and here is another view on business plans... http://ping.fm/rLnZ0 what do you think?

try again: on business planning: http://tinyurl.com/ya4tsdt and my own article on business plans http://tinyurl.com/yg3bt8e

nothing like a bit of controversy on business plans: http://blog.asmartbear.com/business-plan.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Fsmartbear+(A+Smart+Bear%3A+Startups+%2B+Marketing+%2B+Geekery)&utm_content=Google+Reader also read my own article on plans here: http://newperspectives.com.au/articles/Business%20Plans%20that%20work.htm

If I knew then what I knew now... the expensive lessons of business... before they cost you money, Smart company: http://tinyurl.com/yhnaotk

For every human problem we can always find an easy solution - neat, simple, plausible... and wrong. H. L. Mencken

second test post blogspot, text only

The Peak Performance

Business Coaching Program®

The Peak Performance Business Coaching Program® is an advanced comprehensive business coaching methodology and structure developed to work with owners of small businesses, tailored to each individual and each business and each engagement.

The Aim

The aim of Peak Performance Business Coaching Program® is:

To Create Massive Change for Small Business Owners

This quote by world renowned business guru Tom Peters in the New Zealand Herald of 15 Feb 2009 illustrates what I and the Peak Performance Business Coaching® program are about:

He says “ While sending you and your staff on courses and business degrees can benefit your company, it often doesn’t boost the bottom line immediately. Coaching can, but there are good coaches and bad coaches. The best coaches have a small client base and a deep relationship with each client. Only then can the company benefit from the discipline that having a business coach can bring. After all it’s about implementation and getting results”

test post npbc

The Peak Performance

Business Coaching Program®

The Peak Performance Business Coaching Program® is an advanced comprehensive business coaching methodology and structure developed to work with owners of small businesses, tailored to each individual and each business and each engagement.

The Aim

The aim of Peak Performance Business Coaching Program® is:

To Create Massive Change for Small Business Owners

This quote by world renowned business guru Tom Peters in the New Zealand Herald of 15 Feb 2009 illustrates what I and the Peak Performance Business Coaching® program are about:

He says “ While sending you and your staff on courses and business degrees can benefit your company, it often doesn’t boost the bottom line immediately. Coaching can, but there are good coaches and bad coaches. The best coaches have a small client base and a deep relationship with each client. Only then can the company benefit from the discipline that having a business coach can bring. After all it’s about implementation and getting results”

Great short article about measuring the things that matter in your business... how to do it and how not to do it...read it: http://ping.fm/IhJi4

What does the future of Work" look like... brilliant slide show... http://ping.fm/RYnVd

great article from New York Times on how to start using facebook for business http://ping.fm/DUUmV

Happy Client: Your wisdom and determination have kick-started me on an exciting and rewarding new path... http://ping.fm/o9sI9

don't forget to include LinkedIn in your web marketing strategies...here are some ways how: http://ping.fm/AWd0F

10 marketing tips... nothing like the old : the 10 most..." etc. guilty your honour, but this is good stuff: http://ping.fm/0zI7U

On the lookout for a printer who wants to come along as my guest to a weekly networking and powerful business referal group I am part of...

Retail psychology by the shoppologist, new e-book with a primer on retail psych and how to get customers to open wallets http://ping.fm/FqD9b

Empathy, Seth Godin makes a powerful point... don't pretend we actually truly know what something feels like: http://ping.fm/NuylT

How to do strategic planning from the E-Myth, and remember, "Plans are nothing, planning is everything" http://ping.fm/DUgwS

How to work "On" your business, not "In" it, by jason Cohen

How to Work ON Your Business, Not IN it

I am reproducing this blog by Jason Cohen, because it is so good., the original appears here: http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/10/how-to-work-on-business-not-in-it.html

We get so caught up in the daily life of running a business, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees.

Not that you have a choice! You’re fighting fires, handling a pissed-off customer, rending your face over an emergency bug-fix, the website just went down, and the accountant is coming tomorrow and the books are in shambles.

All normal. But still every month or so it’s nice to take a step back and see whether you’re missing a chance to make a more meaningful change to your business.

Here’s some things you can do:

• View your website/product/service through the eyes of a new potential customer. *Do informal usability testing with a stranger. You’re too close to your own projects!
• Find a decision about your product or your behavior which is really due to ego rather than making life better for your employees or customers, or rather than seeking revenue. *There’s no shame in having a big ego and it’s natural to not want to admit mistakes or change your position on things, but sometimes it’s the right thing for everyone.
• Delegate activities you’re still doing yourself because “no one else can do them as well or as quickly,” but which don’t actually need to be done that well or quickly. *Delegation is hard, but healthy, and necessary if you expect to grow as a company and as a person.
• Do one thing to increase your company’s visibility on Twitter, blogs, Facebook – wherever.
• Identify one person who could really help get your company more exposure, and who might be personally motivated to do so. *Then spend real time trying to contact that person.
• Find one “number” in your business you know the least about (i.e. conversion rates, trial/sales rates, length of a trial, number of people who hit the home page and nothing more). Then spend time trying to learn more.
• Come up with one thing you could do that might increase conversion rates by 1%. Here “conversion” can mean any part of the funnel from home page hit to downloads to CRM opportunities to sales. *Usually conversion rates are in the 0.1% – 5% range, so just a single additional percent can result in a massive boost in revenue.
• Collect 10 pieces of empirical evidence about why your latest customers decided to give you money. *Use that to tune your website, ads, pitches, and marketing material to attract the next customers.
• Collect 10 pieces of empirical evidence about why people didn’t buy even when they were deep in your website or after they trialed your software. *The answer to more revenue lies with the folks who didn’t buy.
• Do one thing to prove to the world that you’re an expert in your field. *People like to buy from experts they trust.
• Identify one mundane, time-consuming tasks that you could outsource. *Even if it means spending money, it means you can spend your time on getting more revenue which will more than pay for the outsourcing.
• Quantify how much completely disposable cash you have in the company’s bank account. *Whether it’s $50 or $50,000, maybe you should brainstorm how to spend it to get more revenue.
• Defer something you’re working on now that really isn’t necessary to be done now. *Take a minute to reset your priorities. What’s really timely?
• Admit one thing you’re doing because of an assumption rather than because of hard evidence. *You have to make assumptions to live in the world, but it’s worth stepping back and challenging even the most basic ones.
• Identify anything you’re doing because of a “plan” rather than because of hard evidence. *There’s no glory in following a business plan. Do the right thing with information at hand today regardless of any “plan.”
• Identify choices that don’t “feel” like the right thing to do. *If it feels wrong, it is. Do what’s right instead of what makes most revenue; in the long run Karma does work in business.
• Change your home page to be more specific in describing how you help your customers. *General phrases and wishy-washy statements don’t excite people or win customers’ hearts.
• Give your customers something wonderful, for free. *A deal on a related product, a free book, even just a thoughtful article of interest to them — give them something for free to show you care and they’ll reward you ten-fold.
• Take one step to become more visible in communities related to your business. *On-line or off-line, how can you be a part of other social networks?
• Further differentiate yourself from competitors rather than just try to “kill” them. *Explaining the niche you unquestionably own is a better path to sales than trying to win every deal on every point.
• Congratulate yourself and your employees on the good aspects of the business. *We’re always battling problems instead of reveling in the good stuff; the good stuff is what makes business fun, and is kinda the whole point.
• Do something to invest in your customers’ experience after the sale. *We’re so caught up in getting new customers we sometimes forget how to keep them thrilled one year later.
• Take on a project that you could complete in under a week, and really ought to, but you’ve procrastinated because it sucks to have to do it.
• Remove 5 blogs from your feed reader because they’re not worth the time, and add 5 blogs that increase your chances of having a successful business.

I hope some of these ideas inspire you to reconsider your priorities and shift your behavior. Don’t let fire-fighting or your personality get in the way of healthy revenue growth!

What other tips do you have? Leave a comment and join the conversation!

* * * * *

About the Author: Jason Cohen is the founder of Smart Bear Software and mentor at Austin-based startup launcher Capital Factory. He blogs at A Smart Bear about startups and marketing with a geeky twist.

How to work "on" your business and not "in" it by small business trends blog, some really great thoughts : http://ping.fm/8y9rQ

Thoughts to keep in mind for building any kind of community, online or off... from "all you need is a good idea blog" http://ping.fm/NtpvT

here are some of the basics about patenting and trademarks etc from flying solo http://ping.fm/0qFrA

great marketing wisdom from drew mclellan... How to look after our existing clients rather than just chasing the next ones http://ping.fm/I6bwK

Ok, I have dived into the world of wordpress... end of an era soon, MSFrontpage is going to be buried... wish me luck

And for the end of the week, from my favorite blogger, the dangerous kettle... a lesson for parents and prescholl teachers http://ping.fm/968vi

Great fun... from Seth Godin... what a brilliant example of using new media for new marketing, watch the vids: http://ping.fm/amlyx

Great short article about how to do Public speaking... I know I know... but it's worth it: http://ping.fm/ms0W1

Great article from Megan Tough on small business processes and systems... simple and powerful tips http://ping.fm/PCCJh

"A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH"...how is that for a powerful quote for a wednesday!

From Catriona Pollard on the effectiveness of networking and how to do it properly... and believe me she knows! http://ping.fm/v1m3h

From the ever challenging seth godin, pay especially attention to his question on climate priorities http://ping.fm/lUvGa

My friend the "dangerous kettle" on the dust storms. I like kettle http://ping.fm/R2YV4

The customer is always right... well they think they are anyway... and that should be good enough http://ping.fm/ZL2MZ

12 Facts About Entrepreneurs That Will Likely Surprise You... http://ping.fm/5nlQH

great tips about how to use facebook for business and get followers for your facebook page http://ping.fm/DbjZq

Demonstrating the power of ping.fm to a couple of friends of mine at the moment...great tool

Be part of the Global Launch of the book of 2010 at Gleebooks sat 26sep, my client Miranda launches her Global Career http://ping.fm/EGvVu

Be part of the Global Launch of the book of 2010 at Gleebooks sat 26 feb, my client Miranda launches her Global Career http://ping.fm/EGvVu

Amazing new website and business for the design and publishing minded amongst us http://ping.fm/gf9JG

running a workshop tomorrow: "There is no such thing as competition" , Surry Hills, ask me or book here: http://ping.fm/BU44R

I have just about totally rewritten my home page... have a look and any feedback would be great http://ping.fm/KnqdC

Rate yourself against Richard Branson as a business owner... How much of a business owner are you really...? http://ping.fm/RqR1h

Just when you thought you were starting to get a handle on marketing and target markets and connecting to your clients: http://ping.fm/paIun

Sept Small Biz month: I present at seminar: How to make the competition irrelevant! http://ping.fm/diRw2?eid=118139037453

For those of us who are in the process of writing resumes... you know who you are!! http://ping.fm/a0ww9

Food for thought on clarity about our marketing messages... this from Ryanair... extreme? maybe .. but clear http://ping.fm/t5uLn

Nice thoughts about takling your maerketing outside of your comfort zone http://ping.fm/2f0fl

From smart-company: the great principles for starting a new venture: http://ping.fm/L10PX

Oh be warned..... read the Tom Peters quote in this blog by seth... http://ping.fm/0ZvMm

As Always, Seth Godin hits the nail on the head for small and large business owners... this about picking your market http://ping.fm/mXd8I

The top 10 secrets of sustainable small business - installment 3 - now published on my blog... http://ping.fm/hljHP

The "Top-10-Secrets" of small business....instalment 3

The - absolute - undeniable - must have - rockbottom - can’t do without - believe it or not - Top 10 (and beyond) - Secrets of Sustainable Small Business Growth, in good times or bad


Thank you for tuning into this third installment of "The Secrets" and you will be very pleased to know that the list of secrets has now grown to 27, so there will be at least one more instalment after this one.

You might remember that Installment 1 was largely about the deeper purpose of your business and how that connects with your passion. Installment 2 was about marketing, customer relations and your staff. And todays instalment is mostly about money, and keeping your finger on the pulse....the responsibilities of the “Business Owner”.

Installment 1 and 2 can be re-read on my website article archive: click here or on the blog archive here or I can email it to you again. Just click here: roland@newperspectives.com.au

Let me remind you of my pleases......
1)... PLEASE!: Take a few minutes and let "The Secrets" sink in. If you are not sure about any of them, drop me a line or call me or argue with me or shout me a coffee or abuse me or pick my brain, but whatever you do, don't just glance over them and put them aside!
2)... PLEASE!: Do something with each and every one of "The Secrets". This is important stuff... believe me, I know what I am talking about here.

As I foreshadowed in the first instalment, I have "Twittered" about "The Secrets" already... so they must be true and real.

Here they are: (numbers should start at 15, but I can't get that work properly):

1. Put your finger on the pulse of the money in your business... and keep it there daily, weekly monthly … know where you make money and where you don’t
2. Of course you need to look at last week’s/ month’s/ years numbers in your regular reports, but what do you know about next week/month/year...?
3. Decide what the “Key Indicators of the Health of your business” are, the really critical ones, the ones that you, as the business owner, can’t live without... at all levels, and make sure you get them every week, focus on them and action them... rigorously
4. Collect, collect, collect... Being a bank for your customers is best left to the banks, they do it so much better than you.
5. Know what your financial needs are, implement a meaningful form of cashflow forecasting
6. Stop doing what makes you no money… do more of what is profitable
7. Deal with what matters now, today… If you can sell it today and deliver it today… do so… If you have it in stock today… you can sell it today…and sell something else tomorrow

Those were "The Secrets" 15 to 21.... in another couple of weeks I will reveal some more.... from Secret 22 we get back into the stuff of “working ON the business” not that I want to belabor a point of course

In the mean time: PLEASE... do something with "The Secrets"... and I say again, if you want to talk to me about them, I'd love to hear.... I am sure we can have some great discussions about this stuff and I am happy to explain to you in more depth what the meaning of "The Secrets" is... but whatever you do: Don't just put it aside for another time... Do Something Different... Do Something NOW...

Hope to hear from you soon.

My contacts:
Roland Hanekroot
New Perspectives Business Coaching
"Become a Better Business Owner"
www.newperspectives.com.au
roland@newperspectives.com.au
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coachbusiness
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/newperspectives
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/businesscoachsydney

fascinating article in SMH on depression and small business, are we all depressed? I would love to find out more: http://ping.fm/bwb1M

How true is this... Planning is rarely anything but guessing... let us all write more "business guesses"... http://ping.fm/zoLdq

A lovely new bl;og post from a new blog i joined...on startups... great down to earth business advice you don't learn at uni... http://ping.fm/OWmOM

oh if the world of business consultancy could trule be as easy as training a puppy...http://ping.fm/RzKOE

Seth Godin on quality... I really love his thinking... http://ping.fm/zciqd

For those of us who are tempted to give customers more and more choices...beware... great article: http://ping.fm/lIqp7

this is some solid thinking and business advice about your most important asset...what is that?... Your Customers http://ping.fm/yiH1w

listen to your customers... no don't pretend...really listen... or else you get this kind of thing happening: http://ping.fm/30EG7

Women In Business Continues Growth (http://ping.fm/VRwSH)

Win one of 3 free movie passes...Help me "NAIL" my Brand... bring on the creative juices http://ping.fm/ESPd6

great blog from the "E-myth" people about hiring your first employee... takes the words right out of my mouth... read it http://ping.fm/NHeIx

Win one of three double movie passes

Win a free double movie pass for helping me "nail" my Brand

Today I am launching a competition... I want to find the best... most incisive, most powerful, most inspiring, most exciting one-sentence statement about me... about what I do... about what my clients get when engaging me... what are the benefits of taking me on...

In other words: a short (very short) statement that really nails what I am about, my Brand, what is special about me and New Perspectives and how I am different from anyone else who uses labels such as "Business Coach"

In case you are unsure of what I do... These are the statements I make from time to time:

• I say that I coach small business owners, people who are in control of all the facets of their business every day.
  
• You might have heard me explain that I coach my clients to become better business owners
• Some of you will have heard me mention that the difference between most business coaches and myself is that business coaches coach businesses and I coach business owners
• Some of you have heard me say that I help my clients to take control of their business and their life
• I sometimes say that I work with my clients to create sustainable business growth
• And that you will create the business you deserve when you engage me, that you will go through "massive change" and finally
• That when you come on board with me... Nothing will ever be the same again...

All of that is absolutely true... very much so...

And how do I do all those things?... Well I work with my clients in six month blocks and with set of clear project goals defined and I become their small business mentor, their management consultant, their personal coach, their project manager, their closest confidant, their silent partner, supporter, brainstormer and general ass-kicker...

But whenever I am asked:... "So Roland, what do you do?" I end up having to roll out the "I am a business coach"-line with further boring add-ons.

People seem to want a label and until they have one they are confused... but guess what.... the moment I mention the word "business coach"... eyes glaze over, fingers fidget and the nearest "exit" sign suddenly becomes much more interesting.

So......
I am asking for your help....

My hope is that most of you who read this would be interested in 2 things:

1. The opportunity to win one of 3 double movie passes and/ or
2. To help me improve the clarity and attractiveness of my marketing message and my "Brand"

I hope I am right and I am really looking forward to reading your suggestions and creative and "out of the box" ideas...

All your weirdest, most creative, sexy, funny, inspiring, sweet, caring, supportive, challenging, thought provoking ideas and suggestions are eagerly awaited.

The most exciting suggestions... the ones that make me sit up and smile... well I will select the top three of those and send you a double movie pass to Hoyts as a small token of my appreciation...

Be assured I really truly appreciate and value your input and thoughts... and if you'd like to talk to me about it... I will obviously shout you a coffee...

So that also for Me Myself and I... from the second half of 2009... Nothing will ever be the same again

Send me an email, twitter me, ring me, facebook me... Entries close Friday 24 July and decisions by the Judging panel are final, discussions won't be entered into... unless I am bribed with the appropriate brown paper bag.

Bring on the creativity...

Warmest,

Roland Hanekroot

also on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/businesscoachsydney

The low down on follow up for all business owners, business developers and sales people... http://ping.fm/1xFjC

great article from valerie Khoo in the smh on running small business: Delegate, automate or delete http://ping.fm/uQBQH

New Perspectives Business Coaching this is why we can't avoid facebook any longer for business: http://ping.fm/Fklkp

what a nice blog about the new marketing and how the canadians are at fault...http://ping.fm/7bXmc

wow...if you are a business owner...take the time to read this...biblical in scope...http://ping.fm/D8V77

Nice article in the wall street journal about the distinction between profitable and loyal customers: http://ping.fm/YtHwt

How To Use Linked In Effectively

Installment 2 of the Top 10 - "Secrets"... revealed

The - absolute - undeniable - must have - rockbottom - can’t do without - believe it or not - Top 10 (and beyond) - Secrets of Sustainable Small Business Growth, in good times or bad

Thank you for tuning into this second installment of "The Secrets"

You might remember that Installment 1 was largely about the deeper purpose of your business and how that connects with your passion. Todays 7 secrets are mostly related to marketing, customer relations and your staff.

Installment 1 can be re-read on my website article archive: click here or on the blog archive here or I can email it to you again. Just click here: roland@newperspectives.com.au

Let me remind you of my pleases......
1)... PLEASE!: Take a few minutes and let "The Secrets" sink in. If you are not sure about any of them, drop me a line or call me or argue with me or shout me a coffee or abuse me or pick my brain, but whatever you do, don't just glance over them and put them aside!
2)... PLEASE!: Do something with each and every one of "The Secrets". This is important stuff... believe me, I know what I am talking about here.

As I foreshaddowed in the first installment, I have "Twittered" about "The Secrets" already... so they must be true and real.

Here they are (numbers should start at 8, but I can't get that work properly):

1. Engage your staff in what you stand for, what you are good at and treat them the way you would personally like to be treated… generous, sharing, involved, accountable, open, clear
2. Remind yourself and your staff regularly, at least once a month, that: The purpose of a business is to find customers and keep them, by giving them what they want, again and again
3. Be truthful in all dealings... give it and expect it… Ask yourself what your your clients' absolute truth is and provide the absolute truth in return.
4. Customers believe that you make them a promise when they buy from you... so... make absolutely sure you know what it is they believe your promise to them to be and deliver that... without fail... afterwards confirm you actually kept that promise with them.
5. Decide if and why something is worth doing… and if it is... then it is always worth experimenting with it for a while and giving it another go if it doesn't work the first time.
6. Make sure everyone knows what you and your business are really good at... YELL it from the rooftops at every opportunity you get, write about it, speak about it, blog about it, Twitter about it, Youtube about it, encourage your customers to rave about it, ensure your website raves about it, and your friends... do not be shy about this....ever!
7. Create and build communities and relationships with people who want what you are really good at, communicate, know your community, share, give value... authentically and generously.

Those were "The Secrets" 8 to 14.... in about a week and a half I will reveal some more.... from Secret 15 we get into the financial stuff and money.... I bet you can't wait!

In the mean time PLEASE...do something with "The Secrets"... and I say again if you want to talk to me or email about them I'd love to hear.... I am sure that we can have some great discussions about this stuff and I am happy to explain to you in more depth what the meaning of "The Secrets" is... but whatever you do: Don't just put it aside for another time... Do Something Different... Do Something NOW...

Hope to hear from you soon.

My contacts:
Roland Hanekroot
New Perspectives Business Coaching
"Take Control of your Business and Your Life"
www.newperspectives.com.au
roland@newperspectives.com.au
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coachbusiness
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/newperspectives
facebook: http://tinyurl.com/c6mph5

The - absolute - undeniable - must have - rockbottom - can’t do without - believe it or not - top 10 - Secrets of Sustainable Small Business Growth, in good times or bad

When your favorite small business coach started devising this article and blog i had 10 secrets in mind, but as I was writing it grew to 21 secrets and maybe it will even grow some more, so now I will be delivering them to you in installment over the next few weeks... here are the first 7.

PLEASE!: Take a few minutes and let them sink in. If you are not sure about any of them, drop me a line or call me or argue with me or shout me a coffee and pick my brain, but whatever you do, don't just glance over them and put them aside!

PLEASE!: Do something with each and every one of these secrets. This is important stuff... believe me, I know what I am talking about here.

Follow these secrets and the ones I will reveal over the coming weeks and true sustainable small business growth beckons sure as night follows day.... I personally guarantee it (and to prove it I will even Twitter about it so…it must be true!)

Here they are:

1. Know what you are in this business for… and check in with yourself at least monthly that you are actually heading there.
2. Decide what you are really good at, focus on it, get better at it, strive to be the best at it and do it again and again and again. (And please stop doing what you are not so good at!)
3. State with absolute clarity to all and sundry what the truly inspiring thing is that your business is about (e.g. "We make the worlds most beautiful tables" or "Our plumbing installations are just plain sexy" or "We provide the best accountancy advice money can buy" or "Every customer smiles when they leave our shop" or "Our dresses will put you in the centre of the room")
4. Ask yourself: Are we a "dream come true" for your clients?
5. Who exactly, precisely are those clients... ? and then become known to those specific clients as a true specialist and expert
6. What precisely is the benefit those clients get from doing business with me?
7. State with absolute clarity and conviction precisely what your business stands for (e.g. "Our customers are in safe hands", "Never do anything to decrease our sense of pride", "we are never more than 5 minutes late", "Our installations are thoroughly tested for 24 hours, before handover") publicise it widely and allow everyone to keep you and your staff acountable to that.

Those were the first 7 secrets.... in about a week the next bunch will be revealed.... in the mean time PLEASE...do something with these... and if you want to talk to me or email about them I'd love to hear.... I am sure that we can have some great discussions about this stuff and I am happy to explain to you in more depth what the meaning of the secrets is.....but whatever you do: Don't just put it aside to do something with at some other time... Do Something Different...

Hope to hear from you soon.

My contacts:
Roland Hanekroot
New Perspectives Business Coaching
"Take Control of your Business and Your Life"
www.newperspectives.com.au
roland@newperspectives.com.au
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coachbusiness
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/newperspectives
facebook: http://tinyurl.com/c6mph5

RT @sharonhayes 7 time saving firefox add-ons to make your lives easier http://bit.ly/c8YeJ

here goes....more brave new world.....this status might show up on twitter, facebook, linkedin plaxo and blogger..... go you good thing

One minute wisdom

From one of my favorite spiritual teachers/ writers, Father Anthony de Mello:

"Plunge into the heat of battle, and keep your heart at the Lotus feet of the Lord"

BatchBook: Blue Paper: Social Media for Small Business

BatchBook: Blue Paper: Social Media for Small Business

Posted using ShareThis

Tom peters... 48 pieces of advice for small business

I came across this from Tom Peters..... wonderful advice and thoughts.... love them... I trust and hope that Tom Peters is pleased with having them republished on my blog....

Tom Peters
22 February 2009
Queenstown New Zealand

The Heart of Business Strategy: 48 Things That Matter

We usually think of business strategy as some sort of aspirational market positioning statement. Doubtless that’s part of it. But I believe that the number one “strategic strength” is excellence in execution and systemic relationships (i.e., with everyone we come in contact with). Hence I offer the following 48 pieces of advice in creating a winning strategic that is inherently sustainable*:

• “Thank you.” Minimum several times a day. Measure it.
• “Thank you” to everyone even peripherally involved in some activity—especially those “deep in the hierarchy.”
• Smile. Work on it.
• Apologize. Even if “they” are “mostly” to blame.
• Jump all over those who play the “blame game.”
• Hire enthusiasm…Low enthusiasm. No hire. Any job.
• Hire optimists. Everywhere. (“Positive outlook on life,” not mindless optimism.)
• Hiring: Would you like to go to lunch with him-her. 100% of jobs.
• Hire for good manners.
• Do not reject “trouble makers”—that is those who are uncomfortable with the status quo.
• Expose all would-be hires to something unexpected-weird. Observe their reaction.
• Overwhelm response to even the smallest screw-ups.
• Become a student of all you will meet with. Big time.
• Hang out with interesting new people. Measure it.
• Lunch with folks in other functions. Measure it.
• Listen. Hear. Become a serious student of listening-hearing.
• Work on everyone’s listening skills. Practice.
• Become a student of information extraction-interviewing.
• Become a student of presentation giving. Formal. Short and spontaneous.
• Incredible care in 1st line supervisor selection.
• World’s best training for 1st line supervisors.
• Construct small leadership opportunities for junior people within days of starting on the job.
• Insane care in all promotion decisions.
• Promote “people people” for all managerial jobs. Finance-logistics-R&D as much as, say, sales.
• Hire-promote for demonstrated curiosity. Check their past commitment to continuous learning.
• Small “d” diversity. Rich mixes for any and all teams.
• Hire women. Roughly 50% women on exec team.
• Exec team “looks like” customer population, actual and desired.
• Focus on creating products for and selling to women.
• Focus on creating products for and selling to boomers-geezers.
• Work on first and last impressions.
• Walls: display tomorrow’s aspirations, not yesterday’s accomplishments.
• Simplify systems. Constantly.
• Insist that almost all material be covered by a 1-page summary. Absolutely no longer.
• Practice decency.
• Add “We are thoughtful in all we do” to corporate values list.
• Number 1 force for customer loyalty, employee satisfaction.
• Make some form of employee growth (for all) a formal part of values set.
• Flowers.
• Celebrate “small wins.” Often. Perhaps a “small win of the day.”
• Manage your calendar religiously: Does it accurately reflect your espoused priorities?
• Use a “calendar friend” who’s not very friendly to help you with this.
• Review your calendar: Work assiduously and mercilessly on your “To don’ts.”—stuff that distracts.
• Bosses, especially near the top: Formally cultivate one advisor whose role is to tell you the truth.
• Commit to Excellence.
• Talk up Excellence.
• Put “Excellence in all we do” in the values set.
• Measure everyone on demonstrated commitment to Excellence

New Business Health Check Survey now online

As some of you may know I have been working for the past year and a half with the other founding members of the Institute of Small Business Coaching to create and formalise the Peak Performance Business Coaching Program.

All of us are really excited about the outcome and the program and all of our clients have noticed the impact of it during the last 1.5 year.

One of the components of the Peak Performance Business Coaching Program is the new and improved business health check survey tool, and I have just managed to get it online on my website here

Feel free to go and have a look at it and take the survey why don't you.... when you do I will send you back a nicely presented 1 page report and graph that will show you quite clearly where the strengths and challenges in your business are. You never know, it might give you some pause for thought...

Any feedback is gratefully accepted as well of course.

Drop me a line or call me if you want to have a chat about it.

Have a great month.

And by the way, I am getting really serious about all the social networking options that are available now.... come and follow me on twitter for example at http://twitter.com/coachbusiness or lets get connected on linkedin...click here for my profile and I am also experimenting with weird things like Plaxo and Squidoo and Twine and more... Soon I am going to put up some videos on Youtube as well...

"Putting Small Business Owners back in Control of their Life and their Business"

See you in the brave new world soon.

Warmest,

Roland Hanekroot