How To Stay Afloat: Lessons In Business Survival

Over the last two months I’ve been talking to business owners about how they are surviving in a tough marketplace. From a manufacturing business in Essex to a web-based apps business in Chicago, I’ve been hearing stories about staying authentic, about reinvention and busting a few business myths to survive. These stories appear in my column this month for the ‘Owners Only’ pages at BNET.com. 


Here are links to the 4 columns:

1.  “The 37signals Secret to Success: Sell Your By-Products” – lessons from 37signals’ David Heinemeier Hansson in acknowledging your business by-products

2.  “How to Survive a Market Collapse: Reinvent Your Business” – lessons from Splice TV on beating market challenges

3.  “How to Set Your Sights High — and Still Pay the Bills” – how start-up Karrot Entertainment is developing essential revenues whilst building intellectual properties

4.  "Does Your Business Really Have to Grow to Survive?" – how Excalibur Screwbolts is beating the competition by sticking to its core strengths.

I hope you find them useful.

The thrill of seeing your ideas out on the shelf

What is it that motivates you through tough times in business? Is it the money you’re earning or perhaps you enjoy working with a certain bunch of people? When I was working hard writing my books, it was the thought of seeing the finished product on the shelf that helped drive me.

Chris White is an entrepreneur who has a led portfolio of creative businesses including product development company Bluw, creative agency Bluw Creative and digital architects Bluw i. His most recent business is Karrot Entertainment, a business developing intellectual properties for the kids and family market. I spoke to him on the roof of the Karrot building in South East London to ask him what’s motivated him:

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