The place where small business owners
come to learn, grow and succeed
come to learn, grow and succeed
This is your home, this is that place
Learning/Coaching
Learning/Coaching
White Paper Report
White Paper Report on bringing more joy, fun and passion into your business.
By David Cohen-Learning, Coaching, Radio
BUSINESS AS AN EXPRESSION OF JOY:
One of the coolest case studies I have been exposed to in my business life, was from expert marketing mind Tad Hargrave. Tad has a beautiful marketing consultancy practice that’s changing lives. He works predominantly with business owners in the healing arts and green
business industries.
He talks about designing your business to be an expression of love and joy. At first as you read his article and musings, you think to yourself, "Ya but my parents you used to say, nose to the grindstone, no pain no gain…if you work hard you’ll get results"
So as I read what Tad is talking about…it begins to settle in…this is truly what our work must be about, if we’re really to succeed.
Work or our businesses must be an expression of our passion, joy and love. The question now becomes, how do we make that happen? How do we design our businesses so that it can be about joy, passion and love?
How can we create a buying experience for our customers where that is the feeling we are orchestrating, each and every day?
This is an excerpt from Paddi Lund’s website...
The Crazy Australian Dentist!
Crazy? Well that's because Paddi:
Yet now also ...
Dr Paddi Lund has completely redefined the customer experience, successful sales techniques and referral marketing. Read and hear all about how Paddi did it - including step by step how you, too, can improve sales and, like Paddi, mix business, happiness and profits!
Paddi wrote the book, Building Happiness-Centered Business. It's a paradigm shift. Its belief altering...but it works.
It’s caught the eye of many expert business minds...
Jay Abraham, perhaps one of the leading marketing minds in business today, writes about Paddi's business philosophy...
Jay Abraham is a well-respected Californian marketing guru and head of Abraham Publishing.
"A lot of people talk about paradigm shifting, changing our belief systems, etc. But this man is the definitive expert on the subject. If happiness, liberation control and financial security are important to you, study these books. They will change the entire way you look at your life, business and value systems.
I've always been impressed with Paddi, and his story is a model I've used to demonstrate 3 different ethoses: 1) Revering your value to yourself and the value that you bring to others. 2) The power of playing life by your own game and your own rules. 3) Having a hell of a lot of fun in the process.
I admire what Paddi has done with his life. I admire what he is trying to do to help others."
What about other examples of joy at work...how about the Mitchell family at Mitchell Richards and Marsh's in New Jersey and Connecticut, where they hug their customer or Pikes Fish Market where they engage the customer, have fun, and bring passion and energy to the fish mongering business.
Let's not forget the how Harvey McKay revolutionized the envelope business, by getting to know each and every client personally…so much so they don’t buy anywhere else, because working with the McKay Enveloped company is like working with family.
So how do you bring joy and passion to work?
I say it's all in the balance. You've got to live a life of balance. You've got to take care of you...before you can really take care of your customer in such a superb way as sited by Mitchell Richards and Marsh’s clothing stores, or Pikes Fish Market in Seattle, the McKay envelope company in Minnesota and yes Dr. Lund in Australia.
So where do you begin to get that balance?
So what do we do when those New Years goals don’t quite take shape the way we want too? Now I know you are scratching your heads, saying to yourselves, he did say New Years Goals right and not resolutions? Yes indeed I did say goals. Personally I don’t like resolutions, they are too short term to me and chances are they get broken within a week or two. Right? Yeah, you know because you’ve made a few and broken a few in your lifetime, so have I.
So, goals to me seem to last longer. They are long term. I mean if you take a hockey player or a soccer player who scores a goal, they last so long that they go into record books and onto the back of hockey cards. So goals are long lasting.
This new year coming up, I say resolve to set goals. Goals have to be SMART too. By smart I don’t mean that it’s a comparison between silly goals and smart goals...I mean maybe a silly goal is the thing you need to motivate you this year...
When I say SMART, I am referring to goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. You can actually look at the goals you are setting and you can actually achieve it, there is a measurement to it, it’s possible for you to achieve it and do so in a timely fashion.
You see, when you make goals you want to tip the scales of success in your favour. I love reaching my goals and so I set them around the 5 cornerstones of my life. I take a holistic approach to goal setting.
In fact, I call my holistic approach, the "SWIFT" method. I set goals within this framework so that all aspects of my life are in balance.
To me, my life is based on S...which is "SOCIAL" goals, one of the social goals I set out to accomplish each year is to go on a blind date for example, yes I am single and am wanting to meet that certain special someone. Another "SOCIAL" or "S" goal is to have a party with friends and another one is to go see jazz concerts...these are definitely attainable goals...and they’re fun too!
My "W" in the "SWIFT" method is "WORK" goals. Being in business I want to work on my website, get 2 new accounts, and develop a new brochure these next few months.
The "I" goals means "INNER". This involves prayer, meditation, reading, learning...as Dr. Stephen Covey says, these are the things you do to "sharpen the saw" so to speak. Some of my "INNER" goals include prayer and meditation.
My "F" goals mean "FINANCIAL" oh yes, I want to pay down my debts like anyone else and contribute to my RRSP and start and RESP too this year...pretty honourable financial goals huh?
Lastly, my "T" goals in the "SWIFT" method refer to the things in my life that need "Taking Care of". Those mean health, family and yes my weight watchers meetings...when you combine these core areas of your life I believe you are beginning to live in balance.
So what do you do to keep these goals in sight and what can you do to encourage you to stay focused?
My recommendation is take it all on, live life full out, play by the "SWIFT" method...but divide the tasks up and into categories and headings. The next step is to assign the necessary tasks to accomplish the goals and address the issues in each area of your "SWIFT".
I do this on a large piece of Bristol board and use 3M post-it-notes to write down each action step I need. On the Post-it-notes are the tasks or goals. Once completed, I remove each note and put up a new task that needs to be done.
The post-it-notes act as big reminders for me and give me focus. On each note are the actions I need to take in each area of my business. The Bristol board can be decorated and fun. If you want, you can include motivational sayings and pictures as decorations and to help keep you motivated during the lean times.
Once you are re-focused to the tasks you need to take on in your business, you start to feel good because you are always in action around key areas of your business. And trust me...when you
are in action, those results will come!
So work on creating your "Action Board". It’s amazing when you think about things to do in your business, write down your goals and actions and see it in front of you every day, what can happen. I use a board similar to this and I find it keeps me focused.
On the next page, I have an example of an "Action Board" for you to see what I am talking about. So don’t get panicky about resolutions set goals around the areas that really matter to you this year. Just take action and stay in action. You will love the results!
As you can see above, the chart lists each key goal or task. Use post-it-notes so that once one task is complete you can remove it and identify another task, goal or action step.
But balance in your life or business is more than just good planning it's also about having a sense of contribution. It’s about giving back to society, to make it whole, just and fair.
Don't do this if it's not in your heart and you've got an expectation. Do it if it fits your lifestyle and schedule. If you have time and can make a difference.
WORK SHOP:
By David Cohen-Learning, Coaching, Radio
BUSINESS AS AN EXPRESSION OF JOY:
One of the coolest case studies I have been exposed to in my business life, was from expert marketing mind Tad Hargrave. Tad has a beautiful marketing consultancy practice that’s changing lives. He works predominantly with business owners in the healing arts and green
business industries.
He talks about designing your business to be an expression of love and joy. At first as you read his article and musings, you think to yourself, "Ya but my parents you used to say, nose to the grindstone, no pain no gain…if you work hard you’ll get results"
So as I read what Tad is talking about…it begins to settle in…this is truly what our work must be about, if we’re really to succeed.
Work or our businesses must be an expression of our passion, joy and love. The question now becomes, how do we make that happen? How do we design our businesses so that it can be about joy, passion and love?
How can we create a buying experience for our customers where that is the feeling we are orchestrating, each and every day?
This is an excerpt from Paddi Lund’s website...
The Crazy Australian Dentist!
Crazy? Well that's because Paddi:
- Pulled down all his signs and locked his front door,
- Took his name out of the phone book,
- "Fired" more than half his customers,
- Sawed up his reception desk and installed a Cappuccino Machine instead!
- Now bakes fresh dental buns for clients, and
- Serves 30+ varieties of tea in fine bone china.
Yet now also ...
- Only accepts new clients 'By Invitation'
- Works 23hrs/wk & earns 2½ times the income,
- Loves going work & is really happy!
Dr Paddi Lund has completely redefined the customer experience, successful sales techniques and referral marketing. Read and hear all about how Paddi did it - including step by step how you, too, can improve sales and, like Paddi, mix business, happiness and profits!
Paddi wrote the book, Building Happiness-Centered Business. It's a paradigm shift. Its belief altering...but it works.
It’s caught the eye of many expert business minds...
Jay Abraham, perhaps one of the leading marketing minds in business today, writes about Paddi's business philosophy...
Jay Abraham is a well-respected Californian marketing guru and head of Abraham Publishing.
"A lot of people talk about paradigm shifting, changing our belief systems, etc. But this man is the definitive expert on the subject. If happiness, liberation control and financial security are important to you, study these books. They will change the entire way you look at your life, business and value systems.
I've always been impressed with Paddi, and his story is a model I've used to demonstrate 3 different ethoses: 1) Revering your value to yourself and the value that you bring to others. 2) The power of playing life by your own game and your own rules. 3) Having a hell of a lot of fun in the process.
I admire what Paddi has done with his life. I admire what he is trying to do to help others."
What about other examples of joy at work...how about the Mitchell family at Mitchell Richards and Marsh's in New Jersey and Connecticut, where they hug their customer or Pikes Fish Market where they engage the customer, have fun, and bring passion and energy to the fish mongering business.
Let's not forget the how Harvey McKay revolutionized the envelope business, by getting to know each and every client personally…so much so they don’t buy anywhere else, because working with the McKay Enveloped company is like working with family.
So how do you bring joy and passion to work?
I say it's all in the balance. You've got to live a life of balance. You've got to take care of you...before you can really take care of your customer in such a superb way as sited by Mitchell Richards and Marsh’s clothing stores, or Pikes Fish Market in Seattle, the McKay envelope company in Minnesota and yes Dr. Lund in Australia.
So where do you begin to get that balance?
So what do we do when those New Years goals don’t quite take shape the way we want too? Now I know you are scratching your heads, saying to yourselves, he did say New Years Goals right and not resolutions? Yes indeed I did say goals. Personally I don’t like resolutions, they are too short term to me and chances are they get broken within a week or two. Right? Yeah, you know because you’ve made a few and broken a few in your lifetime, so have I.
So, goals to me seem to last longer. They are long term. I mean if you take a hockey player or a soccer player who scores a goal, they last so long that they go into record books and onto the back of hockey cards. So goals are long lasting.
This new year coming up, I say resolve to set goals. Goals have to be SMART too. By smart I don’t mean that it’s a comparison between silly goals and smart goals...I mean maybe a silly goal is the thing you need to motivate you this year...
When I say SMART, I am referring to goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. You can actually look at the goals you are setting and you can actually achieve it, there is a measurement to it, it’s possible for you to achieve it and do so in a timely fashion.
You see, when you make goals you want to tip the scales of success in your favour. I love reaching my goals and so I set them around the 5 cornerstones of my life. I take a holistic approach to goal setting.
In fact, I call my holistic approach, the "SWIFT" method. I set goals within this framework so that all aspects of my life are in balance.
To me, my life is based on S...which is "SOCIAL" goals, one of the social goals I set out to accomplish each year is to go on a blind date for example, yes I am single and am wanting to meet that certain special someone. Another "SOCIAL" or "S" goal is to have a party with friends and another one is to go see jazz concerts...these are definitely attainable goals...and they’re fun too!
My "W" in the "SWIFT" method is "WORK" goals. Being in business I want to work on my website, get 2 new accounts, and develop a new brochure these next few months.
The "I" goals means "INNER". This involves prayer, meditation, reading, learning...as Dr. Stephen Covey says, these are the things you do to "sharpen the saw" so to speak. Some of my "INNER" goals include prayer and meditation.
My "F" goals mean "FINANCIAL" oh yes, I want to pay down my debts like anyone else and contribute to my RRSP and start and RESP too this year...pretty honourable financial goals huh?
Lastly, my "T" goals in the "SWIFT" method refer to the things in my life that need "Taking Care of". Those mean health, family and yes my weight watchers meetings...when you combine these core areas of your life I believe you are beginning to live in balance.
So what do you do to keep these goals in sight and what can you do to encourage you to stay focused?
My recommendation is take it all on, live life full out, play by the "SWIFT" method...but divide the tasks up and into categories and headings. The next step is to assign the necessary tasks to accomplish the goals and address the issues in each area of your "SWIFT".
I do this on a large piece of Bristol board and use 3M post-it-notes to write down each action step I need. On the Post-it-notes are the tasks or goals. Once completed, I remove each note and put up a new task that needs to be done.
The post-it-notes act as big reminders for me and give me focus. On each note are the actions I need to take in each area of my business. The Bristol board can be decorated and fun. If you want, you can include motivational sayings and pictures as decorations and to help keep you motivated during the lean times.
Once you are re-focused to the tasks you need to take on in your business, you start to feel good because you are always in action around key areas of your business. And trust me...when you
are in action, those results will come!
So work on creating your "Action Board". It’s amazing when you think about things to do in your business, write down your goals and actions and see it in front of you every day, what can happen. I use a board similar to this and I find it keeps me focused.
On the next page, I have an example of an "Action Board" for you to see what I am talking about. So don’t get panicky about resolutions set goals around the areas that really matter to you this year. Just take action and stay in action. You will love the results!
| Social | Work | Inner | Financial | Taking Care of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go on dates | Develop Contact List | Attend prayer services | Meet my planner | Book Sundays for family day |
| Have a party with friends | Meet 10 new clients/month | Read 10 minutes a day | Set up a budget | Go to the gym 3 times a week |
| Go to Jazz concerts | Call at least 10-15 clients/day | Do Yoga and meditate | Invest 10 per cent | Do the cleaning |
As you can see above, the chart lists each key goal or task. Use post-it-notes so that once one task is complete you can remove it and identify another task, goal or action step.
But balance in your life or business is more than just good planning it's also about having a sense of contribution. It’s about giving back to society, to make it whole, just and fair.
Don't do this if it's not in your heart and you've got an expectation. Do it if it fits your lifestyle and schedule. If you have time and can make a difference.
WORK SHOP:
- What are 3 goals in each category of your life that you can work on this next month or two?
- Who can hold you accountable?
- If you have managed to have a day where all key elements of "SWIFT" had occurred, what did that day feel like for you? How did you feel about yourself at the end of the day?
If you’re ready to “TUNE-UP” your business, then let’s talk. Email me below!
CONTACT US