Phil's Blog
Results 51-60 of 71 articles.Hotel Days
Mar 02 2009
Hotel Days
Some time ago, one of my clients echoed the thoughts of so many business people when he told me that the main barrier to creating a clear business direction is lack of time to sit down and really work it out!.
When I suggested that we needed a “Hotel Day”, his eyes lit up…“What’s a Hotel Day?”
So I explained…
Well, it’s the opportunity to get away from the business environment to put together a strategic blueprint for the future of your business. Armed with a pad of plain paper to capture your thinking, you take a day out… preferably in luxurious surroundings, relaxed and with no interruptions.
For those businesses, large and small, and those business people (large and small?!) who do have a clear business vision, the effect on their operations, their marketing, their clients and their own teams stands out a mile. They are far more focused, they find it far easier to make decisions, they add far more value for their clients, and they can transmit a far more compelling vision to their teams. They also find time to plan the next steps in detail.
And it doesn’t just end with one Hotel day. There needs to be a regular review… so a number of Hotel days spread regularly throughout the year is the answer. This is the day when you review progress, decide next steps and renew your plans. The secret is, of course, to actually put it in the diary. And stick to it. Don’t get tempted back to the office to clear up other “urgent” stuff.
“Hotel Days” are now a regular feature in my client’s calendar.
The frequency with which you hold Hotel Days varies for each person. However they must be regular… every quarter, or even every month, depending on your personal style and needs. Every six months certainly seems too far apart for most.
Mine are on the first Monday of each month… so that’s where I’m off to right now…
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If you are behind...
Feb 27 2009
If you are behind…
Someone recently said that although they felt they were having a busy start to the year, they hadn’t truly laid the foundations for changing and really improving their business. Because of a sort of "hangover" from December/ January, in truth they felt they hadn't got started yet! They also felt frustrated that they would still be in the same position in 3, 6, 12 months time. They wanted a bit of advice on how to quickly get themselves really sorted out properly.
So, if like them you feel that you haven’t yet got on top of things this year:
A. Don’t cry about it.
B. Set aside time to do something about it… set aside a day, two days, whatever it takes. Schedule time in your diary for sometime during the next week… the most important meeting with yourself this year.
C. During that time, do the following
i. Set your personal Mission, Life Vision, and Life Map on paper
ii. Set your 3 year Business Vision… on paper
iii. Set your goals for the current calendar year… on paper
iv. Set your ASMs (Awesome Special Missions) and 90 day goals… on paper
v. Draw up a bullet point outline of who is responsible for what in the business/ team.
vi. Decide on your KRAs (Key Result Areas).
vii. Draw up a year planner… and put it on the wall. Allocate all the Holidays, Hotel days, MPDs (monthly planning days), SoS (self organisation sessions), and Focus Days.
viii. Devise a simple Marketing Engine to attract the right kind of clients
ix. Draw up a Business Pie map… a mindmap of where you can sweep up business in the next month… from all sources
x. Draw up a Self Upgrade list, and a Business Upgrade list to turn around those things which need “sorted” in the short term.
xi. Produce a set of 20-30 Mindchanger cards
xii. Put a mark in the proverbial sand: The Year Starts Here!
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Working Remotely
Feb 25 2009
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Vision-to-Action
Feb 23 2009
Vision - to - Action
Travelling by train can be so productive. I think, for me, it’s the overall ambience I have always enjoyed, because everyone is going somewhere. There’s a sense of moving towards a desired destination.
Last week, whilst travelling by train, I got to thinking through a specific challenge that someone was experiencing and had asked me to look at.
This particular person had come to me saying they always set goals, they always know what they want. But they are constantly adjusting their plans. They seldom feel they really get down to taking consistent action to achieve these goals before it’s time to plan and reset the goals again. Life has become a quagmire of reorganisation, re-thinking, overhauling and planning.
This is not an unusual situation. People are often closer to their goals than they think, and then clog up reaching them with over-complex systems and planning.
The ability to T-P-A, fast (Think-Plan-Act) is a fundamental success tool, but it should be remembered that planning is simply a means of getting from Thinking to Action.
Large, “fat” corporations often wallow in the P (the pun is deliberate here folks!). Life in the P is comfortable (ditto)… it’s about meetings and schedules. It doesn’t involve any stretch in Thinking or Action.
When it comes to Strategy and Planning, don’t overdo it. These are simply a conduit for getting from V to A, quickly.
Sometimes people get so hung up on Planning and Strategy, that they lose sight of Vision and Action. Successful “guerrilla tactics” is about majoring on the Vision and the Action.
We all know the phrase used by Napoleon and Clausewitz- no strategy survives first contact with enemy. So, Strategy is not a straightjacket. It’s an outline of ways to get from Vision to Action
Remember, P= Planning. Not Procrastination! I see many organisations, teams and individuals using planning as a means of avoiding action!
The Vision needs to be so compelling, and the strategy so clear and simple, that we don’t get bogged down in over-planning. Plan what’s needing to be planned, but focus on massive Action.
Vision to Action: Set the vision, with clear values, create an outline strategy, devise a master plan, and make everyone in the team accountable for their actions and results. Vision Now for Wow!
Know the destination you want to get to, consult the timetable, book the tickets, and get on the train. Don't spend so long planning every possible route, via every possible waypoint, that you miss the train.
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Finishing School
Feb 20 2009
Being a Great Finisher
Listening to a client the other day talk about how his challenge right now is not in finding enough business to do, but in actually getting stuff finished. He has so many opportunities to pursue, and so many things which are almost complete, but can’t seem to get any of them done.
I suggested taking himself to “Finishing School” for a month…
One of the most sought-after qualities in business is the ability to finish… that “one percent person” who makes sure something really happens is a rare commodity. And many people tell me that they are just not good at finishing things - a self-fulfilling prophesy if ever there was!
But, here’s the good news… Finishing is a Habit.
Like all habits, Finishing can be learned. It’s an invaluable skill. And once you get into that habit, you’ll be amazed what you achieve … and how you feel about being so productive and effective.
We know that it takes around 28 days to create a new habit. So why not “go to finishing school” for 28 days, and learn how to be a finisher.
It doesn’t just have to be about business either. It could be around the home, in relation to personal life, anything really. The whole idea is to train yourself to be a finisher, to have the mindset of a finisher.
Here’s how it works…
You draw up a list of all the things you want to get finished over the next month. This includes all the half-started projects, and little things which are hanging over. That could be business things from finishing a specific project to finishing a marketing flyer. It could be a report you have been putting off finishing, the preparations for a meeting or event that have dragged on too long, or that phone call which is overdue, or that meeting which really needs to be arranged. Or it could simply be that form that needs to be filled in.
Or they could be personal things (finishing the garden, finishing clearing out the cupboards, finishing putting all the photos in albums, finishing putting pictures up in the spare room, or the back bedroom that needs a lick of paint and so on).
Once you have your list, take yourself to “Finishing School”, and decide to finish something every day: just focus on one thing per day. Plan what you are going to finish tomorrow and then time slot into your schedule a time to finish it. Decide to invest an hour or two finishing it. At work, set aside a Golden hour as finishing time. Undisturbable, uninterruptible. At home, sacrifice the lazy TV time, and just decide that between 8 and 9 pm (or whatever time suits) you are going to finish something.
So take yourself to finishing school…
Lesson 2: Create a big list of all those things you can finish which will lead you forward. If they won’t lead you forward, you need to decide to ditch them (and thereby finish them!). Having unfinished stuff lying around is bad for your self perception!
Lesson 3: Decide what “Finished” means in relation to these tasks. Note: it’s not about perfection.
Lesson 4: apply the FEVER formula (Focus, Energy, Vision, Enthusiasm, Reason)
Lesson 5: Create the habit and Mindset of a Finisher:
This is where you get to take action: Use a 28 day grid and decide to finish something every day! What you finish could be small or large. You could even decide which things you are going to finish on which day in advance, and write the item into the grid.
Having a Finishing Binge will create fantastic results and opportunities, and will also get you into the habit of being a Finisher… a Result-a-holic!
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The Price is Right?
Feb 18 2009
The Price is Right?
Last entry I mentioned character muscles, and the importance of being “tough” at our core… our character; our visions, our values, whilst at the same time being flexible/ adaptable to external changes.
Some of you have asked for an example of this in practice, and in particular in relation to one area that over the years I have had probably more correspondence and questions about than any other: - setting prices.
As I mentioned last time, the sad thing is, most people/ businesses are being and doing the opposite. They are compromising their values and vision for a quick sale, a quick fix, short-term. And they are not being flexible or open to the opportunities that the new world order is providing.
Their reaction to the current climate has been knee jerk: drop the price.
If you believe in your company
If you believe in your vision, at the core, with your true values
If you believe in the product / service you provide
If you believe in the value you give…
No worries… the price is right.
OK, let me give an example: if the first thing a small business does in the current climate is slash its prices, that sends a signal that they have been overpricing for years. That’s an affront to previous/ existing customers. And when you want to maintain customer loyalty, the last thing you want to be doing is affronting them. The assumption that any resistence to buying from you is down to price is plain wrong. Think of the last time you bought something you really wanted and needed... consider what you were thinking when you went through that process. How much did price play a part in your decision to buy?
Great news… surely you want to sell your best value to your best clients who want/ need that level of value. Don’t you?!
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Get a Grip!
Feb 16 2009
Get a Grip!
Do you ever get the urge to climb to the top of the highest tower, and just shout a message to the world? Yep? So, it’s not just me then!
Well, what would you shout?
At the moment here’s what I would shout:
“Get a Grip!”
(probably adding “For Goodness Sake!” or perhaps something stronger!)
It’s time to Stop thinking small
Most of what’s happening out there is created by a mass psychology of fear.
Fear leads to business paralysis, to lives in the darkness.
At the moment, most people seem to be cowed by “the downturn”… running scared of living; with businesses running scared of doing what they know they need to do to be successful, of following their path to the Vision they set out. And sadly, many are even now turning away from their Vision.
The Fear is affecting
· their approach,
· their decisions,
· and their performance
… and in the long term (nay, even in the short-term) that is what will cripple businesses, and will cripple lives. Because it’s a self-perpetuating downward spiral… a self-fulfilling prophesy.
This goes for SME business owners, and for all levels of larger organisations. It goes for families and individuals. It goes for politicians and leaders.
There is a distinct lack of the opportunity mindset needed, of entrepreneurial spirit, of genuine conviction and leadership. Some people are “saying” the right things, making the right noises. But it’s what they then do that proves their approach.
I’m astonished at the number of people who tell they are just concentrating on “getting through the next two months”. Wake up!
And there are even more who say they are confident, but when action is required, they shirk away from progressing out of FEAR.
Let’s bring this to a personal level: how about you Prove your confidence, simply by raising your eye line to Look long term.
This requires courage… an exercise in character muscles.
If I read one more article about “When the Going gets tough”… YUK! The last thing we need right now is for people to be entrenched in their thinking and acting in the old ways, which is what the “going gets tough” approach usually elicits.
But we DO need to be “tough” at our core… certain about our visions, our values.
And at the same time, flexible/ adaptable in our approach to external changes.
Sad thing is, most people/ businesses are being and doing the opposite. They are compromising their values and vision for a quick sale, a quick fix, short-term. And not being flexible or open to the opportunities that the new world order is providing.
The current climate, the New World Order, requires us to have an abundance mentality vrather than a scarcity mentality…
Think abundance (believe there are loads of customers/ clients out there); Act abundant (continue to invest in the best for your life and business)
And guess what…
BUT
Think scarcity (it’s a struggle, no one wants what we provide, it’s too expensive); Act scarcely (hold onto the little we have, and don’t invest in our businesses’ future)
And guess what…
If you believe in yourself
If you believe in your company
If you believe in your vision, at the core, with your true values
If you believe in the product / service you provide
If you believe in the value you give
If you have an abundance mentality
If you have an opportunity mindset
If you allow your entrepreneurial spirit to flourish…
Guess what…
All that’s happening at the moment is YOU are being tested as to how seriously committed you are to the success you say you want. Many are failing the test. But, all are equipped to pass it.
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It's Friday 13th! TPR Day!!
Feb 13 2009
TPR DAY! Friday 13 Feb
But… The Blaming and Complaining virus is our worst pandemic! It’s our real millennium bug. It destroys us, it destroys our friendships, it destroys our relationships, it destroys our careers and it destroys our businesses.
So rather than seeking to blame and complain; it’s time to TPR.
Take Personal Responsibility
All successful people begin by taking one fundamental step. That step is to realise and to believe that they are responsible for their own success. Whether that’s business success, showbiz success, sporting success, personal success. They all know that in the end it’s down to them: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” They Take Personal Responsibility.
So, instead of making Friday 13 February 2009 BSE day (blame someone else), make it TPR day… and discover the difference.
And, rather than assuming that we'll get bad luck on Friday 13th, and that everything is someone else's fault, it's a day for thinking highly positively about how much personal control and responsibility we have over our own lives, our own successes, and that we can make our own luck!
Thirteen tips for today
to make Friday 13th a real TPR day... of course these are usable on any day, not just today!!!
2. If you don’t feel enthusiastic or excited about your life, just Act as if you were enthusiastic and excited. Your feelings will soon catch up!
3. If you want to feel more energetic, Act energetic. Change the focus from “Losing weight” to “Gaining Energy”.
4. The Napoleon factor: Napoleon famously made the final decision when promoting his officers to the most senior positions by asking “Est-il hereux?” meaning “Is he lucky?” Yet the literal translation is “Is he happy?” Those with the right demeanour create their own luck. As the saying goes, "even a rainy day is no match for a sunny disposition."
5. Create images of positive outcomes in every situation: If you create an image in your mind of a positive meeting in advance, you’ll have a positive meeting. If you conjure up a picture in your head of that space in the car park in advance, you’ll find a space. Don’t ask “how”. Just do it… it works.
6. Use the “Elastic Banned” method to remove images and associations in your mind which are counter-productive.
7. Recognise that there are no Coincidences in life… opportunities come along for you to take. Seize an opportunity today.
8. Decide that you have the choice over every action you take.
9. Pause momentarily before responding to whatever is happening around you… whether you have been cut up in traffic, or someone has made a misplaced comment, or you are being misunderstood, or have misunderstood someone else.
10. If something is “bugging” you, decide what you do have control over, and act on these factors only.
11.This evening, at the end of a great day, write down 3 things that you have done that have Made a Difference to your world and that of others.
12. As well as the logic of every situation, pay heed to your gut-feeling and use it today to guide you in making an important choice.
13. Decide that this Friday 13th is going to be a day of amazing good luck… there will be an opportunity you can take which will come along for you today… I promise.
Today's mantra is: “Never complain, never explain, never blame!”
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The PEST who moved the cheese
Feb 11 2009
The PEST who moved the Cheese
Political
Economic
Sociological
Technological
…changes.
Never before have all four had such an impact as in the last 20 years. And to coin the phrase from that marvellous little book… the cheese has moved.
The Cheese has not only moved… it has well and truly disappeared, eaten by a bunch of fat cats who are now lying around bloated and dying.
There are now huge opportunities for small businesses in this collapsing bag of a world. Great!
Time for the small effective operations to really start to make breakthroughs.
Time for small businesses to create their own cheese.
Oh dear! All’s changed. And for those large companies who think they can turn things round by just deciding to call their people “intra-preneurs” (yuk!) - You’re missing the point!!
Meanwhile, I’m seeing small, highly effective, unconventional operations, becoming really successful in a difficult environment. Guerrilla Tactics at work, you see. This is not about just surviving in a tough business jungle. It’s about employing the tactics that will allow you to thrive.
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Running with a stone in your shoe?
Feb 11 2009
Running with a stone in your shoe?
It’s not unusual at the start of February to find people hitting a slump, and on Monday someone confided in me that they felt they hadn’t got started yet. They had every intention of making the year a great one, but they just hadn’t got into their stride.
My approach may now seem obvious. What were their goals for 2009?
Imagine you are running a marathon, and you discover in the first mile that you have a stone in your shoe. Do you keep running, struggling on, with pain, blisters, waiting till the 25th mile to take it out?
Of course not. You stop, and take the stone out immediately. Any seconds lost at the start will be regained by your improved performance throughout the race.
If you haven’t yet written your goals for the year, you are running with a stone in your shoe.
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