What have you learned today?

This morning we attended a creative and inspiring Entrepreneur's Exchange networking event, hosted by Jill White. For any of you who have not yet attended one of their events, I'd highly recommend that you get on their mailing list. The only stipulation? You must run your own business. Compete or Get Beat Event Details

There were a lot of great ideas and advice on how to improve your business but I thought I'd share with you some of the gems that really stood out to me.

1) Nothing is ever fixed - there's nothing to say that the way things are are the way they should be so always challenge the norm, push the boudaries and take calculated risks.

2) Don't be afraid to make mistakes - it is by making mistakes that we learn how to improve so don't be scared to try something new and if it doesn't quite go to plan, understand why and make the neccesary adjustments. printing.com was built on our response to mistakes!

3) Dare to be different - establish, understand and promote what it is that you do DIFFERENT in your business, not what you do the same. You must make yourself "demonstrably and dramatically different" to survive in today's tough marketplace.

4) Explore new avenues - move with the times and take advantage of new ways of promoting your business such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogging. Work to a strategy (rather than dipping in and out) and use these methods to break down barriers to meeting the people you want to do business with.

5) Work backwards - instead of working from A to B, establish what B is (i.e. where do you want to be) and work backwards from there. This is a more logical and strategic approach and will ensure you achieve what you set out to.

6) Think inside the box, that is to say that you should understand the context within which a problem exists. This idea was put to us by Jonny Douglas and the full theory behind this approach can be found at Jonny Douglas Ltd. The approach is relevant to all areas of your business, from strategy and marketing through to the generation of new ideas.

The event's differentiation was the networking sessions on the Big Wheel in the centre of Sheffield, allowing people to mix and discuss the points raised by the speakers. Here's how we started our day! 

I'd like to thank Jill and Andy for yet another fantastic event and give credit to the speakers for their enlightening insights into better ways to approach business:

Jonny Douglas - Jonny Douglas Ltd
Jessica Zeun - JD Approach
Craig Birch - Sugarcane Creative
Andy Hanselman - Andy Hanselman

Finally, in the spirit of Point 4, you can follow me on Twitter (Tweet Me!), LinkIn with me (Join my network) and be sure to forward my blog onto your colleagues and friends!

So, it's now 4.45pm on Friday and it's definately 'beer o'clock'... have a happy weekend!