1. Accounting - another invoice paid - thank you! (20mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. (6hrs 25mins)
And then a lovely bbq in the evening - great way to end the week!
This is the story of our journey from deciding to go into business to being in business for ourselves. A number of friends asked for details of the actual process, particularly any pitfalls - so that others can learn from our mistakes!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Thurs 25 Feb
1. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (50mins)
2. Download and organise business emails. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. (8hrs 30mins)
Except that the last one is wrong - there were lots of interruptions to do internet searches for issues that were found with the customer's PC that my partner was resurrecting.
2. Download and organise business emails. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. (8hrs 30mins)
Except that the last one is wrong - there were lots of interruptions to do internet searches for issues that were found with the customer's PC that my partner was resurrecting.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Wed 24 Feb
1. Site visit. (10hrs 45mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (15mins)
3. Check whether any invoices have been paid. (5mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (15mins)
3. Check whether any invoices have been paid. (5mins)
Today's work on/in the business - Tues 23 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Accounting - a win, received two cheques in the mail from our oldest customer - now have no outstanding invoices before mid Jan 2010! (15mins)
3. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (1hr 5mins)
4. Work on our new product - details to come later. (5hrs 20mins)
5. Download and organise business emails. (5mins)
6. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 96 visits, 61 new visits which is great, 20% search, 40% direct and 40% referral traffic - so basically still going OK. (10mins)
7. Collect information and complete BAS. (1hr 55mins)
2. Accounting - a win, received two cheques in the mail from our oldest customer - now have no outstanding invoices before mid Jan 2010! (15mins)
3. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (1hr 5mins)
4. Work on our new product - details to come later. (5hrs 20mins)
5. Download and organise business emails. (5mins)
6. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 96 visits, 61 new visits which is great, 20% search, 40% direct and 40% referral traffic - so basically still going OK. (10mins)
7. Collect information and complete BAS. (1hr 55mins)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Mon 22 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (10mins)
3. Work on our new product. (8hrs 20mins)
2. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (10mins)
3. Work on our new product. (8hrs 20mins)
Monday, February 22, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sun 21 Feb
1. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs 25mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sat 20 Feb
1. Invoice reconciliation. 1 paid. (5mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (15mins)
3. Document results of client meeting. (20mins)
4. Record business cars collected at various times. (15mins)
5. Accounting. (10mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (1hr 55mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (15mins)
3. Document results of client meeting. (20mins)
4. Record business cars collected at various times. (15mins)
5. Accounting. (10mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (1hr 55mins)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Fri 19 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Accounting. (20mins)
3. Invoice reconciliation. 2 follow ups sent - 1 response received. (10mins)
4. Respond to customer email. (10mins)
5. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (45mins)
6. Initial meeting with prospective customer. (3hrs 10mins)
7. Download and organise business emails. (35mins)
8. Banking and post office. (1hr)
9. Review the project schedules. Moved both projects out by another week. Testing of basic features can start next week. (5mins)
10. Review progress made this week and ensure the schedule is right for next week. (5mins)
11. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs 25mins)
2. Accounting. (20mins)
3. Invoice reconciliation. 2 follow ups sent - 1 response received. (10mins)
4. Respond to customer email. (10mins)
5. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (45mins)
6. Initial meeting with prospective customer. (3hrs 10mins)
7. Download and organise business emails. (35mins)
8. Banking and post office. (1hr)
9. Review the project schedules. Moved both projects out by another week. Testing of basic features can start next week. (5mins)
10. Review progress made this week and ensure the schedule is right for next week. (5mins)
11. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs 25mins)
Friday, February 19, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Thurs 18 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Accounting. (10mins)
3. Check log book is up to date - had missed the last couple of trips. (20mins)
4. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 45mins)
5. Record business emails. (50mins)
2. Accounting. (10mins)
3. Check log book is up to date - had missed the last couple of trips. (20mins)
4. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 45mins)
5. Record business emails. (50mins)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Wed 17 Feb
1. Site visits. (10hrs 45mins)
2. Record business emails. (10mins)
3. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
2. Record business emails. (10mins)
3. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Tues 16 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 98 visits, 59 new visits which is great, still mostly direct and referral traffic. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. Fixed the build process on my laptop, which is good. (6hrs 30mins)
4. Respond to customer email. (10mins)
5. Confirm appointments for tomorrow for site visits. (10mins)
6. Accounting - update and reissue invoice for changed date. Also check for payments. (20mins)
7. Find Mailman installation instructions and precis for my partner. (1hr 15mins)
2. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 98 visits, 59 new visits which is great, still mostly direct and referral traffic. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. Fixed the build process on my laptop, which is good. (6hrs 30mins)
4. Respond to customer email. (10mins)
5. Confirm appointments for tomorrow for site visits. (10mins)
6. Accounting - update and reissue invoice for changed date. Also check for payments. (20mins)
7. Find Mailman installation instructions and precis for my partner. (1hr 15mins)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Mon 15 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. Unfortunately proved the build process is broken on my laptop - trying to clean it up so that this works again as it's needed! (9hrs 20mins)
4. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. (35mins)
2. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (5mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. Unfortunately proved the build process is broken on my laptop - trying to clean it up so that this works again as it's needed! (9hrs 20mins)
4. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. (35mins)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sun 14 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Work on our new product - details to come later. (3hrs 5mins)
2. Work on our new product - details to come later. (3hrs 5mins)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sat 13 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Invoice reconciliation. Good news - our two oldest invoices are (probably) about to be paid - the customer rang to find out if his accountant had organised that, so they've been sent off again. (35mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs 45mins)
2. Invoice reconciliation. Good news - our two oldest invoices are (probably) about to be paid - the customer rang to find out if his accountant had organised that, so they've been sent off again. (35mins)
3. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs 45mins)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Fri 12 Feb
1. Invoice reconciliation. (5mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
3. Respond to customer email. (15mins)
4. Accounting. (55mins)
5. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 25mins)
6. Review progress made this week and ensure the schedule is right for next week. (5mins)
7. Review the project schedules. Moved both projects out by a week, again. (5mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
3. Respond to customer email. (15mins)
4. Accounting. (55mins)
5. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 25mins)
6. Review progress made this week and ensure the schedule is right for next week. (5mins)
7. Review the project schedules. Moved both projects out by a week, again. (5mins)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Thurs 11 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. (35mins)
3. Invoicing. (45mins)
4. Download and organise business emails. (20mins)
5. Invoice reconciliation. (10mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 45mins)
7. Respond to customer email. (30mins)
8. Accounting - compare actual income to original plan. As I expected, we are doing nowhere near what was on the plan - need to address this. (20mins)
9. Networking - meeting in Melbourne CBD with guest speaker. There were many fewer participants than expected due to the thunderstorms which rolled through during the afternoon (I was soaked when I got on the train, but it wasn't too bad in town until after the meeting - still meant standing around hoping my black pants didn't LOOK as wet as they were!) Very different to the NEIS/BEC based ones at Box Hill - which is why we need to attend some of these as well as the NEIS/BEC ones. Unfortunately, due to the lower numbers, it was even harder to actually meet people - they tended to arrive in small groups and I believe a lot of those who turned up already knew each other, so they naturally congregated - hard to interrupt an established group! However, I believe there were about 20 participants and I ended up talking to 5 people, so I don't think I actually did too badly! (4hrs 45mins)
2. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. (35mins)
3. Invoicing. (45mins)
4. Download and organise business emails. (20mins)
5. Invoice reconciliation. (10mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 45mins)
7. Respond to customer email. (30mins)
8. Accounting - compare actual income to original plan. As I expected, we are doing nowhere near what was on the plan - need to address this. (20mins)
9. Networking - meeting in Melbourne CBD with guest speaker. There were many fewer participants than expected due to the thunderstorms which rolled through during the afternoon (I was soaked when I got on the train, but it wasn't too bad in town until after the meeting - still meant standing around hoping my black pants didn't LOOK as wet as they were!) Very different to the NEIS/BEC based ones at Box Hill - which is why we need to attend some of these as well as the NEIS/BEC ones. Unfortunately, due to the lower numbers, it was even harder to actually meet people - they tended to arrive in small groups and I believe a lot of those who turned up already knew each other, so they naturally congregated - hard to interrupt an established group! However, I believe there were about 20 participants and I ended up talking to 5 people, so I don't think I actually did too badly! (4hrs 45mins)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Wed 10 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Work on our new product. (1hr 40mins)
3. Site visit to new customer - business support rather than software support. (8hrs 20mins)
2. Work on our new product. (1hr 40mins)
3. Site visit to new customer - business support rather than software support. (8hrs 20mins)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Tues 9 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
2. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 99 visits - this is starting to pick up again, 45 new visits, 45% direct and 40% referrals, but not much searching going on yet - but overall, starting to pick up again. (10mins)
3. Work on our new product - of course, a 'quick and easy' piece of software is not being quick OR easy at all! (9hrs 25mins)
2. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 99 visits - this is starting to pick up again, 45 new visits, 45% direct and 40% referrals, but not much searching going on yet - but overall, starting to pick up again. (10mins)
3. Work on our new product - of course, a 'quick and easy' piece of software is not being quick OR easy at all! (9hrs 25mins)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Mon 8 Feb
1. Send list of support tasks that will be carried out to new customer. (10mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
3. Look at work required by proposed new customer. Looks like technical support rather than development. (15mins)
4. Reformat report for customer - format from document got chewed. (1hr 35mins)
5. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (5mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (5hrs 15mins)
7. Respond to email from customer. (10mins)
8. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (50mins)
2. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
3. Look at work required by proposed new customer. Looks like technical support rather than development. (15mins)
4. Reformat report for customer - format from document got chewed. (1hr 35mins)
5. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (5mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (5hrs 15mins)
7. Respond to email from customer. (10mins)
8. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 3 posts today. (50mins)
Monday, February 8, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sun 7 Feb
1. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs)
2. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
Sitting outdoors at the velodrome watching the racing, trying to get the laptop into a position where I could actually read the screen... not too successfully - so did a bit of work for an hour in the middle of the day, while have fun and fresh air - got to be a win!
(But I've just added up the hours I worked this week - no wonder I'm a leeetle bit tired...)
2. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
Sitting outdoors at the velodrome watching the racing, trying to get the laptop into a position where I could actually read the screen... not too successfully - so did a bit of work for an hour in the middle of the day, while have fun and fresh air - got to be a win!
(But I've just added up the hours I worked this week - no wonder I'm a leeetle bit tired...)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sat 6 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
2. Work on our new product - details to come later. (8hrs 45mins)
I know - it's the weekend... But I was on a roll - things needed doing and/or tidying - so I did...
2. Work on our new product - details to come later. (8hrs 45mins)
I know - it's the weekend... But I was on a roll - things needed doing and/or tidying - so I did...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Fri 5 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Invoice reconciliation. (5mins)
3. Ensure accounts are up to date. (35mins)
4. Work on our new product - details to come later. (5hrs 40mins)
5. Draft list of support tasks that will be carried out for new customer. (10mins)
6. Review the project schedules. Moved both projects out by a week. Testing of basic features can start next week. (5mins)
7. Review progress made this week and ensure the schedule is right for next week. (5mins)
Then out for dinner with a bunch of friends who get together this way once a year - the rest of the time, random groupings ride together during the week. It was amazing to see everyone together and out of their cycling gear!
2. Invoice reconciliation. (5mins)
3. Ensure accounts are up to date. (35mins)
4. Work on our new product - details to come later. (5hrs 40mins)
5. Draft list of support tasks that will be carried out for new customer. (10mins)
6. Review the project schedules. Moved both projects out by a week. Testing of basic features can start next week. (5mins)
7. Review progress made this week and ensure the schedule is right for next week. (5mins)
Then out for dinner with a bunch of friends who get together this way once a year - the rest of the time, random groupings ride together during the week. It was amazing to see everyone together and out of their cycling gear!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Thurs 4 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
2. Work on our new product - details to come later. (7hrs 15mins)
3. Ensure entries in the log book are up to date. (10mins)
2. Work on our new product - details to come later. (7hrs 15mins)
3. Ensure entries in the log book are up to date. (10mins)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Wed 3 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (15mins)
2. Follow up on customer visit - still an issue. (10mins)
3. Record business emails, including download and file. (1hr 30mins)
4. Webinar on creating free PR. (1hr 20mins)
5. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. (30mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (3hrs 30mins)
2. Follow up on customer visit - still an issue. (10mins)
3. Record business emails, including download and file. (1hr 30mins)
4. Webinar on creating free PR. (1hr 20mins)
5. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. (30mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (3hrs 30mins)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Tues 2 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (10mins)
2. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. We achieved the required rate of an average of 1 post per day for January 2010. (30mins)
3. Invoice reconciliation - updates to 1 customer, 2 new invoices. (1hr 15mins)
4. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 97 visits over January itself - this is starting to pick up again, 43 new visits, 40% direct and 45% referrals, but not much searching going on - still a bit of a hang over from business slow down over christmas/new year period - but overall, starting to pick up again. (15mins)
5. Draft the list of tasks for proposed maintenance customer and email them to customer along with queries and proposed costing for negotiation. (45mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 30mins)
7. Follow up on customer visit - still an issue. (25mins)
8. Networking - face to face. Monthly networking meeting as part of the NEIS support. (3hrs 15mins)
2. Networking - follow up on posts and queries - 2 posts today. We achieved the required rate of an average of 1 post per day for January 2010. (30mins)
3. Invoice reconciliation - updates to 1 customer, 2 new invoices. (1hr 15mins)
4. Look at the statistics that Google Analytics gives you. 97 visits over January itself - this is starting to pick up again, 43 new visits, 40% direct and 45% referrals, but not much searching going on - still a bit of a hang over from business slow down over christmas/new year period - but overall, starting to pick up again. (15mins)
5. Draft the list of tasks for proposed maintenance customer and email them to customer along with queries and proposed costing for negotiation. (45mins)
6. Work on our new product - details to come later. (4hrs 30mins)
7. Follow up on customer visit - still an issue. (25mins)
8. Networking - face to face. Monthly networking meeting as part of the NEIS support. (3hrs 15mins)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Mon 1 Feb
1. Update my record of time worked. (5mins)
2. Determine whether we met the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for January 2010. Thankfully, we met most of them - the obvious one that failed being my requirement to exercise (again). Unfortunately, the requirement to rewrite the CRM software has really hit the whole process for 6. (10mins)
3. Ensure accounts are up to date. I also reconciled some of the accounts as that is required by the software and I've been putting it off. (30mins)
4. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (15mins)
5. Work on our new product - details to come later. (10hrs 50mins)
2. Determine whether we met the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for January 2010. Thankfully, we met most of them - the obvious one that failed being my requirement to exercise (again). Unfortunately, the requirement to rewrite the CRM software has really hit the whole process for 6. (10mins)
3. Ensure accounts are up to date. I also reconciled some of the accounts as that is required by the software and I've been putting it off. (30mins)
4. Follow up on existing customers and prospects. (15mins)
5. Work on our new product - details to come later. (10hrs 50mins)
Monday, February 1, 2010
Today's work on/in the business - Sun 31 Jan
1. Work on our new product - details to come later. (2hrs)