January is always a good time to grab bargains so when I noticed that two well-known blind companies were advertising 35% off their blinds, I decided to give them a call and it was an interesting experience.Company A This person turned up on time which in itself is a big bonus. She was dressed in a professional way and was very efficient in her manner. I knew what I wanted and all Mary had to do was measure up and provide the quote. She was...more
One of the biggest challenges any business owner or manager has is hiring the right people. I've recently discovered a simple, inexpensive yet very effective way which will help you get it right. This week I've asked Nathan Chanesman, Managing Director of Myprofile Pty Ltd. to please explain "Without quality employees who share your vision and work ethic your business is not going anywhere.So how do you find the "right" employee?We've all...more
How are you progressing with the goals you set yourself this year?Have you made a start? Or are you still thinking about it or caught the very popular "I'm too busy" epidemic?Mary's StoryMary runs her own publishing company employing 5 people. She is married with two teenagers.When I first met Mary she told me how stressed out she was trying to juggle work and home effectively. Her business although surviving (just) could have achieved major growth except for one major factor Mary. She was very disorganised and ran her business that way.Mary was always complaining about the pressures of running her business and having a life. I suggested to her that by having personal coaching she would dramatically improve her situation guaranteed, providing she actioned the ideas, insights and solutions she would gain through the process.She's A 'Gunna'Mary was a 'gunna'. She was 'gunna' do this and 'gunna' do that. Unfortunately all she can and still does do is talk about it. She won't make a decision. Money wasn't the issue, after all she had invested thousands of dollars attending an American guru's week long "life changing" bootcamp. She thought that would be her "magic lifechanging pill"....more
Successful people do not achieve success on their own, they surround themselves with a well-developed, sophisticated support network. In a world that grows more complex and more competitive each day, networking is necessary not only for survival but for high achievement" excerpt from the best-selling book "Masters of Networking".Observing many...more
We all put off making decisions and taking action sometimes (yes, me too). It's okay to do that occasionally but if you are a regular pontificator then it will constantly cause you pain, even if you aren't aware of it. By putting things off on a regular basis you hold yourself back and instead of progressing in your life, you'll regress.Mary's...more
What is the no. 1 asset in your business beside yourself? It's your people.Then why is it they often fall to the bottom of the list when it comes to doing anything to help them improve their performance and look after them? If you want your business to run more effectively and/or make more money then you must invest time and energy into your no. 1 asset otherwise you will eventually lose them. The Physiotherapists' Practice With four of us in the family who are all into health and fitness, we have been going to this particular practice for the past few years. The actual environment is lovely, however there seems to be a high turnover of physiotherapists. It's only a small practice yet it seems that apart from the owner and one other physio. who looks after us, the rest seem to come and go fairly quickly. I can easily see what the problem is. It's the owner. He lacks fundamental communication and business skills. Sure he knows his 'stuff' about how to help someone heal their body but he is sorely missing basic skills in leadership and managing his own staff. The funny thing is he has a 'Mission Statement' in his office stating "Our people are our number one asset". How often have...more
Following on from the last edition of The Organised Times where we spoke about developing the people in your business, this week we're focussing on the importance of the continual development of your managers.Leadership comes from the top down. Poor...more
Most people have no idea where their money goes. They earn it and they spend it.That's fine if you want to live from week to week and are not concerned about your financial future. However if you want to increase your wealth and have more options,...more
Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are definitely not your forte when you can delegate or invest your money on a product or service which will free up your time? You can then focus on the more important areas in your work and your...more
Some time ago I attended a birthday party and met a young guy who just happened to be 30. I say young because when you're 47, that is a young age!He told me about his career in a major corporate company where he's been working for the past 3...more
It takes effort to get results, and not just any effort, it takes smart effort. You cannot expect to achieve anything without doing something. Unfortunately in our society today, people are making an enormous effort to keep themselves busy all day,...more
Import duties continue to be significant elements in the cost of international trade. Yet many companies and businesses still pay more duties than the law requires - which impacts adversely on landed cost and ultimately on business profitability. A...more