January 2009
RENAISSANCE MAGAZINE
Strategy Does your business enable you or tether you?
Personal Power How a child changed a community
Life’s Toolbox Meditation is a life skill
Success Mindset Harness your inner power
Entrepreneurial Insights Live by your core values
Spotlight on Noeux les Mines, France
Richard Branson ‘It’s all life!’
DREAM, BELIEVE, CREATE
Hello!
Business success, mindset and lifestyle are all interwoven. BOSSMENTOR®
Welcome to our first issue of
Renaissance Magazine™ is going
BOSSMENTOR® Renaissance
a step beyond the business advice
Magazine™!
presented in our e-news, to start giving more focus on insights into the beliefs
It’s been designed for you to take your
and thinking of the people we profile,
time over, dive in and out of, and keep
and how your thoughts can change
as a reference.
the outcomes you get in your life. New thinking, new levels of awareness of the
Jenny Stilwell
Reading, writing, exploring new
personal power that we each hold inside
thoughts and ideas, creating stories and
ourselves, and a new attitude to your
forever putting pen to paper, is part
business as leverage for a bigger future,
of my life blood. I wrote my first book
rather than an end in itself – that’s
at the age of nine, instructively titled
what BOSSMENTOR® Renaissance
“How to be a Teen Teenager” (alas, now
Magazine™ is all about.
out of print!). The theme of this first issue is ‘enable’, Business strategy, management practices
and we explore ways that you can
and stories of the great business mas-
enable greater possibility in your life,
ters, has inspired me along my path and
through your own personal power and
continues to do so.
through your business.
The driver behind the great success
I hope the stories, advice and insights
stories throughout history is the power
challenge and inspire you to dream,
of the human mind to achieve great
believe and create your bigger future!
things. Sometimes it is easy to dismiss the amazing stories we hear of personal
Enjoy!
courage, human strength, of overcoming huge obstacles to change the course
Jenny Stilwell
and outcomes of lives, and of course stories of incredible foresight and vision of inspirational entrepreneurs to take quantum leaps forward in progress. We can dismiss these stories and place them at arm’s length, as ‘I could never do that’. But we are all capable of doing that! It is the focus and perspective of the human mind that will drive success and results in our personal and business lives, which in turn will determine our lifestyle and the ultimate legacy we leave during our lifetime.
2
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
‘If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves’ Thomas Edison.
Table of contents Success Mindset
4 Life’s Toolbox 6 Harness Your Inner Power
Strategy
9 Does Your Business Enable You Or Tether You?
How-To
12 What To Do With A Strategic SWOT 14 Set Up Your Website To Generate Leads
Entrepreneurial Insights
16 Gord Hotchkiss - CEO Enquiro, British Columbia, Canada
19 Best Info
Leadership & Legacy
20 Richard Branson’s Philosophy
Spotlight
22 Noeux Les Mines, France
Personal Power
23 How A Child Changed A Community; What Could We Do?
Business Growth, Mentoring & Coaching
24 Programs 25 Other Ressources And Products
26 About BOSSMENTOR®
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
3
Success Mindset
Life’s Toolbox T
we want to open up to clarity, ideas and inspiration - we need to regularly toss out the junk. Today our lives seem increasingly frantic and distracted .. demands on our time, demands on our attention and demands for optimal performance across everything we do – family, career, relationships, exercise – mean that we are always ‘on’. At the same time we are also constantly interrupted, beeped and buzzed; so our ability to maintain attention for
his past week I have had
anything longer than a few minutes is
two lively conversations
always being tested.
which highlighted an increasingly common theme.
By Sarah Fletcher
When stretched and spread so thinly,
One girlfriend was feeling totally over-
demands become increasingly difficult
whelmed and unable to cope with all
to meet and stress levels begin to build.
the competing demands in her life; she
As we start to feel disconnected and
spoke of feeling fearful and scattered,
overwhelmed, we find we are suddenly
and in fact openly wondered if she was
unable to cope with all the noise and
losing her ‘mind’. Another girlfriend
uncertainty in our world .. resulting in
was facing a major life change, the
health issues (dis-ease) and turmoil – we
culmination of years of hard and highly
have lost our balance.
focussed work, but instead of stepping up to take the prize she found herself
The antidote I suggested to my girl-
frozen and unsure - like a rabbit caught
friends is quite simple .. to just .. stop
in the spotlight, unable to move.
.. and be still.
Meditation is the tool needed in our toolbox Meditation long ago came down from the mountain tops, and while it is an ancient practice that has been around for more than 4000 years, it is also a quite
4
To both my friends I shared the same
natural human experience. Stilling the
advice .. like a cluttered house that has
mind, taking time to be quiet and re-
no room left; our minds too are often
flect, can be experienced when you are
overcrowded with noise and clutter. If
totally immersed in a favourite activity,
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
or thought; it may be gardening, your favourite music or a walk in the forest. The word “meditation” literally comes from two Latin words: ‘medio’ meaning center and ‘sto’ meaning to stand. So meditation is ‘to stand in the centre’. When you are still, and in your centre, you have the opportunity to clear the noise and truly listen to the softest and most subtle sound of your inner voice. Taking the time to meditate (whether that is a ‘spot’ meditation before an
It is really fundamental that we realise it is our inner world that creates our outer world.
important meeting; or a more formal sit-
that you become more aware of the
ting practice) allows the mind to settle
‘you’ that exists beneath the layers of
into a calmness and peace that is there
random cross-fire thoughts, emotions,
all the time, but hidden behind all the
and judging; the ‘you’ that understands
chatter and internal dialogue.
where you are and what your purpose
Meditation makes for a handsome return
is in life.
on investment – it’s the tool we all need in our toolbox.
When we rest the mind, we renew and reconnect with the quiet spaces and
Learning to focus the mind and con-
places inside. When our mind is calm,
centrate our attention in the present
our life finds balance and ease.
moment, also improves the efficiency and understanding of our thinking. So
Meditation: the art of mindful stillness
meditation therefore not only encour-
When we meditate we let go of all the
All you need do is be silent, tune in and listen
worries, the problems of the past and
ages a healthier and more resilient frame of mind, but the resulting clarity and
Sarah Fletcher teaches simple and practical meditation, and believes meditation is an important life skill. She also writes a meditation blog at www.quietmindmeditation.blogspot.com.
spaciousness puts us in a better position to tap into the magical flow of opportunity and synchronicity.
the concerns for the future, and start to listen and understand at a really deep
Meditation is the simple act of slowing
and profound level .. we begin to feel
down and rediscovering who we truly
what we truly feel, and know what we
are; it is also an enjoyable and life af-
really know. As the mind slows down
firming wellness practice. Studies con-
and focuses we then start to see more
tinue to support the substantial health
clearly things as they really are; the
benefits of a regular meditation practice
habitual responses that we have, see and
– reduced levels of stress and anxiety,
do, our way of hearing and relating to
improved immune system and building
others, and our inner roadblocks.
a healthier heart and mind. Meditation also makes us more keenly aware of our
Meditation provides the stillness so
intuition, fosters greater creativity, and it feels good!
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
5
Success Mindset
Harness Your Inner Power
By Rebecca Ryan
“I have a headache, Mummy” my
tential at the expense of our humanity?
tions and complexities of our human
daughter said as she laid down and put
My imagined potential is the carrot I’m
experience to show us who we really are
her head in my lap. While I brushed
told to focus on. I must focus… REALLY
and the resources we already have.
her hair off her face, my head went into
focus… on all the things I want to be - I
overdrive. Do I commiserate - kiss her
picture what I’ll look like and feel like…
or give her magic water? Do I tell her
as I hear the roar of the crowds. And, in
she’ll be fine and send her off to school?
all this focus, I wonder…. Am I doomed
Here are some ways to recognise what
Is she fine? Or, will the sick bay call
to deny my true nature for the promise
you actually have:
me with a stern request to come and
of a better one?
get her? Do I juggle my meetings to keep her home? Do I trust that her little
The inner world
Appreciate your mixed emotions; allow yourself to celebrate your wins; explore the criticisms that bother you, and the
brother won’t do the same thing tomorrow? Do I put her back to bed with the
I am full of ambiguity and inconsis-
way you try to put distance between
promise of no TV? Or, do I drag her
tency. Every decision I make is chock-
your imagined self and your real one.
suddenly-cheery self around to a cafe
full of complexity and mixed emotions.
• Appreciate how you don’t fit; how
with me and ignore the nagging feeling
Everything I do oozes my own human-
you don’t live up to your expecta-
that I’ve been played?
ity. Like it or not, I cannot escape my
tions and how you have let yourself
history: the dramatic turns; the good
(and others) down. Step into your
ideas gone cold, and the sheer madness
own shoes to see how you manage
of falling in love with dangerous people.
the changing circumstances, the
Focus… What focus? This story illustrates to me what it is to be human. It highlights the enormous
My humanity is my power
wisdom we use every day to navigate
6
You’re standing in it
double crosses and the disappointments of being you. • Appreciate the other sides of the
our complex interactions. It brings me
I wonder if freedom is to stop looking
story; judge not from an outsider’s
to the question: Does the modern hu-
for our elusive potential, Narcissus-like?
context; hang out with yourself
man potential movement target our po-
We could instead allow the contradic-
until you can honestly say “I accept
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
(maybe even appreciate) that about
full expression. I crave being accepted
myself”.
and loved for who I am - warts and all
• And if appreciating yourself is an uphill slog, here are 3 quick and
- not with an apology but with the mad exhilaration of being free to be me.
easy ways to feel good about yourself and bolster your courage:
As William Blake said, “Rise and drink
1. Gratitude – this can be a very
your bliss, for all that lives is holy.”
small gesture of thanks. 2. Generosity – this can be a very small favour for someone.
By Rebecca Ryan, aged 36 and a half x
3. Gob-smacked awe – this can be looking at a blade of grass and thinking how amazingly it is made. If we can accept and appreciate ourselves we needn’t abandon who we are for the promise of who we might be able
Rebecca is the Director of Living Dreams, a specialist coaching & training company with a vision to think differently. She can be contacted via mobile URL betterfuturenow.mobi or email ylangroup@optusnet.com.au.
to be. I am human and my inconsistencies and my ambiguity are part of my
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
7
Strategy
Does your business enable you or tether you?
By Jenny Stilwell
Fortunately there seems to be a growing trend, certainly among the clients I work with, to create a business that is an enabler of the owner’s lifestyle. People want to build a business they enjoy, but more importantly, build a business that actually encompasses life goals and passions as well. BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
9
Strategy
people and dealing with the day to day operations of a business, you will most likely start to either resent being tethered by your business or you will lose your passion for what you do and lose your momentum. However, if you recognize that architectural design is essential to you being passionate about what you do and making a contribution, then you must structure your business to run ‘handsfree’ (without your hands, that is). This is a real leap of faith for many
F
or example, I have a client who loves travel, and the thought of building a business that only has a domestic
scope just isn’t on the cards! Opportunities, contacts, projects – they must have a global focus.
business owners, but this leap is a true enabling step.
that you love so much you’d do it for free? If I left you alone for the day, uninterrupted, and came back to find you immersed in that activity completely unaware that a day had gone by, what would you have been doing?
Where and how do you ideally like to work? Do you need to be flexible? Do you prefer to work in a slick modern office? Have you always wanted to work in a converted warehouse? Would you rather
Another client prefers to work alone.
For some, there may be no work going
For this person, a growing business
on but they’re surrounded by people,
with an expanding team of people need-
talking, laughing and having a great
Being able to design where and how
ing mentoring and management is not
time!
you work is an essential part of creating
work at the beach, or at home?
your business in such a way as to enable
enabling a lifestyle. It’s tethering the business owner to a place he doesn’t
For others, they may be doing some-
want to be.
thing completely unrelated to work, like
you to live how you really want.
entertaining children, cooking, singing,
Do you like to spend the day with
As business owners we are so fortunate
playing golf or developing ideas on a
clients, colleagues, members of your
in that we can create whatever we want
white board. It doesn’t mean you would
team, in meetings, out having lunch,
our business and our lifestyle to be,
do this all the time, but it’s something
in discussion? Would you rather be
whether the business is a startup or
you do that immerses you.
more solitary in how you work? Do you like to work at night or early in the
established, the ‘enabling principles’ apply. The following enabling principles will help you to determine how well your business enables you to create the
Do you have a chance to do that through your business, or is the business structured in such a way that it enables you to leave it and pursue your ‘immersion’ activity?
morning, or like a friend of mine, right
If you’re an architect, and you love to
A lot of business owners would like
design buildings, you need to be able to
a little more free time, but when the
do that. If you get caught up managing
opportunity arises, some of them don’t
around the clock?
Would you like more free time and if so, how would you spend it?
future of your dreams, or how much it tethers you:
What activity would you be doing
10
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
really know what to do with it. I’ve
double the business turnover next year,
seen people who retreat to their busi-
why do you want to do that, and will it
ness rather than unleash themselves on
enable you to live more like the way you
themselves! I’ve also seen workaholics
really want to be living?
who eschew free time, but once the concept and the opportunity become more
Set your business goals because they are
obvious, they start to embrace it with
in alignment with what you really want
great enthusiasm. We only get our time once, so make the most of it while you have it.
What needs to change in your business to enable you to live and work with more enjoyment, satisfaction and better personal results? It has to start with you – it’s your business and your life. Do you need to change the structure of your business? Do you need to change your role in it? Do you need to change how you work? Do you need to change or build your team?
to do, and enable you to live a great life. Don’t set goals simply because you can, and be tethered by them as a result.
Do you need to change your schedule so you spend more time doing
Think of the lines in the INXS song:
what you love?
‘we all have wings, but some of us don’t
Do you need to enlist help to keep
know why’. Make sure your business
you on track and accountable?
enables you to use your wings and fly!
Do you need to sell your business and do something new – start a new chapter? Do you need to loosen the control and focus on what inspires and motivates you?
Finally, is the vision for your business based on your personal goals? Are they in alignment? Are the financial goals for the company driven by your own personal financial goals? For example, if you want to
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
11
How to
What to Do With a Strategic SWOT
By Jenny Stilwell
Often people conduct a SWOT Analysis
ment in which you operate or plan to
nal environments, encourage discussion
for their business and after having filled
operate.
(always!), and lay a solid foundation for
in the points under each heading, they don’t do any more with it. I think most people know what it is, but few people seem to know what to do with it and how to use it strategically in their planning. Here’s the low-down.
the strategic direction for the business.
When you do an objective SWOT, you’ll be able to match your resources more efficiently and effectively to your environment, for greater success.
Here are some typical examples that could fall under each of the categories:
Strengths • Capable Team (make sure it’s in all
Internal factors
External factors
Strengths
Opportunities
Weaknesses
Threats
It is a strategic tool used in planning,
areas of the business, because if
such as marketing plans and business
it isn’t, then you have a weakness
plans. You could also do a SWOT on
somewhere – eg: Product Devel-
yourself, a product, a project, a business
opment and Sales are strong, but
unit, as well as on your overall business.
Customer Service is weak) • Intellectual property, such as:
What Is A SWOT Analysis?
Strengths and weaknesses are internal
1. Trademarks, Patents
factors that reside or exist within your
2. Brand recognition
business. Opportunities and threats ex-
• Client base
ist outside your business, and are sepa-
• Marketing system
rate from your business but can impact
• Office facilities
your business.
• Low cost base • Technology
How Does It Work?
• Production capacity (available for growth) Often when doing this exercise I receive responses like “everyone gets on well”.
The person who develops the strategic
This is a good thing, but not necessarily
plan for your business will usually do
a strength.
the SWOT analysis, which others may then comment on or add to. It’s an objective look at the internal and external factors affecting your business,
A really useful approach is to combine
summarized into strengths, weaknesses,
feedback from a few key people within
opportunities and threats.
the organisation, and compare their perspectives of what the business’ SWOT
12
As a litmus test, ask yourself, ‘does having this make us more competitive/more profitable and more attractive to our target market?’
The purpose of conducting a SWOT
analysis is. If you run this as a work-
Weaknesses
analysis is to enable you to perform
shop-type session, it will cover off a lot
• Lack of specialist resources
more competitively within the environ-
of information about internal and exter-
• Limited IP (Intellectual Property)
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
Strengths & Opportunities (S-O Strategies)
Weaknesses & Opportunities (W-O Strategies)
• Low profile within target market
Use your inherent strengths to capital-
Develop a strategy to overcome or
• Poor accounting system, ie: can’t ac-
ize on available opportunities that fit
remove the weaknesses in your business
curately measure & track KPIs (Key
with your overall business purpose and
in order to take advantage of the oppor-
Performance Indicators)
goals
tunities that exist for growth/increased
• For example, you may have a very
profit/market share etc
• Incomplete & out of date customer database • Small distribution network
• Production capacity (unused –
large customer base as a strength,
wasted resources & costs)
• For example, if you have a lack of
and also have the opportunity to
specialist resources but have an op-
take on new technology that would
portunity to partner with another
enable you to deliver superior ser-
company to take on their products/
partner (eg: expand distribution
vice to your clients/ deliver more/
services, you could make it a prior-
network)
deliver faster/deliver more cheaply
ity to bring specialist resources
– all of which could increase sales,
into your business to enable you to
improve margins, and ultimately
quickly take advantage of that op-
increase your profitability
portunity
Opportunities • alliance with a potential business
• new technology (to reduce costs, improve processes) • new market expansion (increase sales) • emerging customer needs (new products/services & sales) • legislation (eg: may introduce new
Weaknesses & Threats (W-T Strategies)
opportunities)
The bottom line is this: you want to be ready to take advantage of the best opportunities for your business, and
Threats • entry of strong competitors to this market from other markets
Develop a strategy to protect the busi-
well prepared to ward off any threats
ness from the weaknesses that make
that could significantly impact your
it highly vulnerable to the most likely
business.
threats
• new technology renders your products/services redundant • new legislation restricts business
How Do I Use It?
• For example, if a weakness is lim-
You don’t want to adopt strategies that
ited IP and a threat is entry into
further highlight a weakness in your
your market by strong competitors,
business, add more pressure to already
then your defensive strategy could
strained resources, or place you in a
be to develop or acquire IP that
market where you are unable to compete
makes you more competitive and
effectively.
gives you a point of difference in Strengths
Opportunities
Threats
Strength/ Opportunity Strats
Weaknesses Weakness/ Opportunity Strats
Capitalise
Overcome & capitalise
Strength/ Threats Strats
Weakness/ Threats Strats
Minimise
Defend
Strengths & Threats (S-T Strategies)
A SWOT Analysis is a sorting tool – it helps you sort the best strategies form a list of options, and provides a decision-making framework.
Use your strengths to minimise the most
If you only do part of this mix without
likely threats to your business
the full mix of strategies, you’re leaving
• For example, if a strong distribution
yourself open to risk and/or lost oppor-
the market
network is a strength, you may de-
tunities. If you do the SWOT analysis
cide to channel more products into
objectively and use the resulting matrix
Now that you’ve done the SWOT, you
that distribution network to gain
of strategies as they’re set out above,
need to apply what it’s uncovered to
more market share, minimizing the
you’ll have the foundation of a sound
your strategy.
potential market share for any new
strategy.
competitor Partner your SWOT factors like this:
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
13
How to
Set Up Your Website to Generate Leads By Bart Smith, TheMarketingMan.com
L
eads are the lifeblood of
you wish to create and add to your
With www.MyMarketingCart.com in
every business! Without
web site for visitors (i.e., leads) to
place, you now have all the right tools
them, you can’t grow your
fill in.
and all the right software in place you
business and your income.
• You’ll need the ability to commu-
So, not like you needed to be reminded
nicate to your list through eMail
required to build your own list of pros-
to generate them, but HOW is the big
without being labeled a spammer by
pects, clients and affiliates! Here’s how
question! Specifically, let’s focus on gen-
your local Internet service pro-
you build your list of future wealth!
erating leads from your web site!
vider. To do this, you will need to
• Create an “opt-in” box (a.k.a. sub-
use a third party, commercial eMail
scription form) for your Web site.
If you don’t have a list of prospects to
broadcasting service with a variety
This simple form will generate the
sell and market to yet, or your current
of functions. This online marketing
most leads for you! MyMarketing-
list is not as large as you like, don’t
service should allow you to commu-
Cart will help you do this.
worry. We’re going to show you how to
nicate to your list through a variety
build a huge list right here, right now!
of eMail communications such as
“opt-in” box in the top-right corner
eZines, online newsletters, special
of every web site. For most people,
First, let’s get the “tools you need” in
eMail announcements and autore-
the mouse is stationed on their
place to build your list!
sponders.
right-hand side of the keyboard;
• You’ll need the ability to create an
14
need to perform all the essential tasks
• Make it easy to subscribe! Put the
which means, their cursor is more
“opt-in box” (i.e., an online form)
The most sophisticated and cost-effec-
likely to start from the far right and
that collect specific information
tive software system that tracks and
move to the left; which means, the
(i.e., first name and primary eMail
manages all of this and provides other
sooner people can put their cursor
address) from those who visit your
essential eCommerce tools for selling
in the opt-in box, the faster they
web site, express an interest in your
and marketing your business online
might signup for your eZine, or
eZine/newsletter, free information
(i.e., shopping carts, recurring billing,
other compelling offer.
giveaway; your products, services
ad tracking software, custom forms, af-
and even your affiliate program.
filiate program/marketing software and
page within your web site. Make
• You’ll need the ability to sort, track,
• Put the “opt-in” box on every web
more!) is www.MyMarketingCart.com,
sure, again, it’s positioned in the
add and edit the names of people in
the same company BOSS Management
top-right corner of your home page.
your ever-growing database of new
Group uses to collect leads, product
Having it on every page allows
contacts, prospects, clients and af-
sales, tracks its affiliate program, data-
people, surfing around your web
filiates. You can do this by assigning
base management, eMail broadcasting,
site to “opt-in” at any time!
specific autoresponders to the forms
autoresponders… The list goes on!
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
• Put the “opt-in” box at the top and
Bart Smith, TheMarketingMan.com is the
founder of www.MyTrainingCenter.com, an online learning resource offering extensive written, audio and video tutorials for computers, business, marketing, speaking, web design and information product creation. Bart is also the founder of www.MyMarketingCart.com, which offers shopping carts, autoresponders, eMail marketing, Internet marketing tools, and other eCommerce services to businesses; and co-author of www.RichCoachBrokeCoach.com, which helps coaches make more money coaching, while coaching fewer clients! Bart also authored four self-help books, totaling over 1,500 pages.
bottom of every web page within your web site. What if someone read all the way to the bottom of your web site and wanted to signup right then and there? They could, if you had your “opt-in” box also positioned at the bottom of your web site. • Put the “opt-in” box in your eZine! If you encourage your eZine subscribers to forward your eZine on to their friends and associates, wouldn’t it be super-convenient to have the “opt-in” box inside your eZine? Make it easy for people to sign up! • Be specific, yet, in the beginning, just ask for people’s “first name” and “primary eMail address.” All you need is their first name when starting out. You can get their last name LATER. And, with so many people today having more than one address, ask for their “primary address” (i.e., the one they check the most).
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
15
Entrepreneurial Insights
Gord Hotchkiss:
‘Live By Your Core Values’ lation is about 125,000 people, which
Name
is perfect. I’m not a big city type of
Gord Hotchkiss
person. It’s good for a family – I have
JS: I imagine with the service that you
Position
two daughters, 15 and 13.
provide that you could have clients
Founder & CEO
pretty much anywhere in the world…?
Location
JS: So why did you want to run your
British Columbia, Canada
own business, and what led you to start
Gord: Our clients are mostly spread
Company
Enquiro?
around the US; Canada was slower to
Enquiro, a search engine marketing company
Gord: It seems like the company has
clients in Europe and we’ve got a pro-
Website
always been part of my life. It started
posal in now with a national company
www.enquiro.com
in a different format in 1988. I was a
in Australia.
Size
copywriter for local radio stations and
27 people
then started doing more creative work
JS: How did you get your first clients in
around advertising for my clients. Dur-
the US?
embrace the internet. We also have some
ing the ‘90s was when the web started JS: Hi Gord, thanks so much for
to grow, and in 96/97 we were one of
allowing us to interview you for
the few people offering interactive mar-
BOSSMENTOR® Renaissance
keting using the internet. I found the
Magazine™.
internet intriguing as well, to be able to
Before we start talking
about you and your business, could you
go beyond local radio stations and work
tell us a little bit about Kelowna?
with other clients in other markets, beyond a small town.
Gord: When I started the business I wanted to live in a small city that I love
JS: Did you have other people working
and be able to earn a living. Kelowna is
with you at that stage?
in British Columbia – it’s inland, wine
16
keting and we had one part-timer.
country. There’s a 170km long lake,
Gord: I started the company on my
mountains, skiing, it has a relatively
own but then brought in a partner, Bill,
mild climate for Canada, and the popu-
when we started doing interactive mar-
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
Gord: We wanted to be a ‘beacon’ and
The opportunity we saw has had major
they understand. So, search may not be
be known for something, which we
players move in [to the market] so we
a primary strategy for some businesses
decided was search engine marketing
retreated.
– there must be a mix of marketing tools
(SEM) as few people were doing it. We
in their arsenal. If you are in a niche
also decided to do one thing really well,
Our focus is now B2B search. Businesses
market, your marketing needs to create
so we launched a new website on June
selling to businesses have more com-
more awareness of this product/service
1st, 1999, and had our first two clients
plexity and more players in the process
category in order to increase the search
by the end of the day! One of those was
than consumer marketing. We got into
on that category.
in new England and the other was a
the research side to understand why
lawyer in Montreal.
people do what they do to interact with
Search isn’t a channel, it’s something
the search engines, and we span that out
people do – it has to be connected to
to a new business division.
other activities.
We’ve done research projects in the
JS: What’s your approach to moving
last two years with all the major search
into new markets?
engines such as Google and Yahoo and established ourselves as leaders in how
Gord: We don’t take on anything un-
people interact with search engines.
less we do it really well. We’re thinking globally but we want to do it well. We
We had about 12 accounts by the end of
JS: In my experience a lot of SEM
use research in new markets. It gets our
the month, most of them in the US. We
companies focus on keywords, and have
foot in the door. We’ve done a lot of
did the Happy Dance every time we got
their clients come up with their key-
research now into the European market
a new client on board! It was a fun time
words, and then they do the search and
and how people interact with search.
to be exploring doing business online.
page rank optimization bit. But SEM is
We’ve done eye tracking research in to
part of the whole marketing mix, and
how the Chinese interact with search.
JS: How would you describe your over-
I think people need a lot more direc-
all growth strategy?
tion than they currently get from many
You have to understand cultures too
search engine optimization companies.
before you go in to global markets, and
Gord: The question implies we had a
that’s a challenge. You have to be sensi-
strategy [laughs]! We were riding the
Gord: We try to get our clients to talk
wave of the internet and at one point
to their customers or read books on why
were on of the fastest growing com-
people do what they do – why people
JS: Could you tell me about the Enquiro
panies in North America. After things
go online to find you. A high page rank-
Earth program you’ve developed?
settled down, after the boom/bust, there
ing is only a small part of the marketing
were far more SEM companies.
picture and clients need to take a holis-
Gord: We developed it internally. Inno-
tic view of marketing and why people
vation in our company tends to bubble
do what they do.
up and the team takes ownership of it.
We started thinking more strategically in 2002 – some strategies were more successful than others…
tive to cultural realities.
Enquiro Earth completely came from How do people move through your
the team. We’re really proud of our
marketing points? For example, they
culture and core values. Everyone lives
Our focus was to be an organic optimi-
see an ad in a magazine – will they then
by them.
zation specialist. We didn’t see spon-
search for you online, and how will they
sored search taking off but made the
do it? Companies shouldn’t be defin-
mistake of getting into that too late. In
ing their own keywords – how can you
2003 we decided to develop software
define your own keywords when the
Gord: Leave the world a better place
in the search engine business, without
prospect doesn’t even know you exist?
than when you came into it – that value
experience in software development.
People search on a category or keyword
gave rise to the Earth program.
JS: Could you give me an example?
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
17
Entrepreneurial Insights
We also donate a lot to charities. In 2008
now – the company pays me to think
we donated $1000 per employee to dif-
and to be an academic of sorts. It’s
ferent community programs and chari-
enabled me to talk to interesting people
ties. Here’s an example of something
and explore some things I want to do.
that came from the team. They wanted
The internet has enabled me to con-
to do our own version of The Appren-
nect with some amazing people that
tice as a fund raiser.
I wouldn’t have been able to do had I followed a different path.
They got twenty tickets to a game from the local hockey team and each team
JS: I believe that thinking and taking
had ten tickets to use to raise money for
time out to learn is underrated by many
charity. They were given an afternoon
people. So many people are consumed
to do this exercise. The face value of
with ‘doing the doing’ and don’t take
the tickets was about $20 each, and I
time out to smell the roses, reflect, learn,
thought if we raised $1000 that would
think about what’s going on or what
be really good. Each team picked a char-
they want…
ity – one had the local hospital, and the
holding on to. I want to continue that
other chose a charity that got bikes for
Gord: I now have macro level discus-
kids.
sions with the team, way up from the
journey.
detail. If you look at what’s happening
Psychology, neuro-science, the conver-
They came back 5 hours later and had
in the world now – with the US and
gence of academic disciplines; under-
raised almost $13,000!
the rest of the world – it makes sense.
standing more about humans and what
Most of the world has been driven by
drives us – the economic story is only
JS: It sounds like you have an amazing
greed and now it’s evening out and it
a small part of it – step more into a role
culture.
means we have to give up something. If
to help other people understand it as
you take the time to think about these
well. It’s the theme in my writing. How
Gord: I encourage the team to inno-
things and read and explore ideas, none
organizations evolve and the dynamics
vate and take risks, and make sure it’s
of these things are really surprising. We
in them, and what’s happened in the
aligned with our core values. I’m an
get too tied up in today and tomor-
twentieth century where a lot of forces
avid student of what makes companies
row and don’t see the trends. What’s
changed our society dramatically; the
remarkable. We use Enquiro as our
happening now has been building for
twenty first century promises to see
sand box to see what works and what
decades. When you understand it, it
even more dramatic changes for us. How
doesn’t. We don’t always get it right but
explains what’s happening around us.
fast can we adapt is the question.
JS: Do you have a vision for your bigger
JS: Is there a book in the wings?
great companies don’t happen overnight, they evolve.
future? JS: Would you say your business is an enabler for you to create a bigger life, or
Gord: I plan to have an outline by the Gord: Personally?
end of the year.
JS: Yes
JS: I’ll keep my eyes open for it next
a dis-abler? Gord: An enabler! The last two years
year! Thanks Gord – it’s been great get-
have been very interesting; I have more
Gord: I’m a tremendously curious stu-
time now to think and to learn more
dent of human nature and what drives
about behaviours, and to do some more
us. I’m more in tune with why we
writing around that.
evolved the way we did – it involved re-shuffling my beliefs and putting
I’m doing more work with academics
18
some of my beliefs aside that I’ve been
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
ting to know you!
Best info
increased joy and more harmonious
familiar to you then the principles will
relationships.
be too. What’s interesting is how John makes them work for him.
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BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
19
Leadership & Legacy
Richard Branson’s Philosophy: It’s All Life!
R
ichard Branson is an
came to pack up the cars and head for
amazing example of a
home, and his Aunty Joyce said ‘never
person who absolutely
mind, Ricky, there’s always next year’.
engages 101% in every
But of course, the young Branson didn’t
aspect of his life. To him, there is no
want to wait that long!
delineation between business and life, and once when interviewed about how
They packed up the car, and headed off
he fitted his business empire in with the
on the 12-hour trip home. On the way,
rest of his life, he replied: “It’s all life!”
the traffic came to a virtual standstill, and running alongside the road was
Undoubtedly, his lack of fear and
a river. The young Richard asked his
complete confidence and belief that he
father if he’d pull over so he could
will achieve his dreams was fostered
scramble down to the bank of the river
very much by his family when he was
for one last attempt to win 10 shillings
a child. In his autobiography, ‘Losing
from his aunty.
My Virginity’, he recounts a story about learning to swim when he was only five
Just before he jumped into the flowing
or six years old.
stream of the river, he looked up and saw his aunties and his sisters, standing
One summer holiday in Devon with his
with his mother who was smiling and
family and his father’s sisters, his Aunty
his father who was nonchalantly light-
Joyce made a bet with him. She bet
ing his pipe.
him 10 shillings that he couldn’t learn to swim by the end of their two-week
What ensued from this point was that
holiday. His version of swimming at
he struggled enormously with the cur-
that stage, was to hop along the sand on
rent and the rapid swirling of the river,
one foot, while splashing around and
and was swept downstream some way.
going through the motions with the rest
As much as he tried he still was un-
of his body (remember doing that?). The
able to swim properly, and with much
sea in Devon is not particularly warm,
thrashing around and struggling he
or easy to swim in, at the best of times,
was pulled under. He swallowed water
and even harder for a learner!
and could hardly breathe. Just then his foot found a rock that gave him leverage
20
One last swim at the beach confirmed
to push himself up to the surface and
that his new skill wouldn’t be acquired
take in a huge breath. He then settled,
on that particular holiday. The time
and with one last surge of determina-
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
Believe in yourself above all else It’s all life, so enjoy it all Do whatever it takes to make your dreams happen Richard Branson says that his life threatening balloon flights and the series of Virgin companies he’s set up, have all been part of a seamless series of challenges since his childhood. He creates and follows his dreams and his driver is his passion. ‘Screw it, let’s do it’ reduces everything to passion and possibility. In 1993 he was forced to sell Virgin Music. In that same year, Virgin Atlantic and Richard Branson turned the corner in their long-standing battles with British Airways after winning a high profile court battle. Other airlines had been beaten by BA, but Virgin never gave in. In Richard’s words, ‘1993 was a watershed for Virgin. From that moment onward, and for the first time, we had the luxury of money (£500 Million in the bank); and in ‘Virgin’ we had a strong brand name, which could be lent to a wide variety of businesses. We tion started to kick with both feet and
dripping wet. He’d lost his nonchalant
faced uncharted territory, but at last
spread his arms. It was more floating
façade of encouragement and dived in
we could afford to follow our instincts,
than swimming but he’d done it. He
after him. His father gave him a big hug.
rather than spend all our time persuad-
experimented for a few minutes before
ing others to do so.’
climbing out of the water and up onto
Although some may view his parents’
the river bank. Yards away, back near
attitude as rather relaxed, the absence of
He refers to the 43 years in his life up to
the car, he heard his family clapping
fear from his parents meant that young
that point as ‘survival mode’. The rest
and cheering his efforts, and saw his
Richard had no fear for what he was
you know.
aunty reach into her bag for his 10 shil-
doing, only determination. His parents
lings.
clearly loved him, but felt strongly about instilling in their children a belief
As he raced back up the river bank
that anything is possible, and to em-
toward his family, triumphant, he re-
brace opportunities and life in general.
ceived a 10 shilling note from his aunty. He thought it was a fortune. Only
A true belief in oneself does not enter-
then, did he notice that his father was
tain fear.
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
21
Limelight
Noeux les Mines
France here I was thinking I’d left the old west
large staged reunion room, virtual office
behind!
spaces and other resources. One of the old coal hills was turned into an artificial
My name is Melanie Borowczyk and
ski slope overlooking ‘Loisinord’ lake,
I am one of those 2 Americans. Before
which brings in a lot of British tourists.
moving to France, we lived in a fairly
This article contribution is from my fabulous American Virtual Assistant, Melanie Borowczyk, who lives in a beautiful little village in France.
big city with plenty of conveniences.
For weekend travelers, I would suggest
Let’s just say I don’t take things for
a stay at Les Tourterelles Hotel and din-
granted as much as I did in the past.
ing at Le Carrefour des Saveurs restaurant. A visit here wouldn’t be complete
For my part in this fair village, I do
without going to the piste de ski to en-
enjoy the polish soirees, the local ch’ti
joy a warm drink and watch the young
cuisine with friends and absolutely
skiers, or even rent some gear and have
come alive in the magically beautiful
a go of it! After that, off to visit Lake
spring time.
Loisinord for a nice stroll, picnic lunch or a game of mini golf.
T
I run Provirtua, a virtual assistant
and Brussels and the English Channel.
Australian and a growing number of
up like a post card. Then you can come
It’s home to about 12,000 French and
French clientele. The concept of a vir-
back to Noeux-les-Mines and dance the
Polish sons, daughters, grandchildren
tual assistant is not always understood
night away at one of our famous clubs.
and great-grandchildren of coal miners,
or accepted here, but there are more and
textile workers and farmers. Oh, and
more entrepreneurs in our department
The all new Louvre-Lens art museum is
two transplanted Americans!
every year. Yes, that means more busi-
scheduled to opens in 2012. Just one of
ness owners struggling to make their
the many things that makes Nord-Pas de
La ville de Nœux-les-Mines has two
dream a reality and in most cases doing
Calais a growing cultural region.
beautiful Catholic churches, a very nice
it all alone. So, I’m happy when I can
hotel, and as all French villages we have
meet the needs of small businesses here
In three words, Noeux-les-Mines is
no shortage of butchers, bakers, and
in our little piece of the world.
small, friendly and charming.
slang, drink beer, attend polish soirees,
This may be an old mining town, but
Our best kept secret is that the bou-
and believe it or not they have a passion
it certainly isn’t a ghost town. We have
langerie on the corner by our apartment
for country & western dancing. And
a new business center equipped with a
has a house bread that is to die for!
here is a small village
business, out of my home, helping solo-
Another must is a short train ride to
in the North of France
preneurs and small businesses imple-
historical Béthune to do some bourgeois
(région du Nord-Pas de
ment their online marketing plans along
shopping and visit the cathedral. Stick
Calais) just a few hours’
with administrative duties. Most of my
around until dark to see the beautiful
drive from big beautiful cities like Paris
clients are Americans, with a few being
bell tower and the rest of the square lit
friendly pubs. The locals love to speak
22
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
Personal Power
How A Child Changed A Community
What could we do?
When Ryan Hreljac was 7 years old he
His hard work paid off and when he was
Jimmy now lives with Ryan’s family in
made a decision. He decided that every
able to earn the money and send it to his
Canada, having been adopted by them.
person on the planet deserves clean wa-
friend’s village (with a little help from
ter, and that he could make a difference
his parents), the well was duly built and
There are currently Ryan’s Well projects
by helping that happen.
Ryan was invited to visit.
taking place in many parts of the world.
community, and became committed to
He had a hero’s welcome and met
The Foundation’s mission is primarily
his vision of clean drinking water for
his pen-pal for the first time. As he
underpinned by empowering youth on
everybody.
absorbed everything about his visit he
a global scale to make a difference in the
Ryan is now 17, and the Ryans’ Well Foundation has provided wells, and clean water, to nearly 600,000 people in 16 countries. At the start of the story ten years ago, Ryan became pen-pals with a young African boy called Jimmy who lived in a village in Uganda. He learned more about his village and how he lived, and particularly, about their water crisis. Ryan was deeply moved to learn that so many people in the world are not blessed with clean drinking water that the rest of the world takes for granted. An amazingly compassionate and intuitive child, Ryan cared very deeply about the welfare of his friend and his friend’s
became more determined to spread the
world and provide clean drinking water
He enlisted his parents to help and set
cause and enable more wells to deliver
for every person.
about earning pocket money to help raise
clean drinking water to more African
funds to build a well for Jimmy’s village.
villages. It became his quest.
To make a donation or to learn more about this amazing boy and Ryan’s Well Foundation, visit www.ryanswell.ca
He gave a speech to his school to tell the
Fast forward to today. During the amaz-
other students and teachers about the
ing life of Ryan Hreljac and his seven-
water plight in a far-away part of the
teen years, he has so far met an amazing
Ask yourself this: if a child of seven
world. Soon, through determination and
collection of people from around the
can make this sort of difference in the
incredible clarity of his vision, he was
world, including royalty, dignitaries,
world, in just 10 short years, what could
giving talks at other local schools to raise
United Nations officials, environmental-
you do?
awareness and funds to build the very
ists, sports stars and leaders in com-
first well.
merce.
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
23
Business Growth, Mentoring & Coaching Programs
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direction on a group or individual
growth and add depth to their manage-
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ment expertise, regardless of the size of
• Free Resources to use in your
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To enquire how you can enroll in one of our programs to get the support
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ger Future. A bigger future is in your
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The BOSSMENTOR® Team Program is designed for growing and established companies. It is custom designed around the needs of your team to develop their depth of experience and expertise, so as a group the team performs better and achieves more. If you’d like your team to help you grow by taking on more of the day to day management and accountability for the business, then watch their skills reach
24
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
to: www.bossgroup.com.au.
About Jenny Stilwell
Professional
Finalist in the Telstra Businesswoman of
that a taste test is coming – you know
the Year Awards.
who you are… ), good red wine, travel, writing, listening to my fave music on
Jenny Stilwell is the Managing Direc-
Jenny has a Bachelor of Commerce with
high volume, the Northern Hemisphere
tor of BOSS Management Group. She
a Commercial Law major, and a Bach-
in Winter, luxury resorts, the colour
has helped many clients to significantly
elor of Arts with majors in French and
of Autumn, laughing until I cry, and
grow their businesses, and build more
German, both from the University of
of course, my family and my fabulous
successful companies.
Melbourne. She is also a Certified NLP
friends.
Practitioner. Prior to establishing BMG, Jenny was
That’s just a start… there’s so many
Chief Executive of a publicly listed com-
things
pany (one of only a handful of women heading up listed companies in Australia at the time). Previous positions included general management within both large and medium sized organisations, as well as establishing a marketing practice in the mid 1990s with a diverse client base of small and mid-sized and corporate clients. Very early in her career Jenny advanced to a senior management position at Nortel Networks, being one of only three women at the time in senior manregion.
Personal
Jenny Chaired the Marketing Women
Some of the things I love
agement roles within the Asia Pacific
network for two years, and has also mentored several women in careers and
The beach, peaceful islands, big cities,
in business as a way of ‘giving back’ to
London, New York, Paris, Golden Re-
the business community and to career
trievers, Hudson (my Golden Retriever),
women in particular. She has also been a
Vegemite (my American friends know
BossMentor Renaissance Magazine • www.bossgroup.com.au
25
PUBLISHER BOSSMENTORÂŽ Magazine is published by Hanby Park Publishing, a Division of BOSS Management Group Pty Ltd ACN 062 571 171
Disclaimer The publisher takes due care in the preparation of this publication and takes all reasonable precautions and makes all reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in this publication, but is not liable for any mistake, misprint or omission. The publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this publication, or from the use of information contained herein. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied with respect to any of the material contained herein. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any form in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Š 2009 BOSS Management Group Pty Ltd