Virtually any state in the country has the appeal of multiple small towns. Ask almost anyone who lives in small town why they are here and they'll tell you they enjoy the small town feeling while being close to all the conveniences of a larger city. One of the greatest joys of living in a small town is how familiar people are with one another. When you walk into a store or restaurant you are welcomed by name. As an area grows, you risk losing the...more
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 experienced hiring the "wrong" person. It's a nightmare. Hiring mistakes costs money, time and worse can easily ruin your business and your health! A recent survey in Forbes Business Magazine revealed, "Hiring the wrong person is the prime cause of business failure in the USA". For most employers it's a lottery, hire someone and hope it works out.People problems take the most toll on us personally producing significant emotional wear and tear.What if you had a tool that could tell you in advance of hiring, if the candidates applying have the right attitude and behavioural style to do that job successfully. Now that would be something! Well read on. It's now possible to predict behaviour quickly and accurately.People can do most jobs if they are...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...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 StoryI've been coaching Mary for over the past 6 months and she is a classic procrastinator. She'll often agree to taking necessary action which results from each coaching session she has and then not do anything. She's always got the excuses. In fact she could write a book with some of the reasons she comes up with. Her behaviour has had a dramatic impact on her business and personal life.Her business is growing yet she can't keep up with the growth. She's constantly had staff issues because she puts off dealing with them.Her office systems are in chaos as a result of not taking action. She's losing money and having sleepless nights. Her personal life is taking a battering and her relationship with her husband is floundering. She know what she needs to do and yet will not take the time to get the foundations in place. Now I just wanted to...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...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