Don’t let lack of systems kill your productivity

What causes me more stress than anything is feeling like I’m wasting time. I’m busy… I’ve got lists upon lists and my desk often has piles or paper. You could say, I’m not really organised.

I AM however a big fan of systems for my business. I found that even when we were a two-person organisation having systems in place made life a whole lot easier and the business run far more smoothly.

I don’t know a successful business that runs without system. And I don’t mean technical systems. I don’t mean rules that prevent creativity. What I mean is the ‘This is how we do  it here’ that can make up an induction program, training and keep sanity within the organisation (especially when the team leader’s style is not one that is systematic and predictable).

So, If you answer your own email, listen to your own phone calls, issue your own refunds, handle your own customer service - you could be killing the growth of your business!

Here’s an article I wrote a little while back that still rings true for any small business - whether you’re flying solo or you’re part of a team.

ABC’s Q&A show looking for studio audience

Today we had a call from the ABC’s Q&A show where federal politicians take questions from the Australian public. This is a great opportunity for our community of businesswomen to be represented and to have an opportunity to raise the issues that impact your small business. I’ll post details on how and when to apply to be in the audience as soon as I get them. 

Work closely with someone’s dreams… Meet My Business Mentor

Entrepreneurship is the ultimate form of personal development. The mentoring relationship allows me to work closely with someone’s dreams, ideas, passion and through their limiting self-beliefs. To help liberate and affirm potential is fulfilling for both parties. It’s a special kind of relationship. The path to enlightenment is the same path to ignorance. It’s just a matter of perspective.

These are the words of Dennis Roberts, mentor on the MentorNet program.  In this article Dennis and his mentoree Julia talk about the benefits they each received from being a part of the MentorNet program and about their mentoring relationship.

 

If you’re ready to :

• increase your confidence as a business owner
• have more direction and a clear plan for your business
• get new skills in marketing, busines planning, finances, technology, business development and more
• access the helpful advice and experience of a mentor
• collaborate with like-minded women who are also growing a business?

then apply to be a part of the next MentorNet program. You can also read more here.

 

You don’t need ONE MORE tip to get started.

If you’re at all like me you gather facts like a squirrel gathering nuts. I have been collecting books, blogs to read, friends in social networks that know more than me about how to be good at social networking, create viral campaigns, be great marketers etc.

But when will I have enough information? This video clip by the founder of Seismic (a video micro blogging web application) made me a laugh. 

Here he tells you why YOU don’t need one more tip before taking action. Oh, and don’t ask him to do anything either! (You’ll see what I mean.)

Would love your feedback. Let me know what you thought!

Why is a 23-year-old pot-smoker following me on Twitter?

For the last few months I’ve been focused on developing my networks and selectively connecting with individuals that I can follow/friend and who I can add value to and vice versa.

At first it all felt like being stalked. I didn’t know these ’strange’ people who were following me but I politely kept the connection to see what would follow.

Ideally I want to follow those that are relevant and to whom I too can add value. That doesn’t seem to be everyone’s strategy though. Some people auto follow everyone that follows them which I find strange.

Are those people relevant for you to follow?

For instance this week I had quite a number of new followers and when going through their profiles I had one 23-year-old pot-smoking guitar player, Private investigator specialising in custody cases and cheating spouses and someone who’s bio described them as spreading love and light.

Now, I like love and light and I have nothing against 23 year olds regardless of their habits… but what is the point of me following their conversations?

Are they collecting friends as if it were a hobby/race?

Others seem to collect people for no apparent rason. Are they just collecting numbers with no intention to connect or add value. I see tweets such as “Help me get my 5000th follower”. Is this a numbers game? Does the person with the most followers win? Yes, they may grade best on twitter grader (and as a competitive spirit I do check my ranking) but that’s NOT the game. The game is connections, community, conversations!

So, if you feel like we have common ideas/value and interests then follow me.

• Twitter:     www.twitter.com/suzidafnis
• Facebook: www.profile.to/suzidafnis/
• LinkedIn:   www.linkedin.com/in/suzidafnis

If not… no problem, at all. I’m sure you have plenty to do with your time.

Leaders set goals. What are your goal achievement strategies?

In a recent blog post my favourite marketer Seth Godin said:

“It seems to me, though, that the people who get things done, who lead, who grow and who make an impact… those people have goals.”

I’m currently compiling the next issue of our Women in Business e-newsletter and would like to include your tips for goal achievement (as opposed to goal setting).

What has worked for you? What has not? Please add a comment to share your thoughts.

A compilation of these answers along with your contact info (and permission of course) will be published for our community of women across Australia to learn from.

Here’s a sample of our current newsletter

NEWS: We’ve just announced a new business webinar on Goals. We’ll be looking at a number of ways to set goals… So you can pick and choose ones that suit you.  But more important than setting the goals is how do you achieve them in your already full life?  You’ll learn a number of tips and tricks to do just that based on actual experience… not just theoretical ideals. Here’s the info.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm wishes,

Suzi Dafnis

Featured Member: Tania Love helps engaged couples plan their dream wedding

Tania Love is the Managing Director of MyDayMyWay.com.au. Tania is passionate about helping engaged couples plan their dream wedding and helps them find trusted suppliers using real reviews from real brides. Each supplier is rated by newlyweds for service and value together with feedback about their experience.

Best networking strategy - Build long-lasting relationships with the people you meet. I always aim to be friendly, warm, approachable, warm and interested in people’s lives, no matter whether or not I see a result for my business. In the long-term, I find these relationships are the most valuable with rewards that I would never have expected.

Best part about being a member of the ABN - The strong support network. It is great meeting women who share the same business experiences and challenges. I find it particularly inspirational hearing from women who have achieved success in their business. There is such a big pool of knowledge to learn from and the ABN provides the ideal environment for this.. more

Tania is a graduate of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s six-month mentoring program for women, MentorNet. Learn more about MentorNet here.

Social entrepreneur leads this business to greatness

When Jodie Freid lived in India for a few years and assisted in the earthquake aid to a small village, she began to connect with a network of women who would later become the basis of her award-winning business.

In this article she shares the story of her business. When asked about networking -  here is what she said:

I have been a speaker at several networking events, which is definitely not in my comfort zone (quite terrified actually), especially when the women I was speaking alongside were amazing, experienced and very inspiring businesswomen. I think I was able to provide the perspective of a new business owner who has paved her own unconventional way of making a business. I felt proud that even though I failed business maths at school, I was able to stand up in front of so many incredible businesswomen and share my story.

You can read the full story here. This story is part of the Women in Business - The Power of Networking newsletter published by the Australian Businesswomen’s Network.

Get on target with your goals

It’s the second half of January and I only just got done setting my goals for 2009. Oh, I knew kind-of what I am aiming for but the ideas were sitting in my head (a crowded place) and I needed to get them on paper and put some ‘next steps’ in place. That’s what I have found works for me.

Just as there’s no ‘one-right-way’ to run your business, there’s no ‘right’ way to set goals. 

On 4 February member Cat Matson of Alito will present a webinar on powerful strategies that you can use to not only set, but to achieve goals.

“It seems to me, though, that the people who get things done, who lead, who grow and who make an impact… those people have goals.” - Seth Godin, author of Tribes, Purple Cow and a number of bestselling books

In this webinar you’ll explore a number of ways to set goals… So you can pick and choose ones that suit you. But more important than setting the goals is how do you achieve them in your already full life? 

You’ll learn a number of tips and tricks to do just that based on actual experience… not just theoretical ideals.

 

This webinar is part of the 2009 Know-How Now! webinar series, free to members of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network. Not a member? Join til 31 January for just $1. 

Featured Member: Tania Love helps engaged couples plan their dream wedding

Tania Love is the Managing Director of MyDayMyWay.com.au. Tania is passionate about helping engaged couples plan their dream wedding and helps them find trusted suppliers using real reviews from real brides. Each supplier is rated by newlyweds for service and value together with feedback about their experience.

Best networking strategy - Build long-lasting relationships with the people you meet. I always aim to be friendly, warm, approachable, warm and interested in people’s lives, no matter whether or not I see a result for my business. In the long-term, I find these relationships are the most valuable with rewards that I would never have expected.

Best part about being a member of the ABN - The strong support network. It is great meeting women who share the same business experiences and challenges. I find it particularly inspirational hearing from women who have achieved success in their business. There is such a big pool of knowledge to learn from and the ABN provides the ideal environment for this.. more

Tania is a graduate of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s six-month mentoring program for women, MentorNet. Learn more about MentorNet here.

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