A quick flick through this weekends FT or Sunday Times would have most business people reaching for the Valium.  The doom and gloom about Greece, the Euro Crisis, continuing bad news on housing etc. would lead you to think the sky was falling again, just like 2008.

 And yet....

On Friday night, I called at my favourite watering hole on the way home, (Dukes at Castlefield, Manchester) for a quick drink - and they were 4 deep at the bar.  After a 10 minute wait, going nowhere, we gave up and went in their sister restaurant next door, Albert's Shed, ( it ended up being an expensive quick pint!).

The terrace outside the two businesses was literally a seething mass, heaving with around 5-600 people I reckon.   So, were all these people spending the last of their hard earned money to get themselves into a drunken stupor, before their currency became worthless and we needed wheelbarrow loads of money to buy a pint?  Somehow, I don't think so.  

 As I sat on the terrace, with the balmy weather reminding me more of Marbella than Manchester,  eating my meal, watching with fascination, the hordes conversing, it dawned on me, they didn't look too miserable.  In fact, most seemed to be having a damned good time!

Perhaps they're the idle rich I thought?  But, no, apart from a few, most had the flat hard, (but friendly) Manc accents, so well broadcast by Liam & Noel Gallagher of Oasis.  These were local Manchester lads and lasses on their usual Friday night out.  Strangely enough, I didn't hear much talk of banks crashing, currencies collapsing or Quantitative Easing.  No sir.

So.  Is the world ending or isn't it?  Well, there's no doubt that things are slowing down in some sectors and marking time in others, but you know what?  That always happens.   As one sector fades another one rises.  The "Crisis" that scares most business people to death, is actually in our heads.  Things are as good or bad as we care to make them.  People are still spending money.

Moral of the story?  If your business is finding things tough, look at adjacent sectors, find out what people are spending money on and morph into that area, (still can't get plumbers or electricians BTW).

Ask around.  Most people will coment on how you can't get a decent "X" any more.   Go make some "X"!

 But don't take risks.  You can keep your upfront costs to a minimum by asking the folks at Hired Help to look after you calls and admin.  Only pay for what you need.  That's the new mantra for the current age - get virtual and get rid of fixed costs! 

Have a great week.

Denis O'Donnell

Whether we like it or not, the world of communication is going virtual as well as mobile and its dragging our work life with it.  The classic "road warrior" who lugged his laptop up and down the M6, M1 and spent his lunch in the motorway service station, checking his email and updating his CRM remotely, has changed.  

 Today, he is more likely to be using a smartphone, on the move, with instant updates. 

 Tomorrow, he will probably be using an iPad or similar tablet that is conected live to his data back in the office.

 Here at Hired Help, we've been busy ensuring clients can  stay up to date.  Our web based CRM is now available on mobile, meaning you are always connected to your information.

 Of course, the change over to this way of working will be gradual and for those who still prefer to talk to their business colleagues, Hired Help can provide that seamless connection, no matter where you are.

 One of the issues with working remotely, is, you may be on your own.  What if something happens to you?  For Health & Safety compliance, companies now need to ensure their workers are safe, even when not in the office. How do you do that for someone who lives on the motorway?

Don't worry, (Hired) help is at hand. We will also shortly be offering the capabillity to fully track  a users movements, via their mobile phone or tablet.  The system can also require a "check in" at any set interval, to ensure they are fine.

 This new feature is only a small part of our new web based service that will handle most forms of job management, including truck deliveries. If you would like to be a beta user, please get in touch.

I remember a headline in the Daily Mirror from 1976, (the year of the "great" summer, so there is hope!).

It was the first of June and England were playing Australia - at Buxton of all places - and the match was "snowed off". The Aussies thought it hilarious.

Hopefully, the snow now will be gone by June, but the past couple of weeks have shown how vulnerable companies are to outside influences like the weather.

Millions missed work the past few days, as staff simply couldn't get in.

Even at Hired Help our offices were cut off by 10 inches of snow and no one could get in (or out for those already in the building!).

Happily, our totally web based systems and distributed staff, meant all our agents could simply log on from home and keep working, keep taking calls and making sales for our clients, even if they couldn't themselves.

What about your company? How much did you lose from the weather?

It literally costs you nothing to be a Hired Help client. You deposit £100, but we don't charge anything except when you start using us and we receive calls for you.

How much in sales can you get from an enquiry? Or lose if you miss the call?

We can do a lot more for you than just take message too. Have a look at our web site and see what you may be missing out on or give us a call! We'd be happy to speak to you.

Call us now on 0845 871 2000 ...

According to the Financial Times, the number of new businesses  in the UK will reach  a new record by year end.

Does this mean people are expecting good times ahead?  Is now a good time to start a new business?