Richard Branson's - Success Tips
I have just finished reading Richards Branson's books Business Stripped Bare and Losing My virginity and thought it would be great to share some of his Success Tips for Business.
Have Fun - "Any proposal I like must sound fun".
Be proud of what you do - "What matters is what you create. Does it make you proud? Have you impacted positively on others?"
Don't let your limits knock your self-confidence - "What you may be bad at actually doesn't interest people, and it certainly shouldn't interest you. Put these to one side and push yourself towards your strengths".
Innovation is what you get when you capitalise on luck, when you get up from behind your desk and go and see where ideas and people lead you.
Empower and Respect others - "Inspire people to think like entrepreneurs, and whatever you do, treat them like adults. The hardest taskmaster of all is a person's own conscience, so the more responsibility you give people, the better they will work for you."
And the final word from his book that I thought was worth sharing: "Successful people aren't in possession of secrets known only to themselves. Don't obsess over people who appear to you to be 'winners', but listen to the wisdom of people who've led enriching lives - people, for instance, who've found time for friends and family. Be generous in your interpretation of what success looks like. The best and most meaningful lives don't always end happily."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Leadership Law
I was reading an interesting article by John C. Maxwell today and thought I would share some of the questions he asked in relation to YOU as a leader:
"Here is what I want you to ask yourself as a leader:
"Here is what I want you to ask yourself as a leader:
- Since I've been leading my team, are things better for them or are things worse?
- Am I adding value to them, or am I subtracting value from them?
- Are my people better off because I'm a leader?
- Am I taking others to a higher level?
Leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves , but how far we advance others."
John C Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.
So I think these are great questions to ask yourself, no matter how small or big your business is. For me the first 2 questions really had me thinking about my own leadership and again the realisation that the first person I need to lead is me.
Feel free to let me know what your thoughts are when you take the time to answer these questions at deb@debpilgrim.com
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Are you ready to Celebrate your Greatness?
Quick Question: When was the last time you stopped and acknowledged your achievements?
Was it today? If so, Congratulations as you are among a small minority. If it has been awhile, than now is the time to stop and acknowledge your greatness, your successes no matter how big or small. Remember to stop feeling as if you need to keep 'ticking boxes off your to-do list".
This is not about being egotistical or 'big headed', this is about taking the time to appreciate all that you do. It is also a time to learn from not only what you have achieved but to learn from any mistakes and to ask yourself what you may do differently next time.
Here are three ideas on how you can begin to acknowledge yourself:
a) Blue Sky Time - when working with some of our top leaders, I would often speak to them about the 'concept' of blue-sky time. Blue-sky time requires you to take some time out each day (yep - each day!), away from any interruptions including phones, blackberries, emails ECT., and allow yourself to think about your day. Look at acknowledging what is going well for you, what successes you have had and if need be what do you need to do differently in any situation. What people find is that when they go back into their normal day they have greater insight and awareness around what is working well for them and what they need to do differently.
b) Celebration Book - Do you get great feedback from clients? Do you get great feedback from family & friends? If so, why not begin your own "Celebration Book" and surround yourself with reminders of your successes. Grab a journal and jot down notes/thoughts around what you have been doing well, put in your fabulous testimonials from clients, have your immediate family make notes in it for you. Place in it the things that remind you of your greatness, that remind you to celebrate YOU.
c) Work with a mentor/coach - Why, because in most cases this person will ask to hear about your successes and wins and then encourage/'force' you to take the time to celebrate what you have achieved. No matter how big or small these achievements are. This is one person who is solely focused on you, your success and your greatness and will hold this vision for you.
Appreciating and celebrating yourself is a gift for you to open. Watch what happens when you gain these skills. Your life and your business will expand because these skills are infectious!
(c) DebPilgrim.com 2009
Want to use this Article?
I would be honoured if you did, just be sure to use it in full and include the following information:
Deb Pilgrim is the Entrepreneurs' Business Mentor. Deb's FREE weekly Biz Booster Newsletter provides entrepreneurs with how to tips that will increase your profits, grow your business whilst gaining more time for yourself. To learn more about this how-to newsletter visit www.debpilgrim.com to sign up for your FREE copy and also received your FREE ebook on Identifying your Ideal Client.
Was it today? If so, Congratulations as you are among a small minority. If it has been awhile, than now is the time to stop and acknowledge your greatness, your successes no matter how big or small. Remember to stop feeling as if you need to keep 'ticking boxes off your to-do list".
This is not about being egotistical or 'big headed', this is about taking the time to appreciate all that you do. It is also a time to learn from not only what you have achieved but to learn from any mistakes and to ask yourself what you may do differently next time.
Here are three ideas on how you can begin to acknowledge yourself:
a) Blue Sky Time - when working with some of our top leaders, I would often speak to them about the 'concept' of blue-sky time. Blue-sky time requires you to take some time out each day (yep - each day!), away from any interruptions including phones, blackberries, emails ECT., and allow yourself to think about your day. Look at acknowledging what is going well for you, what successes you have had and if need be what do you need to do differently in any situation. What people find is that when they go back into their normal day they have greater insight and awareness around what is working well for them and what they need to do differently.
b) Celebration Book - Do you get great feedback from clients? Do you get great feedback from family & friends? If so, why not begin your own "Celebration Book" and surround yourself with reminders of your successes. Grab a journal and jot down notes/thoughts around what you have been doing well, put in your fabulous testimonials from clients, have your immediate family make notes in it for you. Place in it the things that remind you of your greatness, that remind you to celebrate YOU.
c) Work with a mentor/coach - Why, because in most cases this person will ask to hear about your successes and wins and then encourage/'force' you to take the time to celebrate what you have achieved. No matter how big or small these achievements are. This is one person who is solely focused on you, your success and your greatness and will hold this vision for you.
Appreciating and celebrating yourself is a gift for you to open. Watch what happens when you gain these skills. Your life and your business will expand because these skills are infectious!
(c) DebPilgrim.com 2009
Want to use this Article?
I would be honoured if you did, just be sure to use it in full and include the following information:
Deb Pilgrim is the Entrepreneurs' Business Mentor. Deb's FREE weekly Biz Booster Newsletter provides entrepreneurs with how to tips that will increase your profits, grow your business whilst gaining more time for yourself. To learn more about this how-to newsletter visit www.debpilgrim.com to sign up for your FREE copy and also received your FREE ebook on Identifying your Ideal Client.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Creating Your Million Dollar Mindset - Audio Available
If you aren't yet a member of my Business Building Blocks Club http://www.debpilgrim.com/BBB.html, then you missed out on a great teleseminar this month (I'm allowed to say that!). If you would like a copy of this teleseminar + bonus workbook, you can either become a member of my BBB club for $12.95 per month or you can go directly to http://www.debpilgrim.com/Products.html and purchase the download for $24.95.
Be who you are
Deb
Be who you are
Deb
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
What are you holding on to?
It's one thing to start a business; it's quite another to keep it growing. At some point, it's no longer enough to be your business's number one employee. You need to become the boss, the leader.
So if you are finding that your own free time is shrinking, that you are turning away potential clients, that you are still doing the same things as when you first began - it might be time to look at what you are holding on to. Each week I am talking with business owners who all shared how they are actually working more hours in their business than they ever planned to and are not sure how to change this. But remember it doesn't have to be this way... as a business owner you have the 'freedom of choice' to be able to make changes in your business, including if need be hiring the right help to get things off your plate.
So how can you begin?
Step 1 Make a list of all the tasks you currently perform. Remember even the most basic administrative tasks can derail you from focusing on your big-ticket items.
Step 2 Go through and group them into specific tasks; for example invoicing, paying bills, entering MYOB etc can be grouped together as say 'finance'; answering emails, mail, updating your website, creating client folders etc can be grouped together as 'office admin'. Make as many or as few groups as you like.
Step 3 You can either do this two ways by prioritising your list from: a) most important to least important or b) what I hate doing the most to what I don't mind doing!
Step 4 Now go through this list and choose the 2-3 groups that would make the biggest difference to you and your business if you were to either outsource or hire in someone to do these.
If by outsourcing only one of these groups allows you to get one or more clients, that in itself should be a reward.
(c) 2009 DebPilgrim.com
So if you are finding that your own free time is shrinking, that you are turning away potential clients, that you are still doing the same things as when you first began - it might be time to look at what you are holding on to. Each week I am talking with business owners who all shared how they are actually working more hours in their business than they ever planned to and are not sure how to change this. But remember it doesn't have to be this way... as a business owner you have the 'freedom of choice' to be able to make changes in your business, including if need be hiring the right help to get things off your plate.
So how can you begin?
Step 1 Make a list of all the tasks you currently perform. Remember even the most basic administrative tasks can derail you from focusing on your big-ticket items.
Step 2 Go through and group them into specific tasks; for example invoicing, paying bills, entering MYOB etc can be grouped together as say 'finance'; answering emails, mail, updating your website, creating client folders etc can be grouped together as 'office admin'. Make as many or as few groups as you like.
Step 3 You can either do this two ways by prioritising your list from: a) most important to least important or b) what I hate doing the most to what I don't mind doing!
Step 4 Now go through this list and choose the 2-3 groups that would make the biggest difference to you and your business if you were to either outsource or hire in someone to do these.
If by outsourcing only one of these groups allows you to get one or more clients, that in itself should be a reward.
(c) 2009 DebPilgrim.com
Thursday, October 1, 2009
What are you putting off right now?
Do you put things off? Do you think,..."I'll do that later" - even when the *Thing* you need or want to do is straightforward?
Let's face it, nearly all of us procrastinate at one time or another. To be honest, I have been procrastinating about writing this weeks' article! Procrastination at best is a frustrating (and annoying) habit. At worst, putting things off may cause us stress, anxiety and even problems with others. Yet if we boil it all down in most cases we know what we need to do to get started.
So we need a way to think about procrastination that will help us deal effectively with it. Next time you feel the "Procrastination Bug" ask yourself:
Ø How do I feel about the task that I'm putting off?
Ø What are the advantages of starting this right now?
Ø What are the disadvantages of leaving it until later?
Ø What excuses am I making for not doing this task right now?
Ø What do I need to say to change my negative self-talk
about this task into positive self-talk?
Ø How can I break the task down into smaller manageable
sections?
Ø What reward can I give myself for finishing it?
Remember, you can exert a considerable degree of control over your feelings, your thoughts and your behaviour, and you can work towards achieving your goals. You can overcome procrastination. Allowing "procrastination" to run your life, is like letting someone steal your most valuable commodity (time) from right under your nose!
Don't let procrastination get away with it!!
(c) DebPilgrim 2009
Let's face it, nearly all of us procrastinate at one time or another. To be honest, I have been procrastinating about writing this weeks' article! Procrastination at best is a frustrating (and annoying) habit. At worst, putting things off may cause us stress, anxiety and even problems with others. Yet if we boil it all down in most cases we know what we need to do to get started.
So we need a way to think about procrastination that will help us deal effectively with it. Next time you feel the "Procrastination Bug" ask yourself:
Ø How do I feel about the task that I'm putting off?
Ø What are the advantages of starting this right now?
Ø What are the disadvantages of leaving it until later?
Ø What excuses am I making for not doing this task right now?
Ø What do I need to say to change my negative self-talk
about this task into positive self-talk?
Ø How can I break the task down into smaller manageable
sections?
Ø What reward can I give myself for finishing it?
Remember, you can exert a considerable degree of control over your feelings, your thoughts and your behaviour, and you can work towards achieving your goals. You can overcome procrastination. Allowing "procrastination" to run your life, is like letting someone steal your most valuable commodity (time) from right under your nose!
Don't let procrastination get away with it!!
(c) DebPilgrim 2009
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