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entrepreneurs’ tales, tools & tips experience growth | Autumn 2015 | Issue 7
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The Start up issue
10 Trends that will Dominate our Future Global Changes that affect everything
5 Steps to Jumpstart your ideas
Here’s how to find & release your BiG ideas
The Power to Succeed
Learn how to truly realize your identity
The
Social Media Masterclass How to create great Landing pages
The Hole Truth The secret to discovering what you really want
+ more
So much more...
Heart of the
Start
[The Story of Steve]
GROWhow stuff. Personal Wellbeing. Social Causes. Business. Money. Sales & Marketing. Training. Social Media. GROWzone.
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Welcome to
W
e’re so excited to release the 7th issue of eg Magazine. It’s quite simply our best issue yet! This is issue is ‘The Start up issue’, all about getting your entrepreneurial journey off to a flying start, ready to deliver the dream you have been nurturing for longer than you care to remember. Every single one of the 80 pages is all about helping you start that journey of making that entrepreneurial dream happen.
eg
In ‘The Heart of the Start’ knows a thing or two about we look at the late Steve Jobs raising funds for start ups. and explore the lessons from his journey. It really is a fantastic read! Along with our regular contributors (Sunil, Lilack, Alex, Cheryl and Ru) giving you great content with immediately applicable takeaway value, we introduce Patrick Dixon, the UK’s leading Futurist & Keynote speaker & Gary DouglasBeet, an authority on corporate fundraising, who
As always, it’s full of lots of FREE gifts and goodies! Over 10,000 readers engage with us which is a huge accomplishment and one we are really chuffed about! So, enjoy and let’s get ready for a great 2016. God bless & enjoy!
Colin
& The eg Team
Regular Contributors Sunil Bali, Executive Coach, Speaker, Writer
Sunil has been responsible for hiring over 50,000 people and has worked with some great entrepreneurs , professionals and leaders , as a former Head of Talent for two of Europe’s largest companies , Vodafone Group & Santander, and having run a £50 M business himself. He is on a mission to help create authentic, sustainable and rewarding business relationships. To this end he helps entrepreneurs and professionals to generate stronger relationships, results & revenues by showing them how to increase the level of trust people have In them and their business. In this issue Sunil talks about ‘The Hole Truth.’
Lilach Bullock, Social Media Expert
A business owner, social media consultant, internet mentor and genuine digital guru, Lilach is consulted by journalists and regularly quoted in newspapers, business publications and marketing magazines (including Forbes, Wired, The Telegraph, Prima magazine, The Sunday Times, Social Media Today & BBC Radio 5 Live). Listed in Forbes as one of the top 20 women social media power influencers, she is one of the most dynamic personalities in social media. She actively leverages ethical online marketing for her clients and for CommsAxis. In this issue Lilach shows ‘How to create Awesome Landing Pages.’
Alex Gordon, Speaking Coach
Alex is an accountant by training with years of experience within the City of London and running an accounting solutions practice. His real passion, though, is helping people to discover or rekindle their dreams. He regularly speaks to Audiences asking a poignant question, ‘What is your dream?’ He recently published his book of the same name and travels the UK preaching a message of redefining, refocusing and repackaging talents to bring solutions to your community, customers and clients. He lives in London with his wife Sharon and 3 children. In this issue Alex shares ‘5 Steps to Jumpstart your Ideas.’
Cheryl Nankoo, Executive Coach
Cheryl is an experienced Sales Consultant and Executive Coach with over 17 years business experience. As a Certified NLP Master Practitioner, she has coached and mentored people from all walks of life including senior executives, board members, elite athletes and even other coaches. In 2014 she qualified as an mBIT (multiple brain integration techniques) coach which looks at how we use our three brains (head, heart and gut) to make decisions. In this issue Cheryl highlights ‘3 tips to Sell from the Start.’
Ru Wikmann, Fitness Model & Personal Trainer
Ru is a model, personal trainer & body transformation coach based in a private health club in Central London. Unlike most fitness professionals, he knows what it is like to be seriously unfit and as a result knows how important the right mental approach is, in order to take action, overcome adversity, and succeed at reaching goas you previously thought were unattainable. Ru has an enviable track record and is known as the sculptor for a reason. When not in the gym or transforming bodies, he can be found strutting his stuff on the catwalk. In this issue Ru gives ‘7 Steps to be Present.’
Guest Contributors Dr Patrick Dixon, Author & Business Consultant
Patrick has been ranked as one of the 20 most influential business thinkers alive today. Chairman of Global Change Ltd, a growth strategy and forecasting company, he is author of 16 books and a physician. He has spoken to audiences in over 50 nations and is one of the world's most sought after keynote speakers at corporate events with clients from every industry ,with particular strengths in technology, marketing, consumer insight, banking and health . His extensive media audience totals close to 500 million people. In this issue Patrick explores
‘10 Trends that will Dominate Your Future.’
Gary Douglas-Beet, Managing Director (Funding)
Gary is the Managing Director of the Business Shaper Group Ltd and has over 20+ years experience as Management Consultant and in his early career was a business troubleshooter, helped both established and start up businesses to grow into successful organisations. His no nonsense approach is about getting his clients planning, strategising and developing their capability. Gary is an advocate of ‘Back to the Floor’ learning and is regularly recommended by Partners and the major banks, for his ‘hands on’ approach to helping companies grow. In this issue Gary talks about ‘The Future of Funding.’
Jamie Lin, Business Development Director
Jamie Lin is a Cloud strategist and works with companies to evaluate an overall IT strategy to improve productivity and profits. She loves to share her expertise in providing creative cloud solutions with business owners and organizations that would love to be more collaborative, flexible and productive. If you would like to engage Jamie as the speaker at your next meeting, workshop or event, contact her at jlin@gizmoglobal.com In this issue Jamie gives ‘5 Tips
to utilize Google Apps.’
Elliot Kay, Author & International Trainer
Elliot Kay is an Author & International Trainer working with business owners and entrepreneurs to accelerate results through his unique Power To Succeed Trainings. He ahs also written 3 books to date. Working across both corporate and experiential training, he has delivered training programmes for the likes of Sky Television, Talk Talk, NHS and Hewlett Packard. Elliot is also a mentor on the Princess’s Trust Innovation Scheme. In this issue Elliot highlights ‘The
Power to Succeed.’
Simone Vincenzi, The Purpose Strategist
Simone Vincenzi’s purpose is to support individuals connecting with their unique purpose in life, living their life with inner confidence, enabling them to attract the abundance they deserve while making a positive change in the world. He is the Co-founder of GTeX (Growing Together eXponentially), an award winning speaker, author, Life and Business Purpose expert. After a successful career started at 14 years old in the catering industry, following his passion, he managed his first Michelin Star restaurant at the age of 19, working in more than 300 different restaurants in 2 different countries. In this issue Simone shows us how to ‘Start with the End in Mind.’
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Publishing & Advertising Director Colin Tomlin colin@egmagazineuk.com
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Coaching & Education Director Judy Lynch-Tomlin judy@egmagazineuk.com Project Management & Design Creative Wells Design design@egmagazineuk.com 0785 34 33 700 Advertising advertising@egmagazineuk.com 0785 34 33 700 Photography Google Images Dreamstime Fotolia Eryn Grace Kirkcaldy Publisher Creative Wells Enterprises Norwich NR8 6HA Terms & Conditions All materials are strictly copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No part of this online publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the expressed permission of Creative Wells Enterprises. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage of any material, solicited or unsolicited. The views expressed in this publication may are not those of the publisher or those of the advertiser. No cash alternative will be offered for Competitions and the publishers decision is final. Previous issues & Resources www.egmagazineuk.com
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Contents : will ness Busi nds that Future e 10 Tr inate our Dom
Cover St o The Hear r y: The Story t of the Start of Steve
GROWhow Stuff in partnership with
Our Top 5 Startup Books Read them and be inspired and motivated to start your dream Our Top 3 Startup Web Tools Discover 3 great tools to get your BIG idea up and running
Personal Wellbeing
Business
The Heart of the Start What can we learn from someone who so much has already been said? Discover the Story of Steve in his own words. 10 Trends that will Dominate our Future What does the future look like and what are the key trends that will dominate the way we think, feel and live?
7 Steps to be Present Are we really capable of multitasking or is it a myth? Let’s explore the notion of mindfulness.
5 Steps to Jumpstart your ideas What is your dream? What are your BiG ideas? Here are 5 steps to finding and releasing them.
Start with the End in Mind What are the 2 keys to making sure that you’re always clear what you are trying to build.
The Hole Truth A paradigm shifting thought that shows the route to finding the answers that really matter.
Be Prepared or else... Every journey needs preparation. Maurice Wilson seemingly forgot this and paid the ultimate price.
The Power to Succeed Find out why the key to your success is your story and how you either frame or reframe it.
Money
The Future of Funding We explore the best way to fund your new startup or your existing business.
Sales & Marketing
3 Tips to Sell from the Start We look at how you can build sales into the startup experience from the very first day.
Training
You’re never too old to Dream BiG We explore the phenomenon of SuBo & Ted Williams and what their success has taught us about our own dreams
ing d n f Fu
o y: ne ture o M e Fu Th
Soc
Social Media Masterclass
How to Create Awesome Landing Pages Landing pages are a given for generating leads into your online and offline business. So how do you create awesome ones.
Technology
5 Tips to Utilize Google Apps Google is a very versatile tool for any business especially for startups and provides a very viable office solution.
Connect with us
Ho ial Me La w to dia M nd cr ast ing eat erc Pa e Gr lass ges ea : t
...
you’ll never
f
If you d
finish!
don’t FREE gift
our top
5
Start up
books in
hip w s r e n part
ith
GROWhow Stuff
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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Guy Kawasaki
Guy is the chief evangelist of Canva (an online design service) and was previously, the chief evangelist of Apple and special adviser to the CEO of the Motorola business unit of Google. This new edition has been expanded to reflect the huge changes in business over the last decade.
building a strong team, creating an awesome product or service, and facing down your competition. This book will help you make your crazy ideas stick.
#1
Today, social media has replaced PR and advertising as the key method of promotion. Crowdfunding is now a viable alternative to investors. Cloud computing makes basic infra structure affordable for almost any new venture. This updated version will show you how to effectively deploy these new tools. And it will help you master the fundamental challenges that have not changed:
#2
Sir Richard Branson
respected entrepreneurs. From his 'Top 5 secrets of Business Success', to hard hitting discussions about the global financial crisis, this book Sir Richard set up Student Magazine when he was just 16. brings together his best advice By 17 he'd also set up Student on all things business. Advisory Centre, which was a It's business charity to help young people. school, the This brilliant mix of Branson commercial acumen with a social responsibility would see way. him build the Virgin Group into a hugely successful business entity and effective social campaigner. The Virgin Group now has 200 companies in over 30 countries. Richard distils and shares the wisdom and experience that have made him one of the world's most recognised and
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Eric Reis
The Lean Startup methodology has been widely written about in The New York Times, the Wall Street Jounal, Harvard Business Review, Wired, Fast Company, and countless blogs.
‘Every so often a business book comes along that changes how we think about innovation and entrepreneurship. The Lean Startup has the chops to join this exalted company.’ Philip Delves Broughton, Financial Times.
#3
The basic premise of the book is that while most new businesses fail, most of those failures are preventable.
This is serious praise indeed! Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, serves on the advisory board of a number of technology startups, and has consulted to new and established companies as well as venture capital firms.
The Lean Startup is a new approach to business that's being adopted around the world. It’s changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.
In 2010, he was named entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School and in 2007, BusinessWeek named him one of the Best Young Entrepreneurs of Tech.
The Lean Startup is about learning what your customers really want, continuously, adapting and adjusting before it's too late.
‘
Every so often a business book comes along that changes how we think about innovation and entrepreneurship. The Lean Start up has the chops to join this exalted company.
’
Philip Delves Broughton Financial Times
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Patrick Patrick Dixon Dixon From the man the Wall Street
Journal describes as a 'global change guru', more than one Guy is the chief evangelist of hundred of the trends thatsertouch Canva (an online design every ofpreviously, our vice) aspect and was the lives. chief evangelist of Apple and special adviser to the CEO Patrick Dixon trained as a unit of the Motorola business physician before in 1979 of Google. setting up an IT business involved artificial This newinedition has been intelligence medical expanded toand reflect the huge technology. Today he advises changes in business the senior teams of many of the over the last decade. world's largest corporations. In this book Patrick looks atToday, how the future willhas social media be Fast, Urban, replaced PR and advertising as Tribal, the keyUniversal, method of promotion. Radical and Crowdfunding is now a viable Ethical alternative to investors. Cloud a computing makes basic infra structure affordable for almost any new venture.
#4
future of boom and bust and great economic change as the
This updated version will show you how to effectively deploy these new tools. And it will help you master the fundamental challenges that have not changed: building a strong team, creating an awesome product or service, and facing down your competition. This book will help you make your crazy ideas stick.
emerging markets grow up; a future of great advances in medicine and also greater threats from viral epidemics; a future of political shocks and greater conflicts; a future in which people will strive for more privacy and businesses will change the way they relate to their staff and their customers; a future in which there will be driverless cars and solar power generated in the desert will power cities thousands of miles away. In short, with great perception and insight, Patrick highlights the risks that a futureproof business needs to be aware of, and what to prepare for if it is to prosper and survive in a world where customers and markets, politics and demographics, technology and skills, and opportunities an and choices will be very different.
‘
Every leader needs to keep ahead of major trends. Think radically & read this book to keep ahead of the future’ Sinclair Beecham, co-founder, Pret A Manger
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’
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Robin Waite
seeing businesses. Robin Waite is a Business Strategy Expert and co-founder of coaching, workshops and of a successful Online Strategy practical implementation. Agency in the UK. This book isn't just a how-to guide in online marketing it He has helped over 200 contains everything an businesses create change and experienced entrepreneur growth within their organisawished he had known when he tion since 2004. started in business. Robin has personally delivered discovery sessions in Business, We are flooded with so much information in the digital world Online and Social Media Strategy to over 1,000 business that it distracts us from the fundamentals of starting up owners during that time. and running a lean business. This book is A degree in Business Management whilst working as ultimately an answer to the a Systems Analyst has provided question ‘How can we quickly implement proven strategies Robin with a unique way of
#5
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for my online business, and avoid all the noise?’ This book will teach you:
Everything you need to start an online business without the wasted time, money and effort
How to find a trustworthy, reliable digital agency and guarantee a return on your investment The 7 best tools for auditing and improving your website How to plan and implement a successful social media strategy.
3
our top
Start up
Email it!
Mailchimp has one of the most generous free plans around with it’s the Forever Free Plan. You can send up to 12,000 emails per month if you have fewer than 2,000 subscribers. There is no contract required and you don't even have to provide a credit card. The only snag is that the Free Plan doesn't include autoresponder capabilities and other tools. Despite that it still has a lot to offer as an email marketing tool.
Design it!
Canva has a mission to empower the world to design. It has gone some way with it’s web based design tool. The simple drag and drop tool makes it easy for you to create anything from presentations, infographics to social media graphics. With millions of images, thousands of icons & shapes plus hundreds of fonts, you’ll find all you need to create stunning design. No wonder it’s loved by millions of people across the globe.
Record it!
Camtasia is a powerful, yet easy-to-use screen recorder, which helps you to create more professional videos without having to be a video professional. Easily record your screen movements and actions, or import HD video from a camera or other source. Customize and edit content both on Mac & Windows platforms, and share your videos with viewers on nearly any device.
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web tools
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7
Personal Wellbeing
steps to being
Present by Ru
Wikmann
Fitness Model & Body Transformation Coach
W
e hear a lot about being mindful - not just within spiritual circles - but more and more in the work place and also social life. What exactly is mindfulness? Simply, mindfulness is awareness of the present or the ability to be present in all aspects of our experience growth magazine
lives.
you enjoy exercise, you enjoy anything you're doing more. It's a honing of the mind to Here are a few simple steps focus on what is happening that can lead us to the experiright now. You're more produc- ence of profound attention and tive when you're mindful. But a direct experience of the more importantly, being moment that we're in. present is undoubtedly the only way to enjoy life to the fullest. 1. Take A Breath By being mindful, you enjoy your food more, you enjoy friends and family more,
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Breath, along with change, is the only constant, and being present starts with the breath.
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Success.
Stories.
experience
growth.
“Contrary to popular belief, human beings cannot multitask. What we are capable of is handling a number of serial tasks in rapid succession, or mixing automatic tasks with those that are not so automatic. Simply draw a deep breath and let it out through your nose. When we breathe through our mouth it triggers a subtle anxiety response, which increases heart rate and redirects blood flow. A slow release of breath through the nose has the opposite effect of mouth-breathing, and draws a relaxation response.
stopping to think about what you do. But you're busy and you can't possibly do less, right? You can. It's a matter of figuring out what's important, and letting go of what's not.
4. Put Space Between Things
Related to the "Do less" rule, but it's a way of managing your 2. Do One Thing schedule so that you always At A Time have time to complete each Contrary to popular belief, task. Don't schedule things human beings cannot close together -- instead, leave multitask. What we are room between things on your capable of is handling a number schedule. That gives you of serial tasks in rapid a more relaxed schedule, succession, or mixing automatic and leaves space in case one tasks with those that are not so task takes longer than you automatic. That's one of the planned. reasons that the National Transportation Safety Board in the US reports that texting 5. Come Into Your while driving is the functional Body equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol level three times Being grounded in your the legal limit. physical body will help you experience the here and now. Being in your body allows you to fully experience life. Life is only happening right now, in If you do less, you can do those this moment. When we leave things with more concentration. the moment by getting If you fill your day with tasks, distracted by our thoughts, you will be rushing from one we lose the opportunity to thing to the next without
3. Do Less
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experience what it feels to really be alive. Deep kinesthetic awareness of your body can take time to develop, as many of us are constantly stressed, and it can make us lose the connection to our physical self and develop a degree of umbness. Following the previous steps consistently will help you overcome this.
6. Release Your Tensions When you come into your body you become aware of the chronic muscular tensions that you hold. They have been built up through stress and sedentary lifestyle, and repetitive movement patterns. Ways to combat this include bioenergetic therapy and massage. Once the physical tensions have been diminished by relaxing the muscle tissue, it’s also easier to get rid of any emotional tensions. Whether through intense exercise such as lifting weights or martial arts, swimming or team sports, or by expressing yourself in dance - moving will always help you discharge what's unnecesary, restore the flow of energy in your body and make you feel better.
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
7. Meditate It feels good to release the stress of the world. It's a reminder that there's more going on than the chaos around us. Meditation allows us to connect and remember our essential nature. Finally, we sit down to come into the now and this helps us bring silence, serenity and clarity into our working day. There are many other things you can do to cultivate mindfulness, and it's up to you to find your own individual approach. If you want to make a change, just start somewhere and DO something. Unless you're a monk living somewhere in the mountains far away from the hustle and bustle, you probably won't be able to stay fully present all of the time. Life happens, sometimes we have to put out fires, and for the overall progress of human race we often need some sense of urgency which inevitably comes with a bit of stress. Nevertheless, consistent mindfulness practice will help you navigate those circumstances of life, protect your health, and make most of any opportunities when it really counts. Keep rising up!
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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. Fighter.
Freedom (In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
by Simone
Vincenzi
The Purpose Strategist & Co-founder of GTex
Start with the
end in mind
T
he leadership genius Steven Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, said that the second habit to become extremely successful you need to ‘Start with the end in Mind’. If you are running a business, and you are an entrepreneur, it is easy to start in 5th gear and get things going from day one. You might immediately design your logo, your website, your social media, you marketing
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
material and your products from start to finish. Attacking network ing event after networking event, always looking for the next connection. For what purpose? If you haven’t spent time at the beginning of your journey to clearly see where
you are going, your direction, your purpose and your Why, you are setting yourself up for failure. Having a clear purpose will allow you to save money and time because you will know with certainty that every activity will get you in the direction you want.
of success. Some coaches and trainers that are working with us come with the goal of having a six figure business and others simply want to create a business that gives them the freedom to travel and live where they want. In the beginning, we spend time to identify what success is for them so they know that will be happy and motivated to achieve what they want for their lives and not following blindly what society wants from them. When starting your own business, take time off to identify your ideal of success and make sure it is clear in your mind. In this way,
you are sure you will be happy along the way. The question is, What do you need to make sure you are motivated enough to get to the vision you have created?
1. Start With The Right End Game Spend time focusing on the right end game for you. Don’t fall into the trap of borrowing other people’s idea
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
2. Start With The Right Mindset To achieve the right end game, you also need the right mindset. Your mindset will allow you to overcome all the obstacles you will face along the way of your success. I remember working with a consultant who was clear about his end goal and excited
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about his vision and purpose. However, he was not comfortable selling his services because he did not want to face rejection. After the first session, he realized that selling is a way to care about his clients and genuinely help them. He slowly he got better and better, seeing his business growing before his eyes. Your mindset will determine your outcome.
Here are three key mindsets that every successful business owner must have. 1. Every rejection is an opportunity 2. Every failure is a step closer to get what you want 3. If you work smart enough, hard enough and long enough you will make it. To recap, to be truly successful, be clear about your purpose from the beginning and develop the right mindset that will allow you to get there. If you follow these principles, you will never fail. Guaranteed.
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Simone Vicenzi The Purpose Strategist
Be Prepared
...or else
by Colin
Tomlin
Publisher, Author & Speaker experience growth
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
B
y many people’s reckoning, Maurice Wilson was an interesting man.
He had an extremely successful army career, where he received the famed Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’. Soon after that Wilson was injured in the chest and left arm by machine gun fire and was sent home, his army days over. Having convinced himself that Bradford held no credible future for him, he left for London, the USA, then New Zealand. Despite achieving some financial success, possibly partly due to being from a wealthy Bradford family, he never quite achieved happiness. At some point during his travels, Wilson developed an
illness which resulted in him becoming ‘physically and mentally ill, losing weight and suffering repeated coughing spasms.’ The story goes that after meeting a ‘mysterious man in Mayfair’, he underwent 35 days of prayer and fasting and was completely cured. As a result of his miraculous healing Wilson developed a philosophy that all the world’s ills can be cured by fasting and prayer and faith in God. So, he hatched a plan to climb Everest to highlight his belief and spread the word. He was going to defeat Everest on his own!
in God would help him! He did learn to fly and spent a five weeks rambling about Snowdonia as a prelude to the Everest attempt. Finally ready, he flew from England to India and secretly entered Tibet ready to conquer Everest. The next year his body was discovered by a British expedition at over 22,000 feet (some 7,000 feet shy of the summit). There was no doubt that Wilson was committed; there was no doubt that he was persistent.
He would fly to Tibet, crash land at the foot of the mountain and climb from there.
However, the picture emerged that though his motivation, his passion and his determination could not be doubted, he needed to have been more prepared.
There was only one little snag. He couldn’t fly and he hadn’t climbed before. He believed, though, that his absolute faith
Are you prepared for your journey? Have you considered the price you will pay?
However, the picture emerged that though his motivation, his passion and his determination could not be doubted, he needed to have been more prepared.
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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Cover Story
by Colin
Tomlin
Publisher, Author & Speaker experience growth
The
Heart of the
Start
(The Story of Steve) Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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i
Pads, iPhones, iPods, iMacs, iTunes. It really does seem like Apple is making iEverything.
When Steve Jobs launched the iPad in January 2010, it was introduced with almost evangelical zeal. The faithful Apple disciples lapped up his every word and decided that their Messiah, with his golden touch had done it again. I wasn’t so sure that this oversized iPhone would really work. Time, however, has proven me to be so wrong. I remember when I used one for the first time I had to resist the temptation to pick it up zombie fashion and take it to the till! If it wasn’t for Judy’s common sense; ‘have we budgeted for this’, we would have had bought it then and there. I did end up getting one as a gift but even without my purchase, iPad was an amazing success with Time Magazine naming it as one of the top 50 inventions of 2010.
with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we’ll give it to you.’
Back then, the considered opinion was that computers were fad items a little bit like CB radios.
‘We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we’ll come work for you.’
Having incorporated what we now know as Apple in 1976, he spearheaded the computer revolution with a product called the Apple II.
Atari refused. They went to Hewlett Packard and they too refused. Steve learnt a valuable lesson that even if you think something is amazing or going to be amazing doesn’t mean that others will see it the same way. He needed this lesson, when, in 1977, Ken Olsen, the founder of Digital Equipment Corp said: ‘There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.’ 33 years later, when Jobs launched the iPad he described it as ‘truly magical and revolutionary product’ providing the ‘best browsing experience’.
The story is told about Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak going to Atari, the eminent games console manufacturer of the time and saying; ‘Hey, we’ve got this amazing thing, even built experience growth magazine
An Amazingly Successful Start By 198o, Apple had gone public and made Steve Jobs a millionaire 200 times over. The first half of the 1980’s saw Steve and his team stumble a bit after a less than successful launch of the Apple Lisa. Steve himself recognizes the part mistakes play in innovations; ‘Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.’
Just how does he do it?
Doing whatever it takes
Along with Steve Wozniak, Apple II’s architect they set about putting a product out packaged in a hard beige case, unheard of at the time.
Back to the Beginning He developed a passion for computers back in high school at the very early stage of the computing revolution when it was not even close in impact to what it is now.
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By 1984, he had struck it lucky again with the launch of the famous Apple Macintosh with its memorable Superbowl advert Issue 7. Autumn 2015
‘1984’, itself a marketing innovation.
all completely revolutionary products.
It all seemingly went wrong, though, when Jobs was ousted from the company he founded but even that didn’t keep him back for long.
A Lasting Legacy
He went on to set up another company and more importantly lay the foundations for Pixar animation studios which brought us revolutionary animated films such as Toy Story, Cars and Incredibles! Upon coming back after 11 years, he carried on innovating with the iMac, iTunes, iPods, iPhones and iPads
Over the course of his life his innovations have touched no fewer than 5 industries (personal computing, film animation, music distribution, mobile telephony and mobile computing.) Of course he didn’t do it by himself, but his vision of the future pushed the boundaries and positioned him at the forefront of innovation...and imagination. Now that he’s no longer with us physically , it remains to be seen if the vision holds. Somehow I think he has taken steps to ensure that it does. Like all great musical artistes, he will continue to churn out hits after hits. So, here are 7 things that Steve said that will help you with bring clarity to your start up journey. His Magnificent 7 Startup Thoughts, if you will….
Steve learnt a valuable lesson that even if you think something is amazing or going to be amazing doesn’t mean that others will see it the same way. Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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‘Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.’
Steve Magnifi Startup T
Jobs realised that to be truly successful you need to believe in what you do. This works hand in hand with loving what you do. You have to stop short of being obsessed by it. It cannot be a casual involvement. You’ve got to love it, live it and lead by it!
‘I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non successful ones is pure perseverance.’ Entrepreneurship is a rocky and often unpredictable journey. Even with all the Resources it can still be a testing experience. The two most valuable tools are persistence and perseverance. As has be said very often, ‘The most valuable ability of any great entrepreneur is stickability.’
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Job’s icent 7 Thoughts
‘Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles .’
Don’t spread yourself to thin. If you are going to be significant, own a niche and throw all you have at it. Do things others aren't doing. Experiment. Innovate. Don’t just be good at it. Be great at it. Be legendary at it. Be the hallmark of quality.
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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‘Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.’ Following your intuition is not like following satellite navigation instructions. It’s a process of trial and error. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. However, you always learn. Focus on the learning and move on.
‘Bottom line is, I didn't return to Apple to make a fortune. I've been very lucky in my life and already have one. When I was 25, my net worth was $100 million or so. I decided then that I wasn't going to let it ruin my life. There's no way you could ever spend it all, and I don't view wealth as something that validates my intelligence.’ Make it about the passion and not about the money. The money after a certain amount is not such a great motivator. Be consumed by a passion to improve. To serve better.
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‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower .’
Innovation is about leading the pack. Being out there and doing things others aren't doing that matter. If you are concerned about consensus then you’re a follower not a leader.
‘My favourite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.’ As his health deteriorated, Steve knew this only too well. Live as if time is the most precious resource. We are not promised tomorrow. Get on with your dream today. Get to it now!
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Leading.
Change. (In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
10 Trends that will
dominate our
Future by Patrick
Dixon
Author , Speaker & Futurist Chairman, Global Change Ltd
1. Fall of technology & connectivity costs
40 year trend, which will continue for at least another 40 years, because of new discoveries, innovation, economies of scale and human need.
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Take solar cells for example, which will continue to plunge in price. For some communities they are already the cheapest source of electric power, and by 2030 they will make most other ways of power generation look really last century.
2. Universal access to mobile web
think some really radical thoughts about life in 2030. The only markets worth investing in for many industries, will be emerging markets. The collective voice, opinions and lifestyle choices of those living in emerging markets will one day completely dominate our entire world. America and Europe will decline as global players.
There are already more mobile SIM cards in the world than human beings and in most nations 5. Growth of middle class consumers in of the world. Most web access and e-commerce is now via a emerging markets mobile device. Over a billion new middle class consumers will be created And by 2030, trillions of items in emerging markets during the will be joined up online, sharing next 30 years, as a result of information in the greatest and better education and economic most explosive phase of digital growth . expansion. Countries like China and India 3. 1 billion children will be transformed by growth their own domestic – becoming alive in the world much less dependent on exports Never again in human history of goods or services to will so many children be growdeveloped nations like America ing up at the same time. All will or Japan. see your lifestyle in advertising or on TV or the web. All will aspire to middle class wealth, education, health care. Global 6. Huge growth population will peak at around in life expectancy 11 billion in 2060. in most nations Those 1 billion children will all be adults in less than 18 years, and most will have children of their own in 25 years. Their views and lifestyles will dominate our planet for the next 50-80 years.
4. 85% of humankind living in emerging markets in 10 years
That’s almost everyone. So if you live in a developed nation, Issue 7. Autumn 2015
The life expectancy of every person living in a city like London is getting longer by an average of one year in every four years. That’s without the miracles of medical technology, pharma and health care that we can expect in the next 50 years. Life expectancy is growing even faster in many
of the poorest nations. By 2040 we will know all the secrets of non-ageing animals, of which there are many types, and will be finding new ways to slow down ageing in wealthy
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humans.
7. Growth in global trade and corporate giants
Every year, trade between nations continues to grow rapidly, as our world continues to become more joined up as a single economic community. Expect huge consolidation and mergers in manufacturing, distribution and retail. Over 70% of all retail spending will be in less than 10 companies in many nations by 2040. In 2050 there will still be only 2 -3 major airline manufacturers, only 2-3 global mobile or computer operating systems, only 10 megasized pharma companies, less than 5 major groups of car manufacturers.
8. Increased automation – factories, cars, offices, homes
The Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Big Data will all accelerate global automation of every aspect of human existence. This is an irresistible trend that has been accelerating for over 100 years. Despite this, expect several billion more jobs to be created, mainly in service industries, as people look for ever more creative and personal ways to improve quality of life.
9. Tribalism feeding radical extremists and terrorism Tribalism is the most powerful force on earth today. Every
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family is a tribe. Every community is a tribe. Every brand forms a tribe. Every large company is a tribe of tribes. As a reaction to globalization and threats to local cultures, languages and ways of life, expect rapid growth of tribalism, localism, activism and terrorism. These forces will be fed by social media, and will undermine democracies and dictatorships.
10. Search for Purpose, Sustainability & Spiritual meaning
Most people in the world say that they have spiritual beliefs which influence how they think, feel and live. As communities become wealthier, expect sharper focus on purpose, meaning, making a difference and spirituality. As part of this, expect intense focus on long term sustainability for our world.
Get your copy of Patrick’s new book
Become a
Lifestyle Entrepreneur (It’s a much easier way of getting to the top)
Show.
.
The Way
(In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
5 by Alex
steps to jumpstar
your
ideas
Gordon
Speaking Coach & Creator of the ‘Master your Message’ Speaking System
O
ne big idea, a note pad, a pen and a laptop. No money, no resources but just one big idea. Did it occur to you that all you need to start is just one big idea that works? The art is not to stay pondering whether it can work but to work the idea. He dropped out of higher education to pursue his big idea, to educate himself in his big idea. It was untested but if he could just convince experience growth magazine
enough people to commit and partner with this idea, then it could affect millions of lives. I am sure you have heard this line over and over again, how a student left his non existent career to start his big idea. So, here are five steps to jumpstart yours...
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
rt
3. Sell your story to the right people Not everyone is a raving fan who wants to see the idea succeed. If you can answer the question, what's in it for me? Then whoever you are talking to will listen. But first make sure your team understands your idea and believe in it.
4. Create a team who believe in you No money, no resources, no great office to start with, you need people who are sold on your idea. If they were not paid one month they would forgive you. These are the people who are going to make it work. While you are out promoting they are covering your back and taking the next step, whatever that is. The cleaner has to part of the team.
5. Be patient and persistent 1. Craft your story Think of an action movie, what result can you bring? How will it change millions of peoples lives? What is the one key message you bring to the market place? Think about it, how have our lives been affected by Microsoft, Apple, WhatsApp, Dell Computers, Facebook and Virgin. Their founders all have fantastic start up stories, in fact they were great story tellers. Issue 7. Autumn 2015
2. Believe in your story All you have is the idea. But at this point you must have so much faith in your own abilities when everyone else is questioning, What is this? Can it really work? Who has tested it? In most cases if someone has tested it then it's not your big idea. Your version is untested but you can see it working. So keep telling your story and the more you tell it others will believe you.
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The one who wins is not the first past the line like Usain Bolt in 100m in the Olympics. It's the one with patience and persistence to win over the right audience for his idea. Whats app was sold for $19 billion to Facebook. What you forgot is that the founder couldn't get a job in Facebook a few years earlier. You are the key to your start up success, not the money nor the people. Do you really believe you can make a difference? experience growth magazine
Work. (In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
by Sunil
Bali
Executive Coach, Speaker & Writer
Sunil is the ex Head of Talent for Vodafone Group & Santander, and writes a weekly blog for over 40,000 subscribers. www.sunilbali.com
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
The
Hole
Truth I
t’s estimated that over 5 million electric drills were sold last year. The people that bought the drills didn’t really want a drill. What they wanted was a hole. Questions are like drills. Answers are like holes. One of the differences between successful and unsuccessful people is that successful people ask better questions and therefore get better results. But its not only the questions that you ask which shape your destiny, it’s the questions that you don’t ask of your self and others. Kids ask endless questions to satisfy their curiosity and thirst for knowledge, but sadly as
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
we grow older the fear of admitting that we don’t know, and the pressure to conform, limit our quest for the truth.
For many years I’ve been asking myself the question, "How can I inspire and empower people to live their best lives?"
In 1983, John Sculley had just made Pepsi the leading cola drink in the US, so he had no reason to leave Pepsi. That is until he met Steve Jobs, who was so impressed by Sculley that he decided to hire him on the spot.
I don’t have all the answers, and keep asking the question, but my writing, speaking and coaching seem to be leaving an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, microscopic mark on the universe.
Sculley was very reticent, until Jobs asked him the question,
I’d be interested to know, ‘What question (s) you ask more than any other?’
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”
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Real.
Life.. Adventure
(In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
The
Power to
Succeed by Elliot
Kay
Author & International Trainer
This has been taken from Power To Succeed, the book written by Elliot Kay, the lead Facilitator of his Seminar: Power To Succeed, 14 & 15 November in London. As an eg Magazine reader you get a discounted ticket. Use code ENTVIPDISC to get a £50 ticket discount.
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
over and over again?’ They are stuck in the same spot.
O
A lot of people use it as an excuse or a reason why their life hasn’t worked out. However, another way is to use your story to inspire your success and inspire others. Your story is what connects you to others. It is where your wisdom, experience and knowledge lie. When I grasped this, everything shifted in my coaching and my ability to stand on stage, connect & transform people’s lives. This is because people can relate far better to you when you tell your story.
n your journey to building a business, a big part of it is how we use our story to form our identity and Something magical happens use it to drive us when you start to share it, someforward. Your story is thing that is beyond our grasp of your greatest asset. human underIf you look back at your story, standing. Suddenly the right you will find it’s where a lot of people show up. Suddenly you you’re answers already lie. The get that phone call. difference is most people Suddenly you get an invite to simply hang on to the pain, desperation and agony of their speak somewhere. More than anything, you show people that story. Some people go right it is OK. It is OK to talk about it. into When you share your story, you denial and won’t ever talk offer people hope, you show peoabout the past. Some people ple that they are not alone. By hang on to their story like it was still happening today and telling your story, you are a living testimonial to the human keep alive all the emotions spirit. that go with it. ‘How many times have you met someone that keeps telling you his or her story
The key to success is in our story. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have to go through the
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process of healing and dealing with the pain associated with your story. This doesn’t mean that if you haven’t had much pain in your journey or practically a rough time you make it up or are less important with your message. In fact, that is just as important as part of your journey. This isn’t a competition. You are unique and incredible with whatever your story is and can make a huge impact. Here is what I do when I work with people, and it comes down to their story. We do a lot of work to see how it served and what good has come of it. This is such an important step to creating detachment and to start dissolving any emotional attachment. It is also called a reframe. For example: • I am a failure in everything I do • Reframe – I don’t succeed in everything I do • Reframe – there are some areas in my life I would like to be better at • Reframe – while I have not always got it right, I will keep trying until I do It s important throughout that reframe everything you have do and will in way where you get a lesson and moves toward creating the life and direction you want.
experience growth magazine
Money
The Future of
Funding:
by Gary
Douglas-Beet
Managing Director Business Shaper Group Ltd (Crowdfunding, Corporate Finance & Business Grants )
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G
lobal crowdfunding is growing at the same rate the internet grew in 2000 and is set to double this year to over £22 billion. Are you ready to accelerate your growth plans? Whilst most business owners understand that to attain a significant growth rate or launch a new product takes more than using the money generated from cash flow, many do no know where to look for it. However, never before has
access to finance been more available, provided you know where to look. Crowdfunding is the process of asking the general public, investors, institutional investors, hedge funds and other funding organisations for a loan, an equity investment, or a donation. Crowdfunding helps start-ups and established businesses gain access to working capital for new projects and there are 1250 active crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) across the world. This form of business fundraising, which did not exist in the UK prior to 2011, is showing signs that it’s here to stay.
On average pitch preparation can exceed 250 hours and cost a business in excess of £12,000. At the Business Shaper Group we work with organisations to get them ready for funding, and have worked on pitches exceeding £10 million. This is across all avenues of alternative funding from business grants to venture capital pitches and crowdfunding. There are seven key areas to creating a pitch worthy of gaining funding, these include:
Crowd investors are savvy people but are time poor. When starting on your journey for funding consider this fact and you’ll be closer to getting the cash you need to grow your business. There is a phenomenal amount of preparation needed and sometimes never used, for a pitch for crowdfunding.
This form of business fundraising, which did not exist in the UK prior to 2011, is showing signs that it’s here to stay. experience growth magazine
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Financial Preparation, Marketing Strategy, Market Research, Investment Plan Preparation, Social & Media Launch, Video Prep & Creation & Submission to a Platform.
Simplicity is the most valuable asset you have. The easier to understand, and of course being devoid of jargon and techy buzzwords will appeal to a broader range of investors and give you a stronger chance of achieving your target.
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Reaching out and showing personality is what really makes compelling pitches stand out and get noticed above more worthy appeals. My biggest piece of advice on being accepted to any platform, especially if you are looking for Round A (first round) of funding, is to get a few investors lined up; Friends - Family & “Fools”, who should be willing to give you 10% to 20% of your target. The platforms really like to see that you have traction. When you launch your pitch allow half to invest immediately, this gains momentum, then market the fact you have early stage adopters.
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Tell everyone; Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin groups (If you’re not on Linkedin Groups – you have 50 available so start joining them) and connections, the press, TV anyone who will listen. Then the next half invests! Keep good news stories back so that you can build every day with something fresh. Business Shaper Group have helped raise over £20 million in funding over the last 2 years. Be persistent and never give up!
experience growth magazine
. Challenge.
Fighting
(In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
3
tips to
Sell Start from the
by Cheryl
Nankoo
Executive Coach
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Sales & Marketing
A
s a sales consultant, I’ve been approached by many organisations who say - We want to grow our business! We want to sell more! We want to be market leaders! When I ask simple questions like - what do your customers want? Do you understand your target market? What are your USPs? I’m often looked at blankly because a lot of organisations are grown by practitioners that get so excited by their product that they haven’t thought about who will buy it or how they are going to sell it. I was once approached to sell a new technology product. I was given a product demo, a glossy brochure, pricing and a contact list so I could “hit the ground running”. It wasn’t long before I discovered that the target market were on the wrong platform for the product and the pricing had been plucked out of thin air. It took months before I was able to help them to be ready to really start cam-
paigning, by which time there was a competitive product on the market and their reputation had gone downhill! Entrepreneurs often get excited about the product they want to develop. They spend hours refining their proposition, designing their product and getting enthusiastic about how great they will be at delivering the service that they forget one very important thing – what their customers really want and their sales approach. Repeatedly, I’ve seen founders build some mediocre product, announce it to the world, find that users never show up, and not know what to do next. As well as not getting any users, the start-up never gets the feedback it needs to improve the product. So, here are 3 tips to get sales right from the star…
1. Start with a small audience! Successful start-ups have always started by designing a solution for a small interested audience. For example, I recently heard Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, talk about how he made a computer that his friends were really interested in and we all know how Facebook started out for Harvard University
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students. In both instances, the products were designed with the customer in mind who were really interested in the solutions.
2. Be open to feedback! Engaging with customers and getting feedback on your product before an official launch can be hard and demoralizing. Your customers may give some harsh feedback but you will have a product that they will buy at the end of it.
3. Understand customer pain points! When designing a product it is very important to visit potential customers to understand their pain points. Your product can then be designed with the customer in mind and you will soon get people buying. You may not have the power to reach a big audience, so it’s more important to choose a very interested one. Your product can then be defined with their help. Sales and customers then become at the heart of your company rather than the product. So, although having a sales led approach may be more painful to begin with, it will make your product a lot easier to sell later, especially when you may choose to hire sales people.
experience growth magazine
You’re never too old to
Dream
BiG A
recent Facebook post about my morning ritual earned me the title of ‘old man’!
My friend had no problems with the reading, reflection and prayer that I did nor with the cardiovascular or muscular exercises. She had an issue with my lemon tea and
cornmeal porridge. Of course, it was all tongue in cheek but on reflection I can see how she may have come to that conclusion. Today, the pressure is on for us to be young or at least to look it. And with our kids referring to us as
by Colin
old the minute we transition into our thirties, it is easy to believe that we are past it. However, recent stories of people like Susan Boyle, from The UK’s X-Factor and Ted Williams, the homeless man discovered on the streets in the US, should encourage us that we are never too old to dream BiG!
Dream as a Child The X-Factor & Britain’s Got Talent is compulsory Saturday night viewing in the UK. Many people rush back in order to ensure that they are in front of their TV screens the minute Simon Cowell and his team of ‘stardom bestowers’ come on the screen to deliver their verdict on the latest rendering delivered to the eardrums of an awaiting public. Many of the acts leave a lot to be desired and frankly that is what makes the show work as the viewing public are gripped not just by Simon’s caustic response but to the performers’ bewilderment that Simon must be the only human alive that
Tomlin
Publisher, Author & Speaker experience growth experience growth magazine
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Training doesn’t appreciate their dulcet tones. However, one memorable day we settled in front of our screens with Simon and Co seeming only mildly interested in the slightly disheveled lady who took to the stage. They went through the usual pleasantries but the minute she opened her mouth to sing, she, the audience and Simon’s face transformed. The legend of SuBo was born!
Awake as an Adult Words like astonishing, angelic, beautiful were all used to describe her voice. Of course, SuBo was all too aware that she wasn’t quite ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ material in terms of her appearance. She was well aware that at her age she was seen as past it. However, she decided to focus on that childlike expectation that one day, it will happen.
The rest, as they say, is history! The SuBo phenonemon took America by storm and Susan Boyle is now a bonafide inspiration to many across the globe because she didn’t think she was too old to dream BiG.
He had lost his family and his home but he never lost hope.
& Keep Dreaming
He just wanted to get back to doing what he did best, using his voice.
…
Like Subo, Ted Williams had a dream. For a while he was living the dream. The American Dream where with hard work, determination and a little bit of good fortune you can make it! Then, as it sometimes happens in life, his dream got derailed and it seemed as if it was over. He got involved In drugs and alcohol and wound up on the streets. Homeless.
As he braved the elements he kept hoping, praying that one day this nightmare would be over.
He knew that his voice was a gift, so he used some cardboard and a marker he managed to find a nd created a makeshift sign ‘advertising’ his gift. Some news reporters rolled by, heard his voice and things have never been the same since. He is now reunited with his family; he met with his mom who he hadn’t seen for years, has numerous endorsements; one company even bought him a house. He is the toast of the sports announcement world. He still is working on some of his adult ‘tendencies’ but the child in him, just keeps hoping, praying that it will turn out right!
Aware that even dreams have legs she summoned the courage to go through with the audition and give it her best shot.
The truth is there is a Ted Williams in all of us. So, confront the vices that have caused you to almost wreck your dream. Keep hoping, praying. Keep that childlike expectation but do the ‘adult’ thing and take some steps towards your dream. You will be amazed at what can happen!
Keep that childlike expectation but do the ‘adult’ thing and take some steps towards your dream. You will be amazed at what can happen! Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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Work.
Life. Balance. (In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
How to
Create
(Awesome)
Landing Pages
(...with no technical skills)
by Lilack
Bullock
Social Media Expert
L
anding pages are a very powerful way to generate more traffic, leads and ultimately more customers.
Press that make the process easier but they still require some technical experience. The good news is that SunZu has been built with that in mind. In less than 10 minutes you can build a dedicated landing page with no coding required and have instant access to real-time data on the
Their benefits are widely known but sadly not used enough. Whilst landing pages have been proven to increase sales they can be challenging and costly for many startups and SME’s, particularly if they possess little or no technical skills. There are of course tools such as Word
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Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Social Media performance of your page. In typical Blue Peter fashion, below is one we made earlier for our training services.
time to provide as much information as possible together with how people can get in touch!
effective customisable Land Ads for your business you can also view your analytics, which show your landing page stats, leads you have and article views. This feature, like the rest of the platform is exceedingly simple to understand.
Creating a Land Ad is surprisingly quick and easy in contrast to the level of difficulty that it takes Lead to create on someManagement thing even as straightforward as Leads are the lifeblood of any Wordress. business. SunZu’s lead management tool allows you SunZu also to store and manage your provide useful opportunities all in one As you can see the Land Ads tutorials to help you maximise place. You have multiple are not only easy to make, but them. But just having a landing status actions from marking also atheistically appealing too. page isn’t the magic anthem as hot, cold or whether We like to think of the Land swer. You need the right peo- you contact them etc. You can Ads as a snapshot to a specific ple to see it. One of the key fea- also add notes too. It really is a site on your website, they are tures of SunZu is their fantastic fantastic and useful way to the best of both worlds; a SEO and Google Rank, this is keep on top of your leads and snippet of your website and a an added bonus of hosting the opportunities. digital advert. Or if you don’t landing pages on SunZu as it have a website then you can massively increases your use Land Ads as a complete businesses’ ability Content substitute, which makes it to be found Distribution ery appealing indeed. organically and Drive traffic and At Comms Axis we love conYou can upload everysales to your tent! So it’s no surprise that thing from: a cover business, which of we’re a big fan of SunZu’s conphoto, profile photo, course is a good tent distribution tool. Simply social media links, thing in our put it allows you to create condescriptions, quotes, book! tent, similar to blogs, which testimonials, images you can then distribute across and more! Ensure you As well as the platform. This is another take the creating great way to position yourself simple as a thought leader and an yet expert within your industry. By publishing articles on SunZu you also benefit from their excellent SEO and pagerank as all the content you distribute on there is ranked onto Google too, which can only be a good thing for marketing your business. Issue 7. Autumn 2015
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Conclusion It goes without saying that SunZu is incredibly easy to use and if you are an entrepreneur or small business owner who is either strapped for cash or doesn’t have the technical know how to create landing pages then SunZu certainly is a very useful tool to use to promote your business in an easy and effective way.
Perhaps one of the more overlooked benefits of using SunZu, however, is their impressive Page Rank and great SEO. Cracking SEO and Google remains a challenge that many small business owners find incredibly f rustrating to mange and even larger business owners too. So it is a welcome addition to see SunZu have this base
covered. The latest additions to SunZu are very powerful and it’s interesting to see how it’s progressed into what it is today. SunZu’s vision could disrupt the industry and make the future very exciting indeed! If you’re looking to grow your business and generate more leads then SunZu should be part of your toolkit.
We develop tools that create customers for businesses.
‘
‘
Now everyone can create landing pages, distribute content & manage leads all in one place, on SunZu. Lyndon CEO & Creator SunZu.com
Building.
Futures. (In a totally different way)
experience
growth.
5
tips
to utilize
for your virtual office by Jamie
Lin
Founder & CEO , Gizmo Global & Director of Business Development, Platinum Resource Group
C
o-working spaces are all the rage right now. Companies are looking for cost effective ways to house coworkers in separate locations. Consultants are finding coworking spaces a great place to network and get clients. Individuals workers are finding similar communities that are a “hive” of activity for small businesses. Google for Work (Google experience growth magazine
Apps) can facilitate that true virtual office. Here are 5 tips to utilize Google Apps for your Virtual Office.
Google Hangouts Use hangouts to engage with co-workers. Instant Message (IM) allows you to get quick answers when you are not in the same office.
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Conversations go from IM to voice to video to screen share. Screen sharing from your desk is better than looking over someone’s shoulder!
Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Technology Google Forms Create Google Forms to capture and consolidate information. Use forms to capture information such as an HR form. You can require users to login and have the appropriate drop down lists. Forms save time by aggregating all input from the different people in one google sheet automatically.
Apps
Google Groups
Google Docs within Google Drive offers easy collaboration for the team. Google Docs and Drive allow you to get input into important documents from the team.
Google Sites
Google Drive Store company documents in Google Drive. Think of Google Drive like a virtual filing cabinet. Store important templates and shared documents in a centralized location with easy access. Issue 7. Autumn 2015
Google Sites can be great place to consolidate all of your Google Apps information for your team in one place. Set up a company page site from easy to use templates to quickly gather things like company directories, shared calendars and Google Drive documents. Don’t forget to make sure Google Drive sharing rights are setup properly.
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Use Google Groups as distribution lists for the company. Need to send an email to the marketing team? Create a Google group so that your team can type one email address for the entire team (ie marketing@xxx.com). Don’t forget to manage your distribution list as people come and go. Using Google Apps for your virtual office is a cost effective way to manage your team. It is important to build your processes around your environment and effectively communicate those out to your team. It is also important to make sure that your processes grow with your team. Your future depends on your ability to grow and manage your business as well as your expenses to reach a profitable and efficient business. experience growth magazine
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