Farewell

As with every new business you have to explore all the possibilities that are going to give you value for money. Blogging was one of these.
Hmmm we've been looking over the stats and it's not good reading. We're not getting the hits that we need so we're calling it a day and focusing our energies on redevelopment of the website which will probably include a "blog type" element to those few who were kind enough to follow us we thank you remember you can keep track of what we're doing by visiting our website

@ctors Business

finding your voice

Silence is golden?

We've started the prelim to the research and it's not going well. The silence is deafening. We were forewarned about this by the MD, but we thought perhaps this was an over cautious projection. Wrong! Maybe out copy sucks (this is possible), but we think its a bit more subtle and complex than that. How do champion, what appears to be a disparate collection of individuals the only commonality their cultural and general ethnicity? Maybe you don't, maybe we have to take a different tack a "build the field and they will come" approach?

Our MD had this to say:

"It's disappointing, especially given all the hard work and effort that the guys have already invested. But I can't say it surprises me. The British-Chinese diaspora doesn't just cover the geographical aspect, it also touches on the subtle internal specifics and dynamics of the Chinese. I think the years of neglect and overall small statistical numbers on the "ethnic" tables have only served to re-enforce an attitude of laissez-faire on both sides of the fence. This in itself is a finding. We will basically be starting from scratch. We will be defining the research parameters - scary but at the same time very, very exciting and a huge responsibility."

So operation plot the British-Chinese arts professional commences in earnest and it's gonna be a long, long journey!

@ctors Business
finding your voice

Research, research, research

@ctors Business begins its research program into the state of the British-Chinese/UK-Chinese artist. This is a huge undertaking as we don't know what existing stats may already cover, if at all.

Having looked into agency use (yes there is something to be said for having people on board with previous non artistic skills!) and the consensus is, possibly far too specialist to warrant the overhead costs of commissioning. So it's down to the freelancer - Lucy who also happens to be the MD.

"This will be an interesting challenge. The first of which will be to see if any of the recognised bodies respond to our initial request. That in itself will be a finding whichever way it goes. It'll then be another challenge to sift through any existing data sets taking on board the parameters of the data gathering and decide if we can use these statistics and how. How will any existing data inform and help us to move our research forward. Second challenge as research progresses (hopefully) context. Other than the widely held view that in very general and simplistic terms the Chinese just are not as visible as say other ethnic minorities - this statement would need corroboration and example. You're then looking at in depth face to face qualitative, probably unstructured research. Timely and can be very costly. Plus focus groups. Yes I know we are now more aware of "focus" groups and they have had their reputation somewhat tarnished in the recent past. But this is a great way of getting relevant people together to discuss issues from which we can gather invaluable data. We could have gone an sought a freelancer. But then I thought, hey, I've done research, I actually do know what I'm doing! So rather than pay someone who perhaps might not be as familiar with the arts sector and indeed the specific section of the community we wish to investigate and also have the research skills - why not do it in house! So we're doing it in house. Am I going to regret this further down the line as I sit over a variety of top lines? Time will tell.Seriously this is a very important research project not just for @ctors Business but for the British-Chinese/UK-Chinese artists, the arts sector and the wider community."

On a more sobering thought we've experienced our first breach in organisational procedures. Actions taken, we hope with the best possible intentions, but executed in a totally inappropriate and unprofessional manner.

@ctors Business is a very new company and we don't have cash to spare! So since we're all about encouraging individuals and helping people out we took on board a couple of very eager local final year students. They were enthusiastic and on time! However in the space of the few short occasional hours that they were under the auspices of @ctors Business over several different days they nearly managed to scupper, not only this research project, but our reputation.

How? By using one of our email accounts and logo without authorisation to post a thread on a very reputable discussion board. Needless to say we had to let the students go.

This won't prevent us from considering students for internships, paid job placements or work experience. It has however been a salutary lesson in internal security and a sad reminder that trust is something that has to be earned in the workplace.

Sounds as if Lucy has here hand full. We'll keep you up dated (no pun intended)

Should you want to contribute to this research project by airing your professional views then please send us an email to british.chinese@btinternet.com

Virals eveywhere

@ctors Business is all about the fusion of visual art and performance with the skills of administration, analysis and promotion. So almost before we have even begun we are changing. Adapt or die - I think is the phrase.

Testing has begun on 3D galleries, viral news broadcasts and online tutorials. Eventually we will expand the virtual into a sub-section of it's own to host a variety of virtual envrionments for corporate and vocational use.

@ctors Business © 2009

Change is in the air

Only a month and a bit in and we're already thinking of change. We don't live in an ideal world. But businesses have to survive and we have to find our place on the evolutionary ladder. Whilst we can provide the corporate know how and back-office expertise our true nature lies in the creative process the production of art, on camera, on the stage and on the page.

So interesting times keep watching as we find our way in the world.

@ctors Business
finding our own voice

One month on

We're a month old - happy one month anniversary.

So where do we go from here? We're getting advice left, right and centre, some of it good but much of the "advice" we're receiving doesn't really fit @ctors Business and what we're about.

Many of the people who've spoken to us have given us an onslaught of information about angel investors, private investment, raising shares etc. Whilst we welcome any and all constructive assistance, we can't help wondering have these people actually bothered to look at the website? Or is our website so ineffective that we radically need to change our message?

WWW Well as for the latter that's an ongoing activity and we'll be amending and hopefully improving our presence and our message. This will be reviewed constantly and roll-out of changes will take place, at the moment as and when.

As for the investment angel, for us this is not the way that we want to go. We maybe cutting off our noses to spite our face but we think for our concept to work we need to be independent. We have to be able to stand alone on our own two feet. We recognise that this will take time, development and lots of hard work but the end result will be more than worthwhile.

We've catered for two clients thus far - we won't get rich quick on the revenue generated, but it's a start. A small one but nevertheless a good one. Life is pretty tough out there at the best of times and we won't be doing anything by halves.

Granted we don't have a formal office space - but given the experieince of some of the formal office we've had the misfortune to work in; in our former employment lives none of us are overly concerend by that. If you know what you're doing than working remotley can be just as effective and an economically prudent way of doing business. It keeps our costs to a minimum which is always a plus. Having someone investing in your idea is a double edged sword, maybe Lucy will elaborate on that one in a future posting! For us keeping and retaining complete control over all aspects of the business is a non negotiable point and a founding tenent of who and what @ctors Business stands for.

@ctors Business

finding your voice

@ctors Business - About

Hello, that's me to the left, Lucy the MD of @ctors Business. That sounds so grand but the higher up the food chain the greater the responsibility. @ctors business rests firmly on my shoulders - in fact I am @ctors Business!

So in a time of recession and corporate cut backs, businesses going into administration left right and centre - why on earth would I want to set up in business, I hear you asking. Believe me it's a question that is never far from the tip of my own tongue.

I've spent the better part of thirty years holding down both PAYE and self-employment. How quite I managed to do this, I really have no idea. It was just something I did. Well the proverbial hit the fan just before Christmas of 2008 and I was made redundant from the day job. Eighteen months prior to losing my day job, I had seriously been thinking about getting back to full time self-employment. The two ideas just collided. Redundancy + self-employment + my idea for a business. I've never stopped looking for paid employment. In fact I'm still looking for a part time position. But I took the redundancy as an impetus, a kick up the backside to get my business idea out of my head, off the page and into reality. Rather than letting lack of paid employment weigh me down as a complete negative.

@ctors Business is as much about an idea, as it is a business and working philosophy. I've worked in quite a few formal organisations and a couple of "informal" organisations. So I've seen the 'good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent and the excellent'. I'm in no hurry to make the same mistakes that I've witnessed in some corporate environments. I'll be taking the good examples of best practise, superior employment/customer relations with me and weaving these strands into the basic fabric of the business. Our philosophy is very basic, very simple and open:

• Commitment
  
• Honesty
  
• Professionalism
  
• Respect
  
• Responsibility
  
• Communication
  

@ctors Business is a company that takes pride in its service to it's clients, business partners and associates. But we also take pride in our staff. The same care, attention to detail and responsibility that we show our clients is afforded to each and every single staff member; whether they are freelance, contracted, salaried or casual hourly rated. We all have a responsibility to each other and our clients. Too often I have witnessed the corporate cultural of non action, laissez-faire and refusal to take ownership. Delegation doesn't mean the negation of responsibility, especially if your a senior member of staff.

As the MD of a fledgling new enterprise I won't be asking anyone to do anything that I won't, or can't do. @ctors Business is about team work as well as individuality. Creativity in tandem with corporate understanding and know how. So we all dabble in IT, web, administration and the 101 tasks you have to keep on top of when running a business. But we all have working expertise and experience both artistically and or corporately. We're fusing business with art.

Going to work should never be a chore - for sure there will be days when maybe you just want to clock off and walk out, but there will also be days when you're dancing on the ceiling. The work environment has to be a safe, secure, happy and relaxed place to be, were you can cope with all that a diverse and challenging day can unfold.

@ctors Business invests in its most valuable resource - people, by training, mentoring, exchanging knowledge skills, listening to its staff members, giving responsibility and providing robust support.

Follow @ctors Business (and me) as we embark upon a journey of discovery...

@ctors Business
finding your voice