The Story So Far...

Posted by Katie Pringle on June 14, 2007 4:56 PM

Hello Hello Hello! Welcome to my blog, settle in, get yourself a cup of tea and then let's get down to business.

My name is Katie Pringle and for the past two years I have been a partner in a small business with big aspirations called Rock Paper Scissors.

About six months ago I approached the Journal with an idea for a column, I would write entertaining, informative pieces that told from the inside the trials and tribulations involved in getting a new business venture off the ground.

They replied along the lines off, 'Hey Pringle, get into the 21st century, don't you know Blogs is where it's at?!' And the rest as they say, is history.

So here we are, my very own blog, or should I say our very own blog, because I've done my research and I know that for a blog to be successful it needs dialogue, which means me and you.

Anything I write which you want to comment on please feel free, the more the merrier : )

Right, that's introductions out the way, next time let's get stuck into the meaty stuff

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When It Rains It Pours...

Posted by Katie Pringle on June 15, 2007 12:05 PM

Today it is raining.

No scrap that, today it is absolutely pouring down. Sitting inside at my computer I can hear it's relentless pitter patter on the guttering outside and I am satisfied that nature has seen fit to emulate my current mood with a zeal I can hardly match in my own soggy mental state.

And the reason for this displeasure I hear you ask, well quite simply i'm dissapointed with the work that someone has done for us on a job. I'm not happy about it, they obviously think it's fine and I'm left in the uncomforatble situation of having to complain after the fact.

Why is it that no matter how simple you may think a job is in business, or indeed in life in general there is always room for a balls up?! After reflection i think this mostly comes down to poor communication on both sides.

A bit of advice: Never be afraid to patronize in business. This may seem very harsh and positively not positive advice but hear me out. I say patronizing because sometimes that's what you worry you'll come across as, but actually it's not patronizing it's just clear, simple, concise communication. Communication that doesn't assume anything.

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Making plans

Posted by Katie Pringle on June 18, 2007 9:20 PM

Would it surprise you to know that I was looking at job sites today?

No you're not mistaken you are on a business blog and I am indeed partner in a small business, but it's time I make a confession. (Come closer) Ahem, starting up a business will not neccessarily guarantee you an income. At least not a sizable one, at least not for the first couple of years.

Now this doesn't mean i'm not making any money, things are not that dire, but really I've only been at the stage to actually make a profit in the last 4 to 6 months. The creative process takes time and cannot be rushed...you understand ; )

So with this in mind I will now reveal another insider secret: some small business owners have to supplement themselves with a part time job of some sort until their business is looking a little more financially stable. I am one such small business owner.

And I think I'm ready for a change.

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North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2007

Posted by Katie Pringle on June 24, 2007 10:45 PM

Or as I like to call them, the NEWEY's 2007. (It's snappier, it has more zing, It's easier to type!)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any wo/man in possession of a successful business must be in want of an award.

We want to be judged, to be told that we have done well, to be patted on the back and given a gold star. More than that we want to be told that we are better than others, more successful, more betterer! more successfuler! ; )

And thus the awards show was born.

Official recognition for all your hours of toil, your night of glory in front of all your business peers and hopefully plenty of free marketing ...should you win of course.

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Dear Mr Brown

Posted by Ross Smith on June 27, 2007 6:55 AM

If it doesn't steal Gordon Brown's thunder too much, I'll start the North East Chamber of Commerce's new blog on the day he becomes Prime Minister.

It's an appropriate time to start, as we've today sent him an open letter on behalf of our 4,500 members, which sets out our ambitions for this region, and how we believe his Government can support us in achieving them.

Anyone who has followed NECC's lobbying over recent times will not be surprised to see that transport upgrades and skills appear near the top of our priorities. We've also asked Mr Brown to investigate ways to prevent interest rate rises having an adverse impact on investment, and how the planning system can do more to support development.

In the short term, Mr Brown faces some tough decisions on the future of the regional spatial strategy and re-structuring of local government in Northumberland and County Durham.

Although we no longer have a PM from our region, we see no reason why the region's case to Downing Street should carry any less weight. The UK economy needs a successful North East - otherwise it will fail to reach its full potential.

We've made impressive strides in this region in recent years. We're looking forward to hearing how Mr Brown will support our ambitions to go even further and faster in the years to come.

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The CEOs of tomorrow

Posted by Andrew Mernin on June 28, 2007 4:33 PM

Having recently returned to the region after an 18-month spell overseas, I must say things have certainly changed at home. Of course there are the obvious changes like the gaping hole left in Newcastle city centre where the Central Library used to be. Long summer afternoons spent cooped up there as a teenager with head buried in A-level textbooks won’t be looked back on fondly. Fashion also seems to have moved on and left me for dust with all things eighties making a comeback. But it is in the business world where I've noticed the really significant changes.

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The Gord Squad

Posted by Ross Smith on June 28, 2007 7:21 PM

(Ok, so I pinched that title from a newspaper headline, but what the heck...)

Gordon Brown's new structure for Government contains some interesting changes - including some positive-sounding ones. The new Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform should have a clearer focus than the sprawling DTI, while the creation of a new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills will hopefully put increased emphasis on the need for top-end skills.

It would seem catchy acronyms aren't Mr Brown's forte, alas.

The danger with cabinet re-shuffles is that there is a hiatus over important issues while incoming Secretaries of State get to grips with their new departments. It's to be hoped Hazel Blears at Communities and Local Government is able to reach a swift decision on new unitary councils in Northumberland and County Durham, while Ruth Kellly at Transport comes to a quick understanding of the infrastructure improvements we need in the North East.

As ever, at the North East Chamber of Commerce we're ready and willing to explain to them the priorities of business in the region. Any bets on who will be the first cabinet minister (not counting David Miliband) to visit the North East in their new role?

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Dirty Talk...

Posted by Katie Pringle on June 29, 2007 2:44 PM

I'm a bit of a fan of Murder She Wrote.

Oh you read correctly,I'm talking about the Murder She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, Cabot Cove's resident murder mystery writer and amateur sleuth. I bring this up not so much to be ridiculed as a young woman who watches granny t.v but more to highlight a common problem amongst business men and women, and potential entrepreneurs.

Several times during an episode I watched recently Jessica comments to her friends that she cannot possibly meet up with them because she 'has work to do'. And yet during the entire episode she never actually spends any time at her type-writer actually doing the work she needs to get done. Instead we see her galavanting all over the town solving yet another fiendishly clever murder. (Season 2, Episode 14 'Keep the home fries burning')

This fictionialised scenario of talk instead of action is a very real predicament which often decides the success or failure of any business venture. We all secretly wish that we could just say the things we need to do to make our business a success and they would magically get done.

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