07 Jun 2009
I have just finished reading a book by Spencer Sherman: “The Cure for Money Madness”. You can read a book review to find out more or listen to a teleseminar if you’re interested. I found it excellent material, for getting clear about old money habits that get in the way of creating what you want. I found the exercises very confronting but revealing. “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge” Dr Phil McGraw. The first step, is being aware of what’s going on so we are not just in ‘automatic pilot’ with regard to money decisions and transactions. I like the way Spencer suggests ‘taking a money breath’ before we act, to prevent reacting from an emotional base. I have certainly benefited from this read so it may help you as well - check it out! To read more about money stuff - request a free article “Experiencing True Wealth” on my Tips page.
14 Apr 2009
A Strategic Plan provides a direction and focus to create results you want for the future. Having a clear direction, serves to align resources, integrate systems and provide effective action plans.
An integrated Strategic Plan details various strategies of key functional areas - such as Marketing - to implement the Plan. This alignment will produce a culture of true values and aspirations, providing momentum to generate desired outcomes.
A Strategic Plan contains the Vision, Mission and Values of the business / organisation, as well as the structure of how things work.
A clear vision provides focus to inspire and motivate people to create the results they want - for themselves or for their business / organization.
A Vision Statement provides a strategic direction for the Plan and Key Result Areas to enable the business / organization to move from where they are, to where they want to be.
Key Performance Indicators ensure Key Result Areas can be measured to determine the effectiveness of the Plan.
It is important to monitor the Plan regularly, so that any adjustments can be made on an ongoing basis. A more formal evaluation is suggested at 6-monthly intervals, to ensure ongoing reviewing and planning.
Developing the Plan - as a team - will ensure input and ownership of the Plan’s business and service (or product) development as well as operations.
Remember to celebrate the achievement of the Plan!
Use ‘comments’ to request Applied Vision’s approach to strategic planning or request an appointment to develop your strategic plan - I’ll show you a way that’s fun & easy!
14 Apr 2009
To complete - is to close a door, finish a chapter or tie up loose ends and say ‘farewell’. To complete - is to experience a sense of satisfaction and achievement, to put any ‘failures’ or disappointments to rest and celebrate - moving on. To complete - is to go forward with purpose and anticipation, thankful of the past and hopeful for the future. When one is complete - all things are made clear, energy is renewed, a new path is created. It is then one is free to experience the contentment of the present due to the task of completion.
To read more about the importance of completion, go to ‘tips’ and request this topic via the form at the bottom of the page.
05 Apr 2009
If I had a dollar for every occasion a client gave the excuse of ‘not having enough time’, I would be a millionaire by now!
The truth is, we all have the same amount of time - it’s a matter of how we choose to use our time,that makes the difference. What we value most will occupy our time, in the same way we spend our money. If we believe we don’t have enough time, then we won’t. Instead, if we focus our attention, energy & resources on what we want, we’ll create it somehow.
Request my article on Time Freedom & Fat Free Performance (bottom of the Tips page), which uses the principles laid out in Tim Ferris’ book: “The 4-hour Work-Week” and complete the exercises. Let me know what you discover!
30 Mar 2009
When you ‘find your flow’, you are totally involved in a particular activity that requires you becoming the activity - no separation. When you are fulfilling your unique purpose, you experience a sense of ‘flow’ as this is your ‘path of least resistance’. If you want to know more about discovering your unique purpose, request the article at the bottom of the Tips page: “knowing your unique purpose to create your true vocation”. There are some exercises that may help.
More on ‘flow’: being ‘in flow’ is when you are focused, concentrating on the task or activity and doing it for it’s own sake - just because you love it! You experience ecstasy, serenity, intrinsic motivation and inner-clarity, where your skills match the task. It is having a sense of timelessness, forgetting your self and feeling part of something larger.
What energises us when we are ‘in flow’? It’s our passion and instincts.
What’s your experience of ‘finding your unique purpose’ or ‘being in flow’?
25 Mar 2009
I love autumn - you can feel the freshness in the air and at the same time, enjoy the sun as it’s not too hot - it’s a lovely time of year. So how can we liken business to nature’s rhythms and cycles?
I discovered this interesting analogy in the book I am reading at the moment: “Your Life Your Legacy” by Roger Hamilton. He says you become aware of the current season, by knowing what season your business has just passed through. If you have a great product that has proven itself in the market, you are out of spring and into summer - focussing on building your market. If you have many new customers and sales are coming easily, you are out of spring and into autumn - focussing on servicing your customers well. If your customers are happy and your staff settled, you are out of autumn and into winter - focussing on building the right systems for the next spring.
Roger warns that you can hold on to a winning formula too long, so go with the seasons! “Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come” Robert Schuller
I also like the quote from the movie “Being There” starring Peter Sellers when he speaks about his garden, growth and seasons: “so long as the roots are not severed, all will be well in the garden and there will be growth in the spring”.
How are the ‘roots’ of your business? Are they in tact? What nurtures and supports growth for you and your business?
14 Mar 2009
There are many ways of dealing with conflict if you haven’t seen my tip on “making conflict work for you” - complete request form and I will email it to you.
We have a tendency to react in a certain way when faced with conflict - what do you typically do?
Let me know what happens for you.
Your relationship with conflict determines whether you can create what really matters to you.
To discover ‘your relationship’ with conflict - do the exercise at the bottom of the Tip page “making conflict work for you”.
Let me know how you found this exercise.
Most people I meet don’t like conflict but it’s not all bad. Next time you encounter a conflict situation - write down the result you want, ie: how you would like things to be / the situation resolved, including names.
Let me know if this helps.
13 Mar 2009
I’m reading a very interesting book at the moment, by Roger Hamilton -“Your Life Your Legacy” An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Finding your Flow. I’ve been really interested in the meaning of ‘flow’ recently - speaking about it to others and finding out what it means for them. For me, when I’m totally involved in something that I love to, I feel ‘at one’ with it - no separation. I love the feeling of being so absorbed with what I’m doing, I lose track of time and seem to be quite unaware of what’s going on around me. Being ‘in flow’ is also when your skills match the challenges and it feels like ‘you’re on a roll’ and nothing can get in your way!
I’d be interested in hearing about your experience of ‘being in flow’
Also - what’s the legacy that YOU want to leave behind in the world?
13 Mar 2009
I am a member of Coffs Harbour Business SWAP which is a business club for people who want to develop their business as well as interested in personal and professional development. I recently conducted a ‘10-minute spot’ to help business owners discover a metaphor for their business. I asked people “what’s an activity that you dive into with utter abaondonment?” In other words, “what do you love to do that you ‘lose’ yourself in the activity” (like ‘finding your flow’ in the blog above: ‘your life your legacy’)? Write it down and list some reasons as to why you enjoy this activity so much and how it benefits you. Now apply it to your business - “A metaphor for my business is…………….”. For me, the metaphor is ‘art’ which applies particularly when I’m coaching - I feel connected to my creativity, intuition and intellect - it uses all of me. So what’s a metaphor for your business and why? The business club meets every Friday morning - you can see what’s happening and book via ’sticky tickets’
12 Mar 2009
Here’s a little exercise that will blow your mind!
Write “I want” at the top of a blank page and list all the things you want underneath.
Now change “I want” to “I have” and read each one as if you already have it.
Let me know what you discover!
