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experience growth | SPRING 2014 | Issue 4
It’s
entrepreneurs’
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tales, tools & tips
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the New Beginnings issue
New Beginnings How to begin again ...again
6 Secrets
Do you have the
POWER
?
succeed
to GROW
your business through the power of relationships
5 tips t0 Spring Clean
your Finances
Angela
Ahrendts Moving from Burberry check to Apple core
+
My Top 10 Juices | Taking the Plunge | 7 Steps to Limit your Limitations | The Hunger Project
Are you ready for your
growth
journey
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Colin Tomlin, publisher, author & growhow champion
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Welcome to
I
am so excited to welcome you this issue of eg magazine. Why? Because it marks our first anniversary. What started as a birthday experiment has now mushroomed into a very important and strategic part of the experience growth stable! Yes, we still publish books and resources… Yes, we still produce growth events…
...but I am most excited about the way in which the magazine has been embraced by you, a great community of current and future entrepreneurs who have supported us to the tune of over 150,000 views across our 3 previous issues.
As I celebrated eg’s birthday and my own birthday recently, I couldn’t help but feeling really blessed and privileged to be doing what I do. Serving you by helping you grow as a commercial, social and professional entrepreneur is one of the most exciting things about my life right now! I am not doing this alone though. We have some truly amazing and passionate people who help us. Just turn over to our contributors page and you’ll see the amazing
group of people who help to make this happen. In this issue, we look at new beginnings. We use Angela Ahrendts as an example of an entrepreneur who has to begin again at Apple after a phenomenal eight years at Burberry. Just what can we learn from her? To find out, engage with it, explore it and experience growth with this issue! Enjoy!
Colin
In case you missed it
Browse the previous issue FREE now
Regular Contributors Matt Bird, Relationologist (www.relationology.co.uk) Matt Bird helps people build the relationships needed to achieve greater success. He is an international speaker, leadership consultant and author of 'Relationology - 101 Secrets to build you business through the power of your relationships' - www.relationology.co.uk In this issue Matt writes ‘6 secrets to grow your business through the power of relationships’
Lilach Bullock, Social Media Expert (www.socialable.co.uk)
Lilach is a business owner, social media consultant, internet mentor and founder of Socialable.co.uk. Listed in Forbes as one of the top 20 women social media power influencers she is one of the most dynamic personalities in the social media market. She is consulted by journalists and regularly quoted in newspapers on social media related matters. A keynote speaker at business and marketing seminars, Lilach teaches about online marketing. Her books have achieved No 1 on Amazon for Sales & Marketing and Small Business & Entrepreneurship, which helps to generate over 500K online page views per month. When Lilach isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid fan of Zumba. In this issue Lilach writes ’21 Content Marketing & Blogging tips to drive traffic to your website’
Sandra Mundy, Juicing & Healthy Eating Enthusiast
Sandra has been a Juicing & Healthy Eating enthusiast for some for 20 years now. Working at a Holistic Clinic for 6 years closely working with doctors that practice Natural Medicine, helped to foster her thinking. When she ate clean fresh foods she noticed that she felt better and her body performed better. Sandra, is noticeably healthy often saying that she feels better now than in her 20's. She is constantly being asked what's her secret to maintaining her healthy lifestyle so she has a desire to share it with the world and teach people how to look and feel their best so they can be great in their own skin. In this issue Sandra writes ‘My Top 10 picks for Juices’
Judy Tomlin, Behavioural Specialist & Social Entrepreneur (www.betsycatherinecreative.co.uk)
Judy is behavioural specialist and social entrepreneur with over 17 years experience in schools across the country. A Psychology graduate, she specializes in behaviour management and currently is the lead teacher at a specialist resource base in East Norfolk, UK. Passionate about the convergence of education and enterprise, Judy has set up a social enterprise that uses creativity and enterprise as a tool to engage young people to learn life and entrepreneurial skills by running their own chocolate distribution ‘franchise’. She is married to Colin and they have 2 children and almost own a cat and a dog. In this issue Judy writes ‘New Beginnings...again’
Nisha Zala, Travel Agent for Dreams (www.facebook.com/nishazalalive)
Nisha is the 2014 Newcomer Coach of the Year from Association Professional Coaches, Trainers and Consultants and has produced events for world influenced speakers including; Tony Robbins, Donald Trump, Sir Richard Brandson, Sir Alan Sugar, T-Harv Eker, Big Al and many more. She steps on stage delivering as a key inspirational speaker and dedicated to making a difference in society. Her coaching and therapy style is described to be the best in the industry and known as a Life Enhancement Consultant and Spiritual Awakener. She is the founder of “Freedom for Change” and is writing her first book within the area of her expertise in spiritual growth and personal development. She has been frequently featured in the Basildon and Southend Echo and has her own monthly radio show on Gateway Basildon 97.8.com. In this issue Nisha writes ‘7 steps to limit your Limitations.’
Guest Contributors Barbara Anderson, Financial Coach & Author (www.barbaraanderson.net)
Barbara serves as Executive Vice President at Genistar, a financial education company. Barbara is a keen financial education advocate who believes that the route to financial independence and wealth starts with financial education. To that end she has released her first book ‘Manage on Nil Every Year – How to make sure every pound you spend makes sense.’ In this issue Barbara writes ‘5 Tips to Spring Clean your Finances’
Elliot Kay, Peak Performance Coach (www.thecoachwiththehat.com)
Professionally known as The Coach with the Hat, Elliot Kay is a Peak Performance Coach working with business owners and entrepreneurs to accelerate results through his unique and proven Empowering Coaching System. Working across both corporate and experiential training, he has delivered training programmes for the likes of Sky Television, Talk Talk, NHS and Hewlett Packard, facilitated his very own ground breaking experiential seminar POWER TO SUCCEED. Elliot also discusses the subject ‘It’s Your Right To Be Wrong’, also the title of his 1st book. Known for his passion, high energy, live interventions and ability to get results from people fast, Elliot brings a fresh approach and delivers a high-impact experience to any seminar, talk or event. In this issue Elliot writes ‘The Power to Succeed’
Sophie Noonan, Social Entrepreneur (www.thehungerproject.org.uk)
Sophie is the UK country Director for the Hunger Project, a global, non-profit, strategic organisation committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. The Hunger Project is a leadership development organisation empowering people in both developing and developed countries to build a just world where everybody can fulfil their potential and build lives of self-reliance and dignity. Sophie has worked in the charity sector in France, Belgium and the UK, collaborating with Médecins Sans Frontières, Care International, UN Independent Commission for Population and Quality of Life and Action Against Hunger UK before joining the Hunger Project. In this issue Sophie writes about ‘The Hunger Project’
Ben Shorter & Simone Vincenzi, Personal Development Coaches (www.growingtogetherexponentially.com)
Ben Shorter and Simone Vincenzi founded Growing Together Exponentially, GTeX, a leading personal development community in London. They host empowering talks and workshops, as well as connecting like-minded individuals by bringing together leading speakers and trainers that share their experience in an interactive, fun and community driven environment. Workshops cover topics that support you grow in all aspects of your life, allowing you to maximise your business or career, enhancing your skillset and create a positive self-image. In this issue Ben & Simone write ‘3 Principles for exponential Growth’
Publishing & Editorial Director Colin Tomlin colin@egmagazineuk.com 0785 34 33 700
Coaching & Education Director Judy Lynch-Tomlin judy@egmagazineuk.com
Design Creative Wells Design design@egmagazineuk.com
Advertising advertising@egmagazineuk.com 0785 34 33 700
Partnership Development partnerships@egmagazineuk.com 0785 34 33 700
Photography Google Images Eryn Grace Kirkcaldy Fotolia Tesla Dreamstime Redux Pictures Johannes Ode
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Terms & Condition: All material is strictly copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No part of this online publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed permission of Creative Wells Enterprises Ltd. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage of any material, solicited or unsolicited. The views expressed in this publication are not those of the publisher or those of the advertisers. No cash alternative will be offered for competitions and the editor’s decision is final.
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Contents News
Social Causes
2014. The Year to date.
The Hunger Project?
Are the wheels falling off the recovery for UK entrepreneurs?
What’s New?
What growth resources are out there for free & also for a fee
Personal Wellbeing
What is the Hunger Project and how is it helping entrepreneurs like Emilienne create a better future for their families and communities.
Business Angela Ahrendts
My Top 10 picks for Juices
Find out how Burberry’s saviour is set to work her magic at Apple by taking responsibility for their retail operations.
7 everyday workouts that keep you Stress FREE
6 Secrets to Grow your business through the power of relationships
Stress is all too often a part of our lives. Here we show you just how to keep FREE from stress by doing some very ordinary things.
Out of a total of 101 Secrets we give you 6 secrets to grow your business through the power of relationships.
New Beginnings...again
The Power to Succeed
As Angela Ahrendts departs Burberry and starts at Apple we explore a New Beginning...again.
Discover what it takes to make your business a success. Do you have what it takes?
7 steps to Limit your Limitations
Taking the plunge
With summer fast approaching Sandra Mundy shares her top 10 pick for juices that keep you going.
How exactly can you limit your limiting beliefs
One entrepreneur tells us what they do plus why, when and how they do it!
Cover Story Angela Ahrendts
New Beginnings… again
entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
Money
Click to Connect with us!
5 tips to Spring Clean your Finances
Having set your financial goals at the start of the year, how are you doing with those goals. What do you need to change?
Training Spring Clean your Finances
3 principles for exponential Growth
How can you make this your most productive year to date?
resource focus
The secrets of how to achieve phenomenal results
Learn about how three simple things can make all the difference in the results you achieve.
Technology Social Media Masterclass
Social Media Masterclass
Having a web site is one thing. Attracting visitors to it is entirely another. This issue we give you 21 tips to drive traffic to your website.
Get it FREE
eg news 2014 quarterly The
The Dragons of
BBC’s Dragons’ Den
UK Economy grows in first quarter... The UK economy grew by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2014, according to the latest figures by the Office of National Statistics. Whilst this is still 0.6% short of it’s peak in 2008, it is the fifth consecutive period of growth since the recession.
2014 Q1 Review
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said that despite the positive growth figure,
‘The foundations for a broad based recovery are underway’ The Chancellor George Osbourne heralded it as a sign that ‘Britain is coming back’ but urged caution. ‘The impact of the Great Recession is still being felt, but the foundations for a broad based recovery are now in place,’ he suggested.
‘millions of hardworking people are still feeling no recovery at all’. ‘Now that growth has finally returned, the question is whether ordinary working people will properly feel the benefit and we have a balanced recovery that's built to last,’ he added.
2014 Q1 Review
2 0 1 4
review
‘The biggest risk to economic security would be abandoning the plan that is laying those foundations.’
‘...millions of hardworking people are still feeling no recovery at all’
Any increase in GDP is likely to affect outlook and should lead to favourable conditions for entrepreneurs. (source: BBC News)
experience growth magazine.
eg
2014 Q1 Review
Recent UK government claims of ‘more people are in work than ever before’ have been undermined by a report that shows the number of traditional employee jobs is falling or flatlining across the country – a phenomenon masked by an explosion in recorded self-employment which one economist describes as ‘the last refuge of the desperate’.
an explosion in recorded selfemployment which one economist describes as ‘the last refuge of the desperate’.
Lord Sugar & co
BBC’s The Apprentice
The research reveals that the total number of employed jobs fell in nine of 12 regions between 2008 and 2013. At the same time the number of self-employed jobs rose significantly and were sufficient to offset the loss of employed jobs. David Blanchflower, labour market economist and former Bank of England rate-setter who has studied trends in self-employment for many years, said:
Hopes that burgeoning selfemployment represents a genuine wave of entrepreneurialism are undermined by a second piece of work by the Resolution Foundation, also published on Tuesday.
2014 2014 Q1 Review
...self employement figures show an 0.9% increase.
This leaves the typical selfemployed person now being paid 40% less than the average employee.
It finds that while weekly wages for employees have fallen 6% since 2007, typical self-employed pay has tumbled by 20% in the same time. This leaves the typical self-employed person now being paid 40% less than the average employee. (source: Guardian Newspapers)
?
What do YOU THINK
about the REVIEW for 2014 comment below (Write your ) to let us know
‘Particularly after a prolonged downturn, there is a well-documented pattern of people failing as jobseekers and then moving into self-employment status, often out of desperation rather than anything more positive.’
experience growth magazine.
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growth resources. for FREE
We are certainly living in an information age with the level and array of information increasing seemingly by the second.
‘Online Marketing Specialist’
A friend of mine noted that her daughter thinks that ‘Google’ knows everything. The question is...Just how well does Google know you? That is essentially is the premise behind You Branding. It attempts to show you just how to go about how to create and make public your personal brand on the internet. Want to find out how to be found on the information super highway? Get this book!
Download this book for FREE
for a FEE
Matt Bird is convinced about the essential role that relationships play in business success. In fact, his view is that it is the number one determinant of success in business.
Mark Cijo, web marketing expert
‘The Consummate Connector’
To that end he has written ‘Relationology 101’ as a practical tool to grow your business through the power of relationships. It is an engaging read and very insightful. Matt himself practices all that he preaches and is a consummate connector and relationologist. In this essential read he gives you 101 inspirational and practical secrets.
Download this book for a FEE
Matt Bird, relationologist
Connect with
us! experience
&
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experience growth magazine
@egMagUK
10 Juices My Top
picks
for
Personal Wellbeing
by Sandra Mundy Juicing & Healthy Eating Enthusiast
1. Purple Cabbage, Red Bell Pepper, Apple, Ginger & Lemon
This juice is a superstar! Not only is it fantastic for your insides but it's wonderful for glowing and tightening aging skin, great for your hair and nails too because it has a high silica content! This is a juice that cleans out your entire colon, helps to heal ulcers, lowers cholesterol and has anticancer properties. If that wasn’t enough it also has lots of Vitamin C and antioxidants.
2. Kale
Kale is loaded with Bcomplex vitamins, iron and copper which helps to activate enzymes your cells use to generate energy. Iron also helps deliver the oxygen your cells need to maintain cell metabolism. Rich in vitamin C and calcium for strong bones and teeth it is also great for visual health and healthy blood cells. I prefer to blend my kale in a smoothie to keep the fiber intact!
3. Cucumber, Fennel, Lemon, Green Apple
My absolute favorite juice! Another juice that's loaded with Silica so it's the best juice to perk up your skin and give you a vibrant glow, this will get your hair and nails strong and shiny too. Rich in Vitamin C, K and potassium.
experience growth magazine.
fennel is rich in folic acid, potassium and has phytonutrients to reduce inflammation and helps to prevent cancer! A great juice to flush your bladder and kidneys as well.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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4. Carrot, Apple, Celery
When this combination of veggies and fruit are combined you are getting an explosion of health benefits to boost your immune system and help to prevent diseases. Lots of Vitamin A, and C content here for good skin and eye health.
5. Beet
Beet Juice is great for anemia, lowering blood pressure. It has also been known to build stamina, improve blood flow and, overall, is a great brain booster.
6. Pineapple & Ginger
Pineapple juice contains vitamin C, B, and potassium. Pineapple juice also contains the enzyme, bromelain, which is a natural antiinflammatory agent and digestive enzyme. Ginger is great for digestive issues, a powerful cancer fighter, acid reflux and also an antiinflammatory. Two for one here!
7. Spinach & Apple
Spinach juice has many health benefits ranging from it's powerful blood purifying and blood building properties, to it's prevention of many types of diseases. Spinach juice is a good detoxifying juice for the colon and is a very good way of removing acid from your body. This is an awesome juice for you if you are anemic!
Issue 4. Spring 2014
experience growth magazine.
eg
8. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass has some remarkable health benefits. It increases red blood-cell count while also cleansing the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris. It is known to stimulate metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood. Wheatgrass acts as an effective aid in reducing blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways throughout the body. If all that wasn’t enough, it stimulates the thyroid gland, correcting obesity, indigestion, and a host of other complaints.
9. Pomegranate
Pomegranate would have to be one of the healthiest juices you can drink, due to it containing almost every type of antioxidant, along with the highest levels of each. It is also linked to protecting against certain types of cancer and can help to keep your heart healthy. It is surely another great anti-aging juice!
10. Tomatoes
Tomato juice contains phytonutrients including lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin E and more. In addition to reducing inflammation, regular consumption of tomato juice has been linked to lowering blood pressure, and it may even bolster immune function. You can sneak it into your carrot, celery apple juice so mask the taste if you are not a fan. Cheers to your health and Happy Juicing!!! experience growth magazine.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
eg
experience
growth.
eg
while you’re on the go
entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
7
everyday that will keep
you
1
Walking Walking frequently can reduce many stressrelated conditions, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. People with regular walking habits also report reduced stress levels and self-confidence. Requirements: Walking shoes or Trainers plus Comfortable loose clothing Cost: Low/Medium Difficult Rating: Low
Cycling Cycling is a certainly a bit more hectic than walking and can get the heart rate up more than walking can. While it is great for the heart and the stress levels it can be a little taxing on your back side so make sure you have great padding! Requirements: A helmet, cycling shorts with padding J and a lightweight bicycle with gears. Cost: Medium/High Difficult Rating: Low/Medium
2
workouts Stress FREE Dancing
3
Dancing improves agility, raises your heart rate. Plus if done in a group, for example a Zumba class, it fosters a sense of community, which lowers stress levels and improves our sense of connectedness, boosting happiness. Requirements: Trainers plus Comfortable loose clothing Cost: Low/Medium Difficult Rating: Low/Medium
4
Pilates Pilates is all about strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, and good posture using core strength proper alignment and mental concentration. It reduces back and neck pain, another side effect of stress. Requirements: Clothes that stretch and makes you move freely while being comfortable (Spandex) Cost: Medium Difficult Rating: Medium/High
5
Tai Chi Tai chi is all about focusing on the present. By doing so it means that stresses and worries take a back seat to the present moment. One huge benefit is that it increases flexibility and boosts energy. Requirements: Loose clothing that allows you to move freely with optional footwear. Cost: Medium Difficult Rating: Medium
Barbecue It is huge fun to do a barbecue and, depending on the number of ‘helpers’ can be a huge undertaking, hence the exercise value. From cleaning the house, to prepping the food to entertaining the guests, you will get a good workout and great memories.
6
Requirements: Food, drink, guests, barbecue and a garden Cost: Medium/High Difficult Rating: Medium/High
7
Gardening While strictly speaking not an exercise, just like the barbecue, gardening can be a huge calorie burner and very rewarding for very practical reasons. It allows you to be connected to nature unlike the other exercizes. Requirements: A garden, garden tools, weather appropriate clothes, gloves & wellies Cost: Medium/High Difficult Rating: Medium/High
it!
see build live
eg|
entrepreneurs’ tales, tools and tips
New
Beginnings… by Judy Tomlin Social Entrepreneur & Behavioural Specialist
D
o you recall singing the childhood song ‘Michael Finnegan’?
“There was an old man called Michael Finnegan He grew whiskers on his chinegan The wind came out and blew them in again Poor old Michael Finnegan… begin again.” I used to love the rhythm and energy of this song in comparison to some of the hymns. As a child, the happenings and antics of ‘Old Michael’ were an amusing silliness. Looking at it now though, it really was a case of ‘Poor old Michael!’
These are common phrases repeated from time to time as we hear or are part of discussions about life’s lessons and regrets. When things go wrong in our lives, whether it be our health, finances, relationships, business – or a combination of the above, a natural tendency is to want it to stop. We want things to be put right or the opportunity to start over. There is nothing wrong with this desire per se. We are not talking about running away and burying your head in the sand, rather we are talking about recognising the need for a change - identifying and then making that change. Beginning again should be a positive move, made in a considered and balanced manner.
Beginning again should be a positive move, made in a considered and balanced manner.
He went through verse after verse of failure, going through a cycle of negativity to get to the repeated line of ‘…begin again...’
· · ·
‘If I had the opportunity to live my life over’ ‘If only I knew then, what I know now!’ ‘I wish I had …’
experience growth magazine.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
eg
...again! A new beginning means we can choose to learn lessons from past successes and failures and start again from a fresh angle to grow to the next level.
New beginnings are not limited to challenges. It may be that a contract has come to an agreed end, or you’ve launched a new product, relocated or simply recognise that it’s time to ‘finish strong’ where you are, and take up a new position.
So here we are in the throws of spring, the season of fresh starts and new beginnings and I can’t help but consider…
Angela Ahrendtz, our cover story certainly finished strong before her New Beginning. As CEO of Burberry she changed the fortunes of the company, bringing a freshness and vitality that reverberated through their product line and their profit margins.
·
Achieving success and many accolades in her role didn’t stop her from accepting a new beginning in the role of Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores for iconic ‘Apple’.
· ·
· · ·
Am I happy where I’m at? What could do with a spring clean and a fresh start? Are there any negative cycles that need to be broken? What needs to be weeded, re-potted and nurtured in order to grow? Which areas would benefit from a new beginning? What do new beginnings look like?
For me a new beginning is different to the cycle of repetition and ‘begin again’ like poor old Michael. Rather it is a fresh way of thinking and consequently behaving or doing. It’s the start of something, the early stages, fresh opportunity. A new beginning means we can choose to learn lessons from past successes and failures and start again from a fresh angle to grow to the next level. So don’t be a Michael! Don’t just begin again…and again…and again...
Issue 4. Spring 2014
experience growth magazine.
eg
7
Limit steps
to
E
ver thought life was a collection of negative vibrations influencing our behaviours, thought patterns and beliefs. We only have to look at the day we are born and our arrival on earth when we encounter our first sign of uncertainty. Even switching on the radio and TV we are bombarded with negative messages, so no wonder why we question ourselves and create our own limited illusions. It’s become common practice for us to be complaining, whinging and whining at every given moment when something doesn’t go right and we even doubt our own actions. The mind interprets information which generates and shapes our identity this includes:* Values & Beliefs * Language - words * Memories & experiences * Preferences of behaviour and thinking In this 7 step to limit your limitations, you will find the strategies, tactics and tools to begin living a life full of hope,
your
Limitations
optimism and fulfilled happiness. The key is to begin to think in the way of a champion and to E.M.P.O.W.E.R yourself for long lasting change and results.
1
Energise for Results
Our mind generates answers for us. What we focus on determines how we feel. When we attach meaning to our thoughts, words and or our beliefs it has a tendency to come our reality. When we focus on the roses we are less concerned about the thorns and therefore able to experience the true euphoria of life.
2
Move into Action
Knowledge is when you switch the power on. STOP! Listen to what motivates you and feed yourself with more positive thoughts, people who will lift you up and support your actions and surround yourself in a positive environment. PLAN! Get CREATIVE, understand what works well in your life and embrace the feelings that you associate with it. CLARITY is key, which will set you free!
experience growth magazine.
3
Persistence pays off
True failure is when we stop trying, don’t give into defeat. Your next breakthrough is moments away. Exercise your thoughts, treat it like a gym workout. The more you workout the bigger the muscles get and in return your limit of limitations will begin to get weaker, ready for the real adventures to begin. Actively become positive in your thoughts and let the muscle begin working for you.
4
Ownership of Habits
Take control of your own happiness. Everything that happens, happens to serve a purpose. The more accepting we are to change, the easier we are able to release that resistance when we encounter difficult times. It is never has bad as it seems. Most of what we think about isn’t real, it’s an illusion created from our own imagination. Where there is will, there is change and in return reward.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
eg
by Nisha Zala The Travel Agent for Dreams
5
W
ork on Self Worth Value your life this is the direct relation to the value you contribute and give externally. Creating the right balance. What value are you going to create to the level of thoughts to make you get the right thoughts which will support your actions. Anything in life needs feeding. Don’t buy into your disbelief's ‘the negative voice’ who tells you, is this worth it. Take a deep breathe, stretch, get hydrated and begin to challenge your thoughts, put on your favorite song get back into the fighting ring and tell yourself, oh yes it’s all worth it.
6
Evaluate and
Recognize Recognise what your limiting beliefs are and bring it to your awareness to create the energy needed for the change to happen. Whatever we focus on expands. Begin to focus on what you want in your life rather then what you don’t want and you will notice the shift happening.
experience growth magazine
Ask yourself, what did you learn from this experience of holding this limitation, how can you move forward, be resourceful and translate the learning into all areas of your life. Be grateful and thankful for the lessons you’ve learnt and face your new life with passion, growth and fun. Tell yourself, is this belief or limitation serving me, am I benefiting from it and if the answer is no then DITCH it!
7
Reward your
progress Acknowledge your strengths and achievements. Results are a end point of your action. The key is achieving actionable steps to get you results that you desire. Once you face your fears, stop feeding the doubts, turn the volume down on your disbelief’s and turn the track up on what will support you to get you to the next stage of your journey to live that super fulfilling future.
So, begin to E.M.P.O.W.E.R your life!
.Issue 4. Spring 2014
eg
“
I don’t
think
k limits� Usain Bolt,
The fastest person ever
eg
entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
Social Causes
Helping
entrepreneurs
create a better future for their
families & communities by Sophie
Noonan, Country Director, The Hunger Project UK
E
milienne, is 44 years old, from the village of Assalin in Benin and speaks proudly about her peanut cookies business. “Well, before The Hunger Project started its activities in this region, I was working on the land and was making and selling small amounts of peanut cookies. I was hardly making enough money to feed my children and repay my loans.” Today, Emilienne is running a successful business, employs three people, including one of her daughters, and is always thinking about how she can further develop in line with her dream for their future. Like thousands of other women and men living in rural villages, she took part in the Hunger Project’s Vision, Commitment and Action workshops, participated in the construction of the communal epicentre in her community and attended business and leadership workshops, in addition to having access to low rate micro finance loans.
How do we work?
In The Hunger Project workshops, a lot of attention is devoted to creating selfsufficiency. One way is to not be dependent on one activity, but to spread business activities in order to decrease their vulnerability. Emilienne has learnt this lesson only too well:
“I cannot survive on the profits of the selling of peanut cookies alone. So, I have, as The Hunger Project has advised me to do, decided to develop other activities as well. For instance, I now buy corn and other grains in bulk and store them. And when the market price is good, I sell them. I buy my peanuts in bulk now too, which keeps down the cost price enormously’’.
We believe hungry people themselves are the key to ending hunger.
She acknowledges The Hunger Project whose support means she can now feed her family, send her children to school and save for her retirement.
Many others like Emilienne can improve their living, and develop their activities with the appropriate support, training, business skills and low interest micro finance loans.
What do we do?
The Hunger Project’s mission is to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, and women centered strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries around the world. Everyday in Africa, we witness the rise of new entrepreneurs in the thousands of villages we work with, newly empowered to transform their livelihoods. Too often, hungry people are portrayed as passive recipients of aid. We know differently. They are resourceful individuals and can be the authors of their own future.
The Hunger Project works to break the cycle of poverty by working in partnership to unleash their vision, commitment and leadership so they can create the economic security to sustain themselves and their family.
How can you help?
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, The Hunger Project’s work is only possible thanks to the investment of like-minded individuals and companies who believe we can end hunger in our generation. Just a small investment can unleash the entrepreneurial spirit and transform people’s lives now and for many years to come.
Find out more
hungry people are portrayed as passive recipients of aid. We know differently.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
experience growth magazine.
eg
Invest in people ending their hunger www.thehungerproject.org.uk
copyright Johannes OdĂŠ
Emilienne has become a successful entrepreneur in Benin. She is one of the 19 million women, men and children, The Hunger Project support and empower to end their hunger and poverty.
UK Registered charity No 326688
Take action today to invest in the millions of women and men who are working to lead lives of self-reliance.
Become an investor or
Take part in a challenge UK Registered charity No 326688
story cover
Business
New Beginning
special
Probably the
MOST innovative entrepreneur retail
in
Angela
Ahrendts DBE
Angela Ahrendts was a virtual unknown in the UK until she worked her magic on a tired, British brand. In 8 years she has turned around the fortunes of Burberry and surpassed it’s former glory by a large margin. Can she do the same at Apple in her new beginning? by Colin Tomlin
“I
’m delighted to present this award to Angela who has made an outstanding contribution to British business. Burberry has enjoyed considerable success under Angela's leadership. She has revitalised this iconic British brand with flair and cutting edge innovation, allied with sound commercial acumen.” “She has become a landmark figure in business and like many successful women in Britain today, a powerful role model to the next generation of young British talent.” Those were the sentiments from UK Business Secretary, Vince Cable who presented Angela with an honorary DBE (Dame Commander of the British Empire) in April this year. As an American citizen, she will not be allowed to use the title ‘Dame’ but will instead can use the letters DBE after her name.This is only one of a little under 3o accolades awarded to Angela. Forbes magazine has
In many people’s eyes she has done nothing short of a miracle by trebling revenues from £2 billion - £7 billion.
ranked her as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World every year, bar one, since 2006. If that wasn’t phenomenal enough, she has also been ranked as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business six times since 2007. In fact, in 2012 she was the UK’s highest paid CEO. Not bad for a small town girl from Indiana, USA!
Small Town girl
Born in June 1960 in the US state of Indiana, to a small town entrepreneur and a model, she graduated with a degree in Marketing &
experience growth magazine.
Merchandizing and left for the Big Apple the day after her graduation with plans to make her mark in fashion. Over the years she has held senior roles in some of New York’s most iconic fashion houses including Donna Karan, Henri Bendel and Liz Claiborne. However, it was in 2006 when she arrived at Burberry that her career skyrocketed as she guided the iconic, yet tired, British fashion brand to style and commercial success! In many people’s eyes she has done nothing short of a commercial miracle by trebling revenues from £2 billion to £7 billion. Issue 3. Winter 2014
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When I walk into a store I want to be
welcomed.
The Next Chapter So, can Apple’s newly appointed Retail chief make the shift from making magic in fashion to creating a magical customer experience at Apple? If some of her actions at Burberry are anything to go by, she is not unwilling to completely scrap the current retail experience if that is what was warranted. This is evidenced by the culling of a significant many of the fashion house’s lines and ending many licensing agreements. “I am profoundly honoured to join Apple in this newly created position next year, and very much look forward to working with the global teams to further enrich the consumer experience on and offline,” Ahrendts said in a statement. “I have always admired the innovation and impact Apple products and services have on people’s lives and hope in some small way I can help contribute to the company’s continued success and leadership in changing the world.” There are a few things you can expect.
Angela has lots to smile about during her stint as CEO at Burberry
“very much look forward to working with the global teams to further enrich the consumer experience on and offline.” Will it work?
motivate and inspire people.
Evidence of her great people development skills is the dynamic creative relationship that was enjoyed with Christopher Bailey who she groomed to takeover at Burberry.
She is not one known to shy away from a challenge or daunting task and will jump in with both feet and give her all in order to make it work.
She know’s how to find,
I, for one, would not bet against her!
Expect her to embrace the product. As CEO of Burberry, she would most often be seen wearing the fashion houses latest designs and bringing glamour and a touch of class, no doubt inherited from her mother who was a model back in Indiana. Expect her to create a great team by using her inspirational and visionary qualities to sell a vision of a better customer experience.
With Christopher Bailey who took over from her as CEO of Burberry
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Angela’s 1
2
Family First
5 top
Angela grew up in a home with strong Christian values and is herself a practicing Christian. Maybe this instilled in her a strong sense of family. Married to Gregg, her high school sweetheart, together they have 3 children who all moved across to London from New York with her. She is known to be up at 4:30 each morning to start her day but at the weekends it’s all about home and family. She also, encourages her staff not to work weekends. The
Don’t Sell...Welcome
Ahr
endt s
‘I don’t want to be sold to when I walk into a store. I want to be welcomed.’ This is the thinking behind the person largely credited for bringing the 150 Burberry into the 21st century with an enviable social media presence. In fact, in store sales staff all carry iPads with customer information.
3
Staff Count
4
Teams Work
5
values
ff s sta sale r o f s iPad
Burberry is known to treat their staff well in an industry that is not always known for it. Ahrendts tells her female staff members with children that they are mother’s first!
Angela is a consummate team player at kitchen table as well as the boardroom table. Both Gregg and her operate as a team with clearly defined roles as does her and Christopher Bailey her then Chief Creative Officer who took over her role when she left.
Hap py S taff mak e Ha ppy Cust ome rs
Be commercial viable
Burberry is an amazing company with a great heritage and illustrious history but Ahrendts understood that heritage must always give way to commercial reality.
Burberry’s ace team
l coo ial c r me Com
Issue 3. Winter 2014
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experience
growth.
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entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
No matter how you feel...
get up. dress up. show up. & never give up.
6
secrets to grow your business
through the power of
relationships by Matt Bird Relationologist
1
3
When you buy a new product you ‘expect it to do what it says on the tin’ otherwise you don’t buy it again. When you are promised a level of customer service but don’t experience it, you vote with your feet. When someone says they will do something for you, you expect them to do it otherwise there is a loss of trust. It is relatively easy to say what you do, but it is so much harder to do what you say. Consistency is one of the most important attributes of any relationship because it grows trust, establishes reliability and increases the desire to work together. Contrastingly inconsistency erodes trust and questions integrity.
An executive I know was assigned to a client and told to grow the account which was already in the high seven figures. One dimension of the executive’s strategy was to build his business’s relational footprint within the client organisation. It all started slowly at first, but as he developed stronger and deeper relationships within the company, so did the number and value of his contracts.
2
Fluffy Edges Secondly, he left fluffy edges around the meetings he had scheduled. Wherever possible he arrived in time for a cup of tea before the meeting and popped in to see someone afterwards. In this way he consistently made himself available.
Say what you do and do what you say
Notice the small things
When we are doing big deals we can begin to think that the small things are not important. However, the people who grow lasting relationships understand that in life as well as business, the small things really are the big things. Remembering a client’s birthday, special holiday or that they have a sick family member shows that you’ve not only listened, but you have also made the effort to remember and respond appropriately. Remembering where someone likes to eat, how they like to communicate or what mode of working they prefer might seem small in comparison to getting the deal done, but we ignore the small at our peril.
Build your relational footprint
Introduce and Refer Initially, he asked the people he knew to introduce and refer him to other key stakeholders in the organisation.
Half Day Finally, the client provided him with a security pass so he asked his secretary to begin blocking out a half day a week. This time was not structured, he would use it to walk the floor, bump into people in the canteen and be available to talk with.
in life as well as business, the small things really are the big things.
experience growth magazine.
4
Triangulate relationships
Triangulation is about growing a relationship by introducing two people we know in such a way that it creates mutual benefit. We might also gain from the introduction – perhaps receiving a commercial introducer’s fee – but at other times the only payback for ourselves is the knowledge that we managed to play a part in forming a new partnership. In every introduction, a transfer of trust takes place between the introducer and the person who is introduced. Recommend a rogue lawyer to a client, and you risk damaging your own relationship. However, if your recommendations are good, clients are far more likely to listen to you in future. Depending on the relationship between the introducer and the introduced, different levels of trust transfer can be utilised. Trust transfer ranges from Level 1 for someone we don’t know well, to Level 2 for someone we know, to Level 3 for someone we trust, to Level 4 for someone we are championing: Level 1 – A suggestion to talk to someone ‘Tom, I think you should meet David.’ Level 2 – Tell them to use your name ‘Tom, please mention to David that I suggested you meet him.’
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Level 3 – Introduce them by email ‘Tom, I will email David introducing you and copy you in.’ Level 4 – Face to face meeting ‘Tom, I’d like you to meet David, let me arrange a date for lunch.’
5
Give to grow, don’t give to get
The value of most of the goods we purchase in life decreases the moment we take ownership. Perhaps the most renowned depreciating asset is the new car, which loses thousands of pounds the very minute it’s driven out of the showroom. Relationships, on the other hand, are different. Relationships are appreciating assets. Relationships are an investment – if we nurture and protect them they will last a lifetime and continue to appreciate in value.
Someone once told me about a relationship mantra they had heard; “give to get”. I didn’t like it. It sounded shallow, short term and selfish – networking at its worst. Authentic relationships are founded on the principle of “give to grow”. It’s not about what we get in a relationship, it’s about what we are able to give. There will undoubtedly be benefits in every relationship, but a genuine one is not founded solely on these things. There will be times when we give to a relationship and times when we will receive from it. The critical point is that we are in the relationship for the long game, not primarily for what we get out of it.
6
Under promise and over deliver
Every time I enter my favourite restaurant I am greeted by name and shown to my usual table (number 32).
Issue 4. Spring 2014
I’ve been dining there for over a decade and so the waiter shows me to my preferred side of the table. Having sat down, iced water is poured into my glass and I look at the menu and make my selections. Chef sends an amuse-bouche to the table which whets my appetite for the three courses that are to follow. At the end of the meal they bring me a plate of my favourite petit fours as they know I don’t like coffee but rather like the chocs. The restaurant in question has mastered the art of offering all you would expect from a place of its kind, and then exceeding all expectations. Diners like me are continually impressed and keen to return.
Matt Bird helps people build the relationships needed to achieve greater success. He is an international speaker, leadership consultant and author of 'Relationology - 101 Secrets to build your business through the power of your relationships.' www.relationology.co.uk
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‘My friend Matt Bird is a consummate networker and client relationship expert. This very practical book gives you the “tips of his trade”’ Jeremy Marshall, CEO of C. Hoare & Co Bank
Get the other 95 secrets now!
Grow for
it!
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entrepreneurs’ tales, tools and tips
Do you have the
POWER by Elliot
Kay, The Coach with the Hat.
T
he million pound question, how do I gain the power to succeed?
From working with over 1000 people in 2013, and many more entrepreneurs this year from across the globe, I have identified some key elements to gaining the power to succeed. The first and the biggest obstacle is over coming any self-judgment that you might have of yourself and your abilities. Success as an entrepreneur depends on your ability to deal with judgment and your willingness to get it wrong. Every entrepreneur gets it wrong more often than right. It’s important to deal with any negative association you have with ‘getting it wrong’ to help keep your mind open and your emotions intact when making decisions. The next essential element to gain the power to succeed is developing a great relationship with success, challenge and money. Let’s look at each of these three in more detail:
Firstly, success. Like any relationship, your relationship with success needs attention on a regular bases. This might sound surprising to you… the reason for this is because if any of your belief system isn’t inline with you being successful you will selfsabotage, either consciously or unconsciously. The more successful you become the more that success will challenge your belief system around achieving, your identity and self-worth. Nourish your relationship with success by address limiting beliefs as they pop up. Challenge needs to be accepted as being part of the success process. The whole ‘overnight success’ thing rarely happens except in the movies. No journey is without challenges. Challenges slow us down, ground us and give a chance to asses what to do next in a constructive manner. The issue is too many entrepreneurs make decisions from a place of fear and scarcity instead of seeing this as opportunity to
experience growth magazine.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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to
?
Succeed step up to the next level. Learn to accept challenge as a steppingstone towards achieving your success. Money is simply a reflection of the value you assign to what you do. If you have any issues around money, self-worth or resentment, again you will self sabotage. Just like working on your relationship with success you have to do the same with money. Learn to welcome money as a vehicle of growth and a very important one to your journey. As you can do a lot more with than with out! That is a fact. And be savvy; not all good are ideas are making money or are sustainable business. Do your research, go on fact
Issue 4. Spring 2014
finding missions to find more about the concept or idea you have. If no one has done it, why not? Having competition is a good thing because you can see what they are doing and do it better; competition encourages innovation and creation.
To gain the power to succeed, deal with judgment, as it will always be there, nourish your relationship with success, challenge and money. Do your research, know your numbers and make sure that your idea is one that is sustainable and will make money in order for you to be a change maker in this world. Do that, and you have the power to succeed!
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LONDON: 6th-7th SEP 2014
THE UK’s leading experiential seminar is back!
Do you have blockages around judgement? Are you wanting more from your current situation or simply to change? Do you need high interactive environment to truly shift what is holding you back?
SIGN UP NOW This ticket is 100% FREE The ticket value of the weekend is £2000 “I would recommend this 2 day workshop. It’s amazing!” “Elliot and his team put on a fantastic experiential transformational experience.”
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Just do
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entrepreneurs’ tales, tools and tips
?
Glad you took the
PLUNGE Andii Lindsay, a clothing entrepreneur tells what she does, why she does it and and how and when she decided to take the plunge
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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1. What is the name of your business and what does it do? My clothing brand is called Cock & Bull Menswear and the boutique, Cock & Bull & Co. which is the UK's first menswear boutique dedicated to sustainable and ethical menswear. That means that we produce clothing with a supply chain that does not murder, poison nor enslave the people involved. I’m very proud that I am able to live everyday with a clear conscience that our line of clothes do not have blood or tears involved in their production. It has been a huge challenge: sourcing fabrics is one the hardest things that we have to do, however, it has meant that we also have to be more creative with what we have and I’m loving the challenge of working within such tight parameters. Also, menswear is a fantastic challenge! Women will wear all manner of ridiculous clothes but you cannot pull the wool over men’s eyes.
2. How long have you been running the business? I was given the opportunity to start Cock & Bull Menswear, which is my 2nd clothes line 2 1/2 years ago. Long story short, my partner wanted to buy clothing that did not compromise his ethics nor his sense of style. I was also adamant from the beginning that they only way I would venture into the dark and murky seas of the fashion industry again would be if it was a sustainable and ethical line. There are now hundreds of choices for ethical and / or sustainable womanswear on the fashion landscape, however, ethical and sustainable menswear is very hard to find. Having said that, I think that men consume
clothing in a much more sustainable manner than women but that's another story.
3. Why and how did you get into that? One of my earliest memories is of my grandparents corner shop in Camberwell Green; it was a joint family venture that involved my parents, aunts and uncles. I was only 4 or 5 but I felt a sense of pride that my family got up very early in the morning to visit the various London markets so that local people could get their basic groceries. Later when I showed an interest in fashion I also remember my grandmother planning out what roles each of our family members would take. My grandmother and family were a great inspiration to me: they planted seeds of aspiration, creativity and a serious work ethic. Besides my family, the US has always been a source of inspiration for me especially music of the 40’s though to 70’s. The soundtrack to my life were inspiration songs of struggle and aspiration; they have been a kind of mantra to me keeping me on track and getting me through some very hard times. I later left England for New York and established a very directional line of women’s clothes all produced in the USA. New York was a little like a finishing school for me. I love the sense of optimism in the States. I was very lucky to have a very loyal fan base which i serviced with beautiful well made clothes at super value price points. I achieved sales just shy of $3,000,000 in 3 years.
experience growth magazine.
4. What’s your long term game plan? My long-term game plan is to build a blueprint for a sustainable and ethical business, perhaps franchise the Cock & Bull Menswear concept so that we can work in partnership with other people in various cities who want a stab at running their own lifestyle business. Eventually, I want to end up in a rural setting cultivating the land and embracing perma-culture practices.
5. Would you go back to being employed? No. I know that I could live on £500 per month if I had to.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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5 Andii’s top
tips
1. Begin with the end in mind.
Put yourself in the place of your target customer and solve their issues and problems. Create a product or service that gives them super-value but at a similar price to your nearest competitors.
2. Specialise
Get into the bones of what you do. Create a DNA that is almost impossible to replicate.
3. Be selfish with your time.
Setting up and running a new business demands 110% of your time and you will need to ensure that your family and friends understand the sacrifices you are making. Having said that, remember that time off is vital to the long game.
4. Know your numbers.
As wonderful as your product or service is if your costs are not significantly lower than your sales then you have a hobby and not a business.
5. Keep learning
Embrace online media - there are some wonderful teachers out there willing to share lots of good practice on YouTube.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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experience growth magazine.
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It’s Impossible! “
“
scoffed pride
It’s
“
“
screamed Risky!experience
It’s
“
It’s
“
Pointless! stated reason “
“
Worth a try! suggested my heart
You hear what you are eg
entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
Money
5
Spring clean your
tips to
Finances by Barbara
Anderson, Financial Coach & Author
A
s the first ray of morning sunlight peeked through my curtains I jumped out of bed wondering if I had missed my alarm. Frantically trying to check the time, I realised it was not yet 5:30 am. I smiled to myself as I had a moment of reflection knowing that it was yet another beautiful spring morning. No more coats and no more boots. Yeah!!! Well it’s time for a bit of Spring cleaning, time for that freshness to replace the Winter Blues.
1
Financial Review
Try setting and using a budget and see if there’s anything you are spending for that you can reduce the price or remove from your spending.
2
Short Term Policy
Get yourself a Term Policy to protect your responsibilities for the time you’ll have those responsibilities.
£11880 and set to increase to £15000 from July 1st. How about making use of that allowance by starting a saving plan in this tax year?
4
Income increase
Look at ways to increase your income this Spring as more money tends to leads to financial freedom.
5
Financial Advice
Find a Financial Expert and get them to support or educate you in the areas you might be struggling in.
‘Have you ever had one of those early morning dilemma I just described?’ If you had, I can almost hear you breathing a sigh of relief and as you put your head back down you know there’s no way you are going to fall back to sleep before it’s time to hit the showers.
Spring is my favourite Season as it gives the opportunity to review the 1st quarter of the year and allows time to get things in gear for the rest of the year. So, here’s to a sparkling financial future!!!
So, what do you use the time to do? Do you use the time to reflect? Do you think of the present? Or do you think of the future? As we are on the subject of Spring and Reflection, let me ask you a question…. How are your financial goals for 2014 coming along? Could it be that it’s time for a bit of Finance Spring Cleaning. Here are 5 tips for Spring Cleaning your finances:
3
Emergency Set up
Each new Tax Year you are given a Tax-Free allowance you can save/invest up to. For 2014-2015 the amount is
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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from
Dynamic Financial Coach & Author,
Barbara Anderson
Learn and understand: 路 How to be more effective with your money 路 How to let your money start working for you 路 What is the best type of Protection for you 路 Credit Options & more...
MANAGE EVERY ON
NIL YEAR
How to make sure every pound you spend makes sense
Get your copy now
3
principles for exponentional
by Ben
‘I
t’s not what you know but you who you know.’
This is a saying that we hear time and time again, and leader’s in business, sports, and personal growth often talk about how being around the right people can drastically improve the rate at which you achieve your goals. Personally, my entire business is built around forming strong and long lasting relationships with all of those around us, and this has continually allowed the business to grow. Here are the three main principles I base all my networking on.
1. Find something in common with as many as people as possible. Relationships are formed by finding commonalities other people. It could be a principle that you both really value and live towards or a shared
growth Shorter & Simone Vincenzi, Growth Champions opinion. Showing someone that you are similar to them opens the door to building a positive relationship with them. The reason that you will want to find commonalities with as many people as possible is to form a vast network, filled with a range of different and unique individuals.
2. Show interest in people
and focus on what they are saying rather than formulating a response. By allowing people to share, you will often find that they can give you amazing tips and ideas because they view things from a different perspective, and
Given the opportunity, people love to speak about topics they are passionate about. By being curious and interested in someone else, they will start to build a trusting relationship with you. The best way to show interest in someone is by attentively listening to what they have to say, and then asking them relevant questions about their experiences. Give them the time and space to go into detail,
experience growth magazine.
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Training
importantly do it out of the goodness of your heart because supporting others feels amazing. By offering support to someone, they may become a client, refer a client, or just speak positively about you. However, do not to undervalue the services you offer. My approach is that I will always offer a free consultation, and email response, however if someone would like me to go into more depth, that is usually when I offer my paid services to them.
3. Give support first. The most powerful networking tool ever, is just asking the question: ‘How can I support you?’ implementing their ideas may bring you rapid results.
Offer your ideas, thoughts and expertise whenever you get the opportunity, and most
Issue 4. Spring 2014
By adding value to your network: • You are also building strong and positive relationships. • You are demonstrating your expertise. • You create the best form of marketing; word of mouth or referral. I feel blessed to be surrounded by people who have allowed me to grow at an exponential rate in all aspects of my life, and by applying these principles; you can rapidly gain results that you are looking for. So, how can we support you?
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while you’re on the go
entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
Secrets of how to the
achieve...
by Yemi Akinsiwaju by Colin Tomlin Leadership expert, Author, Management Consultant & Publisher, author & growhow champion International speaker
A
few years ago I had one of the most rewarding yet transformational trips I have ever taken, leading a group 20 guys on a mission trip. The trip, organized by Habitat for Humanity was to build homes for the underprivileged in Romania. Our home for 4 days was Beius, a historic town in the north west of Romania with a population of about 13,000 people. We touched down in Romania full of anticipation and, if truth be told, a little apprehension as we tried to figure out the task ahead. Yes, we had all been briefed but hearing about the task and being there in the thick of things was an entirely
different matter! After a long journey across the border from Budapest in Hungary to Beius, we settled in for the night eager to go onsite on Thursday morning! However, despite the day going well, we realised it could have gone a lot better. At our 1st review meeting that evening, we made some decisions about what we needed to do. When we got back on site the next day EVERYTHING changed. We worked like a well oiled machine. By the end of the day, we had gone through over 100 bags of cement, 4 truckloads of sand, mixed over 50 loads of concrete and won the admiration of the Habitat Team Leader, Construction crew and the locals alike! So, what changed?
Clear, identifiable outcomes that we would serve to focus our minds around what we hoped to achieve.
experience growth magazine.
1. Targets... At our team meeting we realised that we had been expending lots of energy, doing many activities but we weren’t really clear what we were doing and as a result had no focus despite the formidable muscle power. The first thing we did was to set targets. Clear, identifiable outcomes that we would serve to focus our minds around what we hoped to achieve. We then made sure that everyone was aware of what we were setting out to do!
Issue 4. Spring 2014
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...phenomenal
results. assigned sub targets to each of those chunks of time and ensured that everyone was well aware of them.
we were one team even as we divided ourselves up into a number of smaller teams. Teams to shovel cement and sand into the cement mixer, teams to provide water for the concrete mix, teams to take the mixed concrete and to fill in the foundation. It made all the difference!
...if we did not work together as a team we weren’t going to achieve much!
3. Timings Finally, we broke the day into chunks, assigned sub targets to each of those chunks of time and ensured that everyone was well aware of them. So each break coincided with a target being met. In essence each break was mini celebration despite the (40 degree) heat being on! At the end of that day we had exceeded all out targets and it was simply because we created targets, teams and timings! I am sure you too can achieve phenomenal amounts when you set targets, create teams and ensure that there are timings in place!
2. Teams We also promoted the idea that if we did not work together as a team we weren’t going to achieve much!
Why not apply this to your organization? It could make all the difference!
So we reminded ourselves that
Issue 4. Spring 2014
experience growth magazine.
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reps is what makes muscles grow. “
The last three or four
This area of pain divides
the champ from someone who is
not a champion
�
ion Arnold Schwarzenegger
Actor, Politician, former Mr Universe
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entrepreneur’s tales, tools & tips
The Social Media
Masterclass
21
with social media consultant, internet mentor & founder of Socialable.co.uk.
Content Marketing & Blogging
tips to drive traffic to your website
Technology
1]
Keep your
HEADLINES as
clear and concise as possible. Think about how people would search for the article you’re writing, and try to use those words in the title. Use popular headline formats when possible, such as: Top XX (…); How to (…); XX Best (…) etc. When you can, try to form your headline as a question – those types of headlines usually attract a lot of attention, and many people use questions to search on Google, etc
2]
Use CALLS TO ACTION in your
blog posts to get people to share your articles with their followers and increase your reach.
4]
Always create HIGH QUALITY CONTENT, the more interesting your blog post is, and the more value it brings to your readers, the greater the chance that it will be shared extensively.
5]
3]
If you have a new blog post which will provide lots of VALUE TO READERS send it to other relevant blogs and publications that might also be interested in it.
experience growth magazine.
Write blog posts about CURRENT RELEVANT ISSUES that your audience is interested in.
6]
Add IMAGES, VIDEOS or OTHER MEDIA to all of your blog posts – people usually engage more with visual content which means you’re likely to get more shares, comments. Also ensure you add your URL and logo in all the images you use, and keep your branding consistent across the media you use. Issue 4. Spring 2014
eg
7]
Use STUMBLEUPON to promote your blog posts and get more eyeballs on your content. StumbleUpon is a very popular discovery engine that recommends cool websites and content to its users.
8]
Create an INFOGRAPHIC and share it on social media, infographic directories, and send to subscribers. Add an embed code that others can use to post your infographic on their websites, which will help you reach more people and get some of the traffic back to you.
9] website.
GUEST BLOG on related, quality blogs to reach a bigger audience and drive more people to your
10]
Ask interesting, INFLUENTIAL BLOGGERS to guest blog on your website – that means they will likely bring some of their audience to your website, and the more influential the blogger is, the more it will raise the profile of your blog.
Ask your audience on social media if they have anything they think you should add to your post
11]
Read OTHER BLOGGERS’ WORK and get involved by sharing their articles and commenting on them.
12]
Write CONTROVERSIAL BLOG POSTS and share them across your networks online – these types of posts tend to generate lots of engagement and traffic as people are interested in reading controversial opinions, and then sharing their own and starting debates.
13]
When writing a new blog post, ASK YOUR AUDIENCE on social media if they have anything they think you should add to your post – like a good tool, a new app, etc. Then include their tip (whilst crediting them back) in the article and get in touch with them to let them know about it, and they will then hopefully they will also share it with their audience.
14]
15]
Find out WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE IS INTERESTED IN reading about, and try writing articles about those subjects. There are various websites that help you figure out what’s trending around the world, such as Trendn or What’s Trending.
16]
REACH OUT to content curation websites in your niche to see if they would share your best articles there.
17]
Write FRESH NEW CONTENT as often as you can, and always do keyword research beforehand.
Create interesting presentations that offer lots of value to your audience to post on Slideshare
CREATE INTERESTING PRESENTATIONS that offer lots of value to your audience to post on Slideshare, brand them, and link back to your website. Slideshare is the biggest community for sharing presentations and posting your own presentations there means you’ll be getting access to a whole new audience.
Issue 4. Spring 2014
experience growth magazine.
eg
18]
Submit your blog to VARIOUS DIRECTORIES to reach more people. There are several directories you can use, such as Add Your Blog, or Blog Catalog.
20]
Build a list of USEFUL KEYBOARD and groups of keywords that you have at your disposal to use whenever you write new content for your website.
21]
Create CONTENT STRATEGY that you can keep up with so that you’re always providing fresh content – both your audience and search engines will appreciate that!
19]
Add GOOGLE+ COMMENTS to your blog – on Blogger, since it is owned by Google they are already approved, but for WordPress you can get a plugin such as Comments Evolved for WordPress.
Submit your blog to various directories to reach more people.
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Issue 4. Spring 2014
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