Storm Bound!

I was sailing off Corfu (a couple of years ago) when the weather turned rather unpleasant and we got storm bound for a day.  We had made a run for a safe harbour the day before and now sat in a taverna at Sivota (Mourtos) on mainland Greece having breakfast.  Outside there was thunder and lightning, and the rain was being blown sideways across dark, heavy sea.  Our lead skipper confirmed what we already knew: there would be no sailing that day.

It was 9.30am, and at that moment forty plus people sat in the taverna, wondering how they would fill their day.  There were children of all ages and it was pouring with rain outside.

It was then that the owner of the taverna swept into action!  Out he came with trays of fruit juice; one for everyone and free of charge.  Twenty or so minutes later he was back with more trays, this time full of glasses of water.  A little while later he was back again with shot glasses of a coffee-based drink.  Soon after there were bowls full of crisps and other nibbles; all gifts to us.  Then a while later he was back with another ‘round’ of water.

The amazing thing was that most people had stayed in his taverna.  Some had braved the rain outside and come back with books, homework and games.  Everyone was settled in.  And, guess what?  It was now late morning.  The first beers were ordered and then lunches were starting to be ordered.

This taverna owner was a very clever man.  Every twenty minutes or so he gave us a reason to stay in his taverna; there were plenty more outside that we could have gone to.  Each time we got a drink or some nibbles we had a reason to stay in his taverna.  And, most of us stayed.  And, most of us went on to buy drinks and lunch.  Many stayed all day!  We went for a walk.

Come back to your business

So, what can you learn from this?  It’s simple.  What can you offer your clients, which will get them to come back to your business, time and again, rather than try another?

If you need any ideas please give me a call.

Digital Networking Tool

This week I had a very good 1-2-1 with a friend of mine, Mark Rouvray, in Esher (at a coffee shop); our first face-to-face meeting since Covid began. I have to say it was both enjoyable and much more useful than a chat online.

We talked about his business, web design, and how it had changed and improved over the last couple of years. Not based on being locked-down, but more about major software development and type of customer supplied.

Just about everything was covered and some things just mentioned, like digital business cards. A good, productive, website can’t just be thrown together, as design, layout, content and simple little things, like three dots, have to be carefully thought about and planned, if good results are going to be possible and actually happen.

But, having run a printing company for over 30 years, business cards were in the back of my mind; after all, a very good business card is so much more than just a way to give your contact details to people.

If done correctly, not only contact details are given but they give a personal touch, a great first impression, build trust, show that you are a professional and can be a wonderful networking and marketing tool. And, of course, they can lead to your business being referred.

So, I had to find out more about the digital business cards.

A big thing is that they are not just for in-person meetings, but also for online networking and virtual events. If you hand one to someone you meet, you’re more likely to continue your conversation later.

Plus, in the digital era, it’s essential to use digital business cards to share all of your contact details in one convenient view. Digital business cards are easy to share and perfect to consolidate all of your accounts and contact details in a single view.

The point of a digital business card is to create a single, simple, shareable file with all of your contact details. That way, the receiver has no difficulty to follow your account on social media or contact you using the details.

Mark showed me one of his digital business card designs for a customer, and I have to say that going forward they truly are a great thing for your business.

So, unless you already have one, I recommend that you have a look.

A lady on a train!

At the weekend I was travelling by train from Birmingham (I had no petrol) back to home (Surrey). The carriages were packed, with many people standing, and someone was already in my booked seat.

We had a quick chat and it turned out that her seat was the empty seat beside her, so I said no problem, I was happy to sit there instead. 

I had been to a two-day business convention, so for the first 20 minutes of the journey, I just thought over some of the very useful ideas that had been given to us (there had been over a 1,200 delegates at the ICC) and which I would implement first.

It was at this moment that I glanced across to the lady next to me working on her laptop and saw that she had an Entrepreneurs Circle email on screen. I couldn’t believe it, as that had been the convention I had just left. So, I asked her if she had been there as well; and, of course, she had.

For the next hour we talked about what we had liked, a little bit regarding what we weren’t so sure about, the people we had meet, but most importantly what we were going to be doing in the future and essentially what we would be doing in the coming week.

Because, as I’m sure you know, it’s not what you learn that counts but if you actually do it. That’s what will make the difference.

Neve’s (the lady I was sitting with) main business, Speaker Studio, sounded perfect for just about everyone in business, as how you say something really makes a difference, and certainly would help everyone who networks. Including me!

We had a very good ‘meeting’ and will be meeting again.

So, if you are a little nervous, or not too sure about how best to speak, then I can suggest you have a chat with Neve, as she is very helpful.

Speak your way to Success.

Guitar Village

I was at Guitar Village, in Farnham, today looking at the Ukuleles; they are beautiful and my birthday is soon!

However, I’m finding it almost impossible to choose one, as I like so many; not just because of their sound but also their looks and the way they are made. Such lovely woods are used, such as mahogany, koa, maple, rosewood, cedar and spruce. Then there are the different makes and types: soprano, concert, tenor, etc. (plus they are all different sizes).

I asked Richard in the shop for help and he advised that, as a beginner, it would be best to decide on how much I would be willing to spend and then buy the one I liked the look and feel of best. He then added that after six months, if I’d become a keen player, that I can look again, as I’ll have a much better idea of what would work best for me.

His advice was perfect and is just the same in business. In business there are numerous things to do and often because of that nothing much gets done. So, think about it, what one thing could you do this week that would be good for your business? Then just ‘park’ everything else and do it. I’m pretty sure that you will see the difference it makes.

Richard also added something else, which I agree with, and in fact am doing. Having a ukulele and spending some time strumming is a great way to relax and get away from the pressure of your work. I’ve got to agree that it’s fun. So, if things are tough at the moment why not get a ukulele and try it?!

Guitar Village – let Richard know that I suggested you came to see him.

Farnham, Surrey, Business Networking – 19th August

What is Carbon Neutrality (Net Zero)?

Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal (often through carbon offsetting) or simply eliminating carbon emissions altogether (the transition to the “post-carbon economy”). 

It is used in the context of carbon dioxide-releasing processes associated with transportation, energy production, agriculture, and industrial processes. For many businesses this could be a case of making sure equipment is turned off when not in use, being more energy efficient and obtaining a green source of energy.

But what does this mean for your business? Well, there will come a time when the government will put pressure on businesses by legislation and making it compulsory for businesses across the country to reduce their carbon footprint.

Some businesses have already started the change by looking at a greener form of energy, which in turn reduces their carbon production.

For example Full Power recognises that change needs to happen now. By looking at a business’s utility output they can help to reduce their carbon footprint by procuring a greener option and help them to get on track with not only the government’s requirements but the ethics of that business.

Full Power work with all the green and renewable suppliers in the commercial market to ensure that the supply is the right fit for your business.

So, now is the time to start thinking, and if you would like to know a bit more, do get in touch.

10 Minutes of Fun!

Sounds good doesn’t it, but it does involve a little hard, physical work.

I was chatting recently with a Personal Trainer, who’s pretty much closed for business at the moment. But, she is doing lots to make sure that her business is not only better, but ready for training sessions when the lights go green and lockdown ends!

One thing she is doing is making a 10-minute training video. It’s aimed to not only keep people fit but also for them to have some fun. A real bounce! She suggests that you do it every day because it will relax you and help make the whole day better. One of my other friends actually works out, at 8.30 every morning, and it energises their day.

But, as far as her business goes, it’s even better than that, because it will be sent to every one of her customers and friends. Many of whom I’m sure will thank her for it. But, also she is going to ask them, if they enjoy the workout, if they would send it to three of their friends.

I asked her how many people she was sending it to and her answer was 43. Now not only is that fun for them but business-wise it could be a real winner. Imagine if people that are not already one of her customers, really find it stimulating; maybe they will become a new customer? But imagine if those 43 people each sent it to three of their friends; that would be another 129 people.

Now that really makes you think about the possible number of prospective customers she could have when the lights go green!

So, what could you make a 10 minute video about? Why not do it today!

It’s a Rush!

Formula 1 in 1976 was a high point for me. James Hunt (my all-time favourite F1 driver) became World Champion and I had been at the British Grand Prix to see him ‘win’.  Later on I was to meet him and even race against him.  So it was with a feeling of excitement when I first watched ‘Rush’, the film of the story of the 1976 season and his battle with Niki Lauda.  Two very different people but with one common goal, to be the very best; at any cost!

I was a little concerned that they might make my hero out to be something he wasn’t, but from my, albeit limited, knowledge of the man, I think Ron Howard (the director) did a really good job.  I thought the film was brilliant and conveyed the sport as it was at that time.

Now what has ‘Rush’ got to do with us as business owners?  What can we learn from Hunt and Lauda?  Well the first thing is that you can come from totally different backgrounds, have totally different perspectives on life – Hunt and Lauda couldn’t have been more different – but also you have to have a real passion, a burning passion, and determination, if you are going to stand any chance of achieving your goal.

As I say, both Hunt and Lauda had a dream, to be the Formula 1 World Champion, but that was their long-term goal, and along the way there had many short-term goals.  They worked race by race.  Then there were rules, governing bodies, competition from other drivers, the weather, lack of money, the unknown, constant danger and distractions.  In the final race of the season in Japan, Hunt knew where he had to finish in order to be crowned World Champion.  He had his short-term goal which would lead him to his long-term goal.

A major part of their success was down to what each would sacrifice in order to live their dream.  Lauda had to give up his family to race and even James Hunt had to cut back on his ‘activities’ in order to win.  But more than that, it was their total commitment to winning (Hunt was normally physically sick before a race), to being the best, that made them both winners.

So, have you a dream? A goal?  And do you know what it would really need you to do to achieve it?  But, more importantly, have you the drive, the courage, to make it happen?  No matter what the world throws at you.

In the last race in Japan James Hunt had to pit for new tyres just a few laps from the end of the race. To most people his chance of being World Champion was gone.  Ferrari the team Lauda drove for was going mad.  But even then did James Hunt give up?  Many would have and would have said that it just wasn’t to be.

No, this was his dream and nothing was going to stop him.

Down at the local pub!

I was speaking at the same event as Penny Power and as I was on stage directly after her decided to sit in on her session.  She was talking about social media and how so many people get it wrong, as they just broadcast rather than take part in a conversation.  She likened it to moving in to a new village, popping down to the local pub, opening the door and announcing “I’m an architect” rather than going in and sitting at the bar, buying a drink, getting to know the locals, and then them finding out, in time, that you were an architect.  And, it got me thinking.

So many people do just the same when networking.  You meet some, in fact lots, at every networking event there is, they just introduce themselves and then say, “I’m an architect; here’s my card.” And that’s about it!  You can obviously replace architect with: accountant, solicitor, printer, web designer, business coach, mobile phone supplier.  Need I go on?

Well networking is just like social media; it’s about starting a conversation.  It’s about building a relationship.  It’s certainly not about a quick ‘hit’ and moving on.

If you are going to be a really successful networker, to really benefit from networking, you have to be prepared to make an effort, to really get to know the people you meet, and that takes time.

So, please don’t rush in with “I’m an architect”. Instead ask about the other person, have an interesting question or two to ask, and never ‘push’ your business card.  And when they do ask what you do, because they will (it’s the polite thing to do), please don’t say, “I’m an architect”.  That’s just so boring!  Have something interesting to say, like “I help people to live in the home of their dreams!”.

Start a conversation, agree to meet again, contact each other by email, and build a long term relationship, that if mutually beneficial, will bring far greater rewards than anything a quick ‘hit’ will ever bring.

Earn more just by dressing up!

Making a good profit can be a hard thing to achieve, In fact, at times, any profit is hard to make, but so many business owners make this more difficult than it need be.  There are so many ways to make more profit and one of those is to simply charge more for what you do.  Again there are many reasons for charging more for your service but one of the best is just dressing up!

I will assume that you are very good at what you do and that you give an incredible service.  But now I will give you two examples of how the same business might be sold.  For each I will just concentrate on three areas, but I’m sure that you will get the picture.

Method one:  The owner drives up in a dirty three-year old car, his business card is flimsy and has a number crossed out on it, and, to be honest, he looks like he has been away camping for the last few days.

Method two:  The owner drives up in a beautifully clean three-year old car, his business card is branded and printed on a heavy board, and he looks as if he is going somewhere special.

Now remember they are providing exactly the same service.  Which would you more likely give your business to?  But, more importantly, most people would pay more money for the service provided by the second method.

There is another point to my example: you knew the service was the same in both cases, but what if you didn’t?  Who would you have chosen to buy from?

‘Designer’ goods are all about dressing up: charging more and making more profit.  Okay the quality of a £4 pair of jeans from the supermarket is not the same as that of a ‘designer’ pair, but a great deal of the price paid is for the ‘look’ and not totally the product.

So, if you want to increase your profits, why not just try ‘dressing up’ a little? Believe it or not – it does make a difference.