Is Discipline a Dirty Word?

My buzz word for 2011 is Discipline, and towards the middle of the year I have added Focus. I realized towards the end of last year that I needed to make some changes. I was working on a few projects and spreading myself thin. I needed to learn the word NO and to walk away from situations that were no longer fruitful.

I really needed to take a good long hard at myself. I am one of those people who get all excited about what I can achieve and then achieve nothing. I get caught up doing something else, the other new shiny thing. (Is that just me or does that happen to you as well?). I am the best at giving others trusty advise, like focus on one thing, get the system and make it a success and then replicate it. FOCUS!!! your time. Meditate, exercise and eat well and most importantly drink lots of water and don’t forget to breath. Blah, blah, blah.

I love the concept of doing the things I should be doing, but, it’s that D word, Discipline that gets me every time. It’s the middle of the year and even though I have achieved many of my goals, I still can’t say no to chocolate cake, so those hours at the gym may be a little wasted. Those extra kilos are still there!

Well I am happy to say that it’s July 1, 2011! I am focusing on being disciplined, I am turning the corner. I have focus. I am now waking at 6pm, drinking my bottle of water and meditating for an hour. (I always woke at 6pm but just stayed in bed and snoozed). I am working in 90 minute segments and then I will either rest, eat, do breathing exercises or go to the gym. (That chocolate cake still gets me; I’ll have to work on that one!)

Last night I did lose focus by watching a DVD, you can’t blame me I was curious. The movie “He’s just not that into you” I had always wanted to see it.

This morning I started off with my regime of meditation, the usual house stuff and now I am doing my 90 minute slot before I go into “Consider This Training” to learn how to use our new POS machines (these will be used for Cert II Retail Training).

So I am well on my way to living the” D” word and putting it into action. 

Here are some tips:

1. Know your outcome!

2. Set timeframes to get the task achieved and adhere to it.

3. Have or get the right mindset to get the job done. (If you don’t find out who does and model them) or get yourself some coaching.

4. Focus on what needs to be done and sometimes you may need to say NO to others if it interferes with your outcome.

5. Map out the best road to get there. See if you can delegate any part or all of the work.

6. Work in 90 minute timeframes, no email, face book or any distractions. When 90 minutes is up have a break, do some stretching, exercise or eat some food it’s up to you.

7. If you can do 4 x 90 minute shifts per day it’s like doing 12 hours of work try it and see how it works.

Give this a try let me know how you go. I’ll keep you updated from time to time on my progress.

Oh Markella my daughter has just made Chocolate Chip Cookies that will be my reward when I finish this 90 minute stint.

Can’t wait to chat to you again next week. 

In the meantime found this cool quote;

“It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” ~Zig Ziglar.

What is the secret of service that keeps us coming back for more?

On that same weekend in Beechworth (refer last week’s BLOG) we had heard about these great restaurants. So we decided that we would dine out both Saturday and Sunday night. The dinner experience on Saturday night was unforgettable; it had everything the great waiter (owner), fantastic food. A great experience overall!

On the Sunday night we headed towards our restaurant. The waiter greeted us, sat us down, our napkins weren’t put on our laps (sign of a good restaurant and this one was not cheap). When he asked me for a pre dinner drink I asked what he recommended I felt like something warming, none of the options he presented took my fancy. So he left and didn’t even ask George (my husband) what he wanted to drink. Wow did he feel unimportant. 

Throughout the night this waiter was pleasant, robotic and did his job. It turned out to be a nice night spent with my gorgeous family but was it an experience - NO! So as we passed over a significant amount of money for an experience that did not match.

So when I started thinking about it the Saturday night, it was about the passion the small touches the little hints of our waiters family life and her children’s likes, she made not only George and I feel special but also the girls. As we laughed, shared stories I felt that we were having dinner with friends, not a stranger’s restaurant.

We hang out with people that are like us that have the same passion as we do... 

Reciprocity in Action on the Wine Tasting trail...

As it was the Queen’s Birthday long weekend we decided to go to Beechworth, a lovely old Gold
Mining town in the north east of the state. On the Sunday, we went out to the wineries of the King
Valley, naturally, being connoisseurs of a fine drop!

It was quite fascinating to watch the most used principle of the famous Robert Cialdini “Reciprocity”
in action from winery to winery (and we did visit a few)!!! Just a small glass of wine leaves us
wanting to return the favour by buying one or two or even a dozen bottles of wine!

“The rule says we must pay in kind what another person has provided us” as written by Robert
Cialdini.

For years wineries have been allowing us to sample their wines, and people in return have left with
a bottle or two. Have you ever wondered why you felt so obliged, sometimes without even liking the
wine to purchase? We feel obligated to return the favour, in other words, they offer a free sample
we buy a bottle. Reciprocity at work! After intensive study by sociologist Alvin Gouldner we can
report that human society subscribes to the rule of reciprocity.

So next time you are given something for free watch how you will automatically return the favour.
The key is how can you use this in sales?

Outsourcing or Not...

I would like to confess I am the outsourcing Queen, I will outsource anything from the weekly cleaning, gardening and getting my kids picked up occasionally from school (doesn’t every school girl have a driver?). I am even embarrassed to say I bought someone in to clean my oven, architraves and cornices.

But tonight I finally came to terms with what I have always known but was deluding myself; there are some things in business that can’t be outsourced. There are things that I must do myself and one of those is Blogging. Yes I have confessed......

I have had my VA (virtual assistant) do my last few Blogs. In the busyness of my day it just seemed so easy, streamlined put it all on Hoot suite let her do it so I don’t have to worry about it. That was my reasoning anyway.

But was I wrong, so wrong... as I sat horrified looking at my blog post it wasn’t the article I had rewritten it was my Virtual Assistants old article. OMG!!! my chest has tightened, I am short of screaming and crying at the same time, can you feel my pain? Maybe I am over reacting? (Feel free to let me know)

The most important lesson I have learned (re-learned) when it comes to the Marketing and the sales systems of the business it must be done by you, the person who is the voice of the company. It’s about building the character talking directly to the customer, talking their language building the relationship. Building a very clear marketing and branding message.

The lesson that Grace my VA learned is double check everything before it goes out. It was a great lesson for both of us....

As for outsourcing Odesk is my new best friend.....

The Magic of Thinking Big and its Lessons

Think BIG! For sure we have all heard this, but do we know what does it meant? Mr. D.J. Schwartz defines that in “The Magic of Thinking Big”. 

Think "big" requires a change of mentality. They can make good tactical sense, but it serves a great reminder in your daily struggle for success. 

Try these simple ideas to keep you motivated:

•  Focus on the things you're good at. 
•  "You're better than you think," writes Schwartz.
•  Use "language of the great thinker." 
• Try to talk with words that speak of hope and happiness.
•  Looking towards the future.
•   Try to see things from their potential, not just what they are today.
• Think that your work is important.
•    The next promotion will depend mainly on your way of thinking in the direction of your current job," writes Schwartz.
• Concentrate on big issues, leaving the banality of the image.
•   Ask yourself: "Is it really important?"

The Vital Role of TEAM BUILDING

Team Building and the Transformation Team - With so many companies are now a form of team building events, what is the best way to take into consideration? Team building activities, which they commonly called, the range of the entertainment group and frivolous things of motivation, Quad, football, cooking, archery, mini golf, football, football, etc. ... throughout what we call ... Appreciative team-building process. This is the REAL team-transformation, which affects people at Head, Heart & Soul and have lasting results.

Real teamwork takes time and desire to participate in greater good of the team, while only looking out for number one. It begins with the desire to work on behalf of the group. Explore reasons. Successful teams, when teams win their teammates, too well. Ineffective teams often are betrayed by selfish members of the team, whose personal goal to pay the team’s objectives.

Among the characteristics of effective teams, whether in sales or service environments:

• A shared vision of the team’s mission and goals

• Willingness to merge their individual talents to improve communication

• Clean equipment in both directions: between team members and team leader, and among members

 • Broad recognition of individual differences in their recognition

• Equipment and rewarding team members for their efforts.

REAL Team Building consists of ideas to get REAL with themselves and others if their team.

• The flexibility and responsibility
•  Energy and commitment
•  Appreciative Inquiry an Action
• Leadership Policy in love

If you think that what has contributed to the team-building event, it is our responsibility to make better use of your time, effort, costs and opportunities for team-building, which grows its own people and relationships.

Group members seek to:

• to be heard 
• to feel important 
• to be evaluated, recognized and appreciate  the opportunity
• to express individuality

All these things can happen in well-managed teams, without sacrificing the team spirit. It is wrong to believe that the best team leaders treat everyone equally. Realistically, not everyone wants or must be treated equally. If sales or service situations, many team members are motivated. These are self-starters who want the car keys and then ask to move away from curb. Other team members want and need for security, support and a little & free hand. Neither is right nor wrong. But each excels when it comes to how the majority want to be treated.

People in real time encouraging teams are happier, healthier, more caring, more resilient, honest, sincere, more energetic, more engaging, and more fun, earn more and are more satisfied with themselves and their lives.

If you plan to convert your productivity goes to a team building session or want to inspire your employees to ensure that the impact and effectiveness of creating sustainable value. Make your decision on the value at a low price!

Teamwork is developed over time. Day after day, your team will grow stronger through the experience and the natural relationships that occur over time. With time and attention to these tips, your group will soon be gone with success!

The Edge of Having a Leverage

Archimedes the great scientist and mathematician once said give me a lever and I can move the world.


Whilst that quote applies to the scientific world it has its uses in the business world. 

Leverage in business is about the ability to control a lot with just a little. In other words to be successful you must master this principle. The more leverage you have the quicker you can make money for your business. 

There a six key forms of leverage. I will focus upon mentoring today.

The definition of mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor. 

How can a mentor aid us in our business, they can assist us in the following way: 

1. A mentor can give us perspective. They remove the emotion out of our decision making and enable us to think in a clear manner. 
2. A mentor can close any skill gap that we may have. Rather than us wasting our time one becoming proficient in something, the mentor has already been there and done that, consequently we save time and energy and focus on the business. 
3. A mentor can teach us patience. When learning new skills, frustration creeps in. They teach us the ability to struggle through failures to achieve mastery.   

So what do you do now? 
Go out and find yourself a mentor, someone that you admire. Study them, learn what you can about them. To be the best in your field you must learn from someone who leads in that field.