Step 2 of Building a Better Business

Anna Stubbs • August 2, 2023

Be open to change and new learning

It’s amazing what we, as humans, don’t even know that we don’t know. New learning opportunities are everywhere, and in this digital world, there’s simply no excuse to avoid new learning.

Consider how many new things a five-year-old learns each day. Children enthusiastically embrace the world of possibility and the desire to learn. Why is it that, the older we get, the more likely we are to close our minds to new learning?

We’re all busy, and sometimes we feel like we just don’t have the time to sit down and read a book. We need to make the time. Set yourself targets and share these with someone who will hold you accountable to achieving these.

Here are five ways to learn more, positioning yourself to run a better business:

1. Read more.
If you struggle to find time to read, set a reminder on your phone to read before bed each night. Start with reading 10 pages, then increase this each week. Mix it up with recreational books and business books. As a bonus, it will help you sleep better!


2. Resist the urge to hang out on your phone.
Unless you’re learning something new. By the way, you’re unlikely to learn on Facebook! Try an eBook, audiobook, podcast, or learning app instead!


3. Enrol in courses or workshops.
These can be online or in person. Choose topics that interest you and will help you in your business.


4. Turn off your TV.
Unless you’re viewing TED talks on YouTube or content that is useful learning.


5. Keep a journal of your learnings.
Review your journal of learnings regularly. Remember, you don’t really know something until you can teach it to someone else.


So, what areas should you be learning more about? It could be leadership, management, sales, or writing skills. Find out the best ways to develop your knowledge and set aside time to learn. Don’t forget to ask someone to hold you accountable. Maybe you could buddy up with someone and meet regularly to share your learnings? Once you begin learning, your hunger to learn will grow.


We can help you take steps to improve your business and ensure it reaches its true potential. Get in touch!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Making Tax Digital to be extended to more sole traders and landlords

By Anna Stubbs • April 9, 2025
Hiding in the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announcements published on 26 March was a technical note entitled ‘Modernising the tax system through Making Tax Digital‘. This note announces that the income threshold for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax & Self Assessment (or MTD for ITSA) is to drop to £20,000 per annum for sole traders and landlords. If you fall into this category, this means moving your tax completely over to digital by April 2026. But don’t worry, let’s see what MTD for ITSA is all about.

Reducing the uncertainty: financial forecasting and planning

By Anna Stubbs • April 9, 2025
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What's new in Xero (Spring 2025)

By Anna Stubbs • April 9, 2025
Some great new enhancements have come to Xero in the first few months of the year, here's some important features that have been released: Enhancements to the new invoicing Keyboard shortcuts. Drag and drop attachments. Date Picker quick select. Exchange rate adjustments in the invoice. Tracking categories for invoices. Automated bill entry The ability to upload bills directly to Xero, create one or many bills by dragging and dropping multiple files. Xero creates draft bills with the key details, and the original document is attached. Other important features (region dependent) Bank feed updates (Australia adds Suncorp Bank, United States gains PNC Commercial). Simplified whole operations with improved sales orders (United States). Easier 1099 reporting and filing (United States). Streamlined tax workflow and compliance (United Kingdom). Easier reporting (United States Schedule C compliance report, New Zealand not-for-profit tier 3 & 4 PBE reports). For the full breakdown read Xero's update .