Mindset & Motivation Strategy & Planning Uncategorized

Using Your Imagination to Build a Better Business

May 21, 2013 – 3:05 pm

One of my nephews went through a period of starting virtually every sentence with the word ‘imagine’ when he was about 7 years old. ‘Imagine if the dinosaurs actually DID actually come back to actual life.’ ‘Imagine what it would actually be like to have a fly’s actual eyes.’ (He also liked to cram as many ‘actuals’ and ‘actuallys’ into these sentences as possible, as you may have noticed!)

His flights of fancy would take him to some pretty amazing places and as endearing as it was, it has to be said that conversations were often taken to some pretty exhausting conclusions!

When was the last time anyone actively encouraged you to just ‘imagine’? AND what’s more, when was the last time you were encouraged to use your imagination as a potent business development tool?  As adults, we tend to slowly move out of the world of the imagination – and when we don’t we’re likely to be regarded as ‘dreamers’. But what’s wrong with dreaming anyway?

As the very clever and rather perceptive Albert Einstein said,

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”

Nice eh? If that’s not an endorsement of the power of imagination, then I don’t know what is!

Change of any sort always begins in the imagination first off and THEN gradually filters through into decisions, choices and new practices. So if you want to change the future of your businesses the place to START is by imagining a better one and yet, this incredibly potent tool which we all have at our disposal, is often under-utilised or completely ignored and we waste one of our most precious resources.

Every success and every achievement begins life in the imagination, so actively building ‘dreaming time’ into our schedule seems to me to be an entirely valid way of conceiving the future for our business.

I’m a great believer in the power of imagining and while you may say I’m a dreamer (sorry, seem to have slipped into John Lennon territory… sing along now….) not that long ago I could only imagine a world where I could create a business out of my combination of skills, talents and experience but this is now my reality. Not that long ago I could only imagine being able to connect with clients around the world from the comfort of my home office but now this is a reality. So to create the world we want for ourselves we simply need to follow Napoleon Hill’s three steps – conceive it, believe it, achieve it.

So I’d like to share with you how you can use this enormously powerful resource which is at your disposal, ready and waiting. So, get yourself comfortable and in the right space to allow your thoughts, dreams and imagination completely free rein.

Now, just imagine….

Imagine reaching your business goals and achieving all the success you seek and deserve. Imagine it – I mean, REALLY imagine it – see it, feel it, experience the emotion of it. THIS is the first step in charting your business destiny. Create and hold that image in your head.

Now, ask yourself…

  • What do I need to do differently?
  • What’s stopping me?
  • What has to change in order to nurture this into a reality?
  • What’s my next step?

Business planning doesn’t come more powerful or energising than this. The future IS what you imagine… so start changing the future of your business simply by imagining a better one.

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Marketing Uncategorized

What Your Brand Says About You and Your Business

May 1, 2013 – 3:28 pm

When you hear the word ‘brand,’ what’s the first thing you think of in terms of YOUR business? Your logo perhaps… your business name or your website? While creating the right ‘look’ to represent your business IS important, your brand is SO much more than these things – it’s the MESSAGE you send out to the world about you and your business. As solopreneurs we ARE our brand & so our ‘voice’ – what we stand for and how we communicate our message – is REALLY important…. every bit as important and maybe even more important that the appearance of your brand.

When I started my first business I thought (mistakenly!) that if I looked and sounded pretty much the same as lots of others ‘out there’ doing similar things to me, I couldn’t go far wrong. (I was very naive back then!) As a result, my website and marketing copy was dull, generic and boring (3 things I absolutely am NOT – honestly!) There was a complete disconnect between who I was, what I stood for and the way I was presenting myself to the world. Not only did it feel uncomfortable and ‘phony’ – it didn’t work! Fortunately for me I was encouraged by my mentors to ditch the ‘all things to all people’ approach and work instead on finding MY true brand ‘voice’.

You already HAVE a voice… it’s there on your website, in your emails, newsletters, conversations, fliers…. everywhere… and in everything you communicate! The question is, does your ‘voice’ fit the brand message you want to convey about your business?

  • Are YOU clear about what your brand message IS?
    Companies like John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Asda have incredibly clear, strong brand messages running through everything they do. Your message may be very different from theirs but the principle is the same – your business’ brand message needs to be clear and strong and run through everything youdo as well.How do you want to be regarded? As professional, traditional and reliable? Unconventional, trendy and modern… or supportive, caring and motivating? Try brainstorming words which represent your brand message and then try and focus on maybe 3 that convey the real essence of your brand.
  • BE aligned with your brand!
    …. or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that your brand needs to be aligned with YOU! It’s hard trying to sound like someone you’re not – for a start, you have to keep checking yourself to make sure you don’t ‘slip’ which is pretty exhausting but most importantly, it feels phony and it sounds somehow ‘just wrong’. The more aligned you are with your brand message the easier it is to voice your message – you just need to be genuine, speak from the heart and let your passion and personality shine through.
  • Think about how you can best EXPRESS your brand message
    You don’t expect to hear solicitors use casual, street language in their brand message – it just wouldn’t fit with a professional, traditional and serious business. Conversely, if your brand message is young, edgy and dynamic then casual street language WOULD fit and could happily be part of your authentic speaking and writing style.KNOWING your brand… finding your unique, GENUINE voice helps your business stand out from the competition rather than blending in with the background noise – and if your brand message stands out your ideal clients will be able to see and hear and find you much more easily.

So if you want to be able to share your message with wider world more confidently and effectively, take some time to do a simple ‘brand audit’ :

  • Are you clear about what your brand message IS?
  • What differentiates your brand from others in your field?
  • What 3 words convey the essence of your brand?
  • Check your website, blog, emails, newsletter, fliers etc….  does your current ‘voice’ match the message you mean to send out about your business?As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below – care to share the 3 or so words that convey YOUR brand?
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Uncategorized

Where Are You On The Competence Spectrum?

April 8, 2013 – 10:55 am

As much as we might like it be true, the path to profitable self-employment  -  as with virtually ANYTHING worth doing – is NOT always direct, smooth or easy. None of us are born knowing how to run a business – even the mega-successful Mr. Branson has had a fair few ‘trial and error’ patches in his illustrious business career.  And yet many new business owners can be knocked right off balance by the sudden and painful realisation that there’s quite a lot of stuff they know they don’t know!

This is the state known as ‘conscious incompetence’ – and yes, I know it sounds pretty harsh and negative but when you place it in context you’ll be able to see it for what it is – a necessary and positive step on the Competence Spectrum and to business success.

The Competence Spectrum (or Competence Ladder as it’s sometimes known) is something I first came across back in the day (w-a-a-y back!) when I was studying ‘learning theory’ as a student teacher. I know it has resonated with my clients so I thought I’d share it with you today to help you see where you ‘sit’ on spectrum.

Unconsciously incompetent

Maybe it’s just as well the majority of us start our business journey here – if we didn’t, we might never start at all! This is the state of almost ‘blissful ignorance’ where we bask in the freedom, choice and flexibility of being our own boss, doing what we love and loving what we do. Our energy and motivation levels are high and there’s an unspoken assumption and confidence that it WILL work.

For the most part, we’re just happy to immerse ourselves in our new world, buoyantly answering all enquiries as to how we’re doing with, ‘it’s early days yet but I’m loving it!’

Conscious Incompetent

This next phase can hit hard, like a punch in the solar plexus. What once felt like opportunity and potential becomes replaced by a sense of deficiency, inadequacy and incompetence. Plus there’s the added frustration that comes from understanding what IS required of you now and not knowing how to deliver it.You may fix a smile to your face and keep saying ‘everything’s fine’ but you feel disappointed and demoralised. You KNOW now that it ISN’T fine and you know that mistakes have been made but above all you feel stuck.

You’d be right to think that this a pretty uncomfortable place to find yourself in and there’s no denying that this can be quite a challenging and vulnerable phase for many a new business owner. It’s a hard one to come to terms with BUT once you DO, it can also become an important watershed moment in your business journey.

Now that you ‘know’ what you ‘don’t know’, you can’t really go back to the blissful ignorance stage. Well, you might try but it’s a hard place to return to when you know full well that the freedom you’re looking for can’t be found there and your passion alone simply isn’t enough.  This realisation however, can become a positive and dynamic catalyst for change because those who acknowledge their incompetence and decide to become competent are a force to be reckoned with! I speak from experience here because this is the place where I most often meet my new clients.

They are ready.

  • Ready to do things differently.
  • Ready to stop ‘winging it’.
  • Ready to reach out for help and learn what they need to learn to make this work.
  • Ready to build proper foundations to underpin and support what they are trying to achieve.


Consciously Competent

Remember when you first learned to drive and you had to concentrate really hard on doing the right things in the right order just to get from A to B…. mirror, signal, manoeuver. Well, that’s what it’s like to be consciously competent in your business – you have learned what you need to learn and, with focus and effort you CAN now start doing it. Things gradually fall into place and become easier with practice.

 

Unconsciously Competent

The final stage is where it all becomes so effortless and comfortable that it feels almost ‘second nature’. Very few of us operate in this zone for long because as soon as something becomes ‘easy’ for us we soon become aware of a deficiency elsewhere!

So there you have it. I hope this has helped you recognise your current position on the spectrum and place it into a bigger context. The exciting thing about running a business is that there are always new things to learn so we can expect to revisit parts of the Competence Spectrum at regular and frequent intervals as part of our ongoing personal and business development.

As always, I’d love you to share your insights and thoughts below.

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Mindset & Motivation Uncategorized

Stuck. Stuck. Stuck

March 8, 2013 – 12:34 pm

Feeling ‘stuck’ is something I KNOW affects LOTS of us – those of us already in business as well as those who are at the pre-business stage. It’s VERY common, incredibly debilitating and it can make you feel like…. um, well, let’s just say it can makes you feel pretty wretched! It’s the word which probably crops up more than any other when I first meet my new clients and although it’s a seemingly insignificant word, what it represents is something FAR from small, in fact, what it represents is a HUGE barrier.

It’s certainly no fun being stuck, as those of us who have experienced it can testify. Finding yourself without a sense of direction and not being able to move forward can in fact be frustrating to the point of being painful. That’s because for most of my clients their business (or business ideas) represents so MUCH more than ‘just’ a business.  Their business is the thing which sparks their energy, it’s the medium through which they get to make their mark, as well as the place where they find meaning and enormous fulfilment.  So ‘being stuck’ and NOT being able to do ALL of this is a VERY uncomfortable and frustrating experience… and that’s putting it mildly!

Being STUCK is by definition a static state, keeping us where we ARE not where we want to be – immobilised by our STUCKness! One of my clients likened it to being in one of those dreams where you’re desperately trying to run but can’t actually move.. and we’ve all woken up in a cold sweat after dreams like that haven’t we?

There’s not just one stuck either – it comes in several different ‘flavours’ but these are probably the two most common ones I encounter:

  • Limbo-stuck
    This is the type of stuck experienced by those who positively yearn for the aforementioned meaning and fulfilment in their working lives. They have what can best be described as an innate sense that there’s something special ‘out there’ with their name on it but because they can’t give shape and form to this ‘special thing’, it remains a shapeless blob of restlessness and frustration!  They know that creating their own business could well be the doorway to new opportunities but they can’t even find the door, let alone open it!
  • Spinning-your-wheels-stuck
    This is the type of stuck generally experienced by those who know EXACTLY what they want to do and are eagerly trying to turn their unique skills and talents into a brilliant business of their own. They are positively raring to go BUT find themselves so overwhelmed by the ‘what’, the ‘when’ and the ‘how’ and all the possible routes they could take, they don’t actually GO anywhere and so they remain… yes, you’ve guessed it… STUCK… frantically spinning their wheels and going nowhere fast.

So I think we can agree that it’s NOT a great situation in which to find yourself, but let’s start looking at how to move BEYOND stuck.  Remember at the beginning of this article I was telling you that ‘stuck’ is the word which crops up more than any other when I first meet my new clients? So what happens to them – how do they move beyond stuck?

Well, here’s the thing…. by the time we’re having that conversation about being stuck, something has ALREADY happened – they’ve decided that the pain of being stuck had become so unbearable that it was actually more uncomfortable to STAY stuck than to take positive action and decide to work with someone who can help get them UNstuck.

This decision alone DOES something very significant:

  • It breaks the ‘stuck stalemate’
  • It instantly moves them into a more empowering place
  • It releases all the energy they were using up staying stuck

…. so, even though they may still be using ‘stuck’ to describe their situation, the difference is, they are ready to start working on the solution.

The bottom line is this: NOTHING changes without action – that’s precisely why we get stuck….  but everything can change WITH action. It really IS as simple as that.

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Marketing Uncategorized

So, What Do You Do?

February 27, 2013 – 12:11 pm

There are certain questions that you can almost guarantee being asked whenever two or more people are gathered together, especially at networking events….. the main one being the ubiquitous, ‘What do you do?’

It’s a simple enough question on the face of it, as well as one which offers us a great opportunity to make meaningful connections and grow relationships, right? Absolutely… and yet, many who are new to business often find themselves at a loss for words and really struggle with the answer to this question.

Some opt for the ‘get-it-over-quickly’ approach and simply say, ‘I’m a caterer’, ‘I’m a coach’ or ‘I’m a massage therapist’, whereas others go for the ‘chapter and verse’ explanation and launch into the long and detailed intricacies of HOW they do what they do.

Hmm… but neither of these really work, do they?

The ‘get-it-over-quickly’ version doesn’t exactly leave the question-asker a whole lot wiser or inclined to find out more for that matter! I mean, when was the last time someone told you that they were a ‘this’ or a ‘that’ that you spontaneously responded with, ‘Oh that’s interesting, tell me more.’? And as for the ‘chapter and verse’ version – well, we all know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a 10 minute monologue about the minutiae of someone’s working practices, trying desperately not to glaze over and secretly regretting ever asking the question in the first place!

Oh and then of course there’s that other scary thing known as the ‘elevator pitch’ which if you’ve ever tried, you’ll know is impossible to do AND still sound like a real human being rather than an over-rehearsed automaton!

Okay, so if none of these approaches hit the spot, let’s look at what DOES and a good place to start is with the response you want your answer to evoke. Of course, you want people to KNOW what you actually DO beyond just your job title but not in a way which sounds cheesy, makes you squirm or makes the listener feel uncomfortable.

Think of it this way…

Your business exists NOT because you are a coach, a caterer or a massage therapist or whatever wonderful thing you are; it exists because you help a particular group of people with a particular problem. And the answer to the ‘What do you do?’ question needs to address both these elements together with the benefits you provide. Forget about trying to make it pithy or clever, it really doesn’t need to be either – it just needs to be clear.

If you’re struggling a bit, try using this simple template to get started:

“I help/work with [specific group] who are looking for/need/are struggling with/want  [specific problem, challenge or requirement] to [specify the solution/results/benefits/advantages you provide.]”

So, for example…

I provide shoes to women with feet smaller than a size 1 [specific group] who are fed up with having to wear shoes designed for children, [specific problem, challenge or requirement] by offering them a choice of comfortable, fashionable footwear that fits and flatters. [solution]

I work with small business owners who aren’t making enough money [specific group] and are deciding whether to ditch their business and get a ‘proper’ job [specific problem, challenge or requirement] by helping them create an effective marketing plan to double their revenue within 90 days. [solution]

I work with people whose homes have become too big and too cluttered for the lifestyle they want now [specific group ] who want to downsize but who are overwhelmed by the prospect of having to sort it all out.[specific problem, challenge or requirement ] I help them clear their clutter, so they are ready to move out with ease. [solution]

Forget about self-promotion and think instead about being clear and compelling so that the listener can easily understand and connect with you and also know who they can refer to you. You know you’ve got it spot on if your answer evokes a response like, “Oh, that sounds just like me…tell me more!” or ‘I know someone who could really do with your help – can I have your card to give them?’

So, over to you! What do you do? Try the formula and share your clear and compelling response below…..

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