The impact of an appropriate GIFT and the importance of acknowledgement
November 1, 2008
My message this November Newsletter is simple as we head into the Silly Season of consumerism-plastic-charged-Christmas-excess-spending-choices.
DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE A GIFT?
Of course - you are not obliged or have to do ANYTHING. That’s when it comes down to the power of intent - and as a marketing and communications “exercise” - what you do or don’t do can speak VOLUMES.
My opinion is that this end of the year – is a great time to reward and acknowledge your clients, suppliers, supporters, staff and loved ones (friends and family) for the value of what they have contributed to YOUR business and your life over the year. Some people succumb to laziness or “too-busy-to-think-about-it-ness” at this time of the year – and I suggest taking some time OUT to consider the value of giving and appreciation to those important people who support you in your life.
Here are some thoughts for GIVERS:
Thinking about the “why” of giving is just as important as the “what” to give. How do we make our giving choices have impact and meaning - for not only ourselves but to those who receive from us? Do you consider the thoughttand effort ( or not) that has gone into the choice of gift that you’ve received ?
Of course – in these times of economic stress and consumer excess – consideration also HAS to be give to “how much” – to give and to spend. The less we can afford to give – the MORE we have to consider the relevancy of what, who and how we give it.
Here are some thoughts for RECEIVERS:
- Acknowledgement of receipt of a gift – is so VERY important – to the GIVER
- Taking the time to communicate a simple THANK YOU – is ESSENTIAL – don’t forget or get to busy to do this.
So, whatever you decide and choose to do (or not) - if I’ve helped you stop and think about it and consider your options - that’s my gift to you.
OK – I’ll get OFF my soap box now……….
Mentoring success - It doesn’t always mean you stick with the business.
August 29, 2008
This is me with my mentoree, Kerrie Rahme.
I was Kerrie’s mentor on the the NSW Women in Business Mentoring Program. Kerrie graduated from the program last Wednesday 27 August- with her fellow mentorees at a special gathering at the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
Mentoring Kerrie and in her business - Baby Hire Stuff
Kerrie and I commenced the six month mentoring program with the understanding that I would help guide and support her through the journey of being a woman running a new business and coming to terms with the multiple and complex challenges that go with that.
At the end of the program - Kerrie made the decision to stop running her business. Is this a sign of failure or success as a mentor?
Is the objective of successful mentoring to keep a person in business - or to help them realise when its time to step OUT of it or make significant changes?
Here’s what Kerrie has to say about the mentoring process - with me.
I had the great fortune of being matched with Sue Liu of Zulu Communications when I joined the 2008 Women in Business Mentoreeship Program.
I joined the program to help with my short-term baby equipment hire service, Baby Hire Stuff. I was happily going along using what I like to call “the hummingbird approach”. That is, fluttering between enjoyable tasks, following all my bright ideas and ignoring less pleasant tasks for another day. What I desperately needed was a strong rudder to guide my wandering business. Someone to get me to face some facts about my business and confront the hard stuff head-on.
Sue instantly recognised that the little that I had in the way of marketing materials were mismatched and did not communicate the essence of my business to my customers. She mentored me through commissioning a gorgeous logo, getting business cards printed, aligning my website and making sure I came up with a flyer that I could be proud of.
Sue knew when to speed me up and when to slow me down. She got me to focus on how my business was perceived in the market place, and how to manipulate that perception.
After doing the hard work with Sue it came to light that my business was not as viable as I thought it was, nor was it really what I wanted in the longer term. I am now working on another business, Burwood Olympic Park Stays. I can apply what I have learnt with Sue on my new venture. The lessons have been learned and the skills are transferable. The experience has all been so valuable and is getting me to closer each day to business success.
Ever stoic and proactive, it is obvious that she just “gets” marketing. If you don’t get it, or even if you think you do and are wondering why you are not getting results, I recommend you get Sue onboard to get serious about your business and really take it to the next level. Kerrie Rahme
Mentoring is a way to help you make those hard decisions in business.
Knowing what next steps to take in businesses is never easy. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in business 12 months, 2 years or 12 years - the nature of your challenges change - but the challenges themselves will always be there.
Some times - you just need someone who will listen, take stock of your situation and have the experience and confidence to “tell it to you straight” or give you the support or inspiration to take some action.
Zulu Can help YOU
Business Confidante - gets your business heading in the right direction. It’s NOT coaching - Business Confidante is a unique blend of business facilitation, mentoring and consultancy designed to help the decision makers in a business gain clarity, direction and control. Click here for more information
Next Get Real event - Friday 31 October - Come and have lunch with other business owners - GET REAL, be open and honest and discuss your challenges without fear of judgement or criticism. Click here to find out more
Is the pen mightier than the spear?
August 20, 2008
I don’t happen to have a sword in my office - but I do happen to have two authentic Masai spears - a male and female one - that I managed to bring back from my adventures in Africa.
The male spear is WAAAY too big to get in the shot ( ahem…). It’s a good foot taller than me. It currently protects my doorway and has a resident spider living on it ( well - until I picked it up anyway).
The female spear is delicate and intricately carved and is holding up my wall hanging from Tanzania (behind me). Must be a peace spear and not for war being female and all……………………………you must have a look when you come to my office!
ANYWAY - I digress.
Is the PEN mightier than the spear/ sword/sharp-pointy-instrument-designed-to-kill? Well - this blog is not actually about WORDS Vs WAR - it’s about the PEN.
ZULU’s FUNKY PEN
Ok - so sorry if you feel you’ve been a little misled by that introduction - but my point here is that I’ve had these funky pens now for over 6 years. The same style pen in Zulu orange and blue.
Everyone I meet in the realm of business, community and some social - receives a pen with my business card. It’s one of the most effective marketing tools I have and it’s my signature ( ahem again…..) item - part of my brand.
At times - I’ve considered getting something else to replace the Zulu pen - but nothing that I can think of:
- is appropriate, well received, very very useful and appreciated! People don’t expect to receive anything, and it IS my pleasure to be able to give something to everyone that they genuinely like and can use.
- has longevity - is very useful, practical and has a long shelf life
- is easily transportable and giveable - and it’s not too painful to give out en mass - expecially when I’m presenting to groups
- can provide great branding and is an effective marketing device
- is distinctive, cool, funky, striking and memorable
- is GREAT quality for unit price
THE POWER OF THE PEN
Story 1: Executive Impact: A few years ago I had to separately interview individual members of a Board and an Executive team. I introduced myself and gave them my pen - as I do.
I was told later by my client - that at their next combined meeting - as if synchronised - they all reached into their suit pockets and portfolios and out came their Zulu pens. Orange beams around the room! They all looked at eachother , laughed and nodded - they had all been ZULUed!!
Story 2: Pens for Nuns and Priests in Sri Lanka: On one of my post - tsunami relief trips to Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in 2005 I gave out some pens to the nuns and priests I was working with.
For me - it’s not always about trying to promote my business - it’s just that sometimes - it’s just nice to be able to give something that people will like that I have available- so the pen it is. I’ll let the picture speak for itself.
Story 3: Pen pleasure lives on: You don’t know HOW much satisfaction I get when - months or years later, I catch up with someone and they are STILL using my pen. So much of what is produced and given out - ends up in the bin or in a drawer somewhere.
About my pens they say :
- it’s the best pen as it has lasted so long - and they love using it
- it’s hard to lose because it’s bright and chunky. It can be found in their hand/manbag clutter and no-one dares to steal it
- can I have another one.
For me this means:
LOVE the Pen - I remember you - You are TOPS - You’re a great marketer and a funky human being - I must catch up with you or visit your website to find out more about you.
AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: Plan - select and invest better!
STOP wasting money on buying STUFF that’s just STUFF ! Spend a bit more time putting thought and consideration into rationalising your selection and investment spend on promotional items. I promise you, the work you put into planning and selection at this end will pay off with a more consistent brand, relevance and impact for your business.
- It doesn’t have to be flashy and expensive to be effective - just THINK about what you’re choosing for your marketing before investing in it. Every marketing TOOL has a function - what’s the function of this tool?
- If you find something that works well for you - stick with it. It becomes a part of your brand.
- Marketing works in mysterious ways - that may not be abundantly obvious TODAY but will bear fruit down the track - it takes time to build your brand
- If they ever stop making these pens - I’m in trouble!
- I can get these pens for you - but you can’t have my orange.
What has worked well for you in the past with your marketing tools?
Do you need help with selecting and producing your marketing tools? Well……………. here I am - give me a call.
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work
August 17, 2008
Those are wise words from our mate Aristotle.
Case in point - I am SO loving my work at the moment - I KNOW that I’m doing the best job possible and that works well for my confidence and my clients are really happy with the results!
LOVE YOUR CLIENT - LOVE THE WORK:
Obviously this is your nirvana. If you have this" Love your client- love your work" situation going - good on you for finding it! Keep investing in that relationship and striving for perfection!
- If you love your client - you will do ANYTHING to help them - even if it does mean that you MAY not be part of the solution for them at this time. Being PART of the solution also helps work those kinds of issues through and keeps your client knowing that you ARE looking for the best outcome for all parties.
Fortunately for me at the moment - the phrase "LOVE YOUR WORK" has never been truer.
It hasn’t always been the case…………….We’ve all had those time where we’ve liked the work - but not the client or LOVED the client - but hated the tasks. So what DO you do to put the pleasure back into the work??
LOVE YOUR CLIENT - HATE THE WORK:
If you love your client but you’re not enjoying the work - then sure - the results are bound to be affected. Your attitude and approach to the tasks both negative or positive surely impact directly on output and the process of trying to achieve the highest standards in your work.
- If your client loves you and values your work - and knows that the role or task is not the best for you - ideally you CAN work through it and find a solution that suits you both - whether it’s modifying the task or finding another way to achieve it.
- Chances are your client is also feeling the tension. It’s best to put the brakes on - flag the issue with your client and be very honest and up front.
LOVE THE WORK - HATE YOUR CLIENT:
At times the passion for the work can override the painful journey involved in achieving it………………..is there an easy answer? - TRICKY…………………
- Is your dislike of the client effecting your committment and ability for achieving the kinds of results that you strive for?
- How painful is the client?
- How much do you love and need the work?
- Is it worth working hard to maintain a painful client to keep the great work?
HATE YOUR CLIENT - HATE THE WORK:
BALE - life’s too short. You’ll just end up feeing bad in the end - your output will be tainted and it just aint worth the money.
Money is a renewable resource - confidence and enjoyment in each moment - is NOT. How much is this situation going to impact on your confidence and how long it will take to get your confidence back is the question.
If you have a suggestion or comment you’d like to leave - please do!
And your reward is…………… A CHICKEN!
August 17, 2008
One of the most heartwarming experiences during my recent trip with my client NCS to their flag-ship camp operation on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea, was being an observer at their monthly staff meeting.
Gathered together were perhaps 250 local workers who were on shift at that time to, amongst other things - find out who the employee of the month award winners were…………………………
STAFF CHICKEN AWARDS
That’s right - the employees of the month win a chicken!
The staff chicken awards are a serious incentive and reward program - not a joke! Most local employees live in village environment where food and supplies have to stretch across many people. A chicken reward is JUST what the “doctor ordered”!
I’ve never seen people so proud and happy to receive a chicken, and it’s so very, very simple, appropriate, relevant, meaningful, practical AND appreciated!
Giving: Zulu regularly gives special gourmet sauce as a gift - and most people receive a funky Zulu pen - and although small and low-priced items, both have big impact and is sincerely appreciated and remembered by all those who receive it!
Receiving: I often receive movie vouchers and scratchies, and one of Zulu’s associates has given gifts of LARGE boxes of handmade, delicious gourmet chocolates for successful referrals. I LOVE IT! One gift helps me switch off and be entertained, one gift could make me rich and one gift is sure to keep me happy during my 3:00pm slump!
So what works and what doesn’t work?
- What do you give as acknowledgements, incentives and rewards to your client or staff?
- What kinds of things have you received from your clients, associates or employers?
- Does the value of the spend need to equate to or reflect the level of appreciation?
I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment on by blog!!
PS: The chickens are frozen by the way…. not live……………………..
Great little book on Confidence
July 22, 2008
I found this little gem on my travels.
a Thousand Paths to confidence by David Baird - ISBN978-1-84601-206-8
Here’s one little gem:
“Every moment of our life is absolutely precious and is not to be wasted in self-doubt. The wish to be confident and to live life with confidence is the vital first step. If you are prepared to take it, congratulate yourself - you have begun your journey on the path to confidence”.
I will share the other 999 paths to confidence as we go along. If you can’t wait - try and grab yourself a copy!
There is also “a thousand paths to creativity” by David Baird that is also worth seeking out… cover looks the same - just say’s creativity and not confidence.
My pre-emptive strike on becoming a PDA addict
July 8, 2008
Ok - so this morning - the eve of my long anticipated holiday - I am eagerly awaiting the (late) delivery of my new mobile phone.
I use the word mobile phone loosley- because that’s only one of its functions.
I have recently "persuaded" myself to embrace technology - step up - and get a "smart phone" / PDA device.
I’ve been holding back for a while now. I see a lot of my friends in and out of business glued to these devices and SWEAR that I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to be addicted to a small, small screen or fixated on hearing the "beep" notification that some more spam has been delivered to my inbox.
So why did I get it?
Is it peer pressure, shame or envy that has prompted this new embrace of the technology age? It’s a bit of "all of the above" - as well as the need to be a bit more accessible as I’m out of the office a whole lot more.
I really only intend to use this new device as a phone with the capability of doing OTHER things…………occasionally. I do want to still be able to have a conversation - business or social - without being distracted by the potential of being contacted by someone else by email. I still want the people and the business that I do face to face to take priority.
So - here’s my tetative pre-emptive strike on the PDA - a contract to me to ensure I don’t become addicted and antisocial with over use. I’ll let you borrow some of these rules too if you like!
- Avoid pulling out the "device" at dinner with friends - unless that is we’re seaching for something on the internet that’s relevant to the conversation. Furvative glances every 5 seconds is a bit off- putting and not a good tactic for engaging in meaningful face to face interaction.
- No PDA at the movies - the worst use I’ve seen has been constant SMS and email checking at the movies. I mean - WHY BOTHER going to the movies if you can’t separate yourself from the small screen to enjoy the big screen?
- No games on the PDA - I don’t play games on screen - usually. In the 80’s I was addicted to the arcade game Galaga (showing my age again - but who WASN’T loving Galaga in the 80’s??) I have no Wii, Nintendo, Xbox or whatever (maybe I don’t know what I’m missing) And I do prefer good oldfashioned card games, scrabble, backgammon and playing Poker - around a table with friends on a Saturday night!!
- No checking email in the early AMs - chances are the only email I’ll be getting at the "witching hour" when I have insomnia - is SPAM.
- No sending email in the early AMs - when you have insomnia - and the evil monkey on your back is messing with your head - this is NOT the right time to send emails……….. for SO many reasons
- NO PDA while driving - it’s tempting - I know - to respond to texts and emails while driving - but hey - it’s REALLY not safe.
This is all academic -until I recieve the thing and work out a) how to use it and b) get data turned on and actually start using it. I’ll keep you posted on progress - or not!
How long does it take to achieve real change?
July 6, 2008
I’m about to take a short break away from my business - which I admit - that I’ve fallen BACK IN LOVE with only recently - since I’ve achieved a few significant changes.
SIX MONTHS TO LIVE OUT MAJOR DECISIONS
First of all - I have to say - it is my belief that it takes SIX MONTHS to live out a major decision. This is not scientific fact - this is just my opinion and my experience - particularly over the last 7 years of self employment. Whenever I mention this to other people of like circumstance - they agree their experience is the same.
These last six months ( in particular the last three) have been an intense time for planning for and implementing changes that have resulted in the complete reinvention my business and giving birth to the new version of Zulu Communications. On the other side - I can now see the benefits of all that agonising mental, emotional and physical hard labour!
REAL CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION TAKES TIME & PROCESS
If I can step back a bit further to say that the need for these changes were flagged and critical up to 15 months ago! So what the HELL happened 15 months ago to trigger this change and why has it taken so long for it all to come to fruition??
I could write a book about this - but I am a self confessed armchair Psychologist and by no means profess to have all the answers or the ability to help everyone. If by sharing my story with you helps you in anyway - then terrific!
At the heart of it - every change for a business HAS to be owned and committed to by the owner and decision maker of the business with respect to the process of change. You have to REALLY want it in order for it to become a reality and it’s hard work getting there.
Here are some thoughts:
- To change something signficant in your life and your business takes process and time
- You can speed up the time by working through the process more quickly - that requires focus and committment
- You can’t reduce the time by limiting or skipping the processes - without altering the outcome
- There is no telling how much time things can take to change - even if you want them to change
- You can set goals - backed up by realistic actions and steps as one way to ensure you receive a result - again this is focus and committment
15 months ago………………..
I did a Vision Planning program for businesses 3 years plus - it TURNED me on my head. I completely freaked out as I had to review and confront the aspects of my business that really needed to be vastly different. It was all TOO hard, my confidence was SHOT to pieces and my business started to suffer because of it.
I sought professional guidance - some mentoring and lots of coffee meetings with other business owners - who didn’t seem to be having as hard a time of this as me……… or were they?? (This was the birth of GET REAL!)
I was advised back then that I need to:
- Come to terms with my client based and aim for a completely different market
- Consider a change from the isolation of home-based business BACK to and office and business community environment ( home-based was too isolating for a people-person like me)
- Up the ante on my whole approach to web and on-line marketing as my presence was far from "best practice"
- Raise my profile and be BRILLIANT
WHAT DID I GO THROUGH?
First six months: April-September
- Vison planning crisis and freaking out
- Moved into an office community ( prompted by circumstance rather than actually seeking it - never the less………………)
- Re-evaluation of financial circumstances as a result of now having an office…….. and more freaking out
- Re-evaluation of client base - who do I HAVE - who do I WANT
Second six months: October-March
- Being overwhealmed by all the big changes I had made quickly and marinating on what still needed to happen and wondering HOW on earth to do this
- Actively networking, researching, educating myself and planning for making changes (working out roughtly what, how and when I needed to do things)
- Trying to stay positive, working and brilliant despite the realities of a SLOW first quarter
Last three months: April - June
- Complete redevelopment of my web and on-line marketing
- Working with my NEW clients and presenting and consulting to a new range of businesses
- Becoming a mentor to a new business owner
- Planning and implementing the change over of my business entity
- Revising my entire work practices
- Networking and making contacts
- Maintaining a full workload of work
- Relaunch of website, blog and new business on 1 July.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE - SUCCESS!
I’m a completely different person today in so many ways - and can appreciate the agonising and stress associated with realising these Real Changes which have already paid off for me and my business - in spades!
Finally - thanks needs to be given to all of those who help me through this process - from beginning to end. You know who you are - and I’ll never forget how you played a part in my transformation.
NOW - how can I help you through YOUR change process?
Your Business Confidante helps businesses GET REAL
July 6, 2008
A large part of Zulu’s work is being the trusted professional person that can give advice, offer direction and provide practical business and marketing expertise to bounce ideas off.
These business facilitation skills are now realised in two ways to help people running businesses gain clarity, direction and control of planning and problems solving in their businesses.
1. Get Real - the networking event that brings people in business together to discuss the challenges of being in business
2. Business Confidante - the NEW facilitation and mentoring service that focuses on helping people in business work through issues and offers consistency and support with the process of planning, decision making and implementation.
Get Real
Get Real has proven so successful in particular for solo operators and consultants of all ages in businesses. Those in the start-up phase have have expressed how much they have learned about the challenges of being in businesses from those who have been around a the block a few times.
Those in business for a number of years have expressed relief at being able to talk to like-minded people and express the frustrations or concerns they’ve been sitting on for some time. We’re finding that we can offer a sounding board and support just by being open to having a conversation about it!
The next Get Real is on Thursday 31 July and is dedicated to businesses in that growth stage of 3-7 years. Bookings are being taken now! click here to find out more
Business Confidante
Who can you confide in when it comes to working through a new aspect of your business or trying to find out what your opportunities are for moving your business on to the next stage?
Business Confidante is NOT coaching? It’s facilitating and mentoring you through a process that you can’t delegate to someone else - planning and decision making is your responsiblity. Without your confidence in your decisions - action probably won’t happen or be as assertiveor assured as it should be. click here to find out more
Zulu’s campaign to promote voice to voice and face to face
July 2, 2008
I used to get a little annoyed at being interupted during my working day by telemarketers and follow up customer service calls. Now I’m not so bugged.
Here’s why.
Businesses that STILL employ and invest in human beings to make contact with other human beings via the telephone deserve a TICK and not us getting CROSS at maintaining this very important marketing and public relations activity.
There STILL is a place for the human touch. These days the art of voice to voice and face to face communications has been sacrificed to email and on-line marketing and technology - to the extent that I believe, is detrimental to building real relationships and understanding amongst people.
Some of the great advantages of on-line communications and technology tools is that it’s instant, can be done en-mass, is a efficient and effective way of doing business and staying in touch with many at all times and is a cheap way to communicate and track communications.
High use of technology can also create distance between human beings. What’s lost is the ability to engage, dialogue, express ourselves, gauge mood, tone, inflection and the opportunity to have the social and human aspects of interaction.
Voice to voice and face to face is a lost art.
- Can you evaluate how much of your communication with others - business or social, travels across the internet instead of the airwaves or face to face?
- Are we not picking up the phone because we are trying to save on phone call charges?
- Is it easier not to "deal" with people (especially with emotional or difficult issues) by firing off an email?
- Does picking up the phone or making time to meet feel like an inconvienience to you?
- How much of your social time involves not seeing your friends or socialising face to face?
- Do you find that people require your immediate response to emails and get offended more if you don’t - than if you take a little bit more time to return a voice mail message?
- Does seeing your friends on Skype or Facebook constitute an acceptable level of "contact" with people that goes toward building and maintaining a relationship?
Don’t sacrifice the HUMAN touch to technology too much!
Businesses who continue to invest in opportunities to interact face to face and voice to voice - I believe, will survive better than those who don’t - WHEN the technology backlash hits. You’ll be relying on the relationships that you have established and the rapport that you’ve built - and the best way to promote that is by investing in the human touch.
