How Guy Kawasaki Enchanted Me

Two weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Guy Kawasaki for the second time. The first time was two months ago when he was my guest on BOOKED for Lunch, a webinar series that features the world’s best business book authors.

This time he presented and hour-long webinar on how to enchant with Social Media.

Guy is obviously an influencer. His 400,000+ Twitter followers, 60,000+ Google+ followers and the Enchantment page alone has 29,000 ‘likes’. He speaks around the world, had 10 books and mixes with the who’s who of his industry. In fact, I’ve had the opportunity to hear him speak live twice, in the USA.

Guy partnered with us on these webinars to promote his latest book — Enchantment — to our receptive and knowledge-thirsty community.
He was a terrific presenter – very generous and not at all salesy. Then, he offered our listeners the chance to get a free book with purchase of his Enchantment book AND an autographed cover for their copy of Enchantment. As you can imagine, THEY were enchanted by the offer.

(You can get the same deal if you like. The details are below.)

I’m enchanted

I was a fan before we worked together (having read Guy Kawasaki’s books and seen live presentations) but here is why I’m now enchanted:

• Guy’s communications with me and my team have been timely, personal and clear.
• His follow-through has been impeccable and while he is very relaxed, he is completely clear about the outcomes he’s after and his purpose for doing what he does. This makes MY job that much easier.
• He’s also appreciative and inclusive.

Writing a book about Enchantment calls you to the task to be congruent with your message. And he is.

No God Complex

I’ve worked with many speakers and authors in my career. I had an events business for 13 years and I’ve been involved with speakers and authors for 16 years with the Australian Businesswomen’s Network. My world revolves around partnerships and relationships – as most of our lives do!

Some ‘speakers’ definitely have a ‘God complex’. Often it’s the ones that are not as good as they think they are. Many do not. Like Guy, they don’t have a chip on their shoulder or need to act special or be treated special.

I’m still (maybe it’s naivety) surprised when communications are sloppy, people make agreements and don’t keep them or they are difficult to contact or relate to. It’s just plain unprofessional and unnecessary.

And it’s bad for business.

Thanks Guy. It’s been a pleasure.

Suzi

Special Offer for Enchantment Readers

GET A COPY OF THE BOOK

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions

Get your own autographed copy of the Enchantment book cover by Guy here when you purchase the book.

Order your copy of Enchantment from Booktopia today and save 15% off the retail price.

ENCHANTZEN

When you buy a copy of Enchantment, save your proof of purchase and Guy will send you a promo code so that you can download the eBook version of Presentation Zen for free. Find out more here.

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About Enchantment

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions Enchantment n: 1) To charm, delight, enrapture. Enchantment is Guy’s tenth book. In it, he explains how to influence what people will do while maintaining the highest standards of ethics. The book explains when and why enchantment is necessary and then the pillars of enchantment: likability, trustworthiness and a great cause. The next topics are launching, overcoming resistance, making enchantment endure and using technology. There are even special chapters dedicated to enchanting your employees and your boss. Finally, because there are times you may want to resist enchantment, there’s even a chapter about how to do this too. If you want to change the world — or even part of the world, this book is for you. Order your copy of Enchantment from Booktopia today and save 15% off the retail price. Here’s what the experts are already saying about Enchantment: “Guy’s book captures the importance — and the art — of believing in an idea that delivers something entirely unique to the customer. The power of a really good idea to transform the marketplace and individual customer experiences is huge, and this book offers a wealth of insights to help businesses and entrepreneurs tap into that potential.”  — Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group “Read this book to create a company as enchanting as Apple.”  — Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple “You feel it when you drive a BMW, touch an Apple iPad, walk into a Sephora store, or buy shoes from Zappos. Kawasaki reveals how you can deliver the same enchanting experiences as these famous brands.”  — Robert Scoble, Rackspace Videoblogger “Kawasaki provides insights so valuable we all wish we’d had them first.”  — Robert B. Cialdini, author of Influence: Science and Practice “Guy teaches you how to pull gems from people’s hearts and minds and how to become an effective practitioner of life’s crucial domains. Clearly, I taught him well.”  — Dr. Phil Zimbardo, professor emeritus of psychology, Stanford University “Guy has written the small-business manifesto. There is nothing more important for entrepreneurs than to enchant their customers, and Guy explains exactly how to do this.”  — Jane Applegate, small-business management expert and author of 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business “The best overall treatise on interpersonal relationships since Dale Carnegie wrote How to Win Friends and Influence People.”  — Michael Gartenberg, Research Director, Gartner   Photographs and testimonials courtesy guykawasaki.com.

 

Import Export Show Set to Support Thousands of Small Businesses

Starting to import or export? Expanding your business? Exploring new overseas markets?

Come and visit the Australian Businesswomen’s Network at the Import Export Show in Sydney next week!

The Import Export Show is Australia’s only full scale exhibition and seminar program dedicated to showcasing the entire spectrum of services and support available to assist importers and exporters with their international business engagement and development. This information-packed event has something for SME importers and exporters at all levels.

The Australian Businesswomen’s Network team will be onsite at the show, and would love to see some of our members making the most of this free exhibition.

I will also be facilitating a workshop on Marketing Your Way to International Success, on Thursday 15 September, as part of the learning program.

Purchase tickets 15% off with code IEXABN11.

For more details, please visit the Import Export show website.

See you at the show!

P.S. Let us know if you’ll be there. We’ll be doing some interviews about their business and would love to include any ABN community members.

Steve Jobs, leadership, passion and other details

Yesterday’s news of Apple’s Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO of Apple has rocked the business and technology world, and frankly – my world too. Though not entirely unexpected, as he’s been unwell much of the year, the timing of the news was surprising and – as I’m sure you’ve seen, the news is all about him today.

I want to share with you a short reflection and two stories that have come out in the last 24 hours — not from news media speculating what Apple shares will do but two stories from others who’ve chosen to share their feelings about Jobs’s resignation.

I’ve been a Mac user for 20 years this year. And, while I love technology I’m really not a real geek. The only reason I am so technical is that Apple products are so easy to use. I love is that I can do my work, my play, connect, relate, share my passions on the devices that Apple has created, under the leadership of one Steve Jobs.

I had the great pleasure of being at the iPhone launch in San Francisco in 2007 and seeing first hand one of Jobs’ compelling, perfectly-timed and passionate presentations. (Yes, really – there was a day that we were without our iPhones. These ARE better days).

His immaculate presentation skills and sense of drama aside – I remember that day a lot because we (well, the guys in our group) had lined up like groupies from 4.00am in the cold morning, amongst thousands of others who were there for the chance to get a first-come, first-served seat at this annual keynote presentation which saw Mac addicts come together. So, at 6.30am my girlfriend and I joined the guys and we waited another few hours before the keynote started.

What surprised me was that – here I was, a mature businesswoman, lining up as though I was back in my teens waiting for a Prince Concert to start. It was however, a memorable day that I still cherish as a really great experience.

I want to share with you two stories from yesterday. Both touched me, in different ways.

1. This short piece by Seth Godin about Jobs

2. This great anecdote by a Google employee about a phone call he got from Steve Jobs one Sunday morning

 

I’m sorry to see him to step down. I’m worried about his health. I’m thankful for the many gifts he has given me.

 

Suzi

Theatre – An old sport renewed by the Sydney Theatre Company?

When was the last time you looked at your business model? When did you last consider how you can reach a new audience? In a day when it’s easier than ever to be national, international and not just local I was happy to see the art of theatre take on a new twist.

Last night I attended The White Guard, a production at the Sydney Theatre Company. I was surprised at first to see a number of empty seats and a sign that ‘tonight’s performance is being filmed.’

The sign, at least, was explained before the play began when a staff member explained that as of 7 July, Sydney Theatre Company performances would be transmitted to cinemas all over the country.

I have a subscription to the theatre and most times make it along. Some times the plays are outstanding, other times (like last night), not so much, but none-the-less, I have easy access to them.

So, I congratulate The Sydney Theatre company. As well as spreading the love, they are expanding their business model and will now bring revenue to a location based business whose locations have just multiplied many-fold.

At the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, we identified a few years back that it was going to be impossible for us to:

1. present educational events in all parts of Australia and
2. cater to the time availability of busy women, no matter if we held events at morning, noon or night…

So, in late 2006 we started to use the internet to deliver webinars. Today, on any given week we have women (and men) for all regions of the country listen in to presentations from world-class authors and speakers, from the comfort of their own home. And, if they miss the webinar time… they can watch it later on-demand.

So, how can you bring your product or service to more people through the introduction of a new business model? I think the question is worth asking.

We’re nominated in the City of Sydney Business Awards. We’d love your vote.

The Australian Busineswomen’s Network is nominated for the 2011 City of Sydney Business Awards in the Education and Training category.

And, I’d like to ask you for your vote.

Awards are a great way for any business to:

• celebrate acheivements
• connect with customers, peers, stakeholders
• grow their business with exposure and credibility
• learn and leverage social media marketing strategies (such as using this blog post to tell you about our nomination)

We’d love your vote!

If you think that we do a good job of providing business training and education, then we’d love for you to vote for us.

It’s easy. And, you could win $1500 cash for voting!

Voting closes 22 July 2011.

Nominate the Australian Businesswomen’s Network here.
Or SMS ABN to 0447 447 070 (standard text charges apply).

Thank you for your support!

Suzi Dafnis

P.S. You can learn more about the awards here. If you’re eligible, I encourage you to enter.

Thank You for Making Us a Finalist in the Best Australian Blogs Competition!

As reported in The Australian, our very own herBusiness blog, the official blog of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN), has been named as a finalist in the 2011 Best Australian Blogs Competition.

It is an honor to be a finalist alongside so many outstanding business blogs, and we would like to thank you for your continued support.

The competition is an initiative of the Sydney Writers’ Centre, and winners will be decided by a judging panel from the Centre.

The contest also includes a People’s Choice Award. If you would like to vote for us in the People’s Choice category, simply visit the Voting Page here and look for “herBusiness – Suzi Dafnis” (the blogs are listed in alphabetical order).

Best wishes,

Suzi Dafnis

Valerie Khoo finds resources for her Aussie business at SXSW

By Suzi Dafnis

Valerie Khoo of the Sydney Writers’ Centre attended South by South West (SXSW) to look at what ideas she can share with her customers and also implement in her own business.

In this video she shares:

• some of the valuable resources she found in the SXSW trade show
• why content creation has to go beyond trying to get search engines to find you
• and how Gary Vaynerchuk’s The Thank You Economy presentation echoed one of the main themes of the conference, that of being more authentically generous and without an agenda.

MORE FROM VALERIE KHOO
Valerie was interviewed for the In Her Shoes business series. In this interview we discuss
• Why good writing is an essential part of doing business
• How social media writing differs from other writing
• What small business needs to be doing right now to be successful

Here’s a link to the video. Watch now for some great writing tips, and more.

Visit the Sydney Writers’ Centre

Best wishes,

Suzi

The Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Scheme — Now that we’ve got it (yay!), who should administer it?

By Amy Lyden

The government’s introduction of Australia’s first ever Paid Parental Leave scheme was a fantastic win for women and families generally.  With the scheme now underway (1st January 2011), the latest argument is who should administer it.  The Coalition wants Centrelink to do this.

At the time of this writing, the Lower House was about to vote on a bill introduced by opposition small business spokesman Bruce Billson.  The proposed bill would have the new Paid Parental Leave scheme (PPL) administered totally by Centrelink, not employers.

The PPL scheme came into effect on 1st January 2011.  The current claiming process:

1. Employee contacts the Family Assistance Office (FAO) / Centrelink to apply.
2. FAO determines if employee eligible.  If yes, it contacts the employer, who then provides the FAO with their ABN, business name, bank account details, employee’s pay cycle and contact details.
3. FAO sends payments to the employer just before the PPL is due to commence.  The employer in not required to pay PPL to the employee until the funds have been received, so no cashflow issue for the employer.
4. The employer pays the PPL as per the usual pay cycle, e.g. fortnightly or monthly.  The employer must notify the employee of any payment made within 24 hours.
5. The employer should deduct tax from PPL payments.  However, other entitlements like superannuation are not applicable and also any PPL amounts should not be included in the calculation of workers compensation premiums and payroll tax.

The potential sticking points on the above process for small business:

1. Double handing – the FMO pays the employer, and the employer pays the employee.  It seems more logical for the FMO to pay the employee directly.  The employee will no doubt have many more transactions with the FMO in the future if they are accessing the Child Care Benefit or Rebate, so why not keep this the same?
2. Burden on the employer – small businesses particularly are under-resourced.  Small business owners need to be focusing their time on growing their business, therefore employing more people and contributing to economic development.  This process adds another layer of compliance and “to-do”s in the long list of tasks for small business owners.
3. Because there is no superannuation paid on the PPL and payments for PPL are not included when calculating workers’ compensation premiums and payroll tax, this further complicates the reconciliation process.  Again adding to time involved in managing the PPL payments.

Supporters of the existing process argue that by having employers administer the PPL payments the employee will be more “connected” to the workforce and the relationship will stay intact.  I would argue that there are other more effective ways to keep a relationship alive between a business and an employee that is on parental leave.  Depositing money into one’s account doesn’t constitute a relationship.  Perhaps the real issue is ensuring a connection between the employee and the workforce and that is a topic for another post.

All being said, we should not lose sight that the introduction of a PPL scheme is a wonderful start.  And like any new scheme, the processes will need to be tested and reviewed.  I invite you to let me know what your experience is with it.  Too much time involved?  Happy to do it? What do you think?

MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN

• Focus on the Common Threads That Bind Us – International Women’s Day – 100 years
• Alarming Statistics About Australia and Gender Equality
• Women in Leadership – We’ve NOT come a long way, baby

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Amy Lyden - Advocacy Advisor – Australian Businesswomen’s Network An 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. Email: amy.lyden@gmail.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/amylyden LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amylyden Member Profile: See Amy’s Member Profile

Invitation: Enter the Small Business Champion Awards

by Suzi Dafnis

Small business is a vital commodity in preserving Australian livelihood. It is important to recognise and reward the contribution of small businesses to both local communities in generating employment for millions of Australians, as well to the national economy.

The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is one of the largest small business award programs in Australia. Offering a unique occasion to highlight Australia’s most outstanding small businesses, the awards encourage the development of small business through opportunity and recognition.

We invite you to participate in this year’s awards.

The awards comprise 36 industry specific award categories, as well as four across the board categories, including two for Young Business Champions, aged thirty years or under:

• Small Business Champion Entrepreneur
• Young Small Business Champion Entrepreneur
• Business Growth Champion
• Young Business Growth Champion

All finalists receive a variety of prizes and benefits, including a certificate and media exposure, plus an invitation to attend the final award ceremony.

(ABN Member Edwina Griffin of FitWomen was a winner in 2009!)

If your business would like to be considered for this years’ Australian Small Business Champions Awards, act now, as entries close Monday, October 18.

Finalists will be announced November 5, with the final award ceremony on Saturday November 20 at the Westin, Sydney.

You can find more information about the awards including eligibility requirements online at their website www.businesschampions.com.au.

The Australian Businesswomen’s Network is proud to support this great initiative which supports our small businesses.

Six Characteristics of Success-oriented Small Business Owners

By Susan Wareham McGrath

Are you highly motivated, caring and curious? If so, you are part of a special breed of success-oriented small business owners, according to Mark D Wolf, director of the New York based Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

And if you effectively balance your personal and business goals, take advantage of others’ expertise and continually seek to learn the best practices exhibited by peer companies, you are even more likely to achieve business success.

The Guardian Institute surveyed owners of over 1,100 small business owners in its recent study “The Guardian Life Index.” It identified six dimensions of owners who projected revenue increases and business expansion, even as the recession peaked in the US.

According to the study, success-oriented small business owners are:

• Collaborative – they are able to build strong personal relationships, delegate effectively and are committed to creating opportunities for others.
• Self-fulfilled – they place a high value on the personal fulfillment and gratification that they gain from their business.
• Future-focused – they plan for both the short and long-term future and are focused on cash flow.
• Curious – they are open to learning how others run their business and actively seek best practice insights regarding management, business innovation, prospecting and employee attraction, motivation and retention.
• Tech-savvy – technology is a key point of leverage for success-oriented small business owners. They intensively value their company’s website and are significantly more likely to rely on technology for business effectiveness and efficiency.
• Action oriented – success-oriented small business owners are more proactive in taking initiative to build their business. They are more committed than others to taking their business to the next level, differentiating themselves from their competitors and having an exit strategy.  They also see adversity as a means to help them move forward.

According to Patricia Green, PhD, the special academic advisor to the Guardian Institute, successful SME owners are lifelong learners, and the most valuable point of the six dimensions is that they can all be learned.

More information about the characteristics of successful small business owners is available from the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

MORE GREAT POSTS BY SUSAN MCGRATH:

• Why the Do Not Call Register Could Strangle Small Business
• Quotas for Women on Boards

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Susan Wareham McGrath, Susan Wareham Immigration Services Susan Wareham McGrath is a skilled and experienced Australian visa and immigration consultant; jobsearch strategist and career management consultant; professional writer, blogger and social commentator. She holds a degree in psychology, an advanced diploma in human resource management, a post graduate qualification in public policy development, a national training accreditation and registration as an Australian migration agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority. Susan is a strong advocate for the personal and professional advancement of women, and after serving as an Advisory Board Member of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network since 2007 is now the ABN’s National Special Projects Manager. Email: susan@susanwareham.com Website: www.susanwareham.com Facebook: Susan Wareham McGrath Twitter: @Susan_McGrath and @McGrath_Careers LinkedIn: View Susan’s Public Profile Member Profile: See Susan’s Member Profile

 

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