5 Steps to Serving More (and better quality) Customers

It’s the end of 2015 Q2 today. That means half the year is gone – aarrrhh! Are you on track in your business? Is revenue meeting projections? Are you achieving your profitability targets? If you are a small business owner or solopreneur, are you paying yourself what you are worth?

If you can’t answer a big fat YES to those questions, then you have work to do. Right?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are loads of businesses like yours, not quite hitting their business goals at the end of Q2. I have to confess, in one of my businesses, I haven’t hit my Q2 targets either, so I’m practising what I’m about to preach. I also know that with lots of focus, the next 6 months can end on a high. Let’s end 2015 with a HUGE flourish within our businesses.

People do business with people – That’s a fact! And we prefer to do business with people we like. After all, we spend a lot of time in our businesses. So, here’s my 5 step guide to ensure you attract the right people (customers) to your business; people whom you like and trust, and who are right for your business to serve.

Step 1 – Identify Your Most Profitable and Enjoyable Customers
How? It’s easy. I’ve created a simple tool called the L? Customer Profitability Quadrant which does the work for you. It puts your existing customers into 4 quadrants according to how profitable and enjoyable they are.

The 4 quadrants, are:

“Lots More” – highly profitable and enjoyable customers.
“Lift Up” – highly enjoyable but lower profitability customers.
“Look Out” – low enjoyment and highly profitable customers.
“Lose Them” – low enjoyment and low profitability customers.

Here’s what each quadrant looks like after you’ve done the exercise.

From the descriptions, it’s plain which quadrant you want more of in your business – the “Lots More” customers, of course.

Yet, there are issues to be considered with the other quadrants.

The “Look Out” customers pose a threat to your business because if they leave you, your profitability may be affected (if you have plenty of customers in this group, your profitability will be seriously affected).

The “Lift Up” customers need addressing too as you and your team may be over delivering to them as they are enjoyable people to serve, but that is not time well spent at present as they aren’t profitable enough for you.

The “Lose Them” customers are generally a drain on your business and are often price shoppers, so do you really want them?

Click here to download my free E-book that shows you how to create your own L? Customer Profitability Quadrant. I promise it’s really easy to work out.

Step 2 – Define the Common Features of the Customers in Your “Lots More” Quadrant
In all situations I find that when an analysis is done on the types of customers that make up the “Lots More” quadrant, there are common features. There will often be a grouping of industries that they are in, or geographic locations, or you may be selling similar products or services to them.

Do the work to define what the common characteristics are, as you will be able to use this information to target more potential customers like these ones. Don’t try and be everything to everybody. Identify your niche and focus on it.

Step 3 – Evaluate the Key Needs, Wants and Desires of Your “Lots More” Customers
Become really clear on what it is your “Lots More” customers need, want and desire. This is important, as you will only be successful in selling more to them or other customers like them if you truly understand those drivers.

Step 4 – Articulate Your Value Proposition
Do you really know what your value proposition is for your “Lots More” customers? Please spend the time working it out. How are you different? What enables you to serve those customers perfectly so that they return time and again to buy from your business, and hopefully be cheerleaders for your business.

Step 5 – Laser Planning the Next 6 Months
Armed with all the information in steps 1-4, it’s time to create a business/marketing plan for the rest of the year.

In summary, your plan will include the following:

Strategies to reconnect with your existing “Lots More” Customers, checking in on them and their businesses or lives, and reminding them of your value proposition, products and services.
Strategies to identify and market your business to potential customers who are have the same profile as those in your “Lots More“ quadrant. If you are good at serving a particular type of customer, go and find more people just like them.
A ‘sort out’ plan to address the issues with your “Look Out” customers. They are highly profitable to your business, so you don’t really want to lose them. Work out why you aren’t enjoying working with them. Resolve the issues and build bridges. Turn them into “Lots More” Customers too.
A ‘sort out’ plan to address the issues with your “Lift Up” customers. You enjoy working with them, but they are not profitable enough for your business. Do you really know what their needs, wants and desires are? How can you better serve them so they buy more profitably from you and also become “Lots More” customers?
A ‘good-bye’ plan to exit the “Lose Them” customers from your business. They are not suited to the products/service you offer, so you are better to facilitate them being served by another business, and then you can focus on your “Lots More” customers.

That’s it. It’s time to do the work. Follow steps 1-5 and watch your revenue and profitability soar by the end of Q4 2015. I’m excited. I hope you are too.

ACTION: I’d love to hear how business is going for you as at the end of Q2. How about sharing your situation below? If your business is going well, tell us what you’re doing. If you need a renewed focus, then email me. Perhaps a 30 mins free Business Growth Strategy Skype call might be just what you need to get ‘back on the straight and narrow’.

Could some guidance from me be helpful to you? If so, please arrange a free 30 mins Skype strategy meeting with me. Here’s my calendar to book a meeting. I’d love to support you in some way to gain ‘seductive clarity’ in any aspect of your business or life.

7 Secrets of Business Success

They say the teacher teaches that which they need to learn. Yep, I have to agree!

I’m establishing a new branded products business in the USA at present, and blimey, am I having some challenges! Some days it’s two steps forwards and one back, and then on other days it’s one step forward and two back…. just a regular day in the office for an entrepreneur, I guess!

So in thinking about the new journey I’m on, I was reflecting on the challenges that all business owners and entrepreneurs experience, and the questions I asked myself, were: “What stands successful entrepreneurs/business owners apart from others? What are the secrets of business success?”

Based on my +20 years of experience as a business growth coach, my own journeys in entrepreneurship, and as a learner – forever reading and learning about business and success – here are my brief thoughts: the 7 Secrets of Business Success.

Secret 1: Self Belief
Successful business people believe in themselves, and they think BIG! They have great vision. In my experience, they have an unrelenting belief that they’ll achieve everything they set out to do! And they are passionate about their business too.

Vision and belief is one thing, but massive action is key. Successful business people are not afraid of failure – well, they probably are, but they risk failure in pursuit of their dreams anyway, and they’ll tolerate ambiguity and risk too. You see, for every mistake they make, they learn the lessons and move on.

Secret 2: Set a Goal and GO!
Successful business owners set goals and then act to achieve them. They go for it – there’s no mucking around! They’ll also quickly evaluate the outcomes, so if the goal and actions were wrong, they’ll change direction and move on.

Secret 3: Stand Out
Success in business means not looking at what others are doing and copying the idea. Business success means stepping outside of the box, and heading the other way. Successful business owners often break the rules! They forge new and exciting frontiers, or they find new and interesting ways of doing things.

Successful entrepreneurs also network widely as they know by networking they’ll be increasing their netWORTH – not just in monetary terms, but as an expert in the market. They build rock solid reputations in their industry/market or in business generally.

Secret 4: Seize Your Market
Having a laser focus on the market that you want to conquer is another secret to business success. Consider the differences between a machine gun that scatters bullets versus a sniper gun that aims and hits the target. Successful entrepreneurs are snipers! They hit their target, often with a bull’s eye.

Follow-up and feedback is important to success. Successful business owners are fuelled by customer feedback as it helps them improve their products and services.

Secret 5: Strong Leadership
Strong leadership is another secret to business success. As leaders, successful entrepreneurs impart their vision to staff, customers and other stakeholders. They also ‘walk the talk’ around their vision.

Strong leaders are positive and tolerate ambiguity while heading towards the achievement of their vision.

As leaders, successful entrepreneurs surround themselves with excellent people who manage their businesses. Delegation is another key to success in business.

Secret 6: Sacrosanct: Time!
Time is money, and successful entrepreneurs understand the value of time (and money). They know how to focus on what is important for them, while delegating the rest.

Secret 7: Self Improvement
Self improvement is one of my favourite topics. Successful entrepreneurs spend time (and often lots of money) improving themselves. They are attracted to ongoing learning and knowledge in order to constantly improve their skills.

They also allow time to re-energise; they take time out with family and friends for recreation, and for health and fitness.

And finally, will you allow me another secret or two?
I want to sneak another couple of secrets in as these ones feel very real for me this week.

Secret 8: Steadfast Focus and Persistence
Successful business owners hang in there. They ride out the twists and turns, ups and downs of business. They don’t give up on their quest to be successful, although they may close a business if they realise it’s not viable. Successful people focus on the end goal, and their ability to persist even in the most difficult of times is awe-inspiring.

Secret 9: Sensational Mindset
Business is not always easy and it seldom happens the way in which you expect it to or when you want it to. The little voice in the back of our minds can start undermining us with all that negative talk – remember that voice?

In my experience, the most successful business owners and entrepreneurs have ways of controlling their mindset. They are human too, and they will have the voice annoying them too. They find constructive ways to deal with the doubt, fear and beliefs that creep in from time to time.

Well, that’s it – the 7 Secrets of Business Success (well 9 actually)
I feel better for writing this. Along with my business growth coaching, book writing work and other businesses (that others manage for me), I’m forever the entrepreneur looking for new business opportunities. Personally I believe that the best business coaches have ‘been there and done it’ themselves, and therefore, can impart greater wisdom and firsthand experience about business success.

I also believe that there is a reason for every experience we have in life, and I’ve decided to find some meaning in my current topsy turvy new business journey.

So while the path is rocky as I establish my new USA based branded products business (while living in London), I continue to learn each day, and that knowledge and my journey will no doubt shortly support another business person, perhaps a client on their journey towards business success. I’m good with that!! 🙂

I also believe that this new business will be VERY successful in the USA, so the trials and tribulations are worth it. That thought alone keeps me focused and motivated.

ACTION: I’d love to know what challenges you’ve faced in business that you’ve pushed through – however big or small. Let’s get a conversation going below to inspire others to keep on with their business success journey.

Other articles on What Makes Successful Entrepreneurs:

Seven Secrets of Super Successful Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship vs The Meaning of Life
Entrepreneurial Success Without Fulfilment: Who Wants That?
All Work + Little Play = Boring!
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
Sir Richard Branson Asks…
Ordinary vs Game Changing
Thriving within the Juggling Act
Business Success and Cookie Dough
What Ice Cream Flavour is Your Business?
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?

Business Success and Cookie Dough

You’ve hit a wall. Old and often bad habits have kicked in. Negative thinking is in overdrive. Confidence and motivation are low. Sleeping patterns are erratic. Nothing is going right in business or at home or in relationships (or each of those areas). And to top it all off, you’re not quite sure why any of this is happening, although you’re likely to be thinking that it’s the stress of work ‘getting to you’.

Ever had that experience?

Many of my clients come to be coached by me when they are in those circumstances.
I’ll ask pertinent questions… and out tumbles lots of ‘stuff’ loosely connected to the questions asked. The questions trigger something…

Just recently I had this very experience myself. Everything was going along brilliantly in most areas of life and business, and then unexpectedly, one of my old and dangerous (for me) habits kicked in – I lost control of my sugar addiction. I couldn’t get enough sweet food for about two weeks – not great when you are on 90 Day Achievement Challenge to remove 8kg of weight… eeekkk!

The taste of ice cream, desserts, chocolate, sweets and cookie dough was so more-ish during that time! I made chocolate cookies one weekend – sadly my family didn’t get to eat many cookies, but I did introduce my daughter to the delights of eating raw and frozen cookie dough – she’s now a convert! 🙂 It’s divine!!

Anyway, I could feel the ‘niggle’ in the back of my mind. My conscious mind was saying everything was fine, but the ‘niggle’ was telling me that my subconscious mind had lessons and learnings coming up for me.

And so it did. I let myself move through the ‘sugar thing’ without being too grumpy at myself. I also spent time talking to people who unexpectedly came into my world. We had the most amazing and enlightening conversations, which then gave me the courage to talk to people close to me about what I was thinking, and why the ‘niggle’ and my subconscious mind was tearing at me.

During my ‘sugar thing’, I arranged meetings with my coaches and mentors, and together we worked through the learnings and experience.

While a challenge at the time, in hindsight, the experience was phenomenal! I now understand what my subconscious wanted me to learn and think about. I feel amazing, energetic and invincible as I continue coaching my wonderful clients, developing new businesses and writing books. And the great thing is, there was a real reason for the timing of the ‘sugar thing’.

By listening to the niggle and my subconscious, I’ve opened up a whole lot of new business ideas and avenues, and I’ve evolved my thinking about the focus of two of the books I’m working on that will be published in 2016. So, I‘m very happy!

What’s all this got to do with you and your business success?

A lot! Everything even!

You see, I bet you’ve got your own ‘sugar thing’ happening at times. It might not be sugar, but what about alcohol, excessive smoking, overeating etc…? You know how it goes.

I’m certain there are times when something is holding you back and you can’t explain it, but life is underwhelming and your business isn’t fully charging.

In all seriousness and with huge amounts of love, I encourage you to listen to your inner voice, your subconscious, and ask what it wants to tell you. In the stillness of those moments, listen to what it is saying. Listen intently and often. Let your subconscious mind open up and unfold its lessons and learnings for you. It’s highly likely that you’re about to go on a journey of self discovery. It may be painful for a time as you turn and face your niggle, come to understand it, heal it or respond to it.

But I promise you, once you’ve done that, you’ll feel renewed, full of life and focused on all that’s important to you in business and life. You too will feel invincible and everything you’re working towards in your business will seem within touching distance. And even more business success will unfold!

I know this for a fact as I see it time and again with my clients and the shifts they make in their lives and of course, their increased business success when they’ve passed through the storm that brought them to me in the first instance. I wish the same for you and your life and business.

ACTION: You may be thinking… ‘I sooo understand what you’re saying, Adèle’ or ‘What a lot of codswallop’. Either way, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Please leave a message below, and how about passing my blog onto someone who is ‘out of sorts’ right now? You may be doing them a big favour.

Other articles on What Makes Successful Entrepreneurs:

Seven Secrets of Super Successful Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship vs The Meaning of Life
Entrepreneurial Success Without Fulfilment: Who Wants That?
All Work + Little Play = Boring!
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
7 Secrets of Business Success
Sir Richard Branson Asks…
Ordinary vs Game Changing
Thriving within the Juggling Act
What Ice Cream Flavour is Your Business?
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?

Thriving Within the Juggling Act

As entrepreneurs and business owners we juggle a lot of balls all at once. We have our work commitments – growing our businesses, ensuring our customers are happy, providing meaningful and fulfilling work for our team, working with suppliers…. and so the list of work goes on.

Then there’s life… family time, partner time, ‘me time’ (if we’re lucky), friends, jobs around the house, health and fitness… you get the drift, the list is long.

Would you agree that it’s really easy to get bogged down or overwhelmed in the busy-ness of life and business? The juggling act can be a challenge regardless of how good a delegator we are.

I’m particularly busy at present with several new businesses in the throes of being established, two books being written and edited, coaching clients… and then there are the other things I want to spend time doing. Family time is especially important to me, as is exercise and learning time – I love learning, and I also need to create time for what I call ‘Soulful Vitality’ – don’t worry, it’s not ‘woo-woo’ stuff!

So what’s Soulful Vitality?

Soulful Vitality is a range of things but it’s mostly it’s about savouring ourselves and being anything and everything we want to be in this life. I bring my own Soulful Vitality to life each day in a number of ways, so here’s a few of them.

For starters, I am up and out power walking by 6am each morning for one hour. In that hour of ‘me time’ I will only think about the wonderful things in my life.

I begin by thinking about all that I am grateful for in life – the big and the small things – great health, very happy marriage, wonderful daughter and stepson, wonderful friends (new and old), the beautiful park I walk in, the trees, the blue sky and sun (when they appear), and so my daily list goes on.

I also think about the vision I’ve created for my life and the short and long term goals I am working on towards the achievement of my vision. There’s nothing like visualising that big vision/dream each day to keep it alive and real in my mind, regardless of how near or far I am from achieving its various elements. Thinking about my vision certainly speeds up my power walking each day, which is great for getting my heart rate up, so there’s a double benefit – a bit of exercise.

I choose happiness as a state to live in each day. Yes, like everyone I have my moments, but the essence of my being is that I am happy. I’m happy within the ups and downs of life as I treat each of the things that happen as opportunities for learning, lessons and experiences. You see, I also believe that whatever happens to us, it was meant to happen as there is something that we should be taking from that experience – no matter how hard, damaging or sad that experience is. So as you might expect, during my walk, I just revel in the state of happiness and reflect on the lessons I learn each day on my life journey.

You might be thinking that happiness is the same as gratitude. Well for some it is, but for me, they are separate but tightly connected to each other.

Finally on my walk I think about the ways I can be more generous each day as generosity is one of my core values. Generosity is not just about giving money away, it’s about giving of oneself – giving our heart and soul to others, giving our knowledge, our skills, our ideas, our love, our friendship. While some days I feel really generous, other days I can improve and so I am constantly developing that part of me.

By the time I get home one hour later, I’ve had exercise and fresh air, and I’m well and truly ready to start work. I’m also feeling totally energised after having some ‘me time’ so the juggling act seems more manageable! In fact most days it’s really easy as everything I am juggling is connected to my vision so it all feels worthwhile (so long as I delegate the parts that are best done by others).

ACTION: How about including some ‘me time’ into your day for reflection, visioning, gratitude, and generosity? And don’t forget to think about happiness as a state to live within each day. It’s life changing, I promise.

Other articles on What Makes Successful Entrepreneurs:

Seven Secrets of Super Successful Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship vs The Meaning of Life
Entrepreneurial Success Without Fulfilment: Who Wants That?
All Work + Little Play = Boring!
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
7 Secrets of Business Success
Sir Richard Branson Asks…
Ordinary vs Game Changing
Business Success and Cookie Dough
What Ice Cream Flavour is Your Business?
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?

Ordinary vs Game Changing

“It doesn’t take any more effort to dream a big dream than it takes to dream a small dream.” ~ General Wesley Clark, Former Head of NATO Allied Troops

Have you ever set a goal and then not achieved it? If you said yes, you’re not alone; most of us are in that camp with you. In fact, that’s generally the norm in life. People set goals all the time and often make little progress towards achieving them.

We set goals because we think we should, or because others are setting them, or it’s a New Year’s resolution and that’s what happens at that time of year, or it’s part of being in business and the accountant says that’s what we should do. Whew! Sound familiar?

Have you ever wondered why we don’t achieve our goals?

In my experience, the answer is really simple. Most often people don’t achieve their goals because the goal(s) they set aren’t that important to them.

I just love this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as it’s so true: “Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.”

Unless we have what I call ‘seductive clarity’ around why a dream or goal is important to us, it won’t be achieved.

What’s seductive clarity? Well, I’m about to get a bit soppy on you!

Remember that moment when you fell in love, or saw your child – your baby – for the very first time? What did you feel in that moment?

I’m guessing it was a passion, a desire, a raw need, a drive, a responsibility, a happiness! In short, you were seduced by love.

In love, we want and need that person forever and a day. Our hearts stop, we get distracted and can’t focus on anything other than the person we have fallen in love with. Ahhh, I still rejoice with the memories of those early moments in love! 🙂

To this day, some 13 years later, I still remember that heart stopping moment when I saw our baby for the first time and love kicked in, along with the need to cuddle, nurture and caress that tiny being that was given to us to love, hold, cherish and guide through life.

Seductive clarity with our dreams and goals is the same. We must feel the utmost emotional connection with them – a love – a heart stopping importance, a must have or must achieve drive, and the feeling – the excitement – that comes with the possibility of achieving something important.

If we don’t have all that then we won’t care enough to achieve the dream or goal. And sadly, when the going gets tough, as it does in life and business, we’ll be off and onto the next shiny thing… the goal will be forgotten or buried as silly or not important.

Yet, the achievement of a dream or goal can be life changing. The achievement of a goal can make an ordinary life extraordinary. The achievement of a big goal can be a game changer in business.

So, let’s get serious about this for a minute. We’re nearly half way through 2015. How’s the year progressing for you? Same old, same old? Or are you on track to achieve some major and hopefully game changing goals this year?

It’s not too late in the year to set goals. There’s plenty of time to nail something that is important to you.

Personally, I have set three very major goals that will be achieved over 90 days… and the energy, excitement and commitment I feel towards the achievement of those goals creates the daily momentum I need to nail them. I’m three weeks into my three projects and the achievement of the goals is on track, which is fantastic. These goals are game changers for me…. To say I am excited about the upcoming achievement of them is a BIG understatement! I’ll tell you what they are after they’re ‘in the bag’.

ACTION: What about you? How about creating a game changing or breakthrough goal that you will achieve this year? That goal must quantum leap your personal or professional life somehow.

You’ll know it’s important when you want to live and breathe it every day until it’s achieved. Your emotional attachment will be enormous, and you will be prepared to do the work to achieve it.

So come on. Set the goal and then get on, do the work, and achieve it. Imagine how life will be once you’ve achieved it.

How about letting me know in the comments below if you are up for the challenge? Let’s get some big goals happening and achieved this year.

Other articles on What Makes Successful Entrepreneurs:

Seven Secrets of Super Successful Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship vs The Meaning of Life
Entrepreneurial Success Without Fulfilment: Who Wants That?
All Work + Little Play = Boring!
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
7 Secrets of Business Success
Sir Richard Branson Asks…
Thriving within the Juggling Act
Business Success and Cookie Dough
What Ice Cream Flavour is Your Business?
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?

Sir Richard Branson asks….

“What business do I really think I could improve?” ~ Sir Richard Branson

I’ve just listened to an interview that Sir Richard Branson gave late last year and, as you’d expect, the topic was his take on entrepreneurship success.

Sir Richard expressed great concern for entrepreneurs who are establishing businesses purely on the premise of ‘where I can make money’, rather than looking at business from the point of view of improving an industry.

Sir Richard always asks the question, “What businesses frustrate me?”, then he goes off and starts businesses in industries he wants to clean up and improve.

The stories of Virgin Records, Virgin Airlines, Virgin Rail, and more recently, Virgin Money are legendary, and certainly these Virgin businesses have disrupted the industries they compete in so that we, the customers, are winners. Why? Because in improving an industry, all players must follow and up their game or else they fail. Therefore, the industry improves.

Virgin Airlines is a brilliant example of this. Virgin Atlantic was the first to introduce individual TV screens on the backs of airline chairs so that we could watch the movies we chose, rather than what the airline wanted us to watch on the communal screens. Now all airlines flying long haul have this feature. If they didn’t, no-one would fly with them as this is the ‘new normal’ that we as customers have come to expect.

Sir Richard Branson’s comments got me thinking.

If we’re already in business, are we as business owners disrupting and improving the industry that we’re a part of or are we just like all other players out there, delivering the same old homogeneous products and services to our customers?

Now you’re probably thinking, “But I am just a small player in my market, and I don’t need to disrupt anything, I just need to get on and do the work”.

Yes and no! Yes, you may be a small fish in a big sea, but you will have lots of competition, even if you only compete in your local market.

And no! You can’t just get on and do the work. You and your business must stand out and do things differently and better otherwise someone else in your industry will create the new normal and you will be left behind. You and your business will irrelevant; a dinosaur!

Size is of no importance in disrupting an industry. Doing lots of things a little bit better than everyone else is what stands the best players out from the rest. Any business can do that.

How about thinking of businesses that you as a consumer or business owner support because to you they are better than and different from the rest? What stands them apart from the rest for you? Often it’s lots of little things and not just one BIG thing that make the difference.

Now for some big questions:

How are you and your business standing out from the crowd? What distinguishes your business from others in your industry?
What does your business’s brand represent?
What part of your industry are you improving?
What about you, the business owner/entrepreneur? How do you stand out?
What impression do you leave? Are you personally branded so you are different to all the other business owners out there in your industry?

Food for thought? I hope so.

You as the person behind your business must stand out. Your business must stand out. Be different. Disrupt and improve your industry. Be better than the rest. Do all this well and the money, the profit, the success will follow. I promise.

How about starting a conversation and letting me know how your business is disrupting and improving your industry at a macro or micro level? I’d love to know.

Other articles on What Makes Successful Entrepreneurs:

Seven Secrets of Super Successful Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship vs The Meaning of Life
Entrepreneurial Success Without Fulfilment: Who Wants That?
All Work + Little Play = Boring!
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
7 Secrets of Business Success
Ordinary vs Game Changing
Thriving within the Juggling Act
Business Success and Cookie Dough
What Ice Cream Flavour is Your Business?
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?

What’s Your Excuse? No Arms? No Legs?

Our brain, while it’s the most amazingly fascinating and mysterious machine, it’s also a very dangerous machine!

Our brain is our greatest friend or our biggest foe!

Our brain is our nightmare and limitation, and often needs a jolly good talking to…spanking or whipping (now don’t get too excited here :)) …to get it on the ‘straight and narrow’.

Our brains and all that ‘internal chatter’ hold us back from being, achieving and doing everything we want to in our lives.

Our brain gets fearful and stops us in our tracks so that we live in the safe zone, rather than pushing through and living in the ‘magical happening’ zone.

Know what I mean? It can be so annoying… our brain gets in the way of us sizzling with the excitement of life and the possibility of achieving great things. Why? Because it’s in our brain that fear is created.

Granted, fear keeps us safe. A fear of being mugged in the dark helps me to remain vigilant if I’m out late at night. Look out anyone who tries it on… they’ll get their eyes plucked out with the keys I carry in my hand to support my safety!

Do you use fear productively?

Sadly, fear holds most of us back. Fear encourages us to create excuses. Fear keeps us living small rather than living expansively.

Here are a few of the most common fears that stop us from achieving all we are capable of, desire and deserve in our lives:

Fear of what others will think.
Fear of not having enough money.
Fear of not having enough education.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of failure.
Fear of making a mistake.
Fear of not being good enough.
Fear of conflict.
… and sadly, fear of the unknown… get the idea? Do any of these resonate?

Last Monday I attended a conference where Nick Vujicic was speaking. He’s the ‘no arms, no legs, no limits’ guy. What an inspiration!

If ever someone had an excuse to live in fear and to hide from the world, Nick would be it. He was unexpectedly born with no arms or legs some 32 years ago in Australia. Yet, while the shock of his disabilities was initially devastating for his first time parents, they fell in love with his beauty and became his biggest supporters.

Nick has overcome the most unimaginable hurdles in life, yet he never gives up. He’s a trained accountant and financial planner, an entrepreneur employing 14 staff, a husband and father, an adventure seeker …and much more. Nick also now travels the world speaking to thousands of people a year – children and adults. He inspires and uplifts everyone he encounters. He’s a miracle to many.

“If I fail, I try again and again and again. If you fail, are you going to try again? The human spirit can handle much more than we realise. It matters how you are going to finish. Are you going to finish strong?” ~ Nick Vujicic.

“I was never crippled until I lost hope.” ~ Nick Vujicic.

How about we take inspiration from Nick’s life? If Nick can have the most A-M-A-Z-I-N-G life, then so can we.

Let’s park the excuses and insecurities or get support to eradicate them. Let’s push through the barriers that stop us from being all that we dream of and all that we can be!

Let’s light the fire. No more simmering in life. Let’s sizzle! And why should we?

Quite simply, because we’re worth it! We are fabulous and beautiful and wonderful and glorious and deserving of the life WE want to create for ourselves. That’s why!

What’s the one BIG thing you are going to do to push past your fears to support the achievement of your dreams, your vision, for your life? I’d love to hear. How about leaving a comment below?

Other articles on What Creates Success in Business and Life:

Success Breeds Success!
Success Secrets of Successful People
Adèle in a Nutshell – ‘To Give is to Live’
Reflect, Smile and Smell the Christmas Lilies!
The Beauty of the Last Hours in Life
Success Breeds Success – Tip #1
What’s all this Gratitude ‘stuff’?
Savour the Journey
What’s Stopping You? FEAR?
The 7 Traits of High Achievers

The 7 Traits of High Achievers

Have you ever wondered why some people achieve more than others in their businesses and lives?

As this question has fascinated me for over 20 years, I have studied the highest achievers in life to see ‘what makes them tick’ and to find answers that I can use when coaching my clients and in my own life.

There are 7 traits that are key in achieving anything and everything in life. In brief summary, they are:

Seductive Clarity – Quite simply this means that high achievers have a really clear view of who they are in the world, and what they want to achieve in their lives. The vision is so clear they live and breathe it. I call it VIVA – Vision Internalised is Vision Actualised™.

Sensational Mindset – High achievers make sure their mindset is right – they work with coaches, masterminds and others to support them in maintaining the right mindset and belief systems. Like anyone, they have setbacks and failures, but because they believe they can do it, when difficulty strikes, they flow with the challenges, twisting and turning to get back on track, managing their mindset in the meantime.

Soulful Vitality – Zest, energy and enthusiasm are words often used to describe high achievers. They have an excitement and vitality about them that can be contagious. That vitality is not always a ‘ra-ra-ra’ extroverted energy, it is a quiet confidence and assurance. High achievers recognise the importance of their own internal energy and vitality in achieving their vision, so they work towards maintaining it, often through focusing on their health and fitness.

Steadfast Focus – Goals break a big vision into bite size, manageable chunks. High achievers recognise the importance of setting goals, savouring the journey and celebrating achievements along the way.

Once the goal is set, high achievers get on and do the work. As Shakespeare said: “Nothing comes from doing nothing”. They are efficiently productive. They work on the things that matter and don’t get side tracked with being productive in areas that are not a good use of their time or skills. Those elements are delegated. In essence, over sustained periods of time, high achievers get more done towards the achievement of their vision.

Skilful Excellence – Many high achievers aim to be the very best at what they do; they master their area of expertise. In doing so, they ‘fail forward’ and they seek out feedback. They also recognise that change is a constant, so they embrace it.

To be skilfully excellent, high achievers are brave. They have the courage to ‘find the magic’ that lies beyond their current comfort zones. They know (through experience) that new and exciting frontiers appear after they push through self imposed limitations and barriers.

Sincere Relationships – People are drawn to high achievers as many have wonderful people skills. Others want to work with or for them, supporting the achievement of their vision. They are respected and are respectful. They are admired, kind and generous. Often in leadership roles, high achievers have a wide circle around them: loved ones, coaches/mentors, powerful others, communities.

Self Expression – High achievers are constantly curious about life. They don’t rest on their laurels; they experience life. They seek out experiences to magnify the quality of their lives. In doing so, new opportunities are created.

You made it! In summary, that’s all it takes to become a high achiever in business and life. The great thing is that each of the 7 traits are able to be learned. Persistence, practice and the development of new habits is all it takes. Are you up for it? High achievement in life is not the domain of the ‘good and the great’ – it is something we can all master. Remember, the ‘magical happening’ lies beyond our comfort zones.

Remember the magical happening lies beyond our comfort zone

I’d love to hear your thoughts on your own journey towards being a high achiever. What have been some of the challenges, lessons and experiences you have had? How about writing your comments and thoughts below?

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What ice cream flavour is your business?

An ice cream is an ice cream. A laptop is a laptop. A plumber is a plumber. A business coach is just another business coach. They are all homogenous ─ basic commodities that can be bought anywhere in a competitive market. Right?

Yes and no. Many entrepreneurs operate as commodity businesses. They look and sound the same as everyone else in their industry. They trade on price, often reducing their price to ‘win the business’. Nothing makes them stand out from the crowd. They are like plain vanilla ice cream; something that can be bought anywhere.

Yet, one of the most pressing issues facing many businesses is how to attract more quality customers. That is the constant concern I hear when networking with and coaching entrepreneurs.

Why? Often is it because they have not identified and communicated to their customers the value they offer with their products and services.

When we are selling value to the customer, we are selling benefits – things they want and need; an emotional connection to the product, and often an experience too. When we do that we are selling something that stands apart from the rest and cannot be bought anywhere.

Let me explain.

I am an ice cream ‘snob’, yet we could argue that most ice creams taste very similar. In London, I will travel to Notting Hill just to visit a particular store to marvel over their range of gorgeous flavours, buy one, and then sit and savour it. When in New Zealand I will only eat one brand of ice cream. I can buy it from a handful of stores or in tubs in the supermarket.

So why do I bother being so finicky over ice cream? Because I am buying something more than just ice cream. I am buying an experience – a moment when time stops as I savour the joys of the ice cream. I am also buying a perception of luxury – as defined by me. The personal benefits of the ice cream brands I buy are worth the inconvenience of travelling far and wide to buy them.

The same goes for many other products and services I buy. I will return to buy certain products and services time and again, as they are selling something that is of value to me.

Look at your business. Is it selling something that is highly valued by your customers? Do you have differentiated products and services that your customers can only buy from you? Do your products and services emotionally connect with your customers so they come back time and again?

Starbucks is great example. They enjoy customer loyalty that most businesses can only dream of. Yet, I am sure the same quality of coffee can be bought in many coffee shops around the world – and more cheaply. But Starbucks is selling an experience that its customers will pay for.

Value is often intangible. It’s in the mind of the buyer. So as business owners, we need to get into the minds of our desired customers and understand what benefits, value, and experiences they are seeking when buying the products and services we offer.

Once we understand, it is our duty to effectively communicate our ability to deliver those values, benefits and experiences to our potential customers. If we do that effectively, we will be seen as different, relevant, and necessary by our customers.

Our businesses will be branded differently from our competitors… so long as we deliver on the value and benefits we promise. If we don’t, we are doomed to be seen once again as a commodity business.

Get value, benefits, and experience right in the eyes of our customers and we will be able to set premium prices for our products and services. Price is only an issue when value is not perceived.

And finally, not all business coaches are the same. I have branded my business to work with business owners/entrepreneurs around the world who want to be ‘mega performing’ – achieving all that they desire in business and life – as they define it. My business is a Swiss chocolate ice cream made with only organic products, and with little ‘sweet treat surprises’ scattered throughout… and it can’t be bought anywhere else other than from me.

What ice cream flavour is your business? And where can it be bought?

Let’s start a conversation. What makes your business stand out from others in your competitive market? How do you define and communicate the benefits you offer your customers? Write your thoughts below.

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All Work + Little Play = Boring!
Mega Entrepreneur Defined!
Supercharge Your Profitable Business!
Leadership Qualities
NZ Entrepreneurship Success
Millionaire Mindset
7 Secrets of Business Success
Sir Richard Branson Asks…
Ordinary vs Game Changing
Thriving within the Juggling Act
Business Success and Cookie Dough
What Makes Great Entrepreneurial Leaders?

What’s Stopping You? FEAR?

Even with the greatest will in the world, the most exciting plans in place, the kindest and most generous support network, at times we all experience the sensation of fear.

We are human! Fear is one of those things that can get us at the oddest of times. Things are going well, then wham, fear hits and stops us in our tracks.

Fear of others
Fear of not having enough money
Fear of failure
Fear of time – not having enough of it
Fear of rejection
Fear of loss
Fear of the unknown
…and, in my opinion, the biggest and saddest fear of all …. the fear of regret!

Do you recognise any of those fears?

Fear is a response to a physical or emotional worry. Fear is a natural response to uncertainty and change.

At times, fear is intuitive, meaning we can’t explain it. But if we explore it, fear can keep us safe.

Sadly, fear can also be debilitating, life limiting and success sucking!

The thing is, no-one is immune to the emotion of fear. Ask the biggest achiever or the most confident person you know.

Does fear sometimes hit them in the face? The answer will be a definite YES!

Fear often raises its head when we are about to scale new heights in our lives and/or in business. When we are ready to put our big plans and goals into play, fear has a way of attempting to stall or halt us. Ever experienced that? I certainly have.

A number of my clients are about to scale new and exciting heights in their businesses and lives, and fear has crept in. Here’s a quick summary of some of what we have been doing together to say ‘thank you and adios’ to fear.

Acknowledge the pain and thank your internal self for bringing fear to your attention. List all the pain and fear that you are feeling; there’s no point hiding from or bottling it.

Remain curious and explore the fear. Have you ever thought about why you might be experiencing the fear? What life experiences have contributed to the fear? When does it hit? What are you thinking about when you feel fearful? Again, make a list.

Think of the potential pleasure and successes you will miss if you succumb to the fear, remain the same, and take no action. List them.

Change your physiology as certain foods and liquids we consume (sugar, additives, sweeteners, chemicals, and wheat based diets) can have a powerful and negative effect on our body and our moods, contributing to how we are feeling. Eat ‘clean green’ foods. Get some exercise and breathe. You will feel better, I promise.

Be grateful and think about all the wonderful things you have in your life. Then tip the fear on its head. For instance, if you are frightened about the upcoming presentation you have to do as part of a sales pitch to win a new piece of work, be grateful that your business is so good that you have the opportunity to pitch for this new work, and upon winning and completing it, your business success will be heightened. Gratitude is a wonderful elixir in life.

Get a new perspective on life. Sadly, we are conditioned to focus on the negative. Put fear into perspective. Are you making a big deal out of nothing? Start thinking positively.

Take massive action and do something. I love the quote: Feel the fear and do it anyway and the death of that fear will be certain. Says it all really, don’t you think?

Finally, while the above list is not exhaustive, it’s a good start. If you find fear is holding you back from having the business and life you want, then I strongly advise you to talk to someone to get the fear out of your head and into the ‘airwaves’ and you will feel better in doing so. Talking it through is positive and helpful.

Let’s start a conversation. What tools and tactics have you used to overcome fear? I’d love to know. How about leaving a comment below?

Other articles on What Creates Success in Business and Life:

Success Breeds Success!
Success Secrets of Successful People
Adèle in a Nutshell – ‘To Give is to Live’
Reflect, Smile and Smell the Christmas Lilies!
The Beauty of the Last Hours in Life
Success Breeds Success – Tip #1
What’s all this Gratitude ‘stuff’?
Savour the Journey
The 7 Traits of High Achievers
What’s Your Excuse? No Arms? No Legs?