Step 10 of Building a Better Business

Anna Stubbs • August 2, 2023

Keep your ‘well of happiness’

This should be something you focus on all the time. Just as the flight attendants tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping others, it’s the same in business - you need to look after yourself at all times.

What are the things that fill your ‘well of happiness’?

These are activities that restore your energy and resilience levels and help you face challenges in your business. It could be dancing, yoga, mountain biking, reading, weightlifting, cooking, or meeting friends for coffee. Most likely, they’re the things you just don’t feel you have enough time for right now.


Of course, you do have the time; you have the same number of hours in your day as Einstein or Helen Keller had. You’re just choosing not to spend your time on these activities.


Make a list of the pastimes that make you happy. These are things you keep putting off doing because you think you don’t have time or feel guilty about taking time out of your business to enjoy.


Now, make a commitment to yourself to spend at least 1 hour per day doing these things. Share that commitment with your business mentor or someone who’ll hold you accountable to spending your time in this way.


Lastly, set aside time in your diary to do these activities until they become an ingrained habit.


Keeping your well of happiness full reduces stress and restores your energy, both crucial to life and business success. So, make it a priority.


“Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.” - Mallory Hopkins

How poor cybersecurity can endanger your small business

By Anna Stubbs • September 9, 2025
Digital systems and cloud technology have revolutionised the running of the average small business. But with software systems comes the ever present issue of cybersecurity. And it’s not just the big league, like Boots and Marks & Spencers, that have to worry about getting hacked. A recent BBC News article highlighted how one cracked password is all it took for a ransomware gang to destroy a 158-year-old transport company – putting 700 people out of work. So, what can you do to increase your cybersecurity and keep your business, customer and finance information safe from hackers and malicious software?

Changes to Companies House filings: say goodbye to abridged accounts!

By Anna Stubbs • September 9, 2025
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act became law in 2023. But as the goals of the Act progress, it’s bringing about a number of different changes to accounts filing.  The aim of the Act was to strengthen the role of Companies House and the UK business environment, support national security and disrupt economic crime. At the same time, the Act helps to deliver a more reliable companies register to underpin UK business activity. These are all excellent aims. But one outcome of these changes to Companies House procedure is a major change to the way small and micro businesses file their accounts. Let’s look in more detail at what this could mean for your accounts.

Should you buy or lease your business assets?

By Anna Stubbs • September 9, 2025
There are certain items of equipment, machinery and hardware that are essential to the operation of your business – whether it’s the delivery van you use to run your home-delivery food service, or the high-end digital printer to run your print business. But when a critical business asset is required, should you buy this item outright, or should you lease the item and pay for it in handy monthly instalments?