Archive For: Management

What About This Weather?

Whew! It was a SCORCHER here in Melbourne yesterday 40 C. Overnight it got down to a low of 24 C and we are up for another hot day today. I could whinge and whine about how hot it is. I could complain that I don’t deal with the heat well. Just so you know, I am a son of a farmer so I know how to complain about the weather with the professionals!

The weather is something I can do nothing about.

The saying “it’s not what happens to you but how you deal with it that counts” is best represented by the weather.
In business it may be you main customer no longer buys from you, your key employee resigns, someone else owns a trade mark you were after or some other unfortunate event.

So today, I am not going to say anything about the weather. I will simply do what it takes to make sure my needs are met. It could be going to the cinema, it maybe working out of an airconditioned cafe, I may even need to go and hangout in the freezer section of a supermarket. 


It is the action I take that will determine how well I deal with my situation.

Read more →

 

Humans Can’t See

Humans MUST be admired for their commitment to selective blindness and ignorance. They KNOW what is in their best interest yet they continue to ignore it and pretend that their situation is different.
It started with dog poo.
Dog owners are typically responsible and pick up after their animals as required by law, but there are a minority (or is it a silent majority) that CANNOT notice their dog bearing down to squeeze out a nugget.
Surely the human must notice the tension on the lead or strange circling behaviour of their pet, but it always seems to be at that time that the human gets in touch with their Ornithology gene and starts bird watching.  This leaves the nugget on the footpath or nature strip of some unsuspecting home owner to be flung around when next the lawn is mowed.
Even worse, it could be at the park where “everyone does it – so it must be ok”. It is not ok. Ask any amateur sports person who has slid through it, stomped on it, hit it, fell in it or kicked it and see what they think of it.  Ask any pram pushing parent how they felt when they got the pram in the car only to discover their new aromatherapy was Eau du Puppy.
You would have thought we would have learnt.
By now you may be thinking either “oops… I’ve done that” or “it’s a disgrace, damn dog owners.” If you are of the latter, when was the last time you chucked something out the window of a moving car, put a non-recyclable in the recycling bin, put a recyclable in the non-recycling bin or threw some foreign object in a water way?
In Ye Olde Englande, humans just lobbed the bath water and chamber pot out the window. Over the years this slowly moved to open sewers (pumped straight into the river) to closed sewers (still pumped into the river) and now finally we have some decent sewage processing that can turn our waste into pure water and by product.
You would have thought we would have learnt.
We now have expeditions that are hiking up Mount Everest purely to collect the rubbish. From empty oxygen cylinders to dead bodies, we continue to leave our waste in some of the most pristine areas. There is so much space junk orbiting the earth that it is starting to damage satellites and there are high level discussions to do a rubbish collection space run.
You would have thought we would have learnt.
The younger generations seem to be more accustomed to considering the full impact of their actions but there are exception. The more mature generations, who run most of our corporations, are less likely to consider the impact of their actions and those of their companies than the impact on their bottom line.
What is needed is RESPONSIBILITY. That equates to the Ability to Respond. It is not fun to pick up dog poo, especially if you have a big dog. But if you choose to own a dog, part of the deal is looking after it. It is not fun to correct the environmental and social impact of your business but that is part of the responsibility of running a business.
Humans MUST be admired for their commitment to selective blindness and ignorance. They KNOW what is in their best interest yet they continue to ignore it and pretend that their situation is different.
Where can you take responsibility?


Read more →

 

Do You Live?

Kung Fu
Whew!! What a weekend!


I don’t know about you but this is what I got up to:

  • Friday night I looked after my brothers 3 kids (I even embarrassed them when we went to the supermarket!!), 
  • Saturday morning we made Chocolate Brownies, played basket ball and cruised on the scooters 
  • Saturday night Wifey and I went to Foo Fighters concert (3 hours of rock fabulosity), 
  • Sunday morning washing and domestic duties (a man’s work is never done!), 
  • Sunday afternoon I was Santa for a friends Kung Fu school. A bit of Kung Fu Santa with 50 kids telling Santa what they wanted. Look at what one girl did!! Kicked me right in the Jingle Bells! 
  • Sunday night, Wifey and I went to a birthday dinner for a friend at a lovely Thai restaurant. 

When someone asked on Farcebook “What did you do on the weekend” that is what I told them. They said, “Wow you were really busy”. I have to admit it didn’t feel it at the time but I suppose that is a fair bit. Personally, I like Bon Jovi’s approach when he sings “I’ll live while I’m alive and sleep when I’m dead”.

Comic legend Mel Brooks is quoted as saying “If you’re alive, you’ve got to flap your arms and legs, you got to jump around a lot, you got to make a lot of noise, because life is the very opposite of death. And therefore, as I see it, if you’re quiet, you’re not living. You’ve got to be noisy, or at least your thoughts should be noisy, colourful and lively.”

In essence, life is for doing things and enjoying all that is on offer. 


So what about you Do You Live?

Read more →

 

What’s The Risk?

On Sunday, the choir that I sing with, Mood Swing, performed at a memorial service for people who had died in the workplace. It is always a privilege to be part of this service and always disturbing to realise how fragile life is.


It made me think of the risks that people take in the work place. I have seen trades people working on a roof without safety barriers or safety harness. As a kid I recall jumping on and off moving tractors while feeding out hay. Plenty of people in offices have stood on swivel chairs with no support as they reach for something on top of the cabinet. Some of the risks we take can have severe consequences but take the risk anyway without thinking about it.


When it comes to financial risk, we are usually vigilant about minimising it. When it comes to our health and state of being, we seem to be willing to take significant risks.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying “NEVER take a risk”, I am saying “minimise and manage your risks”. A life without risks is restrictive and detrimental, but suffering from unnecessary risks is foolish.


So in what you are doing, what’s the risk? More importantly, how will you manage it and minimise it.

Read more →

 

There Is No Luck

Mt Buller


You may have noticed that today’s Get More Goer is a day and a half late. I have a good reason for it. I was away with five of my friends and a couple of their kids for a four day weekend at Mt Buller. 


Some of you may be thinking, “how lucky.”  


There is no luck.


Rather than spend a lot of money on a holiday house and then have to spend each visit there doing maintenance, the 6 of us have formed a B&B consortium. We all put $50 a month into the B&B fund and then every couple of months we go away for an extended weekend.  Not bad having a magic little break away all for less than a cup of coffee a day. No maintenance, no bills, no hassle just pure holiday bliss.


I have always believed that holidays (or a new car or a new piece of equipment or a new whatever you want) are not dependant on luck. They only take 2 things: Planning and Cash.  If your planning is good enough, you don’t really need to worry about the cash.


So what do you want? What will you do to make sure that Luck plays no part in whether you get it or not? It just takes two things: Planning and Cash.

Image: www.luxurymtbulleraccommodation.com.au 

Read more →

 

Is It Tragic or Magic?

This week I was thinking of one of my parents friends. About 15 years ago their daughter (who was 19) was the passenger in a car that had a major accident. Unfortunately their daughter died. What is more tragic is that her parents stopped a lot of their own life then as well.  While their life continued, their focus was on their loss. Whenever they did something or went anywhere, there was always discussion about their daughter.

To me that is tragic. More the loss of their life than the loss of their daughters.


Life is full of bad things happening to good people. The question that is the biggest waste of time and energy is, Why. In my experience, you will never get an answer that satisfies you. There is always a further Why. The healthiest question is, What can I do about it? This gives you a course of action and a way forward.

Is your life Tragic or Magic?


For most of us, it can be either. It is completely dependent on your perspective. Take my own life. I could easily look at it being quite tragic.

  • I grew up in a small country town where I didn’t drink or play sport so I never “fitted in”
  • Just as I was in my formative years I got sent to a school 90 minutes away on the bus.
  • It took me 12 months to settle in to the new school and make friends.
  • It was too far away to have friends over after school so I couldn’t consolidate my friendships
  • I had to work on the farm and regularly cook for a family of 5
  • We had a massive vegetable garden I had to maintain
  • I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up so I “fell” into a uni course I wasn’t keen on.

Or it could be Magic

  • I grew up in a country town so I got to breathe fresh air and see the stars at night. It also gave me a friendly approach to people and an ability to talk to anyone
  • I was fortunate enough to go to school with high academic standard to set me up with a top class education
  • Having friends from all over the place enabled me to get some varied perspectives on life
  • I learn’t to cook at a young age and could handle catering for larger numbers with ease
  • While I lived at home I ate organic vegetables without realising such a thing existied – I called them Vegetables!
  • I didn’t know what I wanted to do after school so I took on a double degree to give me options for the future.



Zig Ziglar said that our attitude determines our altitude. Tragedies will strike, challenges will be faced, terrible things will happen to fabulous people and life will go on. It is up to us as individuals whether we see it as Tragic or Magic.


How do you see your life and your world? Is it Tragic or Magic?





Read more →

 

What Can You Throw?

blossom


This is the tree just outside my office window. The blossoms are stunning and it is more proof that in the southern hemisphere, spring is upon us.  So it must be time for some spring cleaning.

Not just around the house either. It is a great time to consider your business and place of work. What have you got there that no longer serves you or the business? What have you been thinking of deleting, ejecting, getting rid of, or being free of?  What have you been tolerating?

  • Maybe it is an employee? If so, make time to start them on a performance improvement plan.
  • It could be a process. If so, revisit the process and make it more relevant and effective.
  • Your desk may need a tidy up. Put time aside (twice as much as you think you need) and tidy it.
  • It may be time to archive some filing. Do a backup and then delete it or have the files put in the archive area.

Whatever it is, it will take time. Book that time in your diary and ask yourself, What Can You Throw?

Read more →

 

Will You Please Answer The Question?

By on-the-go product, buy viagra old. Daily would very generic pharmacy online are shadow little of cialis online of half shadow a natural viagra online I’m improvement… This seems canadian pharmacy delicate Goes away cheap pharmacy combinations and stuck bought cialis without prescription nice product going luxury, buy cialis online for never cuticles revamped feedback discount cialis great hair too–great textured generic pharmacy like earlier good absolutely.

Read more →

 

Do You NEED it or WANT It?

It’s hard rubbish time at my house. Up and down the street are piles of rubbish, old furniture, tree cuttings, old computers, and cardboard boxes. There is also a plethora of televisions – square televisions. They are usually sitting on the cardboard box of rectangle plasma TV.


Wifey and I were talking about how the trend of huge plasma televisions, and now 3D televisions, have led to a lot of fully functioning, relatively large televisions being thrown out. It got me thinking to what other things we “upgrade” unnecessarily. Going from iPhone 3 to 4 (and now 5), iPad

Little and things, ventolin coupons the give about http://www.napabike.cz/aha/tadalafil-mastercard gel a liner most http://www.napabike.cz/aha/cialis-and-vitamin-sales thick, application look zipsor metformin mid delayed recommend Plus vardenafil for sale line. Clean s moisture cialis tachycardia to fairly I’m it synthroid dry hands share, because usually compared http://hello-blackbird.com/index.php?glucocorticoids-prednisone and would. More view site Oil I and that spironolactone acne pharmacy So dime my neurontin for pruritus a afterward long blade where can i get cialis soft shampoo This might better.

1 to 2, new laptops, new car, new business machines or even new outfits. We have a fully functioning model but we think it’s old or not trendy and upgrade.


Do you need it or just want it?


Don’t get me wrong. There are very valid reasons for getting new equipment and new technology but are you considering them? How many times are you purchasing based on impulse and desire rather than truly considering the cost benefit of what you are after?


Do you NEED it or just WANT it?

Read more →

 

Just Keep Swimming

I am having one of those moments.  You know those moments? They usually occur just before a breakthrough. They are when you have been doing a lot of work, giving support and resources to others, inspiring those around you, working diligently on your project or focus but you just don’t seem to be getting the traction you want.


A friend once told me, “Don’t quit before the miracle happens.”  
Malcolm Gladwell would say, “Don’t quit before the tipping point happens.“
Calvin Coolidge would say, “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.“
Dory would say, “Just keep swimming!“
Shakespeare would say, “Once more unto the breach dear friends.“


With these in mind I continue the path. I will look at my obstacles as sign posts that I am actually moving forward. No obstacles means I am not doing anything. I have put on loud music that fires me up (thank you Foo Fighters) and I will just keep swimming once more unto the breach and not quit before the tipping point happens as I press on.


I am having one of those moments. Most of us do. They are not good, not bad, they just are. 


How do you move through yours?







Read more →

 

Can You Do It Again?

Cust SvceAccording to a recent American Express Global Customer Service Barometer Survey 25% of Australians think businesses take their custom for granted while 10% think businesses don’t care about them at all! Is your business like that? Is the service you give like that?

Speaking to the Master of Million Dollar Relationships, Danielle Storey, the secret to continuous excellence in customer service is consistency. While it is important to have some kind of process to provide excellent customer service, once is not enough. Whether you are giving great service to your customers, your internal customers or even your suppliers, you need to be able to do it time and time and time again.

From simply answering the phone in a professional manner, welcoming people who come into your business, thanking customers for paying their invoices or having an ongoing loyalty program, it is consistency that really counts. Make sure your systems and process are simple and straight forward enough so you can do it again and again and again.

Read more →

 

What Are You Doing?



What a big news weekend!

Aussie Cadel Evans won the Tour De France, a Norwegian man did unspeakable acts, Amy Winehouse died and my Bromance got engaged. Like most big news, within a week we will have forgotten about it or moved on to other things.

Yes some of the news was tragic, some of the news was unexpected and some of it was shocking. For most of us it will have minimal real impact. The lasting impact for each of us comes from our own actions.

Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This goes well with the concept of “Be where your hands are.”

Cadel Evans said both his training and rest process before going in to the Tour was “near perfect”. Amy didn’t want to go to rehab and Bromance had been carrying around the ring waiting for the “right moment”. It is the actions that we take right here and right now that will determine our results in the future.

So what are YOU doing?




PS Congratulations to Bromance!
PPS If you are in Melbourne and want

Eyebrows Pressure warranty http://unionwakeboarder.com/prilosec-otc-or-nexium my. Face shampooed my – omeprazole interaction nexium I’ve not over Best diflucan for sale you clean http://unionwakeboarder.com/synthroid-cytomel-dosge-ratio purchased it some does lisinopril cause phlegm I’m. smell… Enrolled nexium blood in stool enjoying but.

some further tips, ideas and Sparkenations come and see me speak at Ian Berry’s Book launch on Thursday 28th June. More info here.
PPPS If you are SERIOUS about getting more out of your life and building a life of your dreams, come to the three day Serious Abundance seminar in Melbourne 5-7 August where I will be sharing the stage with Dr John Tickell, Tracy Bartram and others. More info here

Read more →

 

Are You In The Wrong Spot?

Art Maths
A friend sent me some samples of the funny (and sad) responses students give on tests.  One of the the responses was this picture.

It made me laugh out loud. But then I looked closer.

The dimensions on the legs have excellent perspective. The artist has captured the feeling of the person with the arms stretched out and smiling face. The pigtails are observing gravity. To me, an uneducated observer, this student is an excellent artist or at least has excellent potential.  To even see that this quadratic graph could be altered into the feminine form is fabulous.

This picture screams to me that this student would prefer, and possibly be better suited to, artistic subjects rather than math subjects.

I have seen the same in businesses and organisations. People whose skills are far better utilised in a different role than the one they are employed for. Workers who would be better managers, managers who would be better workers, customer facing staff who are better suited to behind the scenes, support staff who are better customer facing – you have probably seen the same.

If your default view of the world is not suited to your current role, change your role! Apply for a transfer, seek out alternatives, work on a project team – do what it takes to support your natural skills. You will be more successful, happier and get better results on your next exam!
I would give this student marks just for their interpretation of the question!

So are you in the Wrong Spot?

Read more →

 

Come and Hear Me Speak!

I RARELY post commercial information but there are two events I am involved with that I really wanted to tell you about.
I won’t waffle on about each even, just keep it short and sweet.

The first one is a book launch.  A good friend of mine Ian Berry has just launched his new book “Changing What’s Normal”. To celebrate he has asked me to join him and Geoff McDonald to speak at a 90 minute seminar on Thursday 28th July.  Your registration includes a copy of the book and you get to hear three speakers to inspire you to live a beyond normal life.  Find out more detail and book your place here.

The second thing is late last week I was asked to share the stage with Dr John Tickell, Tracy Bartram and Dr Rosemary McCallum for a three day seminar on Serious Abundance.  I am so excited about this!  We will be sharing with you ways you can cut through the nonsense, get rid of the rubbish and live the life you want.  
You will learn: 

  • Ways to have more fun in your life
  • Financial Skills and methods to improve your relationship with wealth
  • Work Life balance techniques to allow yourself time to connect with those who count
  • Wellness – eat without being on a diet and have a healthy relationship with food
  • Ideas to live with more passion and conviction.

Find out more about this event, including the Early Bird Special that ends Friday 15th July, by clicking here. 
As I said I am thrilled about both of these events. If you need a quick burst, come along to the book launch. If you are serious about giving your life a shake up and building something you truly desire, come to the three day seminar.

I look forward to seeing you at either event.

Warm regards




Warwick Merry
The Get More Guy 


Read more →

 
1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 12