
as well as for a listing of motivating books, CD`s/DVD`s/PDF`s, guides, research reports,
publications, business models and online resources. `Quantum Leap to Success` can be
purchased from the secure e-commerce website:www.cavendish-mr.org.uk

6. Fresh thinking requires a vision to see beyond the conventional. When you combine
excellent quality with outstanding value for money you will begin to realise the full
potential of creative and well presented business solutions. Together, the sky`s the limit.
Have passion to learn and let the knowledge help you to be successful in life.
About the Author Colin Thompson
Colin is a former successful Managing Director of Transactional/Print Manufacturing
Plants, Print Management/Workflow Solutions companies and other organisations, former
Group Chairman of the Academy for Chief Executives and Non-Executive Director,
helping companies raise their `bottom-line` and `increase cash flow`. Plus, helping
individuals to be successful in business and life in general. Author of several publications,
research reports, guides, business and educational models on CD-ROM/Software/PDF and
over 400 articles published on business and educational subjects worldwide. Plus,
International Speaker and Visiting University Professor.
Colin Thompson
DDL: + 44 (0) 121 244 0306
Mobile: 07831 588310
Main T: + 44 (0) 121 244 1802
email:colin@cavendish-mr.org.uk
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk
Visit our knowledge pool at: www.cavendish-mr.org.uk for over 95 powerful publications,
business models and services.
The Cavendish Academy
http://www.linkedin.com/e/-tc85tw-gbkla9w4-1f/vgh/3212542/
Also, read our testimonials page to see what others believe.
Our goal is:
 Changing Limited People into Limitless People
 Turning Limited Companies into Limitless Companies
`Igniting` your success with the new powerful and inspirational books from Arima
Publishing UK ;
`Accelerate with Impact` - by Colin Thompson ISBN: 978-1-84549-289-2
`Create Your Own Success Story` - by Colin Thompson ISBN: 978-1-84549-260-1
Both of these publications help you to be successful in business life and in general life.
These books can be purchased from;
www.amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.com
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk
www.arimapublishing.co.uk
and all High Street bookshops worldwide
Accreditation: UK Registered Learning Provider:10025755
Our mission is two-fold: first, to offer insights that enable people to discover both their
personal and business potential; and second, to do so in a fun and effective way that
fosters connection and community. We do this via business consulting, publications,
seminars and speeches.

7. We can all choose to walk a path with heart and accountability. Our work can support our
path to be one of personal development, contribution to society and positive `bottom-
line` results.
TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) prides itself on the team’s excellent reputation,
credibility and expertise.
Visit the knowledge Pool at the website www.cavendish-mr.org.uk for over 95
solutions and services for you to be more `successful.
CAVENDISH
Kings Court | School Road | Birmingham B28 8JG | UK
Telephone: + 44 (0) 121 244 1802 Fax: + 44 (0) 121 733 2902
email: info@cavendish-mr.org.uk
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk