6 Steps to a Sustainable Small Business

How to:

Build resilience into your marketing and business planning so that you have a flexible and durable approach to changes in the world at large that may affect your business.

Recognise and make the most of business opportunities that arise as a consequence of this refreshing perspective.

This course is designed for:

• those contemplating  stepping off the treadmill and setting up a business of their own,
• small business owners who would like to benefit  from running their businesses more sustainably,
• therapists, herbalists, yoga teachers, counsellors and others running ethical or holistic personal practice businesses. Those who would like to be more business-like in their approach, without losing sight of their primary wish to make a difference.

Module 1 – Becoming part of the Solution.

What a Sustainable Small Business is.
A new business paradigm for a post-modern society
How to embrace the principles.
How it will benefit your business and you personally.

Module 1 Action Steps – Sustainable business audit

Module  2 – How to be Special, Unique and Dedicated.

What’s the right business for you (your business purpose and focus)?
How to define a suitable niche for a sustainable small business.
Small Sustainable Business Case Studies to inspire you.

Module 2 Action Steps -  Niching and business purpose exercise

Module 3 –  Business planning

How to build sustainability into your business plan
Marketing – the 4 Ps and the 4 Cs
Financial – what are your sustainable options?
What’s wrong with profit focus?

Module 3 Action Steps – Marketing planning exercise.

Module 4 -  Building Business Resilience

The nuts and bolts of handling changes (including the unforeseen)  as a sustainable business
Elements and benefits of a holistic business
Ethics, holism and sustainability and how they work together in your favour

Module 4 Action Steps – Business resilience exercise

Module 5 -  Communication and Commitment.

The importance of the People element in the triple bottom line.
How to devise and implement successful people policies.
How to build mutually supportive and productive business relationships.

Module 5 Action Steps – Business communications exercise

Module 6 Implementing sustainability.

The importance of the Planet element in the triple bottom line.
How to devise and implement successful planet policies.
How to minimise your carbon footprint with least effort and cost.

Module 6 Action Steps – Your Planet Plan

Note: The aim of this course will be for you to build up a sustainable business portfolio containing practical guidance, sources of inspiration and support and an overall personal sustainable business plan tailored to your individual requirements. You will then have the opportunity to follow any of the modules on this course with 1-2-1 coaching or group coaching to support and encourage you in implementing your plan, should you wish.

Duration – 45 minutes each class.

Cost

The fee for individual teleclasses is £9  per person per module. This includes class notes and an mp3 audio recording of the module.

The discounted rate for advanced booking of all 6 classes is £47.

Schedule:

The next programme begins March 2010. To be kept informed of dates, please subscribe to my blog or newsletter.

To secure your place:

Please contact me to reserve your place. You will be sent a request for confirmation and a paypal invoice a week before your first class.

Once your payment is received you will be sent an email containing the bridgeline  telephone number and participants’ pin number for the classes you have selected.