Welcome to this week's edition of The Small Business Corner!
Instead of sharing an entire article in this newsletter and increasing the frequency, we’ve decided to make it a weekly newsletter that delivers a list of the articles we posted on our Xiva blog, along with interesting reads, findings, and videos we came across during our weekly research.
So this will be more of a weekly rundown. It will be a short read, and you’ll have the chance to check out the articles that interest you most, whether on our blog or from around the internet.
We will continue to publish long articles on our Substack too, but you won’t be receiving email notifications for those. Newsletter and inbox fatigue may be real—or does the data show otherwise? Either way, the goal is to put everything together and ship it in one go.
If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter, and I hope you’re enjoying the ride so far.
This week we've got some interesting articles and resources lined up for you, covering everything from financial guides to business strategy tips.
Here’s what's new!
Featured Xiva Articles
Mastery vs. Versatility: Which Should You Strive For?
Should you focus on mastering one skill or being versatile? This article explores both angles, drawing on Robert Greene’s Mastery and Scott Adams’ How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big.
Tax Guide for UK Sole Traders & Small Businesses
On a scale from 1 to taxes, how annoying is it? This guide breaks down everything you need to know to handle your taxes with confidence. It also has a cool calculator that will help you estimate your taxes.
Mastering Your Finances: A Budgeting Guide
Do you keep a budget? Check out our tips on how to manage your finances and keep your business on track. There’s also a budgeting and a budget allocation calculator.
A Comprehensive Guide to Small Business Loans in the UK
Looking for funding? This guide explains the ins and outs of getting a small business loan in the UK.
Small Business Grants in the UK: A Guide
Grants can give your business a boost without the need to pay back. Find out what’s available and how to apply.
Crafting a Strong Business Strategy
A solid strategy is key to success (or not? There’s a meme in there, check it out!). Learn how to create a business strategy that will help you clarify your objectives and decide on clear policies and action plans — this one is based on Richard Rumelt’s Good Strategy/Bad Strategy book.
Quotes of the Week
“Recapping my skill set: I have poor art skills, mediocre business skills, good but not great writing talent, and an early knowledge of the Internet. And I have a good but not great sense of humor. I’m like one big mediocre soup. None of my skills are world-class, but when my mediocre skills are combined, they become a powerful market force.” — Scott Adams
“Mastery is not a function of genius or talent. It is a function of time and intense focus applied to a particular field of knowledge.” — Robert Greene
Recommended Reading
The Ultimate Productivity Hack is Saying No by James Clear
Saying no is a powerful skill. James Clear’s article explores why it’s important to say no and how to do it effectively. Will you say no to reading this article?
Interesting Finds
Growth.Design
I came across this fantastic website called Growth.Design thanks to a friend, Shane, whose interesting article I also share below.
But first, about Growth Design: they create engaging case studies on user experience and product design that are both insightful and fun to read. Their unique storytelling approach makes complex concepts easy to understand. If you're interested in learning more about UX and product design, definitely check them out.
Charles Leclerc in Monaco
This article by Shane from
explores an interesting angle on Charles Leclerc’s recent home win in Monaco. Leclerc, a Monégasque Formula 1 driver for Ferrari, achieved his dream of winning the Monaco Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago. Shane asks a simple yet profound question: what makes you react as euphorically as Leclerc did when he fulfilled his childhood dream?Yesterday was tough for Leclerc, the Ferrari team, and fans (like me). But still, this article is a great read! Highly recommended for sports enthusiasts and those seeking an inspiring story.
Podcast Episode of the Week
The Truth About Money and Why We Have It All Wrong | The Mel Robbins Podcast
This week, check out a cool podcast featuring Ramit Sethi that explores the psychology of money and how our relationship with it is influenced by our biases and beliefs. Becoming aware of these biases is the first step to improving your finances. The podcast is full of practical tips to help you manage your money better.
Watch or Listen Now.
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As the name suggests, The Small Business Corner focuses on starting, managing, and running a small business. Hosted by the Xiva team, we are also developing an app that simplifies business management and payments for small businesses and the self-employed.
Here, you will find articles on managing and marketing a business, industry updates, tech trends, and in-depth analyses of lifestyle design, work-life balance, and small business communities.
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