Issue #43 - It's good to talk 🗣
The importance of taking care of yourself & your business | How to cut business costs | More on the Energy Bill Relief Scheme | Spooky stories from Jamaica Inn (yes, that one!) | Tunes | Words | More
🦾 G O
How is everybody doing? 👂
Welcome to Issue #43 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
When you run your own business, separating your work life from your personal life can be difficult - being a business owner is not just the way you earn a living, it’s also a big part of your identity.
If your business is struggling financially, then this can have an impact on your personal life. And if you employ any staff, the pressure can be even greater as you’ve their livelihoods to consider too.
Then there’s the cost of living crisis, which could be making things doubly difficult right now as you’re feeling the squeeze on both your household and business finances.
On the flip side, there’s also the effect your personal life could be having on your business. If you’re not running at 100% then you might not be able to give your staff, customers, and business the attention they need.
Running your own business can come with a lot of unexpected pressures.
That’s why it’s important to check in on yourself every once in a while.
If you’re in the eat-sleep-work-repeat doom cycle, simply taking half an hour or so to get away from the workplace could do you the world of good. As can reconnecting with old hobbies, putting aside some time for friends and family, or even just crashing on the couch for an hour to catch up on some trash telly or a good book.
And remember that it’s always good to talk.
If you’re struggling with any business or personal matters, try to lean on colleagues, friends, or family for support.
If you need help with business matters, try the government’s Business Support Helpline. Or there are services like MoneyHelper for financial issues.
If your mental health is taking a battering, try Mind, the Samaritans, For Men to Talk or WISH for women’s mental health.
If you feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get the basics done, try to delegate some tasks to take some time back. Or even consider closing early once in a while, during those hours when business is less busy.
And be on the lookout for signs of burnout in colleagues and employees.
Running a small business can take its toll on your health and well-being. But there are simple steps you can take to improve your physical and mental health.
If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out these six quick health and well-being tips for busy business owners from Drew Campbell-Griffiths, an expert in nutrition, fitness and MMA.
📨 S U B S C R I B E
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🗞 R E A D
How to cut small business costs
Working out how to limit spending as a small business owner can be hard, especially during the current cost of living crisis. But even if bigger changes seem out of reach right now, there are small things you can do to cut your costs and allow your business to thrive. Read this handy guide from Bionic to find out more.
What is the Energy Bill Relief Scheme?
Since our last issue, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has not only kicked in but it’s also changed slightly. The good news is that the cut-off for eligible fixed contracts has been extended from April 1, 2022, to December 1, 2021. This means more businesses will benefit from discounted rates. The bad news is that the maximum discount has been cut from 40.5p per unit of electricity and 11.5p per unit of gas to 34.5p per unit of electricity and 9.1p per unit of gas. All the more reason to consider fixing your rates.
🗣 S H O U T O U T
#BionicBusinessStory - Jamaica Inn 🏴☠️
Bionic got geared up for Halloween during this chat with Karin Beasant who runs paranormal stays at Cornwall’s legendary Jamaica Inn (yes, that one from the Daphne du Maurier novel!) But what is it that makes this business so scarily special?
Bionic: What has been your spookiest encounter at the inn?
Karin Beasant: It’s really weird. I’ve slept in the ‘haunted’ rooms many times over the years, the first time I slept in Room 4, I had the feeling of being watched from the corner of the room, later I found that many past guests have said the same thing about the same corner.
B: How do you advertise your ghost hunts?
KB: My colleague Gemma does a lot of our social media, she’s the queen of Twitter. I also advertise over Facebook when I can. This month Jamaica Inn is featured in ‘Haunted’ magazine, there is a five-page article I wrote up about what we do.
B: What makes your business different?
KB: There are four of us in the paranormal team, me, Lisa, Gemma and Rachel. We all bring something different to the table. This makes us unique because two of us are quite sceptical, the others have an open-minded belief with a rational approach. We don’t do entertainment though; the purpose of these investigations isn’t to scare; we try to explain the science behind the paranormal.
B: What is special about Jamaica Inn?
KB: Every time you see it, it’s like you’re coming home, the inn has a way of reaching out and grabbing you and you can never entirely leave. You never know what might happen from night to night!
To find out more about Jamaica Inn, head over to their Facebook, Twitter and website. Or click on the book below to read more of this Bionic business story.
📩 J O I N
Get involved with our business community 🔊
Share your thoughts and tips to give other busy business owners a helping hand. Or ask a question to see if anyone can help you out.
Get your business costs sorted 💷
Bionic - the business price comparison experts - compare a range of business essentials to help you save time, money, and hassle.
Our tech-enabled team will answer all your questions in simple terms, and help you find the best deal on business energy, insurance, phone, broadband, or finance. No jargon. No-fuss. #BeABionicBusiness 🦾
Bionic’s tech-enabled experts found the right Price for Gary.
Check out more ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trustpilot reviews
🎧 L I S T E N
Playlist
Remember when people used to get shout-outs on the radio (maybe they still do) - well this week’s playlist is going out to Maria from the People and Culture Team at Bionic, who has been in 80s disco mode all week. This four-hour playlist opens with ABC, ends with Grace Jones, and includes Heaven 17’s Temptation twice - but then it’s impossible to hear that particular 80s banger too many times.
Podcast
Chosen by Caroline, Chief People Officer at Bionic, Eat Sleep Work Repeat (there’s that doom cycle again) is a podcast from Bruce Daisley - best-selling author and leading authority on workplace culture and the future of work. Topics include hybrid working, the four-day week, how to tell if your boss is a narcissist (no, really) and loads more.
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🚫 S T O P
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