Archive For: Success

How Sticky Are You?


I don’t mean that in the brown and wooden stick kind of way, I mean do you stick to it?  Do you commit to a strategy and give it every chance to succeed? Or at the first (or maybe second) sign that it is struggling do you stop working on it?

Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we try things and they don’t work.  It makes sense to change the strategy or approach but too often people don’t give it enough of a change.  Imagine if we did that in all aspects of life.

Maybe your parents were trying to get you to walk and after three times you kept falling over so much that they said, “They will never walk, it’s crawling for them!”  Think of how much that would hold you back!  My friend’s mother (now in her 90’s) had a mild accident on her fourth driving lesson when she was 20 and then decided she couldn’t drive and never did again. I still struggle with that.

So what is your strategy and as part of it, when are the check points and how will you know when to change strategy?  This is particularly relevant when exhibiting at shows.  In a previous business, my partner and I decided that we should exhibit our $900 product in the exhibitions at the International Coaching Federation (ICF) conferences globally.  We knew that the first one would not cover costs.  Two airfares, accommodation let alone exhibiting costs were significant.

A couple of shows with no sales was tough but we stuck to the strategy.  After three years (nine shows) it started to pay off financially, but the payoff in reputation and awareness happened far sooner and was more strategic.  My partner went on to be Australasian President of the ICF as developing a significant database of prospects for future work for us.

So what is your strategy?  Where is the payoff? How will you measure your success or lack thereof?  Most importantly, how sticky are you?

Enjoy!!

PS If you are in Melbourne next Tuesday 26th, come and visit me at the Meetings Mart Expo at Crown Promenade. I will be giving away copies of my new CD 7 Secrets of Successful Sessions as well as creating solutions for business wanting to Get More from their next Conference or Training Session.  Come as a guest of the Get More Guy and you even get free parking!


Image: Oaklara Nutgrabber

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Do You Go To The Butcher For Bread?


Co Homa The Machan – That is Singhalese (Sri Lankan) for “Hello Good Friend”.  Wifey and I are back from three fabulous weeks in Sri Lanka.  It was an amazing trip with far too much to tell in the Get more Goer, but there were some definite learnings to be had.

Most of our trip was spent with family.  Family are such wonderful people.  Sometimes they don’t realise their kindness is killing you, or at least stifling you.  They love to save you from yourself and tell you how to live life or throw in a mixed message.  In Sri Lanka, food is love.  So every visit has a meal and you have to have two or three helpings.  Usually it came up in conversation afterwards how much I ate or how “big” I was.  EXACTLY what I wanted to hear!

Things are not that different in Australia.  When I first left the corporate world and set up my own business, my parents urged me to stay in the corporate world where the job was secure and the money was good.  They didn’t say this to hold me back, it was said as a protective instinct.  They were fearful that I may struggle financially.  Frequently family are so protective of you or only want certain things because “they would be best for you”.  Unknowingly, they can cause you additional distress.

My theory is, don’t go to the butcher for bread.

What I mean is, you wouldn’t get financial advice from someone on social security, you wouldn’t get fitness tips from a chronically ill or unwell person, and you wouldn’t take ethic lessons from a lifelong criminal, so pick who you turn to for support.  Sometimes your family is great for that and sometimes they aren’t.  If your family have no experience as an exhibitor at a trade show or expo, how will they know what is “best practice”?  If your family have never sold services, how will they know the trick of the trade if that is what you are trying to do?  Sometimes you need a paid professional who will be brutally honest with you, sometimes you need a mastermind group to aid your progress and sometimes family CAN be of great assistance.

When you are next looking for support or resources for what you are trying to achieve, don’t go to the butcher for bread!  Go to the leaders in that field.  Chances are much higher that they will have what you need.

What do you need?

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Why Not?

Last week I said goodbye to an amazing friend of mine, Jen. She has battled four different types of cancer over the last 10 years and it finally took its toll. Yes it is sad that she died, but let’s face it – we are all going to die one day – so the reality is that it was inevitable. What is more important was that she lived!
Jen was one of us mere mortals. She was not a super star athlete, actress, model or other demi-god type of person. She was an average everyday woman who put on her pants one leg at a time. She had her demons like everyone else. She had several husbands, a couple of kids, many jobs, a few retrenchments, and all the other fun stuff that comes with life.
But as her son so eloquently said at her funeral, she had a mantra for life that never failed her. That mantra was “Why Not?”
When she was told that she shouldn’t drive her campervan around Australia on her own for almost two years she asked, Why Not?
When she was told that she couldn’t beat the four different types of terminal cancer that she had over the years, she asked her doctors, Why Not?
When she was asked why she had purple streaks in her hair that changed all the time, she

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asked Why Not?

After some major surgery on her throat that left major scars, she stuck on some Frankenstein type bolts and went to a party. When people said, you can’t dress like that she said, Why Not?
Too often we let the people who love us, who care about us, and sometimes who ARE us, stop us from doing things. It is not safe, it is not natural, it is not normal, it is not socially

acceptable, it is not what business people do, it is not what we should do, it is not how we should be seen, it will scare people away, it will attract too much attention, what if it doesn’t work….. You have heard all of the reasons.

The gift that Jen gave me was “Why Not”. I would love to pass it on to you.
When you are told you can’t do something, simply ask “Why Not”?

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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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Do You Hear Voices?

Yesterday I was contemplating the old saying “The person who says something can’t be done is usually interrupted by someone doing it.”  I am not sure if it is a quote, saying, proverb or adage, but its meaning is true.

It may surprise you who the person is saying that it can’t be done, it’s you!!

I suspect you will be telling other people they can achieve their dreams but you may hold yourself back on your own.  Have you ever heard that little voice saying “Who are you to attempt this?”, “There is no way you can do it”, “What if it doesn’t work”, “Don’t bit off more than you can chew”, “Think of all the things you will have to do and you are not that lucky”.

I know these voices because I have heard them a lot over the years.  But yesterday I was reminded of a fantasy I had years ago where I would be paid a lot of money to sing or play music.  It popped into my head as I was returning from singing at a sell out gig with my vocal group Mood Swing.  At the same gig where we were paid well and sold CD’s as well.

What do you think is impossible for yourself?  What do you stop yourself from doing before you even get started?

It’s time to change the voice in your head.



Photo Credit: Me! On stage looking at audience on the right

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Should I be Committed?



For many years, people have said that I am crazy.  As I found watching Alice in Wonderland recently, all the best people are!  They say that I should be committed, but what they don’t understand is that I already am.  Let me explain.




I love the saying, “In for a penny, in for a pound”.  Quite simple, if you are going to do something, give it all you have.  So when a recent client said that their gala ball was Australian and Nez Zealand Icons, I couldn’t just dress as the icon, I had to BE the icon.  I chose Dame Edna Everage.  This is how I looked.




Dame Edna 

The reality is it wasn’t pretty.  A 190cm hairy bloke squeezed into a pink sequin and feather dress just isn’t right!  I had trouble with the shoes so I made my own with aluminium foil, not pretty but effective!  They thought I was insane, but I wasn’t, I was just committed to what the client wanted.  The client absolutely loved it!  None of their team will forget the event in a hurry, for a whole lot of reasons, one of which was the MC!




What about you?  Are you committed to what you want to achieve?  Do you focus on your goals and targets on a daily basis? Are you working towards getting you goals and not just setting them?  Do you throw yourself at life with abandon or just stick a toe in the water?




Life is to be lived.  I believe you need to squeeze the very last drop out of every day because it is not coming back again.  Maybe I am crazy.  I am definitely committed and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  


How committed are you?

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What Could You Do?


What a huge weekend!  Wifey and I spent four days bringing her new toy back from Queensland.  Her name is Candy, a 1965 Mustang Coupe and this is what she looks like.


Candy
Not bad for a 45 year old! (Candy, not wifey!)

Unfortunately, due to a miscalculation and an “interesting” fuel gauge, we ran out of fuel on the Hume!!  I got the job of walking back to the servo while Wifey stayed with Candy.  After 15 minutes of walking a car pulled over and the guy said, “My wife is with your wife and the 20 litre petrol I had in the boot”.  It was a fabulous thing to hear!


About 100 vehicles had driven past.  Our car was obviously not going anywhere, wifey was resting on the boot waiting, so why did he stop when no one else did?  He was the only one to ask himself the question “What can I do?”  Everyone else could see we needed help but they took no action. 

What about you?  What signs or signals have you seen that you KNOW you need to act on but haven’t?  Team members that need help, family members that need assistance, sales figures not being met, strangers that want the paper you have just finished with, projects that need attention – you KNOW what they need.

Take the action and reap the reward!

Lovin’ your work!

Warwick

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Stop Whinging!


I was working at a trade show for three days last week and I was amazed at the high whinging level.  So many exhibitors would drone on:

“Why aren’t there people here yet?”
“Why are there so many people here?” 
“How come I haven’t made more sales?”
“The food here is pretty bad”
“We need more signage”

While some of them were valid questions, it was also an absolute waste of time.  For every subject they had a whinge about, there was something they could do about it but didn’t.  For some reason it was not their responsibility but someone else’s.  


I have what I call my two “Killer Questions” for every situation and they are:
1) What is my part in this?
and
2) What can I do differently?


Regardless of who is to blame, when I take responsibility for a situation, I am then empowered to take action. Taking action lifts my spirits, makes me more attractive to clients and moves me forward to where I want to be.


So how much do you whinge?


Enjoy! 

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Five Observations Fresh From the Floor

I am fresh off the floor from the 2010 Pregnancy Babies and Children’s Expo and I have some valuable observations to share.  I spent three days working with exhibitors to help them Get More from their show experience and here are the top 5 learning points:

  1. It’s all about Engagement.  Some of the exhibitors were concerned about not getting enough interest in their product/service.  It was usually the same exhibitor who was just standing in the booth saying nothing as someone walked past.  Live by the rule, if you are not speaking to anyone, speak to everyone!  If ever you have a quiet time, engage with the very next person.
  2. Why are you there?  Some exhibitors forget why they are there.  They get swept up in the excitement and buzz of the show that they forget their prime objective.  Start each day with a briefing refreshing the objectives for the day and what actions are required to meet it.  If you are there to get names and addresses, then get names and addresses.
  3. How is your signage? Do you have short, snappy, easy to read (that means HUGE font), action oriented signs?  If not, get some.  People don’t really care much about your brand, your long winded mission statement or the features of what you have, they care about a problem they have and how you will solve it.  Find the problem and let them know you solve it.
  4. Prepare for the show.  I don’t understand people and organisations that spend thousands of dollars to get to a show and all they do is turn up!  At the very least read the exhibitor manual to find out information about the show.  Know what signage, stationery, product, and other items you need in your booth.  Be crystal clear on what you want from the show and what your message is.  Know how you will measure your success and whether it was worthwhile.  If you don’t know these things, then why are you even there?
  5. Stop whinging!!  Shows are part science, part art and a big chunk of magic.  Things will always be different than expectected.  There will be lulls and peak times.  If things are not going how you want, then change.  You can’t expect to turn up last minute, lack half your signage and get the results you got last time with out some change in your approach.  Focus on what is going well and then change the things that are within your power.  Once you start whinging, you bring a whole lot of negativity to your booth which guarantees you wont get the results you are after.

Master these five, and you are half way there!

Enjoy

Warwick

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International Virtual Assistants Day

 

International Virtual Assistants Day 

 

Congratulations on being part of an amazing, borderless growth industry and thanks for being part of the OIVAC celebration.

As you know, one of the issues with the industry is that of isolation.  So here are some special deals for you to get resources to continue your development as well as increasing your sense of engagement with others. 
These specials are only valid until 30th May 2010.

 

The Get More Power Package 

 Containing:   

Price 

IVAD Price 

 Get More Goer Weekly Newsletter

 Get More from Choice (single CD)

 Get More from Change (double CD)

 Get More Energy (single CD)

 Get More from Social Media (single CD)

 Get More Tips for Success Podcast Collection (triple CD) 

 Get More Energy 10 week e-course  

 (See below for CD Descriptions ) 

TOTAL 

 Priceless!

$35

$65

$35

$35

$110

$250

 

$530 

 Only $199

   Click here to purchase 

 

 The Get More Product Collection

 If you would like to purchase any of the above products individually, let me give you the discount below and I’ll also pay the shipping – simply use the discount code IVAD10.

 

 Containing:   

 

   Price  

 

IVAD Price 

Click price to purchase 

 Get More from Choice (single CD)

 Get More from Change (double CD)

 Get More Energy (single CD)

 Get More from Social Media (single CD)  

 Get More Tips for Success Podcast Collection (triple CD) 

 Get More Energy 10 week e-course  

 (See below for CD Descriptions ) 

$35

$65

$35

$35

$100

$250

 

$25

$50

$25

  N/A as Single Purchase  

  N/A as Single Purchase  

$199 

 

 

Get More from CHOICE

Every day we need to make decisions.  We make Choices at work, at home and in every aspect of out lives.  But what about the choices we don’t even know we are making?  The ones where we tell ourselves “it’s too hard to do…” or “I could never…” or “it’s just not possible!”
This audio program will allow you to see that you frequently have many other ioptions available to you.  Options you would prefer to take but don’t allow yourself to.
By following the suggestions presented, you will generate your own personal action plan and gain resources that will make your Choices easier, more effective and less painful.  This audio program is filled with tips, tools and techniques to Get More from the Choice in your life. 

Get More from CHANGE

Some times we get  change thrust upon us, sometimes we willingly alter our habits and ourselves.
Get More from CHANGE is a 2 CD audio program looking at change.  

  • What is it? 
  • How do we do it? 
  • What if we don’t like it? 
  • How do we deal with it? 
  • How will it help me?

Wherever you are at with change in your life, both personally and professionally, this audio program will enable you to Get More from CHANGE.
By following the suggestions presented, you will generate your own personal action plan and gain resources that will make change easier, more effective and less painful.  This audio program is filled with tips, tools and techniques to make positive change in your life. 

 

Get More ENERGY

It seems that more and more we are relying on coffee, cola’s, energy drinks or simply sugar to gives us “bursts” of energy.  But with each burst comes a matching slump because the energy burst is artificial and short lived.  So how can you build SUSTAINABLE energy into your life?  That is what this recording covers.  Simple, easy to implement tips, tools and techniques that you can use on a daily basis to build more lasting and sustainable energy into your life so that you can achieve all you want with every day. 

Get More from SOCIAL MEDIA

With the rapid (some would say Rabid!) adoption of social media, how can you easily embrace the value without having to become a geeky programmer!  This audio program looks at Social Media from a high level and then gives specific actions on how you can take advantage of this growing phenomena.

Get More Podcast Collection

Over the course of two years, the Get More Podcast was published every four weeks.  Each one has tips, tools and techniques on how to Get More out of your life, both personally and professionally.  Several clients asked if they were all available in the one recording.  This led to the Get More Podcast Collection.  Three hours chocked full of value and easy to implement ways to Get More!

Get More ENERGY 10 week e-course 

This is a 10 week course of action!
Each week an email will be sent to you with some theory on how to Get More sustainable energy in your life and then have actions for you to take.
These actions ensure you change your approach and build in more energy to your life while getting rid of habits and things that suck energy from you.
Be prepared to be surprised about how much better and more energised you will feel after completing this course! 

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Happy Birthday!


Yesterday was my birthday.  Yay!

I have long been a believer in not working on my birthday so I spent the day having brunch with some work friends, lunch with an old singing friend and then dinner with Wifey.  It was a hard day, but someone had to do it and I was up to the challenge!!

I would encourage you to also plan to have your birthday off and do something fun.  Even if your birthday is months away, put your leave form in now!

But what is a birthday without presents!!  So here they are.

First, it’s a freebie – the Birthday Bash checklist.  Use this on your birthday to look back at the year gone and celebrate your achievements.  Then look forward to the year ahead and build in some fabulosity!  Click here to download the Birthday Bash Checklist.

The second birthday present is a discount off the Get More Energy CD.  This CD has tips, tools and techniques on how you can have more sustainable energy in your life.  Usually $35 plus postage and handling, simply use the discount code “bday42” and get a $20 discount. That makes it only $15 plus postage and handling.  Click here to order the Get More Energy CD.

The third present is a discount off my speaking or MC services.  If you book me to speak/MC at your conference or workshop before the end of May 2010, I will give you 33% off my standard speaking fee.  Just email me to make the booking.


I wish you the best on my birthday and I trust the coming years brings great things!




Warwick

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Would your Hard Drive survive?

At any show, it is hard to stand out above the crowd.  Thousands of people coming in the doors, hundreds of exhibitors, loads of press, blogging and tweeting, how can you bee seen???

Here is how ioSafe did it. 

  • They invited reporters to leave the show and go on a field trip
  • They arrived at a typical suburban house
  • Photos were taken of the reporters and loaded on the hard drive in the ioSafe
  • The ioSafe was tossed into the backyard pool
  • It was retrieved about 5 mins later
  • The ioSafe was then placed in a pottery furnace and baked
  • It was removed from the oven and hosed down until it was cool enough to handle
  • The drive was then taken from the safe and the photos were loaded on a handy computer
For the full story, check out Corporate Event Magazine’s write up (full credit to them for the photo too).  It is worth the read as it also talks about how they handled the press releases to their advantage.

While this sounds like a cool thing to do, I am sure most of you don’t have data safes to drown, burn or explode.  But some principals can still be used for your next expo.

  • Can you do something specifically for the press (it would need to be special and not just “let me tell you about my product”)?
  • Can you arrange an offsite meeting?  It could be for hot prospects, press, existing customers, influential industry members – get them away from the cacophony of the show and you are more likely to have their attention.
  • How can you demonstrate your product in action? Telling people about it is never as good as showing them.
  • What can you do that is different from the others, and in particular, different from your competitors?

Now you can take action!




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What’s New?


Happy Easter!
I hope you had a fun long weekend – with or without chocolate!!

This time of year is a celebration of new life.  I recommend you do the same. Stay with me, I am not going to be preachy.
What I mean is how will you celebrate what’s new?  New ideas, new starts, new careers, new relationships, new business, new niche’s, new employee’s, new team members, new hobbies, new approaches, new booth, new engagement technique, new resources, new business coach, anything that is new.

You may also want to consider is it time for something new? New ideas, new start, new career…. (see list above)

You may not need anything new but it is a good question to ask.

So what’s new?

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What does Johnny Cash Know?



This week’s Blog comes from Johnny Cash.


I was listening to his American III album which has covers of other songs and the first song is “Won’t Back Down” written by Tom Petty.  I checked the lyrics and discovered that there are not many.  It is essentially repeating the phrase “I won’t back down” and every now and again it’s 


“Well I know what’s right, I got just one life 
 in a world that keeps on pushin’ me around 
 but I’ll stand my ground 
 …and I won’t back down”


It is the simplicity of the song and the lyrics that amplify its message.  


When things get tough do you back down?  
Do you stand up for your beliefs? 
Do you avoid the difficult conversations, the challenging situations, the draining and demanding actions, the very things that will make you stronger? 


Don’t back down!


Persistence and commitment will pay off – don’t quit before the miracle happens.


Thanks Johnny!! 



Photo: www.cbc.ca 

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What does the "X" stand for in TEDx

I have been given the honour of being the Master of Ceremonies for the third TEDx Melbourne session on Saturday March 13th at RMIT. For those of you who are not familiar with TED, it stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. Presentations of up to 18 minutes are given by leaders in their fields. Check out www.ted.com and see for yourself some of the presentations.

In Melbourne, we have TEDx. It is slightly different in that the “X” signifies that this is not an official TED event but an independently organized event. Having been

involved in the second TEDx Melbourne session, I

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have another perspective. I reckon the “X” also stands for the following:

  • X-citement – People get fired up not just by the presentations but the conversations after.
  • X-traordinary – Just mixing with people who have a similar interest in stretching their mind exposes you to some amazing people and ideas.
  • X-ray vision – Ok…perhaps we are not all Superman but the ideas shared can give you an idea into the future or at least your own future.
  • Finally there is the X-factor. The mysterious “A-ha moment” or idea or contact or conversation or unknown thing that you get just from rubbing shoulders with other TEDsters.

If you are interested in coming along, visit the facebook page HERE with all the details and instructions for the day.

So my question for you is, what will you bring to TEDx Melbourne to share with others?

See you there!



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