Wed 23 May 2012 | 
You can’t just be a technician
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Enlarge textIn Episode 3 we meet Dean, the 26-year-old golden boy. For the past six years Dean has earned his stripes cutting hair at an upmarket salon. Desperate to prove he can be his own boss, Dean opens his own salon in what was a corner deli in a quiet suburban street. Dean has never run a business before, and it shows.
- 19 Comments | Join the discussion
Dean’s passion is to help people (especially women) look and feel good about themselves. He wants to help people do just that by giving them a sexy haircut.
Dean is a great hairdressing technician. What he was missing was focus on other roles he needed to play to run a successful business. He was the hairdresser, the director, the cleaner, the financial controller and the rest. Many of us start this way in business, I did! You have to divide up your day into the various roles and hats you need to wear.
Most people starting out in small business forget to wear the strategic hat. Strategic thinking looks at how you are growing your business. When you have the technical skills, it is easier to spend time being the technician rather than gaining a skill like financial management.
Dean did great haircuts. He did not manage his finances and divide up his day looking at his profits and losses. This is not necessarily a fun or entertaining way to spend your time when all you want to do is cut hair. But it is an area of business you must have an idea of on a weekly basis.
Dean will become more successful in the future, if he makes sure that he has more profit days (limiting the number of free haircuts he is doing for his family and friends). The simple rule in business is you need more profit than loss. Track Dean's progress on the Risking It All website
Leave a comment and tell us what you think.
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Comments (19)
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24 Jul 2009 10:45 AEST
From: Armadale WA
How can I watch this series?
Is this series going to be repeated or can I purchase it as a DVD? I know someone who has started a small business and this would be useful to him. Thanks
11 Jun 2008 23:30 AEST
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Direct Negotiations
Hello Shivani, Your show is excellent. I understand that time, money and other available resources are constraints as a startup. I launched my business about 14 months ago and pumped everything I had into it. I pulled it off. I buy property in Adelaide for clients all over the world. 50% of my business is website maintainence as a lot of my deals originate from overseas. We are now taking it to the next level. I have small staff and share office space, but manage 80 000 hits per month on my website. www.directnegotiations.com.au . I would really like to talk to somebody who understands the direction I am taking, as it seems i am in a small group! Regards, Ben
11 Jun 2008 23:16 AEST
From: Claremont, WA
Budgets, Business Plans & Marketing
Hi Shivani, This is the first time I have watched you show and I LOVED IT. I work in a small business as the bookkeeper/slave/development etc. I really need a mentor/consultant to help get to this great business to the next level. Unfortunately there is nothing obvious to be found in Perth. Do you have a contact or can you give some advice. You are inspiring and give young women inspiration. Off to get your book in the morning!! Amanda
11 Jun 2008 21:29 AEST
From: Clarence Park
Next Door
Great Show, I live near Dean's salon and you reminded me that I should support locals! I will be booking Dean for a cut very soon. My question to you is I am wanting to open up a cafe, in the area, nothing flash but a place where you can grab a good coffee, mostly take away, whatdo I need to consider and what do you think about the shop next door to Deans for it's up for rent. My concern there is not enough passing trade, should that be a major concern?
11 Jun 2008 21:20 AEST
From: St Leonards
Great show!
Hi Shivani I got to see the last 15mns of your show for the first time whilst channel hopping today. During the show I was glued to the tele and immediately after the show, I noted the day in my calender to watch it next time as well. I am a small business owner myself. Recently started my mortgage consultancy after five years of experience in the industry. I am, infact, looking for a business coach. Would be great if I could meet up with you sometime. regards, rooma
11 Jun 2008 21:12 AEST
From: Brisbane
Getting started
Can you recommend a business in Brisbane? I need help with a business plan and a marketing plan. I have my own business however most income is from contract work, so promoting my own business takes a back seat as i get so busy doing the contract work. I have a family to support (5 kids u 10) and feel time starved. I feel i know what needs to be done but have no written plan and probably lack a bit of motivation at times. Are there simple guidelines for starting a business and marketing plan
11 Jun 2008 21:00 AEST
From: Maroochydore
Marketing Plan
Hi. I did a number of free short courses some time ago funded by the Qld Gov which where free. I've noticed recently these are still available and have been updated: http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=33
11 Jun 2008 20:52 AEST
From: Gold Coast
Loved the coverage tonight of someone turning there passion into a business
Loved the coverage tonight of someone turning there passion into a business and a real artistic passion at that. This is right were I sit at the moment as I consider how to make my passion (singing, song writing and performance) a workable, growable business. I've come out of day work to pursue this dream but want to make it realistic and sustainable. Any advice or ideas or even to be pointed in the right direction would be much appreciated. Cheers, John
11 Jun 2008 20:52 AEST
From: Northmead
Restaurant Cafe
Hi Shivani, I want to open my own Restaurant Cafe style. I know the industry for about l5 years worked for other people before but I want to open my own. I have two boys 25 and 26 years of age one is a chef the other will help out running the outside with me. My main concern is the business side. I was thinking of starting it from scratch and going to auctions and setting it up for half of the price. My weakness is figure work. I like to budget. Thanks Shivani.
11 Jun 2008 20:47 AEST
From: Mildura
Marketing
Hello there, I am a small business owner that I started from scratch 3 years ago, I have managed to get the business running relatively smoothly but with myself on the tools (as like Dean was) and with most of my work coming from local councils I have a problem with marketing. Should I utilise the marketing guru's out there or should keep plugging away at what I know best.........And where do I find the best marketers......??????
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About this Blog
Risking It All presenter and business expert Shivani Gupta has a passion to see people grow their businesses. Shivani brings her vast experience and practical business sense to help out the entrepreneurs in the television show and the SBS online audience in her business blog.
Shivani Gupta is a business dynamo with heart, vision, values and passion. She is a former corporate executive who “risked it all” herself to become an author as well as establish her own successful business coaching and speaking business, Passion@People. Shivani is well qualified for the role of helping our four start-up businesses, and your business too. Shivani has worked with a range of companies from sole traders to six of Australia’s top ten companies. She has won awards that include ‘Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year’. She was born in India and grew up in Australia. For more information about Shivani visit www.shivani.com.au
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