Symptoms of Uncertainty

Certainty is one of the main characteristics that a Business Owner must have, in order to build a successful business.  Without it, clients and team members will have great difficulty in trusting the recommendations presented to them.

Here are some general symptoms of Business Owners who lack certainty:

Ø  Find it hard to ask for money;

Ø  Reduce their price at the first inkling from a prospect;

Ø  Uncomfortable giving strong recommendations;

Ø  Afraid to tell people what they need to hear;

Ø  Uncomfortable in self-promotion;

Ø  Clients don’t refer;

Ø  Do the work themselves instead of delegating;

Ø  Have problems sleeping at night;

Ø  Feel burnt out;

Ø  Not thriving and having the success they desire.

By defining who you are as a Business Owner, knowing what you offer and understanding how to communicate what you deliver, you can begin to eliminate some or all of the above symptoms if they are present. 

Become clear about your values and identify what is truly important to you. (Minute 96) Take the time daily to elevate your level of certainty and watch your business grow!

Adapted Practice Pointer from Powerful Practices.

Take 3 Hours Every Week ...

Michael Gerber, in his book “The E-Myth”, differentiates between working IN and ON your business.  For business growth and development you must allocate time every week to work ON your business.

The challenges are: how much time; and what to do in the time. 

If you are like most small business owners you work about 60 hours a week.  Take 3 hours each week … an investment of only 5%.   This then becomes 57 hours IN and 3 hours ON.  The real key is to allocate the same three hours every week.  This discipline will pay massive dividends over time.

To explain the difference between working IN and ON … the most potent “ON” is Business Planning … what it will: be like; look like; achieve; etc.

As a technician it is easy to see non-technical areas like marketing and financials as working ON.  In reality they are working IN … just a different IN to your technical training.

Other forms of “ON” are Systems Development and Monitoring the performance of KPIs to support you to make informed business decisions.

Start working ON your business by attending the Take 3 Business Workshop.  See the information below.

If you would like more information on Business Planning, Systems Development, Monitoring or KPIs, please send an email to bizplan@brightwater.com.au with the relevant topic in the subject line.

Anthony Davis 

Make Luck Happen

"Diligence is the mother of good luck." Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)

Oxford Dictionary: noun: A chance considered as a force that causes good or bad things to happen; something regarded as bringing about or portending good or bad things.

Sam Parker: noun: a force that makes things happen.

If you want more luck you need to be the force that makes it happen ... for  you:

1. Prepare. Work hard to be ready for the opportunities that are important to you. Research. Practice. Perfect.
2. Be awake. Pay attention to the people, events, and things around you. Evaluate logically and trust your gut instinct.
3. Take action. Put yourself out there. Explore. Be vulnerable. Make contact with people. Take risks.
4. Expect positive results. Optimism improves your chances. If you fail, embrace the lesson and continue on, smarter.

Now go be lucky and make something good happen for you and those around you.

Watch this 1 minute video http://blog.givemore.com/nike-waking-us-up/  Use it as a great weekly boost and reminder of what it takes to make good things happen (hint: it's work).

Notated original from Sam Parker of GiveMore.com

If you would like more information on Luck in Business, please send an email to bizplan@brightwater.com.au with 'Luck in Business' in the subject line.

Anthony Davis

Your Workplace Culture ...

Your Workplace Culture ...

Workplace culture can be considered as:

“How your team perceives their working environment.”

Their attitude at work is influenced by the workplace itself which is usually determined by its leadership.

The catch 22 is that much of the workplace culture will also be determined by the employees hired and the tone that management sets. How you implement your unique small business culture in day-to-day operations can help to attract and retain talent and create a place where people enjoy being.

Good leadership promotes the positive attitudes of employees. A negative culture dampens the mood and results in absenteeism, dissatisfaction, lack of motivation and eventually resignation.

Managers who get the best from their teams inspire a positive workplace culture. Some of the positive influences include: Open management style; Regular feedback both good and bad; Clear goals set out; Fair and equal treatment; Achievements recognised and rewarded.

There are tools and processes you can use to assist you to define your Workplace Culture.  They include: Code of Conduct; Role Descriptions; Performance Indicators; Selection Process; Induction; Appraisals; Playing Team; Team Meetings; and Training.

If you would like a copy of any of the previous Business Boosts relating to the tools & processes  listed above, please send an email to bizplan@brightwater.com.au with the relevant tool/process name in the subject line.

Anthony Davis