Do you feel that you should be getting more from life?

I'm delighted to be able to invite you to a great programme coming to East Kent starting on Wednesday 16th June 2010...

The 'Life Safari Discovery Programme'

And you are invited to join this life-changing programme as we explore the wisdom within Life Safari and begin creating the life of your dreams.

You'll discover ways to get more from life, learn and develop your life skills, and meet great people (people like you!)

As part of the programme you'll receive:
Your copy of Life Safari - Value £15.00
10 Weeks participation in the Life Safari Discovery Programme - Value £1,370
2 complimentary invitations to the Life Safari Experience Event - Value £194
Total Value - £1,579.00

Your investment? Only £97.00! or free if you sign-up three others to share this amazing journey with you

For more details click here

Free Tickets For Chris Howard

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS

Breakthrough To Success

Although these tickets are valued at £1,790 they could be worth much more than this to you.

I recently attended this 3 day seminar and can highly recommend it.

Chris Howard is a great presenter and will share with you ways to make your life even better. You'll meet so many great people, people like you, who are achieving real results. Chris is quickly building a reputation as one of the best in the business, and this seminar provides you with a chance to experience this event free of charge.

So if you can get to London 25-27th June this is your opportunity

If you have a passion for self improvement, it's a must go and if you fancy learning and developing your skills, here's a little tip, I upgraded to a VIP ticket and I suggest you do as well. For a small cost we had our own breakout room, food, refreshments, gifts, and got to meet the other VIP's at a deeper level. But most of all it gave me time to get the most from this excellent event.

CLICK HERE to find out more

Rich Dad Poor Dad?

Are you a fan of the works of Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki?

See them live and learn from the experts at the ExCel in London on 11-13th June 2010

Here's the details:CLICK HERE

Designed to help you create unlimited success!

Three days with the world leaders in financial achievement. You'll meet great contacts and learn great strategies

Brian Tracy visiting London

See Brian Tracy Live in London

There's a special 3 day seminar with Brian Tracy in May. This is the only time that Brian will appear in the UK in 2010 and this is your unique chance to learn from one of the world's best coaches on business, sales and personal growth.

Brian is one of the 'must see' business and personal development teachers in the world. And you'll be pleasantly surprised how low the ticket price is.

Here’s what Brian says about this event in his own words:
“I’m going to show you how to use my easy-to-learn techniques. Then, it’s time for action. Here’s what you’ll get:

You will make more money
You’ll find it easier to sell your products and yourself
Your customers will buy from you
You will get more appointments and buyers – even when they start out saying “It’s too expensive”
You will close more deals and handle objections – especially price objections – effortlessly!
Brian Tracy will bring you three full days of learning which will revolutionize your business and your life. The three days will cover:

Day 1: Advanced Selling Strategies

On the opening day of the Peak Performance Business Growth Bootcamp Brian will be revealing the most effective strategies employed by some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs to win more business, and get more customers to take action more often!

Day 2: High-Performance Leadership

On day 2 you’ll be learning some of the key attributes of successful business leaders – and how you can start to use them in your business immediately.
Day 3: Effective Tools for Business Growth

The third and final day of this exciting programme will focus on how to expand and grow your business in today’s turbulent economy.
You’ll discover:

This is a rare and exclusive opportunity to see Brian Tracy live in London. You and your business deserve to be there!

Tickets are limited so register now to avoid disappointment

To find out more and book CLICK HERE

Venue: Excel, London

Dates: 24 th, 25 th and 26 th of May 2010

Ticket prices will be increasing from after the 10th of May so grab your tickets now!

Would you like to grab a free 2-hour video recording from one of the world’s top business and personal development experts – Brian Tracy.

A flavour:

Ask yourself the following questions:

What would dare to dream if you knew you couldn’t fail?
What goals would you set yourself?
How much would you be able to help others and contribute?
When you start thinking about this, you’ll realise that often the only think holding you back is fear, or more specifically, fear of failure.

In this 2-hour audio, called The Unbreakable Laws of Self-Confidence, Brian will share with you one of the most important secrets of success in business, and in life in general. He will show you how to transform your fears into a positive force that will propel you forward and help you to achieve your goals much more easily and become virtually unstoppable.

The Unbreakable Laws of Self-Confidence audio is normally sold for $79.95 but you can download it completely free of charge right here. CLICK HERE

I hope you enjoy it.

UK Election Comment

Calling our Party Leaders... The next Election campaign has begun!

.....................................................................................
Pre - Election:
It's interesting that so many people are finding it difficult to decide who is going to be the best leader for the UK over the next four years, why is this?

There is a whole discussion to be had about the apathy that is so widespread, where people aren't spending any time researching and analysing policies and promises... but that's not the major thought I want to share...

My thought is this:

The person chosen to lead our country should be someone who is already showing genuine influence BEFORE they get the formal title.

Maybe the voters just aren't seeing a natural choice and that's a concern.Is this a new development, no it's not, but maybe when we add the general apathy (or belief that we can't make a difference) with another leadership campaign where the potential leaders only 'step-up' at voting time and we begin to see a problem.

It's a message I believe is worth thinking about for us all as leaders, and a message I'd like to see shared with the Party Leaders.

Whatever you think, and I'd be pleased to get feedback... VOTE!

Listening to the Dragon!

If you feel the time is right to invest in your business, and James Caan would suggest that (in terms of the global economy) it is, what do you invest in?

Listening to James at Kent 2020 he went on to say:

Invest in people. This can be done in a number of ways and starts with investing in the people who you already have, and then bring great people into your organisation. Let's start with the people who are with you already and think about training & development, but also in sharing your vision for the business (as this may have changed this they joined you). They'll appreciate your honesty and open-ness. Once we are looking after our existing people, it's time to look to bring great people into the business, maybe consider apprenticeships... and don't forget to invest in existing customers. We all have a marketing budget, but who has a retention budget?

It's worth remembering that our people are chasing and hunting your customers right now.

Invest in IT. Think about measurement tools, because the better information we have, the better our leadership decisions become.

James Caan also would suggest that 'you ask your new team... if it were down to you, how would you do it? Fresh eyes and fresh ideas.

When someone who is already successful talks, maybe it's worth listening.

Practice makes...

We all know the old expression that 'practice makes perfect' it get's used all of the time, but interestingly enough it's actually wrong.

I was coaching some great swimmers last night, but so many of them are just practicing and reinforcing bad habits. It's with this in mind that the real truism is that 'practice makes permanent'... It's only 'perfect practice that makes perfect'

So often we see people enthusiastically and energetically working on their business, and wondering why they are financially drowning.

It's because they are simply getting better at doing the wrong things!

If that kind of makes sense, then I'm sure you'll agree, that it's all very well knowing this, but as always the real question is what do we do about it?

Well, often it's STOP! and stop right now, before the habits are reinforced even harder. Why make things worse?

Then we can move on to finding out what needs doing and how it should be done, and then slowly beginning to create new habits that are good for us, our customers and our business.

And maybe... it's time to begin working with a coach who will position and keep you on the path of success.

Going the extra...

Aaaargh Once again I've blown it!

I bet you have too?

Here's what happened... again

I phoned up my fitness club to check that as a member I could bring along my little lad for a swim, and 'yes that's fine with just a small payment'

So we get together our 'stuff' build up the excitement and off we go... to be told that they only doing children swimming between certain hours - Not Now!

Of course now I've got a four year-old very disappointed and I feel... well cross I guess?

Now it surely didn't take too much of a leap of intelligence to link the fact that I after asking about childrens swimming to that I was going to be bringing him along, did it? It's not the first time this has happened to me, in fact it's happened recently at now three out of four local swimming pools (I haven't tried the fourth)

Or was it just a little more effort needed, on my behalf AND the service providers?

It's often been said that great customer service is about 'going the extra mile' but it's normally just about going the 'extra inch' ... and we can all do that can't we.

You'd think I'd learn though and begin asking just one more question, so that's something I'll be working on (might be worth you doing the same)

I'll also be looking at whether I and my team are going the 'extra inch' and making sure that we're not letting down our clients by not providing enough information. We have a duty to share the benefits of the services we offer, the up-selling if you like, so that our clients maximise the value we provide.

This 'up-selling' used to be about ensuring that people purchased a plug, batteries, cartridges, but the principle remains the same in all businesses. It's good business sense, it's good customer service, it's common sense.

And don't forget to ask 'just one more question' I won't (will I?)

Get Set, Go... Stop!

Just capturing a story from Peter Thomson that can save you (and me) time and money:

The Hudson Bay Company – which is still going strong today with more than 500 stores across Canada was first chartered over 300 plus years ago in 1670 by King Charles II.

The company’s early history was the supply of provisions, all the necessary provisions for the fur traders who were about to undertake expeditions out of Hudson Bay.

The process they used was called a Hudson Bay Start – they would travel just a few miles up river (or down river as the case may be) and then they stopped and made camp. Yes – after just a few miles. Now why would they do that?

Well – quite simple really and very obvious when we stop and think about it. They stopped that quickly because their journey was a voyage into the unknown – a high risk adventure – and they wanted to make entirely certain that they had brought everything with them that they would need.

Anything left behind?

And of course if they had left something behind – it was only a short journey back to their starting point to pick up the forgotten item.

So this stop – whilst it cost the voyageurs precious time in a short trading season – was absolutely necessary before starting the major part of the voyage.

Where do you it?

So how and where do you and I apply the ‘Hudson Bay Start’ in our lives?

Well – for me – now that I know the story and its intent – everywhere!

As simply as – on the personal front – perhaps stopping for breakfast after an early start - on a journey towards a holiday destination! Then if something has been forgotten we’re not too far from home to go back.

Now commercially there are a number of key ideas we can take from the Hudson Bay Start:

Let’s imagine the scenario that you’re about to undertake a project with your team. You know that they are a number of risks associated with the project – both financially and personally.

What better than to get the project planned – start to take action and then stopping quickly to assess what’s happened and how it might be changed?

For example: As the leader you might ask yourself these questions:

• Now that I’ve seen them in action - do I have the right people on board for this project?
• Have they demonstrated the right attitude?
• Have they clearly indicated that they have the right skills?
• Is their knowledge level where it should be in order to complete this task or project?
• Now that we’ve started the journey are the risks as I’d anticipated or are the risks greater or smaller?
• Do we have the right tools or resources in order to achieve what we’ve set out to accomplish?
• Or did we simply forget something – something important!

And a question we can use both personally and commercially:

Is this the right goal?

So often I’ve seen people not stopping and measuring soon enough on their personal and commercial journey and finding out that the time spent towards achieving a goal has been time that could have been spent differently – once they realised that they didn’t really want that goal.

In selling and in business one of my own expressions is:

“Time and distance travelled compounds the effect of error!”

This is the same thinking process as The Hudson bay Start. Let’s stop and measure sooner to make certain we can correct any errors in the course – or in the case of Hudson Bay thinking – go back and collect the supplies or people we need to be able to complete the task in hand.

I’m certain that once you share this story with your colleagues and with your family – that you too will find your mind drifting back to the voyageurs, to Canada, to the pioneering days – as you insert into any and every journey – The Hudson Bay Start.

Peter Thomson
“The UK’s Leading Strategist on Business and Personal Growth”

Business Cards - The right way or the wrong way!

Don't ever hand out torn or worn business cards
We all know the saying about never having a second chance to make a great first impression… Well it’s wrong! Business cards stay in circulation and re-appear as if by magic.
Make sure the cards you present are clean and crisp with no frayed edges or pen marks. The best method of keeping your cards in neat form is a business card case.

Ask for a business card
Always ask for a business card and give a reason why.
You’ll be asked for yours in return.

Do make it a point to ‘present’ your business card
Frame you card with your fingers and present it formally. It’s like saying… This is my business and I’m very proud of it.

Do receive a business card properly
When accepting a business card, always have a good look at it for a few seconds. In your conversation, offer a compliment about the logo, design, etc. and of course say ‘thank you’ Place the card you receive in a planner, notebook or business card case. Never place the card in a wallet that will be put in your back pocket. Doing so shows disrespect and an all around lack of organization on your part.

Don't hand out more than one card to a new contact
Only give one business card to your new contact. Leaving two or three may give the signal that you want them to make contacts for you which is tacky and unprofessional. Unless a prior agreement is made to exchange more than one card, keep the focus on person-to-person contact.

Mastering Depression

An intervention with someone living with depression.

Click here

What is the right question (but only one of them)

The Six W's are a useful addition to our success toolbox:

I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When,

and How and Where and Who.

- Rudyard Kipling

Here's the answer, now what's the question?

So often life would be easier if we simply knew what people wanted.

It's certainly worth embedding Maslows Theory in our minds... because it provides so many of the answers we are looking for.. for so many questions.

Brand YOU!

One of the success strategies we share with clients is to think of themselves as a brand... Brand YOU!

And a brand is not a product or a service. A brand isn't a logo or how something looks.

A brand IS how you make others feel... 'so it's not about what you're saying about yourself, it's what others say about YOU'

Brands don't happen by accident, they're planned.

So here's a thought as another day, week, year begins:

Maybe it's time to plan Brand YOU!

Click here to download and create your Brand YOU planner

Become A Leader

We all have a choice in life and that is to lead or be led.

It may be at times that we take turns at each but …if we decide to become a leader THEN we CAN create the business or the life that WE want, not the business or life that someone else wants.

When we make this type of decision - Everything changes

'I'm a lady I am'

'You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up (the dressing and the proper way of speaking and so on), the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves but how she's treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will, but I know I can be a lady to you because you always treat me as a lady, and always will'

One of the famous lines from 'My Fair Lady'



Based on a play, which was in itself based on a story from Greek mythology, 'My Fair Lady' is a great example of how we can change the way we get treated and the results we achieve by what's known as The Pygmalion Effect.



In the ancient myth the sculptor pours all of his love into his creation and believes it is real to such an extent that he marries it... and guess what the statue become real, and they live happily ever after.

Scientists have proven that people behave to the level of expectation set on them, and it's with this in mind that so many of the great teachers have told us 'that first of all we have to be the person we want to be'

So today's thoughts ' who is the person that you want to be? What do they look like, how do they dress, speak, behave?'

Because when we know what we want to achieve and begin thinking about it... the journey to success has begun.

It was me!

Two geese were about to start southward on their annual migration, when they were entreated by a frog to take him with them. The geese expressed their willingness to do so if a means of conveyance could be devised.

The frog produced a long stalk of pond grass, got the geese each to grab an end with their beaks, while he clung to it by his mouth in the middle.

In this way the three began their journey.

Some farmers below noticed the strange sight.

The men loudly expressed their admiration for the travel device and wondered who had been clever enough to discover it. Whereupon the vainglorious frog opened his mouth to say...

"It was I," lost his grip, fell to the earth and was dashed to pieces.

Physics is cool!

I don't think I was ready for physics when my teacher tried to teach it back in my 'enforced' school days, however; all these years later, it's becoming a little more interesting.

I say 'enforced' because these days 'every day's a school day' it's the way I and the people I work with choose to think about life and...

We've been working with so many different groups over the last few weeks, and the theme has been the same; that people with great +'ve attitudes attract so much into their lives/organisations.

We've been sharing tips and ideas on how to create and showcase this positive energy.

We're all amazing bundles of energy, magnificent electrical circuits that amongst so many other things, influence how we feel and how we make other people feel.

Everything around us that we may want to attract is also just bundles of energy, so...

You'll know this already, but here's a great reminder from the physics class...

The movement of energy is always from the negative and TOWARDS THE POSITIVE!

I'm going to be a positive bundle of energy, what about you?

Ideas Worth Sharing

Just booked to see Michael Gerber as he makes one of his rare visits to London on 8th December 2009.

Michael is a 'legend' with regards to small business and wrote the phenomenal book... The EMyth Revisited, it's one I recommend to EVERYONE who is running a business (or thinking of).

Here's the link if you want to sign up - It will sell out quickly I'm sure (A great price to see someone of this calibre)

Positive Thinking?

There's plenty of evidence that suggests optimists live longer, good job it's not the other way round... The universe seems to want to put people out of their misery, how kind!

We know that everything we have, achieve, and experience begins with our thoughts so it kind of makes sense to ensure that what we put into our heads is positive and healthy.

This is about choosing who we spend our time with, what we listen to, and what we watch and read.

Here's an interesting interview - All in the Mind! (About 30 minutes, if you'd like to know more).

Wise Words

The last words of the Buddha to his disciples...

'Just do YOUR best!'

Articles etc etc etc etc!

So often the secret to business success is to...

Just increase the numbers!

More income, more customers, more hits on the website. With this in mind:

I like this little tutorial on how to make our writing work harder for us all, because maybe we can also apply the principle in so many other areas.

Click here (it's less than 5 minutes long)

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I’m a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions. Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, Maria, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

The Laws of Spirit

Of course you and I know that we don't have to just use the brains we have, when there are so many brains out there that we can borrow, that can add so much value to our lives.

I'm sure you know I have a deep love of reading and I'd like to recommend a book to you, that I've enjoyed and think you will too.

It's 'The Laws of Spirit' by Dan Millman

Having just spent a week's 'quality time' with my children I'd certainly agree that children have never been very good at listening to their parents, but Dan's book includes a great reminder that 'they never fail to imitate them'

And I know that he's not just talking about children (or parents)... is he?

Thoughts Have Power

'We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts we make our world' - The Buddha

Simple?... But not easy I'd suggest.

Some, no let me start again... All of the greatest teachers this planet has ever seen have passed on this message in one way or another.

So today will for me, provide the opportunity to choose (even decide) on the thoughts I have from now onwards.

I'm reading 'The Hidden Messages of Water' at the moment by Dr Masuru Emoto... interesting!

He's taken samples of water, exposed them to various stimuli, including music and words, and then frozen the samples and photographed the crystals through a microscope. Incredibly, the stimuli altered the crystals into either beautiful formations or into broken, ugly and malformed shapes.

Now we're all made from water so imagine the effect our thoughts, the words we use, the stimuli around us could be having on our bodies, our health, the success we achieve.

As Napoleon Hill said 'Think And Grow Rich'

Have a look for yourself ... I did, if you'd like to just click here

Why Blog?

Why Blog? This is something I often here and it's a great question.

Here'a a nice explanation (click here if you'd like to find out an answer or two to this question)

As always... asking the right questions tends to produce the right answers, and of course takes you on a new and different journey.

Happy travelling

Thoughts worth sharing

Tony Robbins 'which of the 6 human needs am I trying to meet right now?'

1. Certainty
2. Variety
3. Significance
4. Connection & Love
5. Growth
6. Contribution

Understand our behaviours through understanding our needs.

Why don't they teach this in schools???

Watch this to move to the next level - Click here ... I dare you!

What can Beyond Excellence do for me?

John Vinson answers the question:

'What can Beyond Excellence do for me and my team... and how?'

Do you have hobbies?

Do you have hobbies?

Of course you might say, and if we drilled down a little further you might say something like "watching sports on television,"

I've got news for you (and me). Michael Masterton has just reminded me that that's not a hobby, it's a habit... And a bad one at that!

A hobby is, or should be, something that makes your life richer.

If this was backed up with 'and I enjoy participating in sport' then that's a bit more like it, because a hobby is, or should be, something that makes life a little richer, and watching by itself is 'watching someone else's life'

Which of course can sum up the television issue - are we just watching other peoples lives or living our own?

Time to think about having some great hobbies?

Old ideas... New Momentum

Apprentices YES!

It just makes sense to me to be paid to learn, and with a little help so that our young people have the tools to make the most of the opportunities... it's win-win-win!

Energy into business, up-skilling the future workforce, and boosting the local economy.

Maybe

Have you ever noticed how when someone has made a decision and are very opinionated they are so often... Wrong?

Maybe

Here's a great little story that I carry in my neck-top computer:

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbours came to visit. Such bad luck they said sympathetically.

Maybe, the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. How wonderful the neighbors exclaimed.

Maybe, replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

Maybe answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

Maybe said the farmer.

Leadership in times of crisis!

Yes leadership is vital in times of crisis, however hopefully we've time to prepare so that if and when we are needed we are ready.

We all experience times of pain, it's how we react that brings out the best in ourselves and others.



I'd like to share this Anthony Robbins film recorded during the middle of a week-long Mastery event... On the morning of 9/11.

Why? Because I think you'll value from it.

You'll need a little time, about hour and a half but well worth it.

Enjoy: http://www.tonyrobbinscoachtraining.com/thankyou.htm

Leadership - Helping others stand taller, think more clearly, see further,

create hope where there is none, and smile more often

'Ideas worth sharing'

Looking forward to TEDxKent... This type of opportunity to be part of this type of event doesn't come along often so 'seize the day'

Calling You Go-Getters

So many people strive to be a 'go-getter'

Maybe this is where so many people go wrong!

Perhaps the goal should be to be a 'go-giver'

Just a crazy thought

Brand YOU?

Learning is a verb not a noun

We learn so quickly when we're small, reading and writing by the time we're seven, independent by sixteen, and financially independent as we come out of our teens. By the time we're in our mid-twenties we're usually even supporting a family so...

Why is it so many people don't continue to grow and develop past this age. I've been thinking about this whilst pounding the treadmill and many people I know haven't moved on financially (or in other ways) significantly past this point.

I've a feeling that it's because of the training, mentoring, coaching that we receive. It's constant isn't it as a child, from the hours spent correcting us by our parents when we're small, add to that the formal education we then receive and the apprenticeships or induction programmes we participate in. We make sooooo many mistakes when we're young and learn from that as well.

It's been said that young people do learn more quickly but maybe it's that desire to learn that is truly important.

As learning becomes a choice so many people opt out.

I'm opting back in and it starts with getting back to my sports club tomorrow.

Chicken or Egg?

Now here's a great thought:

Most people consider themselves successful because they are wealthy and yet...

Experience shows that you have to be successful first and then you become wealthy.

As so often happens, most people get it the wrong way round!

Invitation

I'm leading a Success Safari Workshop in Kent UK, and it would be great to see you there

'People with goals succeed in life because they know where they are going'



25% off for any of my networks on Linkedin, Facebook, MyBigFive, Bebo - Just contact me for a discount voucher - This will be amazing!

Just a Reminder

Back up your computers... Often!!!

The Strangest Secret

I just wanted to share this because... I really like it, and think you will as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0r8isgQ6PM

Enjoy

Weightwatchers For Business?

Like you I've certainly heard (and practiced) elevator pitches. Credited as starting when script writers might get the opportunity to pitch their film idea to a movie mogul in an elevator (lift). Time would be short... just 30 seconds to get across their idea.
'Jaws on a spaceship' - Alien
'Diehard on a bus' - Speed
It's worth thinking about how we would explain our business, particularly as attention spans seem to be getting shorter and shorter.
Star Trek was a very diificult sell when creator Gene Roddenberry had to sell the programme to TV networks. At the time it was a truly original idea and the buyers were typically risk adverse... until he made it a known quantity. One of the most succesful shows at the time was Wagon Train so the Star Trek idea was sold as 'Wagon Train in space' the rest as they say is history.

What would your talking brand be?

'Weightwatchers for business' - Beyond Excellence

Brand You

In 2006 the Coca Cola brand was valued at US$67,000 million, and that's not even the real thing.

Nike paid Caroline Davidson $35 for creating the swoosh

Time to work on Brand You?

Bernard & Isaac share a thought...

'We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size' - Bernard of Chartres c. 1120AD

But we can take credit for taking the opportunity for climbing up and looking, can't we?

It's how we finish that matters

It's been a busy couple of weeks with the Brand You Experience, and so many lessons learnt...

Having been surrounded by a team of great people with a passion for 'being their best' it's been an amazing opportunity to mastermind ideas and thoughts.

As so often happens a thread appears that winds its way as a re-occuring observation and I'd like to capture it here:

'It's not how we start that matters, but how we finish'

A work in progress looks very different from a completed project, and as long we know what we are creating then sometimes a little patience is required, because after all... we're all a work in progress aren't we?

Our Greatest Investment

'An investment in knowledge pays the best interest' -

Benjamin Franklin

It's an interesting thought that any commitment to gaining knowledge or to our own self development, isn't really a cost it's an investment.

And an investment is very different from a cost.

We make investments to get more back in return... invest time - gain more time, invest financially and reap the rewards financially.

So here's a question 'what is the best thing we could possibly invest in right now?'

Maybe the answer lies somewhere between ear and ear?

Designed by Committee

The solution appeared to be blindingly obvious to the organisation's leadership.

Their challenge like in so many other businesses who are looking to grow, was to attract new clients to buy their products or try their services.

The team brainstormed amongst themselves and naturally decided that they needed to place an advertisement.

The local paper had visited recently and showed them their circulation figures. The papers advertising manager also produced proven average advertising returns and the decision was made.

Next the leadership team sat and designed an advert.

Well, you and I know the response they had, don't we?

Yep you're right... Not a single sale was made, and the cost of course several hundred pounds... And then some.

Just as we have all done in the past, they assumed that advertising produced sales. They assumed wrong.

We all leap to conclusions as quickly as we make judgements. We feel confident in our assumptions but so often learn we are wrong.

Often we just don't know, what we don't know.

And often, that leadership group can just be one person... YOU!

And my point?

Well maybe that most advertising doesn't work - for the intended outcomes, but right now...

That we all need trusted peer groups.

Do you have one?

Odd?

It always seems odd to me that if the exhaust pipe goes on your car, you find the time and money to fix it - yet so many people think twice about investing in the most important vehicle they will ever have the good fortune to own.

Our mind needs investment; if we don't invest the batteries will wear down and someone will charge them full of rubbish.

With the same thought we need to invest in ourselves as business leaders... the most important asset our business has.

Mentors!

Many people have found that having a mentor has made such a difference to the success they achieve.

It certainly makes sense to find someone who understands the challenges we face and more importantly how to overcome those challenges.

But... mentors are only people, and people will of course have their shortcomings... don't we all?

They'll not know all the answers, will not share with you (usually) that for them they also got it wrong and never managed to quite find the answers you are looking for. They may be mis-guided, not truly understand where you are at, or have a limited point of view, particularly if you haven't chosen your mentor well.

So... Here's a thought:

'Having a mentor is great; having several is better'

Are Habits Contagious?

We all know that when we share a smile :) other people soon catch it. What a great thing to begin spreading but...

What other habits are contagious?

I've noticed from time to time that it's easy to fall into the trap of joining a moaning group, perhaps hanging around the coffee machine. It's a habit and it's contagious.

So maybe... nope certainly the habits of our peer groups can impact what we think, what we feel, and ultimately what we do and achieve.

And here's a thought (which I believe to be true), the income average of my immediate peer group reflects my own income - happiness - fitness - attitude - and who knows what else.

Note to myself: 'Choose the people I spend time with well'

Excellence is...

This month I just wanted to share with you, and remind you of a little book that inspires me. I’m sure you will either have it or seen it on the bookshelves.


This (for me) certainly captures the feelings of excellence:

‘But way off alone, out by himself beyond boat and shore, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was practicing. A hundred feet in the sky he lowered his webbed feet, lifted his beak, and strained to hold a painful hard twisting curve through his wings. The curve meant that he would fly slowly, and now he slowed until the wind was a whisper in his face, until the ocean stood still beneath him. He narrowed his eyes in fierce concentration, held his breath, forced one... single... more... inch... of... curve... Then his feathers ruffled, he stalled and fell.

Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them disgrace and it is dishonor.

But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in that trembling hard curve - slowing, slowing, and stalling once more - was no ordinary bird.

Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight - how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else. Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.
This kind of thinking, he found, is not the way to make one's self popular with other birds. Even his parents were dismayed as Jonathan spent whole days alone, making hundreds of low-level glides, experimenting…’

Jonathon Livingstone Seagull
Richard Bach

I'd certainly recommend reading and owning this book

Have an amazing month.