No sales equals no revenue.  So – if winning business is not something you have done in the past, develop your client relationship and influencing skills and learn from every client conversation.  Always remember that people buy from people – so winning respect, credibility, trust and achieving a level of client chemistry always comes before an order.  Be yourself, be authentic and, above all, develop a ‘client mind-set’ which enables you to understand a client’s needs.  Seeing things from the other side of the table always impresses and leads to better quality proposals and solutions.  95% of an Independent’s success is based on understanding what the client brief is all about.  This takes skill and experience and is always work in progress!

Let your friends know what you do and invest in building your network.  Networking is much more than just winning business, it’s also about collaboration, support and building great relationships.

Manage your time wisely – work on priorities, be organised and efficient in the way you run your business, you can then put your focus on being with clients.

Don’t be afraid to ask for support.  “No-one is wiser than all of us!”  You will always have peaks and troughs and it’s good to step back and talk things through with someone you trust.