Strategy. What is it? Really.
January 31, 2011
By Cat Matson, Alito
‘Strategy’ is a word that is thrown around so much in business development circles, it’s just part of the vernacular. However many small business owners don’t ‘really understand what strategy is … or how to create one. In fact, many small business owners I speak to think that a strategy is some ‘big’ thing that only big corporates need. Is it any wonder? I invested an entire MBA subject on ‘Strategic Planning’, concurrent with another on ‘Business Planning’ … and it’s only through the years of practice and advisory since that I actually now understand what strategy really is.
A quick visit to Wikipedia turns up the following definition:
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked. How a battle is fought is a matter of tactics: the terms and conditions that it is fought on and whether it should be fought at all is a matter of strategy …
In business therefore, your strategy is the overarching plan of action designed to achieve your business goal. Note the singular ‘goal’ there. Your business plan may outline how you’ll achieve many ‘goals’ … but they should all be subsets of the ultimate ‘goal’ … the ultimate outcome of your business.
Further, your strategy is how the tactics (engagements) are linked. It’s aligning ALL the processes and functions of your business so they synergistically converge to reach the desired outcome. It’s creating a clear path, or pipeline, to maximise desired output for minimum input … minimising diversions and obstacles.
The problem is, strategy is often created in functional silos … a strategy is created for the marketing function, the finance function and the admin function. And then each individual ‘strategy’ is clumsily bolted on to the other. It works … but not optimally … and certainly not synergistically. Referring back to the Wikipedia definition, too many business owners spend their time designing their tactics … without a strong enough grasp of their overarching strategy.
To effectively design your strategy you really need a helicopter view – visualise the disparate parts of your business and, looking from above, do they ‘line up’ to effortlessly produce the final result? Which ‘pipes’ need to be rejoined? Where are there leakages … and where are the unnecessary diversions? Is the flow of customers and revenue optimised … or slowed?
So what is strategy? I say it is aligning the otherwise disparate parts of your business so they sing in concert, instead of a discordant cacophony.
Really 
Over to you: how do you see strategy? How is your strategy working for you?
MORE GREAT POSTS BY CAT MATSON
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Cat Matson - AlitoCat Matson ignites the performance of small business owners, their teams and ultimately their businesses through a range of robust mentoring, coaching and education programs. She is a strong advocate for practical, pithy and ‘real’ business advice and loathes the ‘one-size-fits-all’, ‘you-too-can-be-widely-successful-if-you-just-follow-OUR-system’ approach taken by many ’so-called’ business experts. Cat runs Alito with her husband Keith who provides synergistic and smart accounting expertise to their clients who enjoy having streamlined business advice across all key areas. When not working, Cat enjoys spending time with her two young boys and reading interesting business books and biographies.
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5 Things I Did Not Know About Being an Entrepreneur
January 29, 2011
By Yvette Vingando, www.happychild.com.au
I’ve seen a few interesting blogposts lately with titles like “10 things you don’t know about me” and “12 things I’ve learned in my first year of blogging”. They reminded me about all the things I didn’t really know, before I started the happychild website. These are 5 things I did not really know about being an entrepreneur until I took the plunge.
1. It’s All About You
Yes, even if you are sick or want to take a holiday – you are it – you are the one who needs to update the content, check the comments and answer the emails. So my suggestion is to find a friend or an assistant or a generous relative to help you out here from time to time, or you will start to resent your new baby business. You can also find ways to automate aspects of your business to take the pressure off you when you need a short break. Examples are scheduling tweets via Hootsuite or scheduling newsletter mailouts with newsletter programs such as MailChimp or aWeber.
2. You are Not Alone
Even though it’s all about you, there are thousands of men and women who have gone before you and made the same mistakes, you are not alone. So take advantage of this fact early on in your business development and seek out mentors and networking groups where you can find support, information and encouragement. Look at local chambers of commerce, explore your network on LinkedIn, ask other business owners and read magazines relevant to your industry. (See my recent post about the importance of finding a mentor.)
3. Intellectual Property is for Small Business Too
In my past life I was a lawyer. So I knew that registering a trade mark was an important part of building a successful brand, and protecting it. I spent the money to register my brand via ipaustralia but to be honest, I wondered how important this would be at the early stages of business. Last year I found out how important this was because no matter how small your business is, there is often someone else right behind you either claiming to coincidentally have the same ideas as you or even trying to emulate your brand. Please take my advice on this, see a trade mark lawyer and find out the best way to protect all of your intellectual property.
4. It Always Costs More than You Think
When you are preparing cash flow spread sheets and financial projections, you will be advised to over-estimate some of your expenses. This is sound advice and you should follow it. Even if your fixed expenses stay much the same you will find new software, new websites, new books and new services that your small business cannot do without; you will also be confronted with new opportunities and new problems that need to be solved for you to move ahead. You can’t necessarily anticipate what these new expenses might be but I suggest you allow for a few thousand dollars extra in the kitty for your first two years of business. For example, you may end up needing to take legal action to protect your brand (see my last point).
5. It’s Worth It
Being an entrepreneur is hard work and requires even more determination and energy than you might think. I kind of knew this but I’m just confirming this for you if you are wondering. What I did not know was whether it would be worth the struggle, the late hours, the self-doubts, the constant juggling and re-prioritising and the personal and financial risk. Well I am here to report that it’s worth it. I have not yet made my first million, or even close to it, but starting up my own business in an area I am passionate about has taught me so much about myself, my capacities and my vulnerabilities. I have met incredible people and become a more creative and resourceful person on my ‘entrepreneur’s journey’. If you are thinking of taking the trip, I say jump in with your eyes wide open, it’s worth it.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY YVETTE VIGNANDO
- Find a Mentor, Grow Your Business
- The Profit Principle: A New Book and a Great Resource
- Delegation for Small Business – A Necessary Investment
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Yvette Vignando - www.happychild.com.auYvette is pursuing her passion – to take action that helps children develop great social and emotional skills as a foundation for a happy and successful life. Formerly a lawyer and then successful executive coach specialising in Emotional Intelligence, Yvette was encouraged by her experience of MentorNet to launch her business – a website for parents that publishes practical and engaging information about raising children with emotional intelligence. Yvette looks forward to sharing the challenges and successes of her experience as she navigates her way through the adventures of launching a website, and tackles online sales and marketing, an evolving business plan, and the growing universe of social media. Yvette hopes that by following her personal and professional development as an entrepreneur you will also be inspired to follow your passions.
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Focus on the Common Threads That Bind Us – International Women’s Day – 100 years
January 25, 2011
By Amy Lyden
As we approach the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD) (8th March 2011) I have been reflecting on what this means and how I can better assist my fellow sisters in Australia and around the world.
I recently saw “Love, Loss and What I Wore” – a play written by women about women. It did a brilliant job of pointing out that we actually have more in common than not. We have all had female friends and relatives suffer from incurable diseases, had our hearts broken, made stupid decisions, lost loved ones, and suffered from wearing painful shoes. 
To me, IWD is about focusing on those common threads that all women share, about reaching out and providing compassion to others even when we aren’t directly affected by what they are going through. It’s about celebrating the triumphs of the generations of women who came before us and acknowledging their losses as well, for they affect us all today.
I was involved in two upsetting incidents recently that I’d like to share. They reminded me that we have a long way to go in supporting one another as women.
The first, in December, was sparked by some press coverage about a Sudanese woman being beaten for wearing pants.
Highly upset by this, I started a discussion on Twitter about it, and over the course of the conversation was told “feminists do not care about Muslim women”. Now, I have always considered myself a feminist, based on this definition: of or relating to or advocating equal rights for women. I hadn’t realised that there are factions within this definition that only serve to break us apart and actually hamper the overall cause (equality). Sometimes, when fighting for what they think is right, women can get caught up in judging others. My view is that we need to stand up for one another, not judge.
One of my favourite quotes is by Paul Williams from the cult classic “Das Energi”, “Don’t think you know what’s right for other people. They may think they know what’s right for you”. I was 15 years old when I first read this and I felt it in every cell in my body, it rang that true to me.
The second incident I experienced was more upsetting, as I was directly involved and it took place in my local park. I was there with my children on a beautiful day. There was another mum there with her two young children. She looked to be of middle-eastern descent. A third woman was sitting on a bench just outside the playground area. Without any provoking the woman on the bench started saying awful things to the other woman. I’m not going to repeat them but she was basically telling her to go back to where she came from and included a number of highly offensive racial comments. I was appalled. The Australia I had known (and especially my beloved inner city suburb) is so tolerant and accepting of others. I’ve read about this racism in Australia before but had never directly witnessed it.
When I heard this woman’s comments, the hair on the back of my neck stood up and I was aware my children were listening as well. I stood up for the other woman. My heart was racing and it bought me back to the time I was in 5th Grade and was called out to fight by a bully in the playground. I was scared, but stood up and told her off anyway. And I reminded her that her ancestors came from another country as well. I don’t think I changed her viewpoint but I know the woman I stood up for appreciated it. She smiled very broadly at me when she left the park.
These two experiences made me realise that we ALL need to stand up for our sisters, especially if the person we are standing up to is a woman as well.
By focusing on those threads of commonality that all women share we will get to the place that we call Equality far quicker. And we may even make some more friends along the way.
Celebrate International Women’s Day at UN Women’s (formerly UNIFEM) Breakfast in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth the week of IWD (1st – 8th March 2011). Visit the UN Women’s website for bookings and more details.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN
- Alarming Statistics About Australia and Gender Equality
- Women in Leadership – We’ve NOT come a long way, baby
- ABN – The Political Parties Respond to Your Concerns
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Amy Lyden - Advocacy Advisor – Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkAn entrepreneur and specialist in ecommerce and online strategy, Amy has had over 13 years of practical experience in these areas. Launching her first website in 1998 Amy was at the forefront of an online revolution without even realizing it. Within a year this site became and remains today a #1 ranking site and global community of pet lovers that attracts over 4 million visitors a year. This Australia-based business, Bow Wow Meow, now sells product online to over 100 countries worldwide. Amy sold this business in 2007 and turned her energy to the nonprofit sector. Amy is currently the CEO of Australian Scholarships Foundation, an organisation that facilitates scholarships for education and training for people who work in the nonprofit sector. Amy is the recipient of numerous business awards including the 2006 NSW Telstra Business Women’s Awards for Innovation, the 2002 National Telstra Business Award and the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World Grant. Amy is an Ambassador and former Chairperson for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, an organisation that supports female entrepreneurs. Amy was also invited to serve on the Commonwealth Small Business Council, an initiative by the Federal minister for Small Business. Amy has been profiled in the following books: “Women’s Business, Women’s Wealth” by Amanda Ellis, “Female Entrepreneurs”, by Leiza Clark and “Secrets of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed!”, by Dale Beaumont. Amy is passionate about using technology to connect people globally for positive change.
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The Risks of Starting a Second Business
January 24, 2011
By Lisa Murray, Revive Business Coaching
Most people think ‘one is (more than!!) enough’ when it comes to owning businesses. Recently I’ve noticed growth in the ranks of the inspired few who love to juggle multiple business interests. For some of us, limiting our passions to just one way of making money feels like we’ve been put in a small box and the lid has been taped down!
Over the next few months I’ll be talking a lot about running multiple businesses – I’m curious and it’s a favourite topic that I explore with the more adventurous of my business coaching clients!
Before you go ‘Cool, time to start another business!’ there’s a few things you really need to consider…
How well established is your first business?
Inevitably you will be far more excited about the new kid on the block than your old faithful… but if it is the one you are depending on for cashflow you need to consider how you will manage both. Instead of having two businesses you could end up with none – you wouldn’t be the first!
If you have competent staff in your first business, fantastic – just make sure you have some core metrics that enable you to know how that business is travelling on a regular basis. Many a business owner has gone in search of new pastures only to come back and find the gates unlocked and the horses have bolted under their newly installed management team.
If you don’t yet have a good management structure in place you need to consider how your time and resources will be shared between the two businesses. Stretching yourself too thin will lead to a thinning of your income if you don’t plan the practical aspects of managing your next business adventure!
What is the relationship between the two businesses?
Do they feed each other ideas or information? Is one a lead generator for the other? Do they offer similiar services to different audiences? Are they completely different and requiring a totally new skill set or bank of knowledge? Can they use the same backend management services (eg marketing and IT systems)? Whilst you may not think these things matter, working out this relationship enables you to plan synergies and leverage your resources much more effectively from the start.
And this leads to questions of vision and brand… do the values of both businesses have some alignment? If a natural health company started a pharmaceuticals business there would be some questions raised about their real values! Do the values of each business provide additional credibility or leverage for the other business or is there a disconnect that is difficult to explain away?
Do you treat each business equally?
Do both businesses have a vision and a strategic roadmap? Is there sufficient funding available to run both businesses. Have you planned for expansion of the first business or will its growth plans be at the expense of opening the second (unproven!) business?
If you are still reading I haven’t scared you off! There are many risks but also some phenomenal rewards.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY LISA MURRAY
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Lisa Murray - Revive Business Coaching/Bliss TribeLisa Murray is an experienced business mentor who brings bliss back into your business. Her holistic, unconventional and creative strategies help small business owners design authentic, ease-filled and profitable businesses. Through her BlissTribe community, Lisa is a catalyst for business owners to choose a phenomenal, rich and joyful life without compromise! The sky is not the limit… there are no limits… unless you choose them! Lisa connects the dots for you… she is an idea generator, a sounding board, a skilled facilitator, a strategist, a problem solver and a contribution to the authenticity and potency of you creating the business you truly desire and deserve. What else is possible? Ask and you will receive!!
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Managing Parental Leave
January 21, 2011
by Kristy-Lee Johnston, Footprint Recruitment
Well it’s January 2011 and the most recent change to the Industrial Relations system is a big one – Paid Parental Leave has been introduced across Australia.
For parents across the country this is of course fantastic news, it means that for births and adoptions occurring on or after 1 January 2011, the primary caregiver will receive 18 weeks at the federal minimum wage, paid for by the Government (provided they meet a few key criteria).
But for businesses, especially small businesses, the introduction of this scheme does create a new challenge – how to manage the short term increase in Maternity and Parental leave vacancies.
I say short term because, over time, things will even back out again, but there is no doubt many parents have, knowing this scheme was being introduced, held off their plans for children until this year. Speaking from experience, I know we already have clients who are preparing for the ‘spike’ in maternity and parental leave replacements they will need to coordinate in the next 2 years.
Dealing with maternity and parental leave staff replacements is not in any way new for business, and in essence the challenge hasn’t changed. But what will change is the volume of these some businesses need to deal with, and in some cases the length of time these replacements will need to be coordinated for.
Here are some of my key tips for managing parental leave replacements:
1) Understand your responsibilities and obligations
- Although the paid parental leave scheme allows for 18 weeks paid leave, all employees who are primary caregivers are still entitled to a total of 12 months leave, the remainder being unpaid.
- Employees are entitled to take the 18 weeks at ANY time during the first year after birth or adoption, but it must be taken in one block.
- The payments can be split so as one parent may take part, followed by the other.
- As the employer you may be required to act as ‘paymaster’, after being reimbursed by the Government (this is voluntary until 1 July 2011, but in many cases will be compulsory after this date).
2) Encourage open communication with your employees
The sooner you are aware of the upcoming leave required, the sooner you can start preparing for it. By having a good working relationship with your staff, which includes open and honest communication channels, you are likely to have the information you need to be as prepared as you can be.
3) Recruit for the right replacement
At the conclusion of the maternity or parental leave period, your employee is entitled to return to their role, as it was prior to them taking leave. If due to restructure the position no longer exists, they must be offered a suitable alternative role (conditions apply to this). So when recruiting for their replacement, don’t offer or promise what you can’t deliver. Advertise the role as a maternity leave replacement, be honest with applicants through the interview process and keep the successful incumbent informed of any developments on the employees’ plans on returning to work.
4) Consider your existing team and the structure
For many employers the prospect of re training a replacement in a role which they will only hold for less than 12 months is daunting and stressful. If you are concerned about the role and responsibilities being held by a new staff member, then consider your existing team, and whether you can restructure to give them more responsibilities. These maternity and parental leave periods are often a great time to give other staff opportunity to learn new skills and step up into new roles. They already know your customers, products, services and processes, so the learning curve for them in a new role is minimised. Consider giving an existing staff member the opportunity to try a new challenge, and ‘back fill’ their role with a replacement for the leave period.
MORE GREAT POSTS BY KRISTY-LEE JOHNSTON:
- 10 Tips for Managing the Silly Season
- Do You Need to Reward Staff to Retain Them?
- Save Time – Get Help!
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Kristy-Lee Johnston - Footprint RecruitmentKristy-Lee Johnston is the Director of Footprint Recruitment, a Central Coast based Recruitment and HR agency which is run by locals, for locals.
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Assess Your Competitors and Gain a Winning Edge
January 20, 2011
By Nerida Gill, Admin Bandit
Santa has packed up his sleigh and credit cards are bulging at their limits, which means just one thing for small business owners … the quietest time of the year.
Sure, trade may be at a trickle, but that’s no excuse to twiddle your thumbs. In fact, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend a few hours developing a competitor analysis … you never know, you might find a way to reduce next year’s post-Christmas lull!
What is a Competitor Analysis?
The term “competitor analysis” sounds very serious and complicated, but is actually a matter of three simple steps:
- Identify your main competitors
- Research and profile each one
- Use your findings to develop a competitive advantage.
Know Your Industry
Your first step is to understand the “bigger picture” of your industry by researching its: size, value of goods or services produced, employment levels, growth rates and unique characteristics.
This information is free on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website, and many industry bodies also conduct and publish their own research.
As a fan of detective novels, the next step is my favourite — scan your data for clues as to where your industry is heading. Are their trends, patterns or special issues?
Who Are Your Competitors?
Competitors can be real or perceived … and both are equally valid. Company X may be completely different from you, but if your customers don’t think so, you need to change their opinion!
Start by identifying your main competitors; that is, up to six businesses that directly impact your success by offering the same products or services to the same target market in the same region. If you’re not sure who these are:
- Search Google, the Yellow Pages or the White Pages
- Check out industry websites and publications
- Ask regular customers and business associates
- Attend tradeshows, conferences, seminars, product demonstrations and other networking events.
Next, develop a profile for each competitor — put that sleuth’s hat back on and make a note of:
- Products or services
- Ideal customer
- Pricing
- Distribution methods (store, online, mail order)
- Marketing strategies
- Company size and employee numbers
- Corporate image
- Strengths and weaknesses.
Where do you find this information? On top of the four methods above for identifying competitors:
- Visit the business in person or send a friend or associate — just make sure what you do is appropriate … you’re a small business owner, not Magnum PI!
- Go online to their website and blog, paying careful attention to press releases, news, annual reports and the “about” section.
- Keep an eye on the employment section of your local paper or sign up for job notifications in your industry on the major employment websites.
- Read trade publications.
Use Competitor Profiles to Your Advantage
This is where the rubber hits the road … it’s now time to compare each competitor profile with your own business. What are you doing better and how can you leverage that? What do you need to improve and how will you achieve this?
Type up your competitor analysis and give yourself plenty of time to mull over your findings — they might spark new ideas, reveal an unfilled niche or highlight industry trends.
Lastly, add the analysis to your business plan, remembering, of course, that it’s a “living” document to periodically review.
MORE GREAT POSTS BY NERIDA GILL
- How to Successfully Advertise Your Small Business
- Corporate Blogging: Give Your Business a Free Online Presence
- Do You Really Want To Improve Your Business?
- When Bad Things Happen to Good Businesses
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Nerida Gill - Admin BanditNerida Gill is the creator of Admin Bandit, a web-based accounting package designed specifically to make keeping the books easy for volunteer treasurers in community groups. After winning numerous business awards, Admin Bandit is in a growth phase after recently attracting external investment.
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Making The Best Possible Career Move
January 19, 2011
By Caroline McAuliffe, ExeConnect and Virtual Angels
According to research conducted in the U.S., the average baby boomer will switch jobs 10 times throughout their careers. Regardless of economic conditions, we all need to take greater control of our own careers. The concept of a traditional move up the corporate ladder is no longer guaranteed as it once was nor an obvious final destination to plan towards. Your career plan needs to be continuously evolving.
Job moves are almost always inevitable, they are seldom easy and nearly always emotionally fraught—and too often they lead to a noticeable decline in performance, in both the short and the long term.
There are five common job-change themes that are worth thinking about before making our move. These are often cited by search consultants as well as HR Managers as being re-occurring issues for people. Prior to making the move ask yourself these questions:
- Have I done enough research?
- Am I leaving for the money?
- Am I going “to” rather than “from?”;
- Am I overestimating myself?;
- 5. Am I thinking too short term?
They can follow predictable patterns and persist throughout the course of a career. These issues are not necessarily independent of one another and they can play out as a system of behaviors, dissatisfaction, unrealistic hopes, ill-considered moves, and more dissatisfaction.
Have you done enough research?
Job hunters need to do their research in four important areas: The reality of opportunities in your industry or function. Do you have unrealistic expectations of what’s out there? Secondly, have you done your homework on your potential employer’s financial stability and market position? Don’t just assume that your new employer is on solid ground, check their balance sheet, it’s up to you to assess whether you will have a job in six months. Ensure there is a cultural fit with your potential employer – everyone will suffer if there is a poor fit. Make sure that the title and description of the role you are being offered is a true reflection of the actual role responsibilities. You may find yourself in a job, after you have started, that bears little relationship to the title, which can lead to loss of credibility if the job is beyond you or massive disappointment if your skills and experience are beyond the job.
Are you leaving just for money?
It’s easy to be lured away for an attractive financial offer. It’s interesting how, when asked, we rank money as about fourth on our list of reasons to change job, but when it comes down to it, it becomes number one when making a final decision.
Consider what relationships, networks and connections you may be leaving behind for the sake of a few more dollars, right now.
Have you done all the necessary research as cited above before just making the decision to move for more money; is it really the right move?
Are you moving “to” the right Job or moving away “from” the wrong job?
If you have got to the point where you are really unhappy in your current job and just want to get out, you may make hasty decisions which may lead to another career mistake. This is the time to pause and plan your next career move. Don’t rush through the job hunt – follow the career planning steps and wait for the right offer. Don’t skimp on research. Be strategic in your thinking, not emotional. Have you, for example, discounted your current employer or are there perhaps other opportunities to explore with them?
Are you overestimating yourself?
Be reflective about what you actually have contributed to your organisation. Do you have unrealistic views of your skills and experience? Can you identify the sources of your successes and failures in your existing job? We need to be self-critical and identify what part of our current unhappiness is due to external factors and the environment we find our self in and what has to do with our own personal frustrations and issues? If we don’t think this issue through, we run the risk of finding ourselves unhappy and dissatisfied again, for the same reasons, in a new role. Be honest with yourself – is your unhappiness and disappointment everything to do with the current employer or job, or is there underlying personal issues that need to be addressed before planning your next move? Do you need to think about skills training or experience gaps? Do you need to be think about working in a different industry or in a different function? Is it time to go back and explore what it is you are passionate about and then plan ways to fulfil that potentially along a new career path?
Are you thinking too short term?
Having a short-term perspective can feed into each of the other four issues. For instance, if you overestimate yourself, you may believe you deserve rewards right now, not in five years. Leaving a firm because of money and going “from” rather than “to” are both overly influenced by immediate information and considerations. “How much money can I make right now?”, “How can I escape an unpleasant work environment?”. Try and plan for the longer term. Ask yourself if this next job move is leading you along the longer term path you envisage. It’s important to try and plan longer term whilst remaining curious to all possibilities along the way. Having a plan but at the same time remaining open minded about other possibilities.
In summary, it’s important to try and plan ahead, but keep your plan alive and evolving. Try not to be pressured into making hasty decisions. As you go through the job change process ask yourself: “What if I’m wrong? What is the evidence that this new company would be a good fit?” Develop alternative options. Have you considered all the opportunities that might be available for you with your current employer? Speak to a mentor, or trusted advisor within your network who can provide you with a reality check.
MORE GREAT POSTS BY CAROLINE MCAULIFFE
- Great Communication – Planned, Simple and Clear
- Tap into the Great Leader in You
- Engaging People in a Culture of Responsibility
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Caroline McAuliffe - ExeConnect and Virtual AngelsCaroline is currently founder and director of ExeConnect, a boutique firm specialising in assisting organisations to identify, develop and retain executive and senior management talent. Caroline is also, the founder and director of niche employment firm, Virtual Angels, specialising in the provision of virtual, part-time and permanent business support resources provided to SME clients using a flexible, economical and efficient “Pay as You Grow” model.
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Just do
January 18, 2011
By Alycia Edgar, Coastal Accounting Services
Les McKeown author of “Predictable Success’ wrote the following as a blog post:
Forget the word ‘better’.
You’re already better.
Embrace the word ‘do’.
What a great blog post and he got me thinking (he always does). This time of year is always about planning for the year ahead. I love planning, in fact it can become quite addictive. So addictive it makes you inactive. Plan, plan, plan until the cows come home. Is that you? Are you addicted to the process of planning? Are you trying to be better at something in 2011? Stop, stop being better, you are there, go and do!
My commitment to 2011 is to simply ‘do’.
Do is a fabulous word, it means to execute, effect, perform (an act, action). Such a powerful word, just imagine if we were to “do” everyday; executing projects, affecting change, performing outside our comfort zone, acting on an opportunity, taking action on those plans. How would that feel? What we once thought impossible is not even thought about; just done. Our comfort zone disappears as we are too busy doing to get too comfortable. Sounds scary doesn’t it? And it will be, but if we can commit to “do” we can make a phenomenal impact on the world around us, serve those people that we are meant too, pay it forward, use our skills and knowledge to affect change in others.
I want to help small business owners, and I know I do already, but I want to “do” more. I want to step out there into my greatness, assist as many small business owners as possible; this is it, this is the year. And I am; it’s already started and this blog post is just one of the steps.
This reminds me of my theme song lyrics from Miley Cyrus ‘The Climb”:
There’s always going to be another mountain
I’m always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain’t about how fast I get there,
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb
So climb those steps; you are already better. Go and “do”. I’m right beside you.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY ALYCIA EDGAR
- As a solo-preneur does your business ever shut down?
- Are You Leaving Money on the Table?
- Your Email Inbox Contains a Wealth of Knowledge
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Alycia Edgar - Coastal Accounting ServicesAs an accountant and former surf shop owner Alycia understands the issues that small business face everyday. She believes you can work on your business effectively simply by understanding your business numbers. She creates innovative systems and processes that enable business owners to be highly focused and productive in their business, including Bookzkeeper – The Accounting Survival Kit for Small Business. To get tips on how your numbers relate to working on your business, simply visit here
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A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words
January 14, 2011
By Julie Wise, The Silver Owl
Those of you who have met me know that I expect that my permission is asked each and every time someone wants to use something that has my name - be it a post, story or photo. You’ll also know that I often don’t give that permission as I am always conscious of how I ‘brand’ myself and my reputation.
The newspaper reports we saw last year of people using the online world to get a complete picture of a person prior employing, are back again this year. Here’s a quick link to one printed in the Sydney Morning Herald on 2 January 2011. [Festive Cheer / Sad Photo- Gee, could there be a correlation?]
Many people are blindly thinking that this is ‘discrimination’ and laws would protect against it. Or so say many ’learned’ people of the blogosphere. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and as many court cases are proving – if you post something of yourself on a public page that’s what it becomes ‘public’.
If a picture of you appears on Facebook or somewhere else on the Internet, it is likely that just about anyone can see it if they search for you. Did you know that right now there is a Facebook application called Photo Finder, powered by Face.com. It uses facial recognition and social connections software to locate a photo of someone – even if it wasn’t identified by name (tagged). Yikes. What about that fun party last weekend where a bunch of adults were karaoking yeah, better not put those on Facebook or YouTube…
You want you and your business to be searchable, but are we too searchable on the web?
According to the exceptionally insightful (& scarily titled) article in The New York Times Magazine, “The End of Forgetting,” by Jeffrey Rosen (July 25, 2010), as facial recognition software becomes more sophisticated, people will be able to find any picture of you located anywhere on the Internet. Someone could simply take a picture of you with a phone, plug the image into Google, and pull up all photos (whether identified or not) of you that are on the Internet.
The lesson from this is to remember that our public image and our reputation are not just in our hands to control. If you are your business or you’re a key player in your brand and your business then you must use caution with your online presence. Make sure you know what is out there about you – pictures, reviews, and everything else.
This guard (or phobia as some of you have told me) is something that I have done for so long I can’t remember not doing it.
“It takes 20 years to build a good reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it.” – Warren Buffet
MORE GREAT POSTS BY JULIE WISE
Julie Wise - The SilverOwl
Julie has over 25 years in business operations, strategy and performance improvements. She is an accredited Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Institute of Executive Coaching. She established The SilverOwl specifically to help businesses with their strategies and operational efficiencies. With Julie’s wealth of experience, and network of associates, The SilverOwl provides access to a vast range of business performance solutions and experienced professionals. Julie is on the Australian Business Women’s Network Advisory Board and the NSW Committee for the Australian Women’s Archive Project. In Jan 2010, she joined the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Email: julie@thesilverowl.com.au Website: www.thesilverowl.com.au Twitter: www.twitter.com/julie_wise LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/juliewise Member Profile: See Julie’s Member Profile
Why Are You Doing This?
January 13, 2011
By Cat Matson, Alito
As I write this post, the flood levels are rising in Brisbane, Ipswich and surrounding areas. I live in Brisbane. This is my town. And every time I check Twitter or Facebook I see another colleague, friend or connection affected … in a major way.
In this context it is a gross understatement to say one reviews their priorities. The business goals I set enthusiastically in the first week of January fade in importance as I embrace my boys and my husband in the safety of our unaffected home … and I welcome into my home indefinitely my sister and brother-in-law, who most certainly will lose their house only blocks from the river.
Yet, after the waters recede, the residents start the clean-up and the city returns to a ‘different’ kind of normal … life for those of us ‘unaffected’ will continue … status quo.
So my new focus for the year is becoming ‘WHY?’ ‘Why do I do what I do?’
‘Why do I have the goals that I have?’ No, it’s not a ‘oh my goodness, my life up until now has been a waste of time’ … instead, for me, it’s a very personal connection to what is really important to me … and how I live my life, and build my business, to reflect those priorities.
WHY do I want to build a reliable revenue stream based on online workshops and classes? Because it will give me more time to spend with my family.
WHY do I want to finally launch an ebook? It’s no longer just so I have productised some of my IP … it’s so I have a revenue stream that isn’t depedent on a geographical (local) market.
WHY do I want to teach people how to strategically use social media platforms? Because the divide between those who are connected and those who aren’t is growing … and those who aren’t will get left behind in more ways than just numbers of ‘friends’.
It is those themes of ‘why’ that I’m currently using to stay focussed and motivated on my business goals … striving for ‘utlimate emotional, financial and physical outcomes’, not just milestones. For me it’s a subtle yet significant distinction … as my task-based list of goals gains emotional ‘bite’.
The WHY you do what you do is a critical driver in business behaviour, motivation and inspiration. It keeps you on track, focussed and congruent with your wider life values.
So my question for you today is ‘WHY do you do what you do?’ ‘WHY are you building the business that you are?’ ‘WHY are you striving for your current goals?’
WHY?
MORE GREAT POSTS BY CAT MATSON
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Cat Matson - AlitoCat Matson ignites the performance of small business owners, their teams and ultimately their businesses through a range of robust mentoring, coaching and education programs. She is a strong advocate for practical, pithy and ‘real’ business advice and loathes the ‘one-size-fits-all’, ‘you-too-can-be-widely-successful-if-you-just-follow-OUR-system’ approach taken by many ’so-called’ business experts. Cat runs Alito with her husband Keith who provides synergistic and smart accounting expertise to their clients who enjoy having streamlined business advice across all key areas. When not working, Cat enjoys spending time with her two young boys and reading interesting business books and biographies.
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