Category Archives: Podcast notes

[Podcast] Summer 2020 – ‘Meaningful’ Work and Support For Small Firms

This week, I wanted to take you back a couple of months and give you some insight into how I’ve experienced summer 2020… People listening from outside may find it strange, but a four-week summer holiday is quite normal for workers in Finland and five or even six weeks is not unheard of. While this is undoubtedly nice for individuals, it does have an effect on business during the summer months. Everything sloooooowwwwws down.

Gradually and yet all at once, I found my calendar for June and July becoming more-and-more empty. I decided that if I cannot do any invoiceable work, I will focus on meaningful work that will have benefits at a later date.

[Podcast] Should We Continue Prospecting During the Coronavirus?

Episode 5 of this podcast was titled B2B Sales With Simple Content Marketing. In it, I talked about simple content marketing work that companies can do to support their sales work. This was based on work I had been doing during the first quarter of 2020. Then, of course, the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. My work was agreed and my time was scheduled, but I did stop to think “Should we continue prospecting during the Coronavirus lockdown period?”

[Podcast] Expert Tips On Prospecting For New Customers In The UK

Interview with Steven Smith, Managing Director at The Lead Generation Company.

This episode is something a little different. You don’t have to listen to just ME talking at you. I have a guest and I’m really pleased to welcome Steven whose LinkedIn profile reads ‘Lead Generation | Appointment Setting | Telemarketing | Qualified Sales Leads’. These are things that bring some people out on a cold sweat but are so important to any company that’s doing international business.

Read Steven’s important tips for companies looking to find new customers in the UK. Advice that will remain relevant during and after the coronavirus era.

[Podcast] Why Is E-invoicing In Finland So Confusing?

Having started my own toiminimi company in 2019 and started invoicing my customer directly. I had experience at Xport of sending e-invoices, but I then found myself working in my own company, using e-invoicing from an Operator system and wondering ‘Why is e-invoicing in Finland so confusing?’

[Podcast] Integration Evaluations For International Students Are A WIISE Decision

This episode is based on an earlier blog I published “Helping Migrating Workers Settle Into Everyday Life Is A WIISE Decision”. Since then, things have developed and the Work Integration for Immigrants Service (WIISE) has now completed its first project, working with a group of international business students from SeAMK in Seinäjoki.

[Podcast] B2B Sales With Simple Content Marketing

Over the past few years, I have been asked by potential customers “Can you do some sales work for me to make some leads?” While I CAN pick up the phone and make some sales calls, what if they are not yet ready to engage? What simple B2B marketing activity can a company do to support any sales work? Here are some ideas from a combination of recent experiences.

[Podcast] Why Did I Start My Own Toiminimi/Sole Trader Company?

When I announced, back in October 2019, that I was now working via my toiminimi (sole trader company or self-employed) I had a few people ask “Are you still working at Xport?” or “What happened? Is everything OK at Xport?” so I thought I’d answer this question directly: Why did I start my own company and start working separately from Xport?

[Podcast] Is This The Worst Time To Start A Podcast About International Business?

Having planned this podcast for a few months, by the time I recorded my first episode in March 2020, we were already in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. This episode asks “Is this the worst time to start a podcast about International business?” And should I continue sharing my experiences, so others know they’re not alone during these difficult times?

[Podcast] International Business, Entrepreneurship in Finland and Immigrant Integration

Welcome to the International Business from Finland with Mark Wiltshear. Where I take you behind the scenes of my solo enterprise, or toiminimi in Finnish. In this episode, I explain how I came to be at the centre of these seemingly disparate areas of business in Finland, and what you can expect from this series.