Happiness

‘I remember that song …’ I thought to myself. We all know how it works don’t we? You realise that the tune on the radio has taken us back to somewhere. Usually a special “somewhere.” Or it may be a shout-out from the DJ – ‘any requests’?  We recall our favourites. These days I even findContinue reading “Happiness”

What’s on your mind?

I love what I do, my job. I enjoy helping friends move ahead in business through the fraternity. People like to do business with real people. It’s also one of the reasons why I’m enjoying the publishing industry a whole lot more these days. People are making themselves a much more accessible. Real people. It’sContinue reading “What’s on your mind?”

Let’s look after our mates …

Over the years I’ve discovered that success is powered by three things: The formula for success = your human capital (what you know) multiplied by your social capital (who you know) times your reputation (who trusts you.) You can take away all my money and even my customer list, but if I can keep my ‘smarts,’ my business relationships and reputation,Continue reading “Let’s look after our mates …”

Make it special …

I really don’t know how to pitch the room today, Charlie.  Do as you usually do Tom, and continue the education and enlightenment. Should I tell them about the new business I’m thinking about, after all the presentation is only a couple of minutes and I’ve plenty of the regular business just now, should IContinue reading “Make it special …”

December, morning coffee…

It was a typically dark, cold December morning and I was more than pleased when Natasha (and coffee) arrived, just as I surveyed the setting for today’s business over breakfast. We wouldn’t be alone for long though, as approaching headlights suggested the first of our company this morning were on their way. Nice and earlyContinue reading “December, morning coffee…”

Show passion, get lucky!

I consider myself lucky. I am able to count my true friends on the fingers of both hands. Sure, I have several hundred network ‘friends,’ cyber contacts and ‘likes’ out there although while I sit here enjoying the first cup of tea of the day I’m struggling to add to that true friend count … although the toes are always optimistic 🙂 It’s a fact, that this handful of true friends is indeed my family, direct family and partners in fact. These are the people who understand me, know my ambitions well and know where my passions really lie. My family have spent time with me, grown with me and experienced life as we see it. So why am I sitting here, supping tea and dwelling on where my true allies really lie? I‘d met James earlier this week, he introduced himself through a mutual  acquaintance as a ‘utilities expert.’  James explained that he was ‘giving networking  a go’ as for the past few months he’d found business pretty slow. It turns out James had signed up with to promote his utilities solutions in support of his other, ‘main job.’ He was looking to add to his income. Sure, even I could understand this. We’re all in business for a lot of different reasons, working to provide a better standard of living for our family is as good a reason as any, right? James explained that he was unable to offer a lot of time to promote his new  business as his main job kept him ‘busy’ although he was hopeful that any time he went out networking he was going to ‘get lucky’ and find some business and after all, if it didn’t work out, he’d simply ‘throw in the towel.’ I asked James to give me an idea of what he was passionate about, not to tell me he was in the job for the chance of business, is this what he told his family?  If it was, this was likely why he had found only limited success … I’ve suggested to James that he treat his network with the sincerity that an extended family deserved.  People like to do business with passionate people, with those who they know and who they trust.  I asked James who he trusted … family, right? Build your network and look after them as you would an extended family … Show passion and get lucky. ‘people buy from people.’

The BIG – A. Ambition or Apathy?

Attitudes are contagious Which attitude is prevalent in your network forum? Easy or edgy, positive or negative, go with the flow or grow with inspiration? If you find the attitude is not right, then how do you turn it around? As people-persons we all need a reality check at times, because it is easy toContinue reading “The BIG – A. Ambition or Apathy?”