Telstra Business Woman of the Year 2009 shares her story and goal achievement strategies

Leanne Wesche of Pacco, is the 2008 Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year. The award was recently presented to Leanne in recognition of her successful launch of five different companies in the manufacturing and fresh produce industries over the last twenty years.

We asked her to share her story as well as her goal achievement and goal setting strategies. And, we asked what her top 5 strategies for success are below. I have added my comments in italics.

Her strategies are:

1. Systems, systems, systems. Have written procedures and continually update them.
2. Be real and vulnerable. Appreciate what you are good at and don’t be too proud to ask for help.
3. Measure everything that might be significant; anything that is measured and watched improves.
4. View every ‘No’ as an opportunity; find an alternative way to achieve your goal.
5. Have the toughest conversations as soon as possible; complete the nasties in the bottom of your tray. They are never as bad as you think and putting them off only distracts you from doing what you are good at.

A couple of comments…

Systems - Regardless how small or large your business, this is a must-do. On our website you’ll find an article titled Create Systems for Your Small Business. This will help you get started.

Be real and vulnerable - I believe that you can never get too arrogant about your position. Times change and none of us is too good to ask for help. Fakeness comes undone.

Measure everything — It’s easy to miss important details/trends when you don’t have specifics about how you’re creating, or not creating results. Start small. How many new enquiries this week compared to last? How many new people on the database week by week? How many sales were ‘closed’?

No — My staff have over the years been at times frustrated with my inability to take no for an answer. Of course there are many times that i don’t get my own way.. but the first no never even gets a listen. Ask instead - HOW you can get your goal. There’s more than one path, always.

Have the toughest conversations as soon as possible — Well Leanne, you’re my hero. This has NOT been my strength in the past and it’s something I keep practising. You’re right.. it IS never as bad as I think it will be AND it ties up energy that I can be using creating more of what I want.

Read the full interview with Leanne Wesche here.

This article appeared in the Women in Business eNewsletter: Great ways to achieve your business goals faster.

“How my mentor helped me achieve my financial and marketing goals”

At the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, we believe that mentoring is important key to getting your goals. We see the role of the mentor as someone who provides advice and perspective to the mentoree
as well as feedback on ideas and plans, often before they are considered for further development.

Before either mentors or mentorees start the MentorNet program they are asked to set their goals for the coming six months (over which the program runs).

During the program mentors work with mentorees weekly to keep them moving towards their goals, to help them when they get stuck and to give them access to experience and resources.

In this article : How  my mentor helped me achieve my financial marketing goals, Mentor Lin Riley and Mentoree Delwyn Hanns talk about their experiences within a mentoring relationship.

This article appeared in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s Women in Business eNewsletter - Great ways to achieve your goals faster.

Build an international network of contacts without leaving your desk

Networking with the world has become easy…

The use of social media technology to network with people around the globe has become easy, but, easy has not meant success for many.

Social Networking can be a time-drainer or a productive way to expand your network and to connect to the people that you can help and who can help you. It depends on how you use it!

People are jumping on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn - but how are these tools being used to really create networks and do business? At “Networking with the World” , a 90-minute webinar on 2 March we’ll look at how social networking tools can REALLY help your business network.

• discover how social networking sites can help build your profile
• how to build great business relationships
• 5 Steps to Getting Socially Networked and how to use these tools in a time-saving way to build your network
• how to develop powerful profitable relationships using an integrated social media strategy
• get inspired with stories from women in other countries
• and lot’s more

Our social networking specialists:

Michele Connolly - Get Organized Wizard

Michele Connolly is the creator of Get Organized Wizard, a life and goal system that helps people live happier, more organized lives. Michele is ranked in one of the top 50 players in the ground-breaking Twitter network and is an avid and successful user of social networks to build her profile and business. She’ll show you 5 Steps to Getting Socially Networked and how to use these tools in a time-saving way to build your network.

Mari Smith - Relationship Marketing Specialist

Mari Smith helps business owners, independent professionals, and entrepreneurs to strategically grow their businesses using creative online marketing techniques. She’s passionate about showing fellow professionals how to develop powerful profitable relationships using an integrated social media strategy, particularly focused on Facebook.

We’ll explore these ideas and more on 2 March 2009 during our Network with the World webinar.

Event Details:

Network with the World - International

DATE: TIME: PRICE:

Monday, 2 March 2009 10.15am for 10.30am - 12.00pm AEDST (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) Check www.timeanddate.com for your local time. PST: 3.15pm for 3.30pm-5.00pm (Sunday 1 March) EST: 6.15pm for 6.30pm - 8.00pm (Sunday, 1 March) ABN Members - $20 Non-Members - $39 International callers - $20 (email us to get your international participant coupon)

All prices are in Australian Dollars and include GST. Go to www.xe.com for your exchange rates. Fee includes tuition, call costs (within Australia). 50% of all tuition fees will go to kiva.org, which provides micro loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Note: You will need internet access. We recommend you use a headset.
(*members: login to get your member discount.)

Your participation will make a difference to someone in need.

All around the world women are starting and growing businesss. Many of them have challenges that we will never have to face. That’s why as part of our International Women’s Day activity we will donate 50% of all tuition fees for the Women’s Business Week events to kiva.org.

Not a member of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network?

Join today and you save hundreds of dollars each year on workshops designed to help you be more successful as a businesswoman. Learn More about Membership Now

Is this event right for you?

This event is suitable for women who are in all stages of business.

What’s Next?

Register now through our secure online shopping system. Upon registration you’ll receive confirmation of your attendance. If you have any questions you can send us an email or, call 1300 720 120. If you are a member, remember to login to get free entry.

*Speaker information is true and correct at time of publishing. Speakers subject to change without notice.

Members share answers to: What is your most effective goal achievement strategy?

What are the most effective strategies to reach your goals? What do you do about goals that have been set but not achieved? Is it even worth setting goals? And if so, what makes the difference to realising them?

That’s what we look at this month at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network and in this issue of the Women in Business e-Newsletter.

We asked some of our community: What is your most effective goal achievement strategy?

Add a comment to share your own strategies with our community of women in business.

This article appeared in the February Women in Business eNewsletter: Great ways to achieve your business goals faster.

Assistance for businesses directly affected by the bushfires

The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments have announced assistance for businesses and primary producers directly impacted by the bushfires. The assistance package comprises:

Immediate Assistance - $5,000 Emergency Business Grant

Emergency grants of $5,000 are immediately available to small businesses and primary producers who have lost property or tools from the bushfires. The grants aim to assist businesses with immediate repair and restoration costs.  Additional funding may be available for businesses significantly impacted, up to a total of $25,000, based on a damage assessment.

Free business advice and counselling services

Bushfire-affected businesses are able to access free, independent business advice to help them determine how best to respond to the impact of the bushfires on their business.

Low-interest loan scheme

Small businesses and primary producers whose physical assets have been destroyed or damaged by bushfire may be eligible for a low-cost loan through the Rural Finance Corporation.  Loans for 15 years of up to $200,000 are available at a concessional rate of 3.2% p/a for the first five years.

Eligibility

How to access the assistance

Visit the Rural Finance Corporation online to apply for an Emergency Business Grant or a concessional loan or call 1800 255 925.  Visit here for information on business counselling and general business advice or call 13 22 15.

Financial assistance available to individuals

Visit here for further information about available grants, insurance and dealing with financial matters.  Grants include:

Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority

The Victorian Government, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, will establish this new Authority to coordinate bushfire recovery activity across Victoria.  The Authority will be headed by Victoria Police Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon.  It will be responsible for coordinating activities of all Local, State and Commonwealth Government agencies, and the many community organisations involved, aimed at helping communities to recover and rebuild.  More information will be published in future editions of this Update as details are finalised.

How can I help?

There are a range of agencies working to help those affected.  You can:

How to stay informed

Helping those who have been through trauma and other support services

There are a range of support services which offer personal, emotional, psychological and financial help to those affected.  Below are some tips for helping someone who has been through trauma:

Spend time with the stressed person, without judging or demanding; their recovery will occur in its own time.

Offer support and a listening ear.  Talking is one of the best things they can do to work things out, but they may need to go over things many more times than you expect. Try avoid giving advice or trying to solve the problems. The talking itself is important and helps to make the trauma fade.

Help with practical tasks and chores as this enables more of their energy and time to be given to the recovery process.

Give them time, space and patience; don’t take it personally if at times they are irritable, bad tempered or want to be alone. These are a natural part of the stress response and will pass as they recover.

Don’t try to talk them out of their reactions, minimise the event or try to get them to look on the bright side.  Stressed people need to concentrate on themselves at first; they will feel supported if you let them know you are concerned, want to help and are trying to understand. They will see your viewpoint as they recover.

Visit here for information on a range of support services including financial assistance, coping with loss and grief, health and accommodation.

QUESTIONS?

Other questions about your business? Don’t hesitate to contact us on 13 22 15 or email service@business.vic.gov.au

Are You On Board the Social Media Revolution?

Regardless how small your business, you can use social media tools to help position you as an expert and to build relationships with your clients, prospects and colleagues.

The biggest question with regard to these tools is WHY would you use them.

Over the coming months you’ll notice I’ll be sharing lots of tips and strategies for using these to:

- build your networking
- increase your profile and position yourself as an expert
- communicate with your customers
- generate new resources for your own education

Social Networking

Social networking is, to me, the foundation for using social media and an easy place for you to begin.

Here are three social networking sites to sign up to. This will get you started.

1. Join Facebook - It’s not just for finding high school friends.
Take a look at my profile as an example on how to use it as a business tool. Watch how we are using facebook it can give you clues on how to make it work best for you.

Become a fan of our page for news and updates. Link to this from your site.

2. Start Twittering
Don’t feel ready (or have a reason why) to blog, then micro-blog. Twitter allows you to send short messages to your online followers. Watch what the swarm of Twitterers do, how they use this tool to communicate with their audience. You could find that you have an easy tool to build your network. Go to Twitter.com, sign up and start following my Twitters to start your network. You can start by following me at www.twitter.com/suzidafnis.

Here are a couple of related articles you may find useful:
Twitter Tips and Hints. Small business and social media.

3. LinkedIn
This professional network is a great way to promote your business to an international business audience. Need to do some market research? Use the Question and Answer segment to pose a question for your research. Alternately - answer others questions and get credit for being a expert in this area.

Again, to get started you can take a look at my profile for a template/set up.

There are loads more networking sites that you can be a part of.. but for now, get started on these three.

You’ll learn just from watching what others are doing.

During March the Australian Businesswomen’s Network focuses on social media for women in business. So… watch for great tips, strategies, articles, and resources coming up then.

Has the current economic climate had an impact on your planned business growth?

Have you felt the effects of the change in the economy? Have you made changes to your business plan?

We’d like to know how you’re dealing with changes in your business. Take our poll - at the right hand side of this page. 

We’ll publish the results in the coming week.  

Suzi

PS Feel free to leave a comment with more details, below! 

Julie Bishop replaced as Shadow Treasurer

JOE Hockey has been confirmed as the new shadow treasurer following Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop’s resignation from the portfolio today.    Announcing the reshuffle of the shadow ministry, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said Ms Bishop would take on foreign affairs from Senator Helen Coonan who would take over the finance portfolio.   Ms Bishop blamed the constact speculation surrounding her performance in the role as the reason behind her resignation.  Disquiet about Ms Bishop’s failure to cut through on economic issues boiled over last week as some Opposition MPs campaigned for her removal.  Ms Bishop said the constant commentary about her had made it impossible to carry on in ther role, but insisted she had been “competent”. 

Asked if she had been forced out of the job, Ms Bishop said: “This is a decision that I made, it’s my judgment … I am very excited about foreign affairs.  It is an important role.” 

 

More information can be found on :

 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25060561-421,00.html

Is your team on board with your goals?

You’ve set your direction. You know what you want? But.. how do you get your team on board to support the company goals?

As a business owner, I see it as my role to set the direction of the business. I have a vision for where I want the business to go and strategically - it’s up to me to clarify the vision and goals for the business.

Then, it’s time to get team involvement, or ‘buy-in’.

Ultimately the vision is one that, while not necessarily personally relevant for each team member, should at the very least spark a bit of inspiration and pride for what they do on a day to day basis. It ought to give them opportunities to learn and grow themselves.

We talked to Goals expert Wendy Buckingham about setting group and team goals.

Here’s what she said:

“It’s one thing to set a goal for yourself - you know what you want, why you want it and how it will look when you get it. Group goals on the other hand can be a potential minefield of ‘learning experiences’.”

Here’s the rest of the article, which appears in the latest edition of the Women in Business eNewsletter.

My strategy? I have come to know that the clearer I am on what we’re trying to achieve, the easier it is to get others on board. If I’m not enthusiastic it’s hard to get others to be.

 

MentorNet featured in US women’s magazine, Pink!

We’re very excited to have the Australian Businesswomen’s Network and the MentorNet mentoring program for women featured on the blog for the US women’s magazine, Pink!

 

The article, titled: Why women are better at networking, explained how the program was conducted using social media and online e-learning technologies.

 

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