In answer to a question from one of A4e's employees - 'Emma tell me 10 ways to kill a business (or idea), things that people should avoid when either setting up or growing a company' - sent to me by Edd Smith from our County Durham office.

Great question - a good reversal on the stuff i normally get asked - so I thought I'd spend some time and give it a go - you have made me think  - thanks. 

My ten ways to kill a business ( remember - I am telling you ways to kill a business - please, please don't read them as things you should do! - a hint for Jim  - my husband who read them and thought they were things he should be doing!!!)

1. Leave people in place even when you know they shouldn't be - i.e. fail to deal with difficult people issues
2. Don't listen to your gut instincts
3. Stop marketing - convince yourself that you are too busy to persue new business!
4. Start believing that tidying your desk and dealing with internal issues is the way to grow.
5. Persue money above all else - passion and a determination to do something great creates results - not avarice.
6. Forget to encourage, train and reward people as individuals 
7. Never deliver anything on time
8. Be miserable
9. Never phone back and always let people down
10. Listening too much to a uninspired professional ( the fastest way to crush most ideas!) 

I am convinced there are many more - that was fun - thanks.