by Tricia Phillips, Daily Mirror
ROSS Marshall knows a thing or two about setting up and running successful businesses. He started his first online firm, www.tipsterzone.com, with his business partner Andrew Harding when they were at university in Durham.
They then set up www.yourgolftravel.com in 2005, which was London’s fastest growing private company last year. They now have lots of firms, including www.spabreaks.com, www.racingbreaks.com and www.fairwaytofurlong.com.
Here, Ross, 30 shares his secrets for success.
Starting Out: DO
● Believe in yourself, be passionate and be prepared to risk it all!
● Make sure to surround yourself at all times with positive and passionate people.
● Execute relentlessly a detailed but flexible operational plan.
Starting Out: DON'T
● Run out of money – strengthen your cash flow from the outset.
● Stand still – look for ways to improve and grow your business.
● Forget the smaller details – they make your business big.
During a Downturn
● Stay focused on your products and business, not rivals.
● Negotiate, renegotiate and question all costs – save every penny.
● Adapt your business model to outperform your market in challenging trading conditions.
