Even simple relationships are complex because virtually all of them involve some transactional element, however small. A mother’s love for her child may be complete but she hopes for a good, loving offspring. She may hope for more than that, too, but even this small expectation, of one of the most intimate relationships we can…
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This article was first published in Business Times on 3 July 2020 Whimsical Management – is it your gut feel? By John Bittleston, Founder Mentor, Terrific Mentors International As a young account executive in an advertising agency in the early 1950s I was faced with a client who was totally irrational, whimsical, maddening and mind…
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This article was first published in Business Times on 5 June 2020 Getting your customers to pay By John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Cash flow may be the phrase of the moment but those in the front line call it ‘collecting’. There are good payers, slow payers and nightmares. Good payers pay on time, or…
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This article first appeared in Business Times on 22 May 2020 Restarting work – learning the new norm by John Bittleston, Founder Mentor, Terrific Mentors International Some of it will seem just like after a long break – shake off the dust, throw away the half-empty coffee cups, see if anyone has dealt with the…
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This article was first published on 8 May 2020 in Business Times The New Virtual Office John Bitteston, Terrific Mentors International If you didn’t actually clock in at the office you were certainly checked in by the boss or one of his lieutenants. Beady eyes observed your arrival time, your journeys to and from the…
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This article was first published in Business Times on 24 April 2020 Marketing & Pricing on leaving lockdown by John Bittleston, Founder Mentor, Terrific Mentors International The rejoicing on getting out of near lockdown – whenever we do that – may be short lived. Certainly, getting back to work will be a cause of cheer.…
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This article was first published in Business Times on 10 April 2020 Ready for the Rebound John Bitteston, Terrific Mentors International Everyone who is laying off workers knows that sooner or later they will be wanting to hire them – or some of them – again. The question is ‘when and how many?’ Will coronavirus…
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This article was first published in Business Times on 27 March 2020 When the Deal Goes Bad By John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International You are just about to seal a significant contract, when the customer gets cold feet. Your counterpart in a collaborative partnership that you have been negotiating for over a year suddenly pulls…
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This article first appeared in Business Times on 13 March 2020 Organising an Event that is NOT a Waste of Time By John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Everyone has attended an event – from a cosy tête-a-tête to discuss a looming project, to large seminars where thousands gather to hear industry gurus speak. These are…
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This article was first published in Business Times on 14 February 2020 Mergers and Acquisitions – not for the fainthearted John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International In view of today being Valentine’s Day, today’s column focuses on Mergers and Acquisitions, as business acquisition and romantic relationships have one important thing in common – both are to…
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