Personal & Small Business Coaching
To small business entrepreneurs
Small business entrepreneurs have a creative free spirit that is often denied large business employees and managers (who must be more attuned to, and aligned with the in-grained systems, culture and politics of large organisations).
As the founder and director of an engineering business that supplied advanced fire-protection systems for major corporate data-centres, I understand, respect and champion the independence, spirit and 'can-do' attitude of small business owners.
Small business entrepreneurs often start out, as I did, to explore new ways of doing things, of doing things better, and with a strong desire of being their own boss (and for some, of having their "name up in lights"). It's all good - it's all about personal development, freedom, exploration, risk, rewards, stretching and growth.
But perhaps most of all, small business entrepreneurs enjoy testing their intuition, their 'gut-feel' for what will work.
If I had to identify one aspect of running one's own business that is most important it would be the unmatched buzz of testing and relying on our initiative and gut-feelings for how best to do it (running and developing the business, interacting with customers, managing and mentoring employees etc.).
If this at all "speaks to you" then please read on.
There is a down-side to all that delicious freedom and creativity. We can become too single-minded in doing it our way. It can become difficult to listen to others who have gained experience running their own businesses. After all, we started our business to not listen to others, but to explore NEW ways of doing things. No one can do that for you. Nor would we want anyone to show us the way! We want to find our own way.
Finding new ways is good for business, but "re-inventing the wheel" in a competitve market is counter-productive and a waste of time and resources.
In being so single-minded and forthright, we can forget to ask, learn, and to seek easier ways of doing things.
As is explained, many small business entrepreneurs, particularly those in that growth phase beyond a half-dozen or so employees, can struggle with growing the business. And for many who do grow the business, they find they're under more pressure, with less net profit than before.
more soon ...
Steve Pirie
Director
Belief Institute
Creating space beyond competition
Creativity = 4 x competitiveness?
Research confirms that "... a company's choice of where to compete is almost four times more important than out-executing its competitors in its market."1
Why then the primary focus on sales training, and other competitive focuses when a focus on creativity, innovation and potentials would yield far greater growth?
Three key elements of creativity in contemporary business reality:
- Creativity and Innovation is not only crucial to getting “ahead of the pack” but also of simply “keeping up” in an increasingly interconnected, interactive global economy.
- Creativity is an inherent ability within all, and the exercising of ‘creativity’ is central to a sense of value and fulfilment (and thus the productivity) of employees.
- Innovation is a collaborative process that is highly dependent on the top-to-bottom cultural belief-system within an organisation.
- 1. Mehrdad Baghai & Angus Dawson, The Growth Challenge, AFR Boss Magazine, Feb. 08 Edition, John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd, Sydney, page 26.
Tags: Creativity & Innovation Lasso your future
"It doesn't pay to stay the same in a changing world."
Good business folk know the value of having S.M.A.R.T business goals and objectives (Specific, Measurable etc.), strong Project Management skills, and effective business systems.
But few are aware of the real drivers to business success and change being due to the S.M.A.R.T.E.S.TTM business strategies and drivers.
There’s no point in ‘visualising’ and achieving your business goals only to find you or your team aren’t that excited or engaged in the business.
Can you imagine hearing “the worst thing about Fridays is having to wait two whole days to come back to work” and that it is genuinely meant? It is possible! What quality of life, both at work and at home do you want?
Many companies develop good systems, habits and routines that help them succeed, but those habits and ‘ways of doing things’ can become like freight-trains – really difficult to stop or change. We can easily forget just how much of our thinking and choices are based on past experience, knowledge, systems, and culture.
Why 'systemize your business'?
If you're seeking or wanting to
- spend less time on the day-to-day running of your business,
- sell your business,
- improve employee morale, engagement and productivity,
- have more fun at work, in a relaxed environment,
- help employees "fire up" with creativity and enthusiasm,
- sustainably increase efficiency, turnover and profit,
or - simply take a holiday, free of worry about business performance and activity
then you will benefit greatly by 'systemising' your business so that it effectively runs itself.
The value of good business systems
Try this Quick Quiz, a quick litmus test for any small business owner:
- The Barack Obama Time-out Test
Are you able to take "big chunks of times during the day when all you're doing is thinking"1 about your business? Can we assume President Obama has good systems, and competent people able to take care of business while he's taking 'big chunks' of time to think about climate change, and the fate the human race? - The Time-Away Test
If you were unable to be contacted - no mobiles, emails, nothing! - for two to three weeks, would your business run as normal? Or would you need to be there, because you're "indispensable", micro-managing the business, having not yet systemised and delegated the day-to-day running of the business?
- 1. '"THE MOST important thing you need to do," Barack Obama told UK conservative leader David Cameron when they met last year, "is to have big chunks of times during the day when all you're doing is thinking."' Catherine Fox, 'Creating Space', AFR Boss Magazine, Dec-Jan10, Fairfax Media Publications, Sydney, p.25.
The business value of purpose and meaning
As many business entrepreneurs appreciate, the really important things in starting and running a business are primarily 'mental' -- it's our vision to make a difference, to do things better and to test ourselves that fuels and motivates.
But what about the people that we employ?
It should be no great surprise that for "businesses that pay most regard to the deeper needs of their employees are the ones that perform best."1
The challenge faced when creating a strong, vibrant culture in a business is the intangible 'mental' dimensions - what we think, feel and believe about our work, fellow employees, customers, the work environment etc.
- 1. Michael Trail, Money is important, but so is purpose and meaning, The Weekend Australian Financial Review, Dec. 23-28, Fairfax Media Publications, Sydney, p. 63
The Power and Importance of Blindspots
Tue, 23/02/2010 - 10:00am | 
Blindspots in our awareness can have devastating effects upon our lives.
Blindspots can be bad for business, health and personal wellbeing.
The Belief Doctor's blog | 
Login or register to post comments | Tags: Business, Change Management, Creativity & Innovation, Health and wellbeing, Personal Development, Sex, Gender & Relationships, Success Factors, Sustainability Belief-System Tune-Ups
Many people easily forget how muich they rely on mental-maps (belief-systems) to navigate through life.
What we believe defines, shapes and creates us. What we believe possible will reveal itself by what we attempt to achieve.
Belief-system tuneups are designed to reveal the deeper, more congruent frameworks of life -- those that you can rely on, irrespective of time and circumstance.
Belief-System Tune-Ups can be tailored for the industry, circumstances and needs of clients.