THE POWER OF PAIN TO PLEASURE

Personal and professional growth are tremendously accelerated by stepping outside your comfort zone and challenging your status quo. Typically these growth spurts are triggered by external drivers outside of your own control.  When you graduated from high school for instance, although unsure of the future, you were forced to take the next steps with rewards you are probably still reaping today!

This and other great examples of unsurpassed growth may well be reflected upon especially those that are self initiated as they are the hardest to master. Unless you are firmly behind your initial decision and continue despite uncomfortable situations and unfamiliar terrain, you must hold on to an unshakable belief and muster unlimited perseverance to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Only then will the pain of change eventually share its rewards.

One personal account to highlight the pain to pleasure principle is our own family move to Canada. Taking away everything we knew; leaving behind everyone we love aside from our own close family was a major shakeup to our emotional balance as well as hugely challenging to our own status quo. Many times did we consider to pack it all in and go home. But now, 6 years later, we are eternally grateful for sticking it out [although not often easy] as we have all gained massively from our ‘crazy’ move!

As an entrepreneur you have definitely chosen the path of challenging your professional status quo.  Continuously pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone, you have to face up to your own personal gremlins and professional competency gaps.

Dreaded personality traits like the love to procrastinate or the lack of self-discipline. These of course will come to haunt you when you miss another client deadline.

Adding to that the frustrating competency gaps that seem to creep up at every turn. Be it the lack of understanding of your financial statements, the technology challenges that you're supposed to take in your stride or the fear of having to sell ‘yourself’. Sometimes you may well feel that the stuff you don't know seems to be exceeding the stuff that you do know. Or, that you simply don't have what it takes!

And so this is what I want you to consider: Imagine yourself 5 years from now: 

Either you will have given into the pain and taken a job that may deliver short-term relief but ultimately provides little room for growth or self-fulfillment.

Or you will have created the ultimate success with the ability to write your own paychecks! You will continue to challenge your personality traits and polish your professional skills. Because you remember that accelerated growth will only come as a result of persevering through the pain to finally reach the pleasure returns you so deserve.

Now I don't know about you but I can say with confidence that challenging the status quo has proven to be the most rewarding way to live. So I dare you to join me in stretching the comfort zone a little bit further every day and persevere with your business until you reap the rewards that you should.

I see you in the ‘Grow Zone’!

Conny

THE POWER OF STRONG MONEY MANAGEMENT

You may find this unthinkable; Entrepreneurs, who run their business without knowing how much money they're making. It may come as a shock when I tell you that 89% of small business owners struggle with the financial control of their businesses. This is a shared challenge for start-ups as well as established companies with multi-million dollar annual revenues.

Can you imagine these same people not paying attention to the financial compensation if they were employed? Yet, when it comes to their own businesses, they are seemingly ignorant to what would naturally be of highest importance in any employed engagement.

After so many years of business advisory I have been observing this phenomenon and identified the following 3 key reasons why entrepreneurs shy away from the financials of their business:

1. They are scared that the profits do not reflect the amount of work they are putting in

2.) They fear that the financial performance is a direct reflection of their ability and own value

3.) They blindly trust their bookkeeper and accountant without overseeing, understanding and managing what goes on

I have some heartfelt, tough love for these entrepreneurs. If you don't take care of the financial aspects of your business, you may as well take a job!

The stress that this avoidance causes coupled with the inevitable demotivating factor why the hell you work so hard, will eventually catch up with you. Maybe initially the ‘ostrich’ approach will help ignore the true facts but soon anxiety and fear will creep up. Then a situation will cause you to HAVE to look at things and will send you into a tailspin!

Therefore I teach my clients to make understanding the finances their first major priority. This may well be a little unsettling at first but once you know and start taking control, the power you will gain over what goes on in your business as well as the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge soon turns unsettledness into empowerment.

Once you declare control over your finances you will truly enjoy being an entrepreneur. You will clearly see what works for your business and what should be improved. And even more so, you will finally get to imagine how big this ‘baby’ can grow! 

Ready to take your head out of the sand and face your finances full on? Then it’s definitely time to give me a call.

Together we will not only tackle the present but plan the attack for future profits.

Can’t wait to show you the incredible power of being an excellent money manager and the returns you can expect from turning your passion into profits :-)

Yours in tackling business challenges,

Conny

THE POWER OF MELTDOWNS

Not sure what’s been up with this last week. Many people have been finding the past few days really challenging. And this is across the whole board of industries, sexes and demographics. So I feel compelled to reach out to all of you because there is one very simple solution:

STOP TRYING TO GO IT ALONE!

With the second month of the year nearing the end, entrepreneurs are feeling the pressure. Regardless if they are finding it hard to find business or if they are struggling to keep up with demand, somehow it is all too much.

Even clients have come into our sessions a little frazzled around the edges and I had to stop them in their tracks when trying to discuss business development. We moved the discussions to where things were at with them personally to get to the bottom of their frazzledness.

I let them know that within our sessions they are in a sanctuary – their protected zone where it was ok to drop their guard and armor and simply be themselves for a moment. Within a short period of time we managed to discuss what was making them feel so anxious and overwhelmed and put all of their self imposed pressure into perspective.

Afterwards I received emails and messages to say ‘thank you’ for helping them cut out the noise and focus on what was really troubling them with a path to overcome. They could not believe how a constructive conversation could make them feel so much better and clear on what steps they needed to take.

So if you have experienced a week of havoc and are not sure why, first understand that many are sharing your pain.  Then secondly take advice from my clients and seek your own sanctuary. Where for a moment you can go into full-blown meltdown just to come out within minutes feeling cleared, understood and empowered.

Meltdowns are great to clear the air, let go of un-serving stuff and refocus on the real priorities. Give in to the weakness to come out stronger!

Meet you in your sanctuary,

Conny

THE POWER OF OTHERS

Just returning from a very successful trip to Europe, it is amazing how a little distance can offer so much perspective. And with perspective comes lighthearted opportunity, endless possibility and vision. So why do I want to talk to you about ‘others’? 

Well, it is because of them that we lose sight of ourselves and our own wishes and get caught up in things we did not set out to do. It is our need to please, fit and impress that others hold so much power over us. ENOUGH, I say!

Firstly let me share a very brief story of a very good friend of mine. She was approached with an incredible opportunity however it was not something that was going to serve her or her family. Of course she was flattered and knew she could probably do an outstanding job. Yet she had other plans for the future which simply did not align. When she came to me, she was still torn. Her emotional turmoil did not let her think objectively. She wanted to proof to the people who supported her, she could do it and to the people who didn’t, even more so!

Have you ever been in such a situation? Where you did something you felt others expected you to, even though you knew somehow that it wasn’t right for you? People can have a big influence on our judgment, opinions and actions. Throw in your own ego and emotions and together it all becomes a tricky, murky muddle, led by the wrong intentions and in the wrong direction. What a terrible waste! It is time to put a stop to this!

The following 5 Decision Mantras will save you from falling into this usual trap:

1.) Know what you want - If you have a plan mapped out for yourself and your family, it is easier to sync your activities based on what is supportive and cut out what isn't!

2.) Take time before committing to anything - For big decisions you might even want to take a short trip to take yourself out of the emotionally overcast circumstances. It will do wonders to your objective perspective!

3.) Do ONLY what serves YOU - Everything else delegate, cancel or delete :)

4.) Don’t take things so damn personally - We all know we are replaceable and dispensable. And what’s more, we are not responsible for others but ourselves and our families!

5.) Detach from the outcome! - If you start by considering all the ‘what ifs’, chances are you don’t ground your decision on what you want but merely on conditioned emotions.

So for those of you who struggle with wasting precious time on pleasing others typically with little in it for yourselves, it’s time to put your foot down. Commit these decision mantras to memory and learn to make decisions that serve you, not others!


All the best,
Conny

THE POWER OF ASKING

It is fascinating how children will not stop asking for the things that they want. Relentlessly, they will pose a question over and over or try a slightly different approach to get the much desired ‘Yes’. 
When they realize they can’t have something, they will come up with the next best thing and start the process all over again. In adulthood they will have ‘finally’ been worn down and ‘learnt’ not to be so demanding. HOW TRAGIC!

My youngest son is 9 years old and still possesses the art of asking. He is a very fine example of the relentlessly hopeful with seemingly never ending persistence. As you can imagine as a parent that is pretty wearing but boy, does he get results! Let me share a couple of examples.

Recently at a market he approaches a vendor and asks:” Can I have this skateboard for free?” The vendor is perplexed and of course declines. So my son tries again, this time with another object of desire:” Can I have this T-shirt for free?” Now the vendor starts to smile but again, gently but firmly declines. After the third question for something else, the vendor declines once more but finally gives in and offers him a brand spanking new wallet!? My son is over the moon, says a heartfelt thank you and gives the vendor the biggest smile.

The other day we went into a bike store. Again my son starts his magic and says:” Can I have this BMX for free?” Of course the vendors tells him - no way! A few minutes later, he requests:” Can I have this bike shirt for free?” “NO!” Then:” Can I have this pump for free?” “I am sorry but I can’t give you any of this stuff for free. Oh, but wait, I have some stickers and a key ring you can have!”

RESULT!

The pattern seems to be always the same. Three attempts of asking and finally he gets at least something in return for his perseverance. Typically it is not exactly what he wanted, however he is always better off and relishes the reward for his relentlessness. When he first started this, I was a little embarrassed and tried to discourage him from asking people to give him something for free.

To this he said:” But mum, if I don’t ask, then how can I get?” There it was - the truth, the only reality that really makes sense. As kids we all did the same. We kept on asking until we got. Now that we have been reconditioned, we find it tough to ask - FOR ANYTHING! Help, support, the things we really want.....

So I put it to you. Learn from our kids and get back to the pre-conditioned state of kindly asking. Not just the once but three times! If you are in negotiations, try to ask for the business even if you have to change approach or tweak the proposal until it suits.

Never be scared again to pose the question or take “No” for an answer. You know that if you don’t ask, you certainly won’t get anything! And if you don’t ask often enough, you might just be one ‘No’ away from a ‘Yes”!

May your summer be as educational as mine :)
See you soon,
Conny

THE POWER OF NATURAL

I recently had my quarterly make-over with my much trusted hairdresser. After mixing the colours she came back and asked:” Can I ask you a very personal question?” I really wasn’t sure what might come next but of course I said:” Go ahead!” And out she bursts with her question:” Have you had Botox recently? Your skin looks incredible!” Well, I was expecting everything but that.  Once I had recovered from the pleasant shock, I let her in on my secret.

I had recently done some research for an article on a super impressive Mompreneur who has built a business in all organic care products for women. She had the ‘balls’ to tackle a multi billion dollar market, undeterred by the big players and created products for the concerned consumer with clinically proven results exceeding 90% in overall skin improvement including fine lines and wrinkles!

At the time of my research, I was hugely impressed by this woman who at the age of 40 and expecting her first child, started a company from scratch that would provide what she had identified as a gap in the market - healthy, highly effective care products.

She assembled a team of executive investors who shared her vision and build a mission driven business that today provides skin and hair care products based on 100% powerful organic ingredients that offer proven results.

What impressed me the most was her bold approach to the idea. She understood that it would take an entire team, pots of cash to get it of the ground and experts in each field to make the success happen. She decided not to play SMALL but to go LARGE.

Today she heads up a business that she feels passionate about and offers products that make a difference in peoples lives.

After my research, I decided to put her products to the test! Well and the result - if even my own hairdresser who has known me for years thinks that I have invested 100’s of dollars in Botox, I simply rest my case.

So what can we learn from this story? If you have a dream, be undeterred. Put it into action even if at the beginning the odds look like they are staked up against you. Get a team behind you. You will not be able to go it alone. Get some cash behind you. It is imperative to have the money to pull it all off. Don’t compromise on quality - results will speak for itself!

And? Ask the question (my hairdresser will appreciate this) even if it means putting yourself out there. You will get information that could save you money and change your life! 

With that I wish you a Happy Summer!
(Botox-free) Conny

PS: And if you want to know the Power Cure that I discovered to keep the wrinkles at bay and save you $650, I am happy to share my secret, if you email info@mcbusiness.com with your three ideas on how to keep business natural!

THE POWER OF THE SUIT

Here I am as an uptight European runaway who is lucky enough to call the gorgeous West Coast her home. Many things run differently in these parts and it does include the business environment. 

So I had to learn to adjust to new cultures including how companies are run and operated. However, there is one differentiation I have to seriously question. The importance of the Power Suit. In Europe - a must; on the West Coast - an option. So if you are the stiff from Europe or the chill from Canada, lets look at the importance of the business attire.

During my corporate career I was responsible for sales & marketing management of three different countries in a highly competitive, male dominated environment, closing on average $500k-$1m in new business through one deal. Presentations at CEO and board level, meeting with large key accounts and industry giants, it kind of set the tone of importance for representing my company as a reliable and professional provider worthy of partnerships worth millions with even the biggest of leaders.

These connections never visited my office or our manufacturing plant. They bought on carefully build trust and confidence developed through a relationship with individual representatives of our organization, me included.

You can already see where this is leading. If I had turned up in corduroy comfies and a favorite t-shirt, somehow I can’t see that they would have entrusted me with their business. Although I would have still been the same individual representing the same high quality product. My appearance had a huge impact on their ability to trust our company to take the business relationship seriously and to deliver on a promise they could depend on. In fact I became part of that promise.

In addition by dressing in a professional business attire, in my case a two piece suit with a carefully pressed shirt, I felt empowered and positive, knowing that I made an impeccable first impression, understanding the importance of professional representation and setting of expectations.

Let’s put this on the map! As a Sales Director for a corporate organization you would naturally dress accordingly. So as a Company Owner and main representative of your business, isn’t it even more crucial to stand out by making the best impression and create trust with new prospects, oozing competence simply by wearing a suit? Remember, you are creating first impressions, building a reputation, representing a reliable brand and wooing new connections with an impeccable professional aura.

Imagine yourself dressed in that suit, feeling empowered during any size deal negotiations, commanding respect and knowing your connections feel instantaneously assured that you can deliver.

Maybe I still am an uptight European that needs to learn to chill but when it comes to setting a powerful expectation and a reliable lasting impression, the same rules apply across the nations. So don’t leave anything to chance and dress 4 success.

Let the competition be comfy and you be rich!
Power to you & the suit :)
Conny

THE POWER OF FEAR

I am not sure if I should even write about the ‘F’ word this week as it might lower the tone and won’t give you the same upbeat feeling like my usual blog posts do.  However I think we are among like minded individuals and should be able to be frank and honest about important things that have a high impact on our success. So taking a closer look at the Entrepreneurial Fear is essential to identify it, acknowledge it and then GIVE IT NO MORE FURTHER ATTENTION! Do you sometimes share the uneasy feeling in the pit of your tummy? Then read on!

How often are you experiencing situations where you would like to act or apply yourself  simply to find that fear is holding you back? Or maybe you are on the brink of great success but don’t want to take the next step, in fear of loosing or jeopardizing what you’ve already got?

There are many reasons why entrepreneurs might be enduring the churning feeling in their tummy due to some form of fear that they are possibly:

• Not doing enough
• Not knowing enough
• Not keeping up with the competition
• Not making enough money
• Not managing to balance life & work properly

Any of these thoughts create anxiety and might even be paralyzing for a concerned entrepreneur. This can have devastating consequences, like not moving forward, not capitalizing on obvious opportunities and frustration with oneself, possibly with looming self defeat. Gives you a knotted feeling just reading it, doesn’t it?

Fact is, all of this is in your own mind, only! And should any of the above be true, well guess what? You can do something about it. If you really feel that you aren’t doing enough, look at how you can take control of your time management to get more goal orientated actions done. Or if you are not making enough money, well firstly define what is enough and if you do see a shortfall, create extra revenue streams, cut out inflated expenses and get hunting for some more business.

It is exciting to think that if you stop paying attention to the “F” word and start actioning, you will feel a whole lot better.

Now we have only touched on fear as a negative. There is a positive to it as well (see, you knew I would get to this part)! Fear can be a powerful motivator to drive you above and beyond anything you ever dreamt possible. Typically this is pretty serious in the beginning because it is generated through a desperate situation.

To highlight let me briefly share the story of female client who had been running a message therapist clinic. She had her business for a number of years but didn’t really make the money that she could. She was too scared to go out and find new clients! When her little son got critically ill and she did not have enough financial resources to take time out to be with her little boy, it jolted her into a whole new level of action. She overcame her fear of selling, as the fear of not having the financial freedom in the future superseded, accelerating her to one of the top massage therapist clinics in her region.

I want you to know that it does not take something as core shaking as that, to finally  commit to overcoming your fears. It is as simple as a shift in mind! Next time the tummy starts churning, acknowledge & do it anyway! Let’s stop paying attention to the entrepreneurial “F” word and make it a thing of the past!

He can, she can, YOU can!
And you know it :)
Conny

THE POWER OF EASY

Interestingly you can see things objectively for others but when it comes to your own path, the best way does not seem quite so clear. You find yourself with the right level of ambition, committed to wanting to do really well, but have lost sight of how to take the quickest and easiest route there. So I have to ask you: “Why are you still going it the hard way instead of asking for directions?”

I have recently met with a young and ambitious entrepreneur who has all the skills and drive to really make his mark in the world of business. He had requested a strategy session to help him consolidate his business plan and wanted some pointers to ensure he would secure the cash injection of $100k that he needed to get his new business venture off the ground. As a new connection I needed to understand his motivations and intentions.

With plenty of probing, I firstly wanted to test his commitment level to the venture. If you are going to get financing, you’d better be in the new business with both feet firmly planted within and total commitment to your creditors.

We went through his anticipated revenue projections which he wasn’t sure off. And whilst we discussed markets, operations and HR needs, I think he started to grasp the magnitude of what he was about to commit to and how little he really knew. He hoped that his passion was going to guide him through.

In my practice I look for the easiest, most quickest route to profits and with that in mind we took another look at the business model and came up with an ingenious idea that will allow him to make up to $150k in the first year and then add his new business idea as a second revenue stream rather than setting up an entire new business around it. This way he can heavily leverage what is already there without having to refinance, cash-in on existing easy money which in turn will be partially invested into developing the new idea alongside it.

By the time we finished strategizing, he could not believe that he had not thought of this himself and had not been able to see what was so ‘clearly’ the easy route with minimal risk and optimal financial returns.

Now do you sometimes feel that easy does not come easy? Are your spinning your wheels not really getting where you want? Or only with the most tremendous effort? Business should not feel this way and if it does, chances are that you are potentially overcomplicating instead of taking the easy route.

If this is you, it’s time to change what you are doing. Of course you could just continue as has been and get more and more frustrated always on the brink of questioning why you are doing what you do. Or you can just simply decide it is time to get directions to save you from doing more than you need and receiving all that you want.

Take it from the man, who has now seen the Power of Easy. When YOU are ready to cut out the diversions, I look forward to having the conversation!

Yours in Business & Life,
Conny

THE POWER OF THE NETWORK

Have you ever heard of the saying:” You become the company that you keep”? Thinking back to our parents, they understood the importance of surrounding their children with the right friends for the right influence and were determined to watch over us ensuring we made the right choices. Strange how what was important then, is also most crucial now.  For business entrepreneurs this is especially true!

As entrepreneurs creating a powerful network of like minded individuals who can help excel prosperity, is one of the most key parts of creating success. Many of us have read about it or have watched people with same abilities and knowledge greatly surpass others of a similar composition, wondering how they have managed to get that much further ahead than the others. Yes, I know. It’s starting to dawn on you now, isn’t it?! That’s right. It is because they are the ones with the more powerful network that gives them the leverage to grow much, much faster.

I think in one of my more recent blogs I mentioned how your network equals your net-worth. It is just not enough to be a self believing, motivated, ambitious, educated and knowledgable individual who is the very best in their field. Without top quality people   and a top quality network, your business will at best ever only be mediocre.

When considering where and how to invest your time most effectively, concentrating on the development of a sterling professional network has to be your number one tactic of business development. This is not an easy task and will not easily be met by simply running from networking event to networking event.

Be strategic about your attendance at the right events only. Consider splashing out regularly on a $125 ticket to a gala event with top business people and high quality guest speakers as a better investment of your time and money with potentially greater returns, then cheaper alternatives. The connections you will make in those circles may just be the ticket to the successful company you are striving to build.

Now sticking with the theme of old sayings, I would like to finish off with one of my dad’s favorites:” It is not about what you know but who you know!”. As an entrepreneur himself, he handed down his knowledge about the importance of a powerful professional network to get where you want to be, and fast.

Now I am happy to share my ‘heirloom’ and remind you of this simple truth. So look around you. If you still do not have the opportunities you know you are able and willing to embrace, maybe it’s time to expand your network. Just make sure it is with the right people with the right influence!

Yours in business & life,

Conny

THE POWER OF ZEN

Busy, busy, busy - aren’t we all always busy? In fact we are so busy, we literally can’t hear ourselves think anymore! Then how can we try to determine a professional path based on our goals reflecting our most deeply founded needs? Without the ability to listen to ourselves because life has become overwhelmingly noisy, there is only one place to go. Nowhere! 

But wait. There is hope. Let me share:

Every time I start working with a new client, within a very short period of time, they start to make sense of their business model, gaining clarity around exactly what they want and how they are going to get it. Powerful stuff! For them, I am a miracle worker and although granted, I bring a lot of experience to the table, it is they who discover what they are truly meant to be doing.

For all the wisdom is already right there, locked up inside of them, buried under responsibilities, expectations and outside demands. By working together, it allows them to stop in their daily routine and take some time to seriously focus on their intentions. This unlocks the deeper knowledge they hold within themselves. By having an objective and experienced professional alongside, they quickly turn into reality, what they want once identified under the mental ‘clutter’.

I call this the Business of Zen. In the dictionary Zen is described as a meditative state  for emphasis of experiential wisdom that assists in the attainment of enlightenment. In other words by carefully listening to the inner self, one will find the answer.

I expect many of you who are reading this will sympathize with the difficulty of clearly identifying a straight forward path for their business or even the target of what you are aiming for. It does not have to be this way. You can very easily determine the next steps, if you take some quiet, reflective time. This can be with or without a mentor to help you get guided through.

Take as little as 10 minutes each day, to take time out for asking, listening and receiving. In business terms this is also known as planning! This may only allow you to plan out the day or maybe even the week however it will certainly allow you to ‘turn the eye inward’ for a strong connection with the wants and the why’s. If you need help with the how’s, you know where I am.

So if you have started another year with not moving forward and getting nowhere, regularly stop the busyness and listening to the inner you. I welcome you to practice the Business of Zen starting today. For it will bring you focus, happiness and abundant prosperity.

Yours in business & life,
Conny

THE POWER OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

It’s time to unroot the truth about entrepreneurial failure - Lack of Financial Responsibility! After many years in working with business owners from all walks of life, in all kinds of industries, of all ages and nationalities, I can finally and safely pinpoint the #1 reason why small businesses don’t sustain. The failure rate of all business start up’s is directly linked to the common theme of financial avoiders. This year I want to urge you all to become an excellent money manager. This will be your insurance to success!

I have the ultimate pleasure of meeting hundreds if not thousands of business owners every year from a diversified range of industries and with little similarity of their demographical profile. Yet they have a couple of things in common:

Firstly they are truly passionate about what they do. Typically they share very high work ethics with an undeterred commitment of trying to be the very best they can, hoping to turn their passion into profits. And that is where it gets tricky! Profits! I would say 9 times out of 10 when asked, entrepreneurs have no definite figure of the amount of money they made last year, last month, last week or even today. We are talking only in terms of revenue. I have not even asked about profits, yet.

Lots of business owners are trying very hard to create a financial goal for the year because they have heard so many times the importance of goal setting. So now they have a target but they have no means of measuring against it. I want you all to know, this is true for most business owners. Everyone is so busy with worrying about attracting a client, acquiring a client, retaining a client as well as the day to day operation and administration, that they feel they can’t take on the worries about the financials as well.

Reading this I truly hope, you are currently having an AHA moment. Because when you look at the order of importance of running a sustainable business, finances are right up there with clients acquisition and retention! So why don’t they pay more attention or give some focus to it? Well, I have asked many and some of them are scared that the financial rewards do not reflect the hard work they are putting in, some of them think there is not enough money yet to manage, and some of them simply don’t know where to start.

So for those of you who are scared, let me tell you it is much more stressful not knowing rather than having the control. And if you really are not making enough money to warrant the amount of time you are investing, you will want to know about it, so you can make changes to your business model.

For those of you who think there is not enough money yet to manage, that is a terrible excuse! Get into good money management habits from the start. You still need to know all the aspects of the financial situation at all times so you can measure, learn and adjust as necessary.

And for those of you who simply don’t know where to start, there are tons of resources and professionals who will support you as much or as little as you need and can afford. But ignoring it altogether, will come and bite you big if left undiscovered.

Now that you know the importance of managing your company’s money, you clearly have two choices, ignore it and become part of the statistics or control it and become successful in your business.

Get in touch if you need help with finding the right professional connection or resources to make you an excellent money manager. It’s all about the profits because profits equals money and time to do what you want to do and not what you have to!

Yours in business & life,
Conny

THE POWER OF BACK-UP

As entrepreneurs there seems to be a common misconception that you have to prove that you can do it all by yourself. Asking for help seems either like a sign of weakness or an expense, you’d rather do without! Even while I am writing this, it seems ludicrous. So make 2011 the year you leverage the power of a team to get ahead faster, more lucratively!

I am not sure about you but I am a true believer that you will get out, what you are prepared to put in. Now there are only so many hours in a day and days in a week that will restrict this equation for you. By doubling the effort, you will double the results, right? Right! By quadrupling, you will get 4 times as much back. True? True! So why are you still trying to be all things to all departments?

No doubt you are talented, passionate and knowledgeable in your industry and there are areas within your business that are not your strength or lay outside your capabilities. So doesn’t it make sense that you cover those areas with additional professionals before you run into trouble or get stifled in moving forward because you are trying to figure things out by yourself instead of asking for help?

Let me highlight by sharing a recent true story: A new client in the data services industry had been doing well in establishing and growing her business. She put in long hours and lots of energy to provide the very best service to her clients. Over 3 years she spent endless hours of delivering incredible value and was consistently improving on her services.
One day her computer played up. She had never backed up and realized she had no IT support. @#^*!  She had no maintenance package and could not get anyone to come out for days to see what the problem was. When after THREE days she finally managed to get someone out to take a look.

Now imagine the same client signing up from the start for a $50 monthly IT maintenance package which offers data back-up services, telephone support and training. Do you think the ongoing investment of $600 per year would have been a better strategy than playing Russian Roulette with her data? Not only did she loose three days of earnings, all of the clients data and in turn her entire client base due to neglect? In fact, she can count herself lucky not to have been prosecuted because of her negligence!

If she had invested in IT support from the start, the problem would have never developed or at the very least she would have had her data backed up with a mirror image of her computer at regular intervals saving her from loss of earnings, loss of clients and loss of reputation?

Don’t leave yourself open to this type of vulnerability and do start looking to fill the weak areas in your business with additional professionals, either employed or subcontracted. Strengthening your internal and external team will put you ahead of the game and save you from devastation when you could have had the back-up!

Lets work smarter in 2011!
Happy New Year,
Conny

THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION

Despite a wide array of books and courses on the subject of good communications, people are still struggling to communicate well within their personal and professional lives.

With the festive season fast approaching, this time of year can prove to be challenging if high expectations of spending quality time with loved ones are not met due to miscommunication which can lead to possible arguments.
Maybe higher stress levels due to increased workloads and fast approaching deadlines at the office have caused a break-down in communications among colleagues. Sounds all far too familiar?

Many books and courses have been created around the subject that one should think we are all masters in effective communication by now. Yet so much more work needs to be done. We all find ourselves daily in the midst of written and verbal conversations, trying to read and understand situations and then respond appropriately.

Sometimes these conversations start out harmlessly and seemingly basic in content. Suddenly one thing happens and a situation can escalate to the extreme. No more!  We all want to get along nicely and put our energies into the things that really matter. So how can you avoid disappointments or misunderstandings caused by communicating with others?

A really crucial part is to think before you speak and double think before you put something in writing. So much damage could be prevented if more people gave proper consideration to the power of the word. Therefore start with yourself and stop, consider and then speak with the right intent. A point can be made in many ways, but it is your choice of HOW you are going to make it.

Avoid to assume anything. Ensure you ask and check instead of making false assumptions. I am sure you can remember a situation that you have ‘misread’ due to not properly investigating but simply assuming. This can have a detrimental effect on you and your relationships with others. Therefore make it your mission to ALWAYS get the facts before reacting.

And last but certainly not least, never take anything personally. This is a tough request that will save you from much unnecessary heartache. Situations and people’s actions are self conditioned and not due to anything to do with you. So stop searching for a self defined reason, accept the situation for what it is and move on. If you ALLOW yourself not to take anything personally, you will be free.

Take those key lessons with you into the festive season and practice them on your loved ones. I trust you will find that this year, misunderstandings will simply not develop because you are practicing the mastery of good communication. Then take this with you into the New Year as you go back to work. If you think before you speak, assume nothing and don’t take anything personally, your 2011 will be blessed.

A peaceful Christmas & a prosperous New Year,
See you then,
Conny

THE POWER OF EXPECTATIONS

Recent events have led me to want to share this true story with you. Do enjoy the content but this time, your feedback is much needed. So read on and participate:

It happens from time to time that as an Angel Business Consultant to savvy female entrepreneurs I open my much cherished Rolodex to make an introduction to third party providers.  In my practice, I focus on my area of expertise in sales and marketing but bring on other professionals for services such as HR Consulting, Finance or IT. In order to provide a fully supportive environment for existing clients, these providers are offered the opportunity to complement and work within a strategic framework whilst assisting to stabilize and grow an existing business venture.

For me as the main supporter and long term partner to my clients, making those connections is huge.  A lot of trust and preconceived expectations precede the first introduction. Like any other business, my clients are much cherished and carefully looked after. Therefore placing them in front of another provider, the expectation of professionalism, top service and ongoing communication should be very basic requirements. Well and of course, a thank you is always kindly received and the reciprocal notion of offering something in return even more so.

One of my longest standing clients who have enjoyed a very rapid growth phase, needed financial control services and assistance with budgeting strategy. When your business grows at such a speed, getting the right professional assistance is most important and whilst we recognized this need, I introduced a person who I thought would fit the bill.

In the beginning it was agreed that the provider would get caught up on the financial details and make up of the business before any analysis and planning could be done. However after three months we still did not have the necessary financial information, essential for the strategic planning for the next quarter. When connecting with the service provider, there was reluctance and defiance with no intention of putting things right.

I was shocked! How could this be happening? Maybe I needed to properly intervene to get the promised results that had already loyally been paid for by my client? I decided to put in a firm but nice phone call to get to the bottom of it. Instead of an explanation or a desire to put things right, the provider refused point blank to assist or cooperate. They deflected all responsibility, had cashed in the $4,500 and failed to provide the service they had agreed to deliver.

Now what? I felt guilty for having made the intro in the first place and this third party provider let my client down and me as an alliance partner. What do I do?

Do I contact BBB to advise them of the situation?
Do I encourage my client to take legal action against this provider?
Do I stop making future introductions?
Do I from now on have to manage the relationships with third party providers?
Do I need to adjust my expectations?

I am at a loss and need your objectivity! What are your thoughts? Email me cmillard@mcgbusiness.com. You may even have a similar story to share. Either way I would love to hear from you.

Connect and share,
Thank you in advance.
Conny

THE POWER OF CLARITY

A very common challenge among business entrepreneurs is the ability to have a very clear focus on what they are specializing in. Many times I have met with business owners who run a company alongside seemingly unrelated sideline offerings.

For example, a personal coach providing budgeting services, a child toy retailer offering hosting & design services for e-commerce sites, a HR consultant offering social media training  and so the list goes on.

It is almost as if the entrepreneur is not fully convinced of their own ability to make the one business model work, therefore wanting to keep other options of potential revenue streams open. Or having to choose and then commit to just one model, they might be concerned of missing out on opportunities, they know they could also deliver and get paid for.

Whatever the reasons, running with a number of unconnected options simultaneously will put an entrepreneur into a tailspin, weakening their power to succeed by not focusing all their attention and impact on one business model.

The companies that grow rapidly and reap the most rewards are the ones with a very clear understanding of their core products and services, knowing exactly which markets they are specializing in.
Once they have created significant market share, they then consider expanding their offerings into existing channels with complementary solutions to the core or broaden the markets they are targeting. Either way it is always with a very clear focus on just the one business model.

For moms in business this is even more important as the demands on your time are already divided between family and business commitments. Therefore trust my recommendation of choosing just one business model that you love and want to grow. Target a minimum of two markets and a maximum of three at a time. Ensure you stick to a specialist selection of core products and services until you have created the market share you need and want.

And then..., watch how your clarity turns into prosperity!

With this wishing you all the best until next time,
Conny Millard

THE POWER OF RESEARCH

How often do you take the time to really research products or services you are about to chose for yourself, your family or your business? Are you typically led by a) gut feeling, b) someone’s recommendation or c) by marketing messages?

And does the significance of the purchase impact the thoroughness or the time you spend, to look into your options in greater depth? Have I got you thinking yet?

I have just conducted a search for my very own business adviser knowing how powerful and driven objectivity, strategy and accountability can be! Everyone who is determined to really achieve great things, will need a mentor or adviser by their side, me included.

In the past, I have had a couple of different coaches who came to me through recommendations. I respected the people who connected me up with them and therefore felt that it had to work. Big mistake!

Not only is each individual ‘business’, or ‘life’, or ‘both’ coach fundamentally different in terms of experience, expertise and market knowledge but also their methodologies differ greatly. So going by someone else's recommendation might not work out very well as they are dealing with their own challenges, looking for a great fit that suits them.

Considering to rely on marketing messages is equally difficult. Business advisers are like great school teachers. Depending on your learning style and personality preferences, you will like a certain PERSON rather then the entire establishment. Therefore the marketing materials promoting certain methodologies or tools are irrelevant as it really comes down to the individual who delivers the content.

This leaves going by gut feeling! Now the only way you are going to be able to make the right decision on the best partner to create your financial and personal wealth, is if you are happy to be very thorough in your research of the options that are open to you. There is no quick fix or make do attitude that will find you the perfect individual with the right tools, the most relevant expertise and a nicely gelling personality.

If you have decided that you really want to achieve great things and you are committed to investing into the necessary indulgence of an adviser, then you can not cut any corners!

Be very clear from the outset what you need and what you are looking for, then take your time to thoroughly research your options and give many advisers the opportunity of introducing themselves and their practices. And then....listen to your heart! It will tell you instinctively what will be the best fit for you.

So, GET CLEAR, RESEARCH WELL and then, GET GOING! See you at the start line.

Conny