Archive For: Management

Surviving Holiday Shopping

Today’s post is Something Different.  A friend of mine Jill Chivers runs a program and award winning website called Shop Your Wardrobe.  Jill has been on her own year-long challenge, a year without clothes shopping, which finishes on Wednesday, 15 December 2010.  As she is the expert on shopping (and not shopping), I asked her to share with us her guide to Surviving Holiday Shopping.  I hope you find it valuable!

Enjoy!!

Warwick


Surviving Holiday Shopping

I’ve learned a lot about shopping by not doing it for a year.  My own year without shopping taught me a lot about the emotional reasons that we shop, and ways to use my time, money and energy better. Now we’re coming into the holiday crush and many people’s thoughts are turning to shopping.   
Shopping for Christmas gifts, shopping for special holiday food, shopping for one’s self as a treat.  I don’t know about you, but there are certain shopping centres that I actively avoid from about December 10 onward – they are madhouses!  If you found shopping confusing or over-stimulating before, then in the lead up to the end of the year and in the week leading up to the New Year, they are even worse! So here are our top tips for surviving shopping mayhem this
year.
1.    Be prepared.  
      Yes, girl and boy scouts, this oldie but goodie is one worth applying to shopping.  Don’t go out of the house, headed towards the shop without a clear plan of where you’re going and what you’re getting.  Write a list.  Use that list.  Even if you aren’t a list-writer or use one at any other time of the year. This may take some time to create, your list – but consider it a wise investment – the time you spend creating the list will pay off in spades when you’re in the mall.  And remember:
lists are like maps – they can help you stay on track and avoid pitfalls.  If there is any time of year
when pitfalls abound, it’s now.  So do yourself a favour and create your map and take it with you!
2.  
Be in a resourceful state.  
      What this refers to is how you’re feeling, mentally, emotionally and physically.  Do not go  shopping when you are tired, fractious, hungry, upset, angry or frustrated.  It will only get worse  once you are in the shopping mall.  Make sure you are feeling buoyant, well-rested, energetic, well fed and watered, and calm.
3.  
Be focused.  
      Keep your map – your list – in your hand and go to only those places that you said you would.   Don’t meander into this shop or drift into that shop.  Don’t allow yourself to become distracted by spruikers selling their wares at seemingly massive discounts, or enticing window or table  displays.  Keep your focus laser sharp.
4.  
Be aware.  
      Shopping centres are deliberately designed to keep you in them for as long as possible. The way they are designed, lighted and air conditioned is all part of a deliberate strategy to have you lose your sense of time (and sometimes, direction).  Keep your awareness turned to “high” as you shop, by tuning into your surroundings and noticing them.  It’s easy to become in a slightly anaesthetised state in a large enclosed shopping mall (after all, the design of these malls has been scientifically tested, proven and duplicated for many decades) – so offset that by being aware of where you are.
5. 
Be clever (but not cheap).  
      Some of us are bargain hunters – we can sniff out a sale at 100 paces and our homes and wardrobes are stocked with many items purchased for far less than their ticketed price.  I’m all for buying well but I’d caution: just don’t buy something because it’s on sale.  That’s a trap that will have your home and wardrobe overstuffed with “cheap” where no further thought has gone into its purchase than its price tag.  If you wouldn’t buy it full price, put it back – it’s not for you.
6.  
Be deliberate.  
      Last minute shopping often leads to frenzied shopping where you buy the first thing you see without any hesitation.  Stopping and pausing before buying is a great ‘braking’ mechanism that has you interrupting an automatic thought pattern of “ooh I like this, I must purchase it” to “ooh I like this.  Let me consider what it may, or may not, add to my life”.  Never go from ‘high’ to ‘buy’ – insert a step in between so that everything you bring home is consciously chosen.
7.  
Be timely.  
      Set yourself a timeframe by which you will be finished shopping, and heading out the door.  You want to put some flex into this timeframe, because the car park and the mall may be more  congested than usual, making it harder to manoeuvre around.  But it will be possible to give yourself a broad timeframe that you can stick to.  If you say it’s 2 hours, then after that time, do a quick review of your map (your list) and see if you have done enough for today’s session, and start moving toward the exit.
Shopping at holiday times can be a stimulating pastime.  It can also lead to blow-outs in your budget and the feeling of time slipping through your fingers.   Use these strategies to shop consciously and reduce the consumption commotion this holiday period. As the New Year peaks around the corner, consider making 2011 the year that you “shop your wardrobe” instead of the malls. Find out more about my program and join it (with special input from Warwick in Month 6!) by visiting http://www.shopyourwardrobe.com

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Have You Got Your Fat Bob?


Have You Got Your Fat Bob?

Before you get too excited, let me tell you that a Fat Bob is a type of Harley Davidson Motorcycle.  This is what one looks like:


Maybe your desire is not for a Fat Bob, maybe it’s a BMW or a piece of jewellery or an overseas holiday.  How are you going with your dream?

A client and friend of mine, Paul has always wanted a Brand New Harley.  The picture you see is of him on his brand new bike. But the story is not as simple as: Set Goal, Worked Hard, and Got Goal.

Paul wanted a brand new Harley but along the way settled for second hand ones. In fact, he had 23 of them before he got his Brand New Fat Bob!

But still, it’s not that simple.  Earlier this year, on his way to work, a Kangaroo decided to try and knock him off his bike.  This resulted in major leg and back damage, several operations and coming up with an ingenious way to store crutches on the bike as he rode!!

And still, it is not that simple.  When I asked him if I could use this photo for the Get More Goer he said, “Mate, my journey is far from over. At least 2, probably 4 operations are scheduled for 2011 with a whole lot of recovery work”

THAT is what this is about.  Realising that the journey is not over until they lay you in the coffin.  There will always be hiccups and barriers along the way. There will always be more to do.  There will always be reasons to give up. Keep the focus on what you desire and keep working towards it, one step at a time.  Get the support you need and live life enjoying today.  Who knows what tomorrow brings!

For some, tomorrow brings a Fat Bob.  What will your tomorrow bring?

Enjoy

Warwick


PS A huge thanks to those of you who took up the Agents of Action special offer for the first 70 orders.  I have been able to get some more bonuses from the other authors which means that you get over $1,000 worth of value when you pay $29.95 for the book.  The details are on the order page.  Please let those in your network know about it.

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Thank You Agent Of Action

You are an Agent of Action!

Thank you for taking action!



Your order has been received and a receipt will be sent to you shortly.

I expect the book to be delivered from the publisher early January at the latest. Once I receive it, I will send your copy plus all your bonuses post haste.

Some of the bonuses will be scheduled for later Jan and early Feb.  This will give you a chance to read the book and not feel overwhelmed by a stack of resources hitting you all at once!

If you have any questions regarding your Agents of Action Pack, please don’t hesitate to call me on +61 408 592 158 or email warwick@warwickmerry.com

Warm regards
 
WGM Sign 
 
Warwick
 
 
PS If I get any further bonus items from the other authors I will pass them directly on to you!
  

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Are You Ready?

Are you ready for 2011?  It is only a month away.  
The reality is that you don’t have to do much to get ready for it.  If you just wait, it will sneak up on you.

BUT

If you want to Get More from 2011 there are a couple of things you can do:

  • Set aside a day for reflection.  This will include both personal and business reflection
  • Have a structure for the day. Something simple like, in the morning personal, the afternoon business. For both sessions look back on the year and acknowledge what you did well, then look forward at your plans and goals for the year
  • Make sure you include in this day time to establish what annual leave or holidays you will have
  • Create a high level action and reward plan for the year. You MUST celebrate your success. 


To help with this, here are a couple of valuable resources:

  • The Get More Grid – use this to create a standard weekly routine   
  • Regular Results Review – use this to help with your day of reflection      
  • The Get More Guide – This is my profile document. Use it if you are planning a motivational session for your team or looking for a mentor. 


There is also a new book I have contributed to coming out soon to help you take massive action, but more about that later.


Enjoy!

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How are the Trains?

I received an email from a friend of mine regarding one of the key policies of the impending state election here in Victoria.  It is worth reading in its entirety.  I hope you enjoy the clip also!

Hello good citizens

With the state election looming, the following titbit from my urban flashmob melbourne choir men in suits may be both amusing and newsworthy:

This is us preparing for our future possible role as the new, more compassionate face of metro: a platform announcements choir that is genuinely, genuinely sorry that the trains are late.

If you happen to have websites, political forums, or groups that you can post this to, please do so with murderous alacrity and glee.
we’d love for this to get seen.

thankyou
stephen taberner



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Are They Eating Out of Your Hand?

As I write this I am enjoying the last day of a four day get away at Wye River. It is a stunning location where mountains meet the sea. The glorious gum trees are filled with bird life. We have seen cockatoos,

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rosellas, willy wagtails (not sure of their real name but this is what I call them), currawongs and king parrots.


I decided I wanted to get up close and as you can see I finally had them eating out of my hand. You can use the same process to get your customers eating out of your hand.

Parrot Eating
  1. Go where your customer is – I went on to balcony when the birds were there
  2. Give them what they want – I had broken bits of biscuit that I knew they liked
  3. Make it easy for them – I put some crumbs on the railing and then held my open handful of crumbs next to it
  4. Support them and make them comfortable – I held my hand steady and gave them more crumbs as they stood on my hand
  5. Show gratitude – As they fed I was saying thank you for visiting us
  6. Celebrate your success – The rest of us staying at the house came out to say hello to the king parrots

What about you? Do you have your customers eating out of your hands? Use this process and you soon can!


Enjoy

PS Do you Exhibit at Tradeshows, Expo’s or Conferences? Want to have your visitors eating out of your hand? Register for the complimentary webinar 5 Steps to Double Your Return.

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Have You Told Anyone?

I caught up with a friend last night and he told me a strange story.

My friend (let’s call him Simon, because that is his name) works for a multi-national with an Asia Pacific Regional Office in Singapore.  His direct boss is based in this office.  Now Simon doesn’t see his boss much but it is an IT company so they stay in touch with emails and video conferencing and the like.

Last week he was at an internal meeting with another colleague from Singapore. Simon just participated as usual and they were able to come up with a resolution to a particular issue.  His colleague went back to Singapore and Simon thought nothing of it.


The next day, Simon received a text from his boss saying something along the lines of, “I have just heard about the great job you guys did. Thank you for your contribution. I understand it made a difference and I wanted to let you know I appreciate it”.

Wow!

It had a significant impact on Simon. It confirmed for him that he has a great boss, works at a great company and he is truly valued. Before you start thinking “My boss never says anything like that”, put the shoe on the other foot.  Who have you said something like that too?  Have you told anyone that you appreciate their work lately?

Research has show than genuine compliments have a more positive impact than a pay rise. So who needs one? Your boss, your team members, your cleaner, your security guard, the receptionist, the person in the cafe, your partner, your kids, your friends or your family?  I am sure there is someone.

So have you told anyone lately?

———

PS Do you Exhibit at Tradeshows, Expo’s or Conferences?  Do you want to Double Your Return when you next Exhibit? Register for the complimentary webinar 5 Steps to Double Your Return

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Have You Got The Right Gear?

I spent 6 hours yesterday with a Dingo.  I don’t mean the protected native dog of Australia, I mean one of these.

Dingo


You see, wifey and I are a typical couple in the suburbs.  Some weekends we like to dig in the garden and some weekends we like to knock down the side wall, dig out 6 cubic metres of earth, create a massive new veggie garden and then replace the earth with road base so we can park one of our many vehicles up the side of the garage, then we like to spread the 9 cubic metres of topsoil on the new lawn area where the old pine trees got cut down.

Now I don’t know about you, but shifting a total of 21 cubic metres of earth by hand is a huge effort.  Let alone digging out that dirt at the side of the shed that was full of tree roots.  So I decided to make it easier for myself and get the right gear.  So I spent 6 hours with a Dingo.  It made the job a whole lot easier and quicker.  It was a whole lot of fun too!

I have found time and time again that having the right gear makes a massive difference.  Accounting software does a better job than a spreadsheet, waterproof ski gear is better than jeans, sunglasses are better than squinting… you see the theme.

Have you got the right gear?

If there is something you need to do at work or at home, get the right gear.  It makes the job easier, quicker and more rewarding.

Enjoy!


PS Do you Exhibit at Tradeshows, Expo’s or Conferences?  Then get the Right Gear to help you Double Your Return. Register for the complimentary webinar 5 Steps to Double Your Return

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7 Secrets of Successful Sessions

Welcome to the 7 Secrets Page.

 

Thanks for listening to the CD. I trust you will now use these secrets to make your next event fabulous!

As an added bonus, I have put some relevant downloads here for you. In particular the instructions on

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How to Prepare and Deliver a GREAT Introduction will make a difference at your next event. I would also draw your attention the the Get More Guide as a profile of my services for you and your organisation.

Enjoy these resources and if I can help you or your organisation, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Warm regards

 

Warwick Merry

 

Your free Downloads:

The Get More Guide – Service Delivery Profile

How to Prepare and Deliver a GREAT Introduction

Regular Results Review

It has been said that most people spend more time planning their holiday than they do planning the rest of their life. For this reason, I have created the Regular Results Review. It is a simple, yet effective high level tool, to look back at your achievements and plan the coming ones. I recommend that you use this at least annually. Many clients like to use it around New Years day to set them in good stead for the year ahead.

 

 

 

Testimonials

Here are some relevant testimonials from my clients. See what they have to say.

 

 

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Do You Feel Special?


More importantly than do you feel special, do you make your customers, your prospects or your team feel special?
The research has shown what many of us knew instinctively. Customer loyalty and purchase decisions are more based on how your customer/prospects feel than a logical decision. So do you make them feel special?  Look at any exhibitor, leader, company or sales person who you think is “Extraordinary”.  The reality is that they are not extraordinary, they are simply ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  They do a little bit more than your average person or company does and this makes them stand out.

For example, wifey and I went to dinner last night with friends to Borsh, Vodka and Tears.  Knowing it is popular I made sure that I had booked for 4 at 7:30pm.  So far all was proceeding as usual.  I got the phone call from them earlier in the day to confirm my booking (as has become standard with many restaurants now) and wifey and I headed in at the designated time.  Most places will just have “reserved” on the table, typically with a credit card logo as they will sponsor the sign and pay for them, but not here.  I was quite excited to find that their reservation system was…..My Name!!  Check it out. 
Reservation Card

Now they didn’t spell it correctly, but I didn’t care because it was close enough.  To help them manage all of their bookings, it was also systemised.  Noticed the table number, the number of people and time of the booking is also on the card.  While I know it is only a little thing, it made me feel special.  Not just “another booking” but “Warwick’s” booking.

In what you do, do you make your customers and colleagues feel special?  Do you just do that little bit extra to make it extraordinary?  You could be an exhibitor, a sales person or simply part of a larger organisation.  What will you do TODAY to make those around you feel special?

Enjoy!!
Warwick
PS I got plenty of feedback from last week’s Get More Goer.  For those of you who really wanted to know, yes Mum did lick the spoon.
Also, demand for the Frangelico and Brownies recipe was high.  For those of you who missed it, you can download it here.

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What a Disaster!

I couldn’t believe it! I was just giving myself a “tidy up trim” an hour before I flew out to work for three days on an Expo with a major client and a DISASTER happened!  


Being male and with a simple hair style means that I cut my own hair.  Simple “Number 2” attachment on the clippers and just move it all over my head.  I also have a technique to tidy the base of the hair cut at the back.  Just take off the attachment and trim a little with my guide.


Naturally, as a well trained husband I then show my “new do” to wifey for the final approval.  In business you always ask for a second opinion, this is just the same.  She spotted a few “tufty bits” at the back so I returned to the bathroom to trim them. A quick trim and then…… hang on….. that is way more hair falling off than a “tuft”.


Nooooooooo!!!!!


I had neglected to put the Number 2 attachment back on so now I had a Number 0 on the crown of my head!!  I couldn’t cover it up, I couldn’t “blend” it in.  There was no alternative, it all had to come off.  What a disaster!!!  Here is the result.





The surprising thing is that several of the exhibitors mentioned how much they liked my hair cut when I was coaching them.  They didn’t even realise I wear my hair longer.  But most people didn’t even notice.  Have you noticed that happening in your business and in your life?  Something happens that you swear is a major catastrophe, the worst thing that could possibly happen, we will never get over it, how can we cope……. but most people don’t notice or just don’t care.


My hair will grow back (well… most of it), your situation will resolve one way or the other. Life and business continues.  Don’t get distracted by your own perspective. Keep your focus on what counts for your customers.


Enjoy!!

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It is Fantasy of Planning?

I bought some tickets in the Royal Melbourne Hospital Home Lottery last week.  It is not something I have done before.  Like many people, I will by a $2 or $5 raffle ticket here or there but it is rare to spend $100 or more on a ticket. I just figured I have 1 chance in 26 of winning a prize and 1 chance in 80,000 of winning the grand prize.  Those are far better odds than Tattslotto (1 chance in over 8 million) and the money goes to a good cause.

Discussing the prizes with Wifey, we started planning what we would do when we won the Aston Martin Vantage (she likes Aston Martins).  Which of the other cars would we sell, where would be park it, where would we drive it and that kind of thing.  It struck me, is it fantasy or is it good planning.

It’s a bit of both really.  In the same way when you are planning a new business venture, you need to consider some of the finer points and put yourself in the position of achieving what you want.  It gets the mind ready for it and you will already know how to deal with the situation happening.  Yes it is a bit of fantasy, but it is planning for what your hard work will bring about.

Where do you need to do some more of this kind of planning?


Warwick


PS  Doesn’t it look sweet??


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Are you Good or are you There?


I heard at a National Speakers Association of Australia meeting that there is a difference between being Good and being There.  (Sorry I can’t recall who said it!)
Basically what they said was, are you rewriting, practicing, polishing, learning, waiting, refining until what you are doing is really good or are you just getting it out there?
The Pareto principle tells us that it will take 20% if the effort to get us to 80% of the result we are after.  Can you afford the next 80% of the effort?


I know there are some of you saying, “Yeah, but you would want your surgeon to get it 100% right!!”  I agree.  There are some professions and situations you would want the 100% effort and result.  My point for you is, does it have to be perfect?  With what you are working on at work or at home, are you in one of those “has to be 100%” jobs?  Do you have to have it “just right” before you release it?  Can you get the majority of your results by getting it or yourself out there?  It may not be perfect, but I am sure it is damn good!!


At a recent Trade Show is Los Vegas, an exhibitor had this very problem.  His stand didn’t arrive and wouldn’t until half way through the show. To avoid being fined by the organiser for an empty booth, he did what he could.  He built one out of other people’s scraps.  The result was so good, when the “real” stand arrived, he left it out the back.  What he did wasn’t perfect.  It probably breached corporate brand guidelines, it hadn’t been tested, he didn’t know the best message to send but it worked.  It wasn’t Good but it was There.  You can read the Exhibitor article here (it is worth the read!) 


What are you delaying on because you want it to be Good?  Maybe you could just get it There?




Image: Flickr Matt N Johnson

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Challenge Update – Don’t Put It Off!

So far so good.


I have been drinking the water, doing the classes, doing push ups in the comfort of my own home and even doing extra exercise!!


Little observation though, skipping is way harder than I first thought. I need to do an additional 1/2 hr of exercise each day so I thought I would do skipping. Just step out the back and away you go. After about 2 minutes I was ready to collapse!! It is tough work. It is a full on cardio work out and makes your calves hurt for days after. I only got to 10 minutes and I had to stop.


One thing I will say is,

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don’t put things off. It is too easy to say, “I will do those push ups later, maybe after I get home from choir practice”. I knew if I put them off, they would not get done. Plus I then got the benefit of knowing when I got home, I could just relax and not have to do stupid exercises.


You could say the same for things that come up every day. It is so easy to say, “I’ll call them later, I will email soon, I will do that after….” It is usually not until the end of the day that you realise everything that you have put off is now teetering in a tower of to do notes right in front of you. If a task will only take 5 minutes you are better off doing it now versus spending the same 5 minutes postponing it and scheduling time in your diary.


Still looking for the endorphin kick. Let me know if you find any!


Enjoy


Warwick Merry
The Sweat More Guy!!

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Need a Challenge?

Everyone loves a challenge (or so the saying goes).  I am just about to start the Step Into Life Winter Challenge.  Let me explain…..


First we need to back track a little.  Some of you may know that I am a generously proportioned individual (code for carries too much body fat).  What makes it worse is that I am not a fan of sport or exercise.  I know my lifestyle is very sedentary, but I just couldn’t face a gym full of lycra covered beautiful people (and that’s just the guys!).  A friend of mine, Super Steph, suggested I do Step Into Life which is group personal training outdoors.


So for the past 16 months I have been running around like an idiot at really early hours of the day because it is in the best interest of my body.  Apparently some endorphins will kick in soon and make me feel fantastic, but I am still waiting!!  As part of this foolishness (which also lets me talk for an hour and tell stupid jokes because I know the others are not going anywhere so I have a trapped audience) they have a Winter Challenge.


For 6 weeks we have to do extra things.  As much as I don’t want to, I have to.  I know my body needs it and now I am part of the legendary team 4 and I don’t want to let them down.
This weeks challenges are:

  • Do an additional 30 mins of exercise every day (and that is not Jumping to Conclusions!)
  • Be in bed by 10pm
  • Drink 2 litres of water a day (this is tough so I use soda water – Bubbles! Yay)
  • Do daily pushups starting at 10 and adding 5 every day.
  • Turn up to the sessions I said I would

As you can see, it is not too challenging but when it is 4 degrees C you need a little something extra to get you up and going.


Want to join the challenge?  My theory is why suffer alone.  If you want to do something fabulous for yourself, join me on the challenge.  Just do the top 4 things every day and see how you go.


I’ll keep you updated on my progress and I hope you let me know how you go too!


Enjoy!


Warwick








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