experience growth Magazine Issue 1 (Summer 2013)

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News. Personal Wellbeing. Social Causes. Business. Money. Training. Technology. GROWzone.

www.egmagazineUK.com | SUMMER 2013 | Issue 1

experience growth.

It’s

FREE quarterly the entrepreneurs issue

Social Cause Buy 1 Give 1, a global business revolution

Social media

Masterclass

10 of best LinkedIn features for business

Your Money Does your DREAM have numbers?

Are you

a true entrepreneur?

Glad you took the plunge?

Two entrepreneurs tell how they did it

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Change Bad Thinking! All in the mind? | 8 tips to get anything done | the GROWzone

‘26 BiG ideas At the very least

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Graham Dacre

Business & Social Entrepreneur & Sunday Times Rich Lister

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Publisher’s page

Colin Tomlin, Publisher, author & growhow guru

W

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Welcome to

3. You GROW

elcome to the first edition of experience growth online magazine.

in practical ways, what they were wired to do to achieve significance.

I guess your first thought is; ‘What is experience growth magazine and ‘How did it come about?’

Over the 3 years, a tradition was born...each birthday I give something back.

Finally, we will provide you with the right tools or point you in the right direction to experience growth.

A very simple but life changing one.

This year, for my 42 birthday, I want to provide you with a brand new resource aimed at helping you, not just learn about growth, but to experience growth!

We believe you’ll like this first edition; the Entrepreneurs Issue. We look at arguably the UK’s best loved entrepreneur and explore a list of the top 10 entrepreneurs in the UK.

I decided to follow my passion.

And that is exactly what this magazine is about.

To that end I set about building something called The Life Club.

To help you to experience growth.

In addition to a whole host of growth materials, we introduce the GROWzone, specific growth events, resources and trainers in your area.

Well, on my 38th birthday, 4 years ago I made a decision.

The premise was to provide information, produce resources and promote events for growing people.

So, in May 2010, on my 39th birthday, I launched The Life Club, where I promised our first resource in time for our first anniversary.

A year later in May 2011, we made good on that promise by launching my first book, 26 BiG ideas, your A-Z for Growth The following year, having relocated to Norfolk, we launched a series of events called ‘Finding your BiG ideas’ to help people discover

How will we do that?

So, enjoy the read and let us know what you think.

In 3 ways:

1. We SHOW Firstly, we will SHOW you credible examples of people who are being significant by doing amazing things in their chosen areas of passion.

2. You KNOW Secondly, we will provide you with the right level of information and expertise so you KNOW what to do to make your BiG ideas work. eg magazine is published by Creative Wells Enterprises Ltd

Contributors Lilach Bullock, 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 ‘10 of the best LinkedIn features for your business.’

Alex Gordon, www.dreamsuccess.co.uk

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 regular speaks to audiences asking a poignant question, ‘What is your dream?’ He recently published his book by the same name and travels the UK preaching a message of redefining, refocusing and repackaging your talents and abilities to bring solutions to your community, customers and clients. He lives in London with his wife, Sharon and 3 children.

In this issue Alex writes ‘The Dream Numbers.’

Edward Hollamby, www.eshconsultancy.co.uk

Edward & Sarah Hollamby are passionate about helping people and communities develop by exploring and enhancing the opportunities available to them. They have been doing that for the last 10 years and have literally trained thousands of people from hundreds of businesses and charities across the UK. They regularly work in partnership with Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire County Council’s, S.U.M.O, The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation & other organizations. They live in Lincolnshire with 2 children.

In this issue Edward writes ‘Why bother with Training?’

Danny McIntosh, Light Heavyweight Boxing Champ

Danny is currently ranked as one of the top 10 light heavyweights in the UK. The former WBO European Light Heavyweight title holder hails from Norwich, Norfolk and has just recently returned from Denmark training/sparring with Mikkel Kessler, the current WBA Super Middleweight Champion. Danny fights on the 18th May 2013 at the famous York Hall on the Prize Fighter Cruiserweights III card. Tickets available @ www.prizefighter.co.uk.

He lives with his family in Norwich.

In this issue Danny writes ‘Let’s get physical. 10 ways to get fit and stay that way.’

Jamie Stephenson, People Development Specialist

Jamie has been involved in people development and organisational growth for over 15 years. With a passionate belief that each person is made for purpose and influence alongside a belief in building real, relevant and impactful church he's committed his life to helping people live to their max. Jamie currently lives in Norwich with his wife and two children.

In this issue Jamie writes ‘In the Spirit of Things.’

Judy Tomlin, www.betsycatherinecreative.co.uk

Judy is behaviourial 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.

Passionate about the convergence of education and enterprise, Judy has set up a social enterprise that uses business 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 kids and almost own a cat and a dog.

In this issue Judy writes ‘Change Bad Thinking! Is it really all in the mind?’

experience

eg growth with

Contents News

Social Causes

Budget 2013

Buy 1 Give 1

What has the Chancellor got on offer for us as entrepreneurs?

2013 Trends

Philanthropy used to be an individual thing now it’s gone corporate and gone global with staggering results

Enterprise Friendly UK?

Business

5 BiG trends and predictions for this year and what it means to you What’s out there of interest to Entrepreneurs across the UK

What’s New?

What growth resources are out there for free & also for a fee

Sir Richard Branson

Find out how the UK’s favourite entrepreneur created one of the most recognized brands in the world while having so much fun

Personal Wellbeing

Are you a TRUE Entrepreneur?

Let’s get Physical

8 tips to get anything done!

10 Ways to get fit & stay that way

We explore 12 easy ways to tell! Read them and score yourself

Change Bad Thinking

Here are eight tried and tested ways to get anything done from start to finish

In the Spirit of Things

Glad you took the plunge?

Is it all in the mind? Or is there more to it than that?

If George Michael is to be believed, you’ve got to have faith. But what is it and is it of any importance?

Cover Story Sir Richard Branson

Entrepreneurs tell us what they do plus why, when & how they went into business

Change Bad Thinking All in the mind?

We show.

You know.

You experience growth.

Money

Technology

Your Dream by Numbers

Social Media Masterclass

What is your dream? And what numbers are associated with it?

Training Business Feature True Entrepreneur?

Why bother with Training?

Why spend money on training themselves & staff particularly in these times of austerity?

Our Social Media Expert explores 10 of the best LinkedIn features for your business.

GROWzone In our next quarterly issue we introduce the GROWzone.

It is an incredible resource for finding and connecting with coaches & trainers in your local area. It will help you discover growth resources and events in your local area.

The Dream Numbers Seven numbers that are vital for growth

If you’re a trainer or coach and want to be part of the GROWzone, please contact us on growzone@egmagazineuk.com

eg NEWS >>UK’s Budget 2013 at a glance...

>>What the budget means for small business... >>Business Bank providing £1 billion of funding The government has published a strategy for a Business Bank which sets out how the bank will develop between now and 2014 to provide long-term help for small businesses through £1 billion of funding. The Business Bank will also provide immediate support through:

>> The GDP growth in 2014 is forecast to be 1.8%, then 2.3% in 2015, 2.7% in 2016 and 2.8% in 2017, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

In the short-term it predicts the UK will avoid a second quarter of negative growth and a triple-dip recession. >> The deficit has been cut by a third from 11.2% of GDP in 2009/10 to a predicted 7.4% this year. It is expected to fall to 6.8% next year, 5.9% in 2014/15, then 5%, 3.4% and 2.2% by 2017/18. >> The OBR forecasts higher employment, with 600,000 more jobs expected in 2013. >> Borrowing predicted to fall from £108 billion next year to £97 billion in 2014/15, then £87 billion, £61 billion and £42 billion in following years.

Meanwhile, the proportion of national income spent by the state has fallen from 47.4% three years ago to 43.6% today and is on course to reach 40.5% by the end of the period. >> Public sector net debt to be 75.9% of GDP this year then 79.2%, 82.6%, 85.1%, 85.6% in following years before falling to 84.8% in 2017/18.

·

·

·

£300 million investment scheme to help diversify and expand the supply of lending to businesses £75 million funding to expand Business Angel Coinvestment fund and extend the Enterprise Capital Funds £30 million funding for a trade credit pilot with Kingfisher to extend credit to wholesale customers of B&Q TradePoint and Screwfix

>>Growth vouchers for small businesses · £30 million will be made available over two years.

This will address a gap in the market for providing external business advice such as making a successful loan application to a bank or taking on an employee. >>£30 million funding for Startup Loans · The government will provide additional funding for the scheme supporting entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 to start their own business. First announced by the Prime Minister in January, the new funding will see £42 million available in 2013/2014 and £60 million for 2014/2015.

>>New measures to support start ups in the UK unveiled by Chancellor >>A new service to support British entrepreneurs and investors has been welcomed by Chancellor George Osborne at an event celebrating UK entrepreneurship in London’s Tech City.

Entrepreneurs and workers in Tech City were the first to hear about the programme - named Future Fifty - at a speech the Chancellor gave at an event run by the London Stock Exchange and Tech City UK on Thursday 25 April.

Five new companies will move into Tech City and East London, the Chancellor also announced.

The concierge-style service will support 50 fast-growing businesses with help from experts in a range of ways including a mentoring scheme, a programme of events, and tailored support on issues such as immigration, exports and international trade.

Delivered by a mixture of government and private sector experts, Future Fifty will equip businesses to accelerate their growth and help reduce the expense of investing in smaller fast-growing companies.

>> Five BiG ideas, Trends & Predictions for 2013 >> Companies will focus on being remarkable…

“We need to back the insurgent businesses that create the majority of new jobs and innovations in the economy”, the Chancellor explained when he unveiled the plans.

“We are making progress on the necessary task of rebalancing the economy towards new industries and high-value activities.

This rebalancing can’t take place overnight, but it is absolutely the right thing to do for the long-term strength of the UK economy.

These five new investments are a clear demonstration that the world’s most innovative companies are choosing to invest in the UK.” Applications for the Future Fifty programme open today and are available to 50 highgrowth companies from the UK and EU, as well as UKcontrolled foreign companies.

Selected companies will be drawn from high-tech sectors, as well as retail, finance, fashion, food and design.

The Tech City initiative was launched by the Prime Minister in 2010 after requests from local entrepreneurs. It has since attracted companies such as Cisco, Microsoft and Intel - creating new jobs in East London.

“Becoming remarkable has never been as important! It is more important than ever for businesses to intensely focus on what it is that they are better at than any other competitor. What is it about your business that forms emotional connections with your customers and what value do you provide that is truly significant? So significant that your customers will part with their hard-earned money and, pay more for it at the same time."

Robert Murray, author of “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing Your Innate Leadership for Business and Life Success" (Robert Murray Management Consulting Ltd, 2012). >> Small businesses go global "Spin the globe and you can find an opportunity to sell something, somewhere. For the growth-minded business owners and entrepreneurs, 2013 will be the year to explore overseas markets to expand their footprint given the many transformational ecommerce solutions and platforms developed to help small businesses today.” Annie Xu, Alibaba >> The emphasis on health will continue "Great health is increasingly becoming the most prized 'luxury good' and status symbol of the 21st century.

Just 30 years ago, things like green-blue algae, and yoga

beatnik, bead-swinging, longhair eccentrics. Now they are mainstream products and services that are embraced, purchased and sought after by consumers of all ages from baby boomers to Gen X/ Y. Wellness is no longer just a nice idea, it is one of the most sought-after luxury in 2013."

Catharine Arnston, Bits of Health >> The year of the employee "Senior executives have been asking people to do more with less and the ever-mounting pressure to get results has been wearing people down.

Leaders recognize that this isn't a sustainable model and they will be looking for ways to engage people to show they care and to recognize not only the top performers, but the entire organization. On the flip side, most employees are craving new and innovative ways to dig down deep to make a difference and maximize their true potential.

The intent of leadership and employees are the same. The result will be a collaborative effort which hasn't been seen in decades! And the result of that will be booming profits and worldwide economic prosperity!"

Scott DiGiammarino, Reel Potential >> Personalization will grow "Technology converges to allow fast, inexpensive and convenient personalization of almost anything — from cellphone cases to candy — allowing consumers to express themselves and their individuality in ways never thought possible before."

TJ Scimone, MyJellyBelly

Source: Business News Daily article by David Meilach

Read more 2013 Trends by clicking <here>...

growth resources. for FREE

If ever there was a time to read Jeremy Gutsche's award-winning, bestselling, magazinestyle book about 150 ways to spark innovation during times of change, the time is now.

‘an intellectual can of Red Bull’

Covering 5 areas (Strategy, Culture, Trends, Innovation & Marketing), this book is Innovation on steriods, not surprising for a man that has been described as ‘an intellectual can of Red Bull.’

Not surprising for someone who has been described as ‘one of North America's most requested keynote speakers,’ and the founder of TrendHunter.com.

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John Maxwell is undoubtedly one of our favourite authors.

His books, consistently engaging and written as if John was having a personal conversation with you, are packed with nuggets of wisdom related to a subject that he excels in. Leadership.

Jeremy Gutsche, innovation guru ‘the world’s favourite leadership teacher’

In this book he shares everything he has garnered about developing yourself so that you have the best chance of becoming the person you were created to be.

John has sold more than 21 million books over his 50 year career and trained more than 5 million people.

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Personal W

letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get

physical with

Danny McIntosh

former European Light Heavyweight Champion

10

ways to get fit & stay that way

1. Skipping

Rotate that rope over your head and around your body and see how many you can do. Build up your time by doing it for 5 minutes, then increase. Make it interesting by jumping on one foot, then both feet.

2. Squats

Keeping your heels on the ground, lower your body by bending at your knees. Keep your weight over your heels as you go down.

The further range of motion you can get, the more effective the exercise.

3. Jumping Jacks

If you want a vigorous aerobic workout these are excellent. Do them for 5 minutes and you'll be breathing heavy.

Clapping at the top of each one makes it more rewarding.

Wellbeing 8. Banana

5. Sit ups

Having a strong midsection is vital. For that you need to strengthen your core muscles, the ones we all hate to work on. Place your hands above your head and not on your neck while you sit up as you may strain your neck. Raise yourself up with your momentum.

6. Pull ups

These are great exercises for working multiple muscle groups at once. It effectively works your trunk, shoulders, arms, forearms, hands, abs and pelvic floors. This exercise will build incredible upper body strength but takes a lot of effort initially. Keep at it and watch the results.

4. Push ups

Push ups are effective for building up your chest, arms, back and core. If you find them difficult or a strain on your wrists, vary them by dropping to your knees or by doing them at an angle, like on the stairs.

7. Planks

Otherwise known as the abdominal bridge, this exercise works the abs, back and shoulders...and is not easy. You balance on your elbows and your toes. Straighten your body to look like a plank of wood. This exercise will strengthen your core quickly and effectively.

This is for your lower back and abs. Lie down on your front and lift your legs and arms up from the floor. Hold this position for a few seconds. Roll over to your back and lift your chest and feet up from the floor. Hold that position for a few seconds then switch back. Do this cycle for 10 times. As you get stronger do more cycles.

9. Dip

This will build your chest arms and shoulders. For this you will need a chair, bench or even the edge of your bath. With your back to the chair, bench or bath. Rest your hands on the edge and lower your self with your soles on the floor. When you go down keep your triceps parallel to the floor and keep your arms straight when you come back up. Do this a few times.

10. Squat Thrust

This is one of the best ways to work out the entire body but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy! From a standing position...

1. Drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground.

2. Extend your feet back in one quick motion to a front plank position.

3. Return to the squat position in one quick motion.

4. Return to standing position.

1. How did you get into Boxing?

As a youngster I was always full of energy and as a result, my mum tried her hardest to find me a sport or activity to burn it up.

I tried gymnastics, karate, ju jitsu, swimming kickboxing and more, I enjoyed all and did well at most but never followed through with them.

It wasn't until the ripe age of 15 that I stepped in to a boxing gym after having a turbulent time at home as most teenagers do and it was the sport I fell in love with.

5 questions for the champion

Big Mac

2. Who are your boxing heroes?

My first memory of boxing was sitting on my nan's stairs listening through her living room and hearing the Tyson vs Bruno fight but my first idol was that of Prince Naseem Hamed for his Rapier like hand speed, his fleetness of foot but most of all his devastating punch power thrown from unimaginable angles. I was hooked! My other hero's also include a possible pound for pound great Roy Jones Junior, Sugar Ray Robinson and who could doubt the "Greatest" Muhammad Ali!

3. What was your first title fight like?

My first title fight was against an old training partner, the aptly named Steve Spartacus, a rough, tough experienced fighter who'd already fought for and won the English title and fought for the British title.

This fight would be a derby as he was from Ipswich, Norwich's sworn football rival's so I had to put on a show that night. He promised to beat me within 7 rounds so my retort was that he would fall in that round, and he did!

I won my first professional title in October 2008 in the 7th round by knockout... the new English champion!

4. How did it feel to become the European Champion?

I fought for the European title in January 2011 after a surprise phone call over Christmas and if I said I was worse for wear when I

received the call it would be an understatement. At first I refused the fight but was informed that under no circumstances would a chance come by this tantalising, so my answer swiftly reverted from a no to a hesitant "yes... ok".

Looking back I didn't spar or run at all as I was so ill but did some good sessions of bag and pads to keep me going. Every night I would go to bed and wake up drenched in sweat, I was ill no doubt. This happened all the way up to the weigh in day and I was thinking ‘I’m just here for a good pay day then I can go home and rest.’

I went to bed that night and prayed that I be given a chance of victory then went to sleep. I awoke in the morning to find I hadn't to find I hadn't

been sweating at all and the

sheets were bone dry!

Had God answered my prayers?

Well, that night I went on to fight Thierry Karl who had more KO's on his record than I'd had fights, I KO'd him in the 11th round to win the prestigious European title and came home The Champion.

What a fight!

5. What’s the future for the Big Mac?

As a professional boxer I believe I still have a lot to do and I've got a lot left in the tank I believe I can go on to do very well in the future provided I train hard, keep my faith and have clear goals, aims and an unfaltering will to succeed, so watch this space!

Danny’s next fight is on 18th May. Details @ www.prizefighter.co.uk

experience

growth. while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the go

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In the

Spirit

of Things by

Jamie Stephenson People Development Specialist

If George Michael is to be believed, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to have faith. So, what is it and why is it of any importance The idea of Spirituality has certain connotations attached to it....sandal wearing hippies who are constantly chanting and hugging trees or religious extremists who are disconnected for the real world. With this in mind it's no wonder that people avoid embracing any thought of spirituality let alone spiritual growth.

There is however a new understanding that l believe needs to take place in our focus towards spirituality in the area of professional growth and development.

The professional growth industry has predominantly focused on leadership, interpersonal and skill based principles, all of which are good.

However, l strongly feel there is a missing component that is arguably the most important and impactful factor on individuals and how we approach the world and other people....that being the area of spiritual growth.

Now before you turn the page and check out let me break down what I mean!

When you consider how humans are made and built, there are 3 very distinct components that define our existence.

These being:

> OUR BODY: our physical desires and needs. Basically the vehicle that carries us through life. > Our MIND: the way we think, feel and process information and imagination. > OUR SPIRIT: our contentment and inner peace and wholeness. The internal experience/existence of the individual.

approval and acceptance from others and having more power. These things, in and of themselves, aren't bad, however, ultimately they won't cause me to feel lasting fulfilment or spiritual contentment. In fact, from personal experience they do the opposite in that the more I push for them the more I feel frustrated, tired and disappointed in life.

In essence, we all have a place inside of us that can be called our spirit.

It's the place that is constantly asking; What is life all about?

What am I doing here?

Where do I go from here?

What our spirits really need for health is an inner peace and contentment with life where we learn to live authentically and true to who we are. When my motivation comes from an internal sense of purpose rather than external factors as mentioned above then we can walk through any challenge and situation life may throw at us and stay peaceful and contented.

Whether or not you've ever asked yourself these questions consciously the reality is that much, if not most, of our lives is driven by the search for the answers to these questions. In the same way that our bodies decrease and unfortunately for most increase, depending on the type of food that we put into us, our spiritual lives are the same. Our spirits have a hunger for purpose, fulfilment and significance that we need to feed. For many of us the way we fill this need is by pushing for more success, increasing our material wealth (more money, bigger house, faster car), looking for

Why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you spend some time thinking through the following questions: What is life all about?

What am I doing here?

Where do I go from here? What are you living your life for?

What motivates your life?

You never know you might notice some things that might challenge you to change how you live!

Change BAD

THINKING

Is it really all in the mind? with Judy

Tomlin, Behavioural Specialist & Social Entrepreneur

CBT is one of those terms you may have heard popping up increasingly in many conversations. It’s an abbreviation for ‘Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’, one of the talking therapies currently growing in popularity. So, what’s it all about and why so popular?

The old adage – a problem shared is a problem halved – is an experience that most of us can relate to. Whether it’s a child and parent, spouse or partner, friend, relative, coach, qualified professional or qualified hairdresser! - We all want to know that we are listened to. So it’s not too difficult to see the role played by the talking therapies; formal or otherwise, and as a talking therapy CBT is enjoying lots of positive exposure.

is described as a way that can help you manage your problems through changing the way you think and behave. ‘Changing Behaviour and Thinking’, and ‘Change Bad Thinking’ are two terms I use when working with young people, to help define and maintain an awareness of the processes involved.

The way we acquire knowledge: experience, intuition, perception or reasoning - and the related thought processes, are what form the ‘Cognitive’ part of the name.

The ‘Behaviour’ aspect relates to what we do, and the actions, activities and tasks we perform.

CBT concerns itself with our thinking, and the way our actions affect how we feel.

This can become a negative cycle at times, causing individuals to feel imprisoned if not addressed.

conditions such as low mood, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. A little time surfing the internet will supply much more information, research and details on its use and efficacy but what’s the deal for you?

Well, you want to experience growth in your chosen area – or maybe you want to choose an area so you can experience growth!

Finding a growth area, growing in your chosen field, support when you feel ‘stuck’, CBT may be able to help with all of these.

Growth takes a commitment to work, similarly CBT takes commitment to work issues through.

Identify obstacles/ potential obstacles – what needs changing?

What do you think and feel about

incidents of robbery. Tim experienced episodes of nauseous anxiety when approaching all his shops. He believed that he should sell up and look for employment but jobs are thin on the ground and he worried that he would continue making losses that erase all previous profit and leave him unable to provide for his young family.

As a man thinketh – so is he On examination Tim’s thought process was one of being personally targeted by criminals, as such he became anxious and fearful of further attacks and experienced nausea when approaching all of his shops, even though the violent incidents were limited to one particular shop and carried out by unrelated individuals. The physiological reaction held the focus and he

Growth takes a commitment to work, similarly CBT takes commitment to work issues through.

Because our physical sensations and how we think, feel and act are all interconnected, it is sometimes difficult to see a way out.

CBT can operate as a change agent, encouraging examination of negative behaviours and thought patterns in order to break them down and ultimately change them. In this way negative cycles are addressed and the way you feel improves with the management of factors that may be making you anxious and fearful.

Dealing with the here and now is another key aspect of CBT. The focus is on current problems and addressing them in practical ways to improve your state of mind and day to day experience – it is ‘problem focused’ and ‘action oriented’.

Issues from the past are not afforded vast amounts of time.

CBT has been used effectively with

the situation?

How are you behaving as a result?

How balanced are your perceptions?

Remember we are changed through renewing our minds - in other words we can change our behaviour and how we feel about/ experience life, through challenging and changing our thinking. You must Change Bad Thinking.

Here’s a simplified example of how CBT can get you through a ‘stuck’ period and support growth.

Tim is an entrepreneur. He wants to grow his chain of shops. He got to shop number three when recession began to impact. He experienced an increase in wholesale prices, a decrease in sales from cash strapped shoppers, loss of stock from an increase in thefts and two violent

became unable to apply himself to tasks that would give a true account. Tim was supported to change the thinking around being personally targeted. He was able to accept that the same recession impacting his business was responsible for the increased thefts. Looking further afield he was able to hear the experiences of other businesses in the area.

Episodes of nausea and anxiety began to decrease. New found relationships within the business community meant a sharing of security ideas to limit thefts so concerns about uncontrollable losses were stemmed. As confidence increased Tim applied more creative solutions to ride out the recession. He describes himself as ‘not out of the woods, but more able to see the trees’.

Consider Tim’s experience as a first step to identifying obstacles to your own progress.

“

I don’t

think

k limitsâ&#x20AC;?

Usain Bolt,

The fastest person ever

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Social Causes

Masami

Sato

author, speaker and social entrepreneur Since 2007 Masami has been at the forefront of waging a war against corporate selfishness with a unique weapon, a giving platform called Buy1Give1(b1g1).

Since then she and her team have led an army of over 850 small businesses have delivered over 26 million micro giving activities.

M

asami Sato originally was born in Japan and originally trained to be an architect.

However, her career has followed a very unusual path through teaching, translation, entrepreneur.

At one point she was even a natural food chef and farmer.

However, along the way Masami discovered her true passion. To redefine business giving.

The aim? To make business giving simple, effective and meaningful.

It was while she was running a food company producing and distributing packaged healthy meals in Australia that the seeds of B1G1 was born.

She touted the idea to a few other small business owners and soon it caught on.

In fact, one of the people she touted the idea to went on to become the Chairman of B1G1, Paul Dunn.

Interest in the idea steadily grew and by 2008 having now moved to Singapore, the company launched it’s online giving engine.

By 2009, over 150 businesses and 600 projects had become a part of the revolution.

In 2010, at the request of Singamore’s Management University, B1G1 worked with final year students which resulted in the second version of the giving platform.

The result was global

Who uses B1G1?

Daren Malorey, Managing Partner at DB Malorey Plumbing & heating in Jersey is one person who enthuses about B1G1.

Daren listened to Paul Dunn, B1G1 Chairman, share at an event and was motivated to act.

‘I found it inspiring how he spoke with such passion regarding his life and his work.’

Daren signed up to the giving program then and there.

This is not unusual as most business will at some point wonder how they can make a difference.

Paul Dunn puts it this way ‘...it’s NEVER about the CEO of a Company standing

‘What if every business transaction in our world gave back in a way that really impact lives?’

At that time her company was also trying to feed and educate underprivileged children from its profits.

While trying to make that a reality, Masami realized that it wasn't easy for small to medium size businesses (SMEs) to give back really effectively.

expansion with a reach extending to over 850 businesses in 30 countries contributing to a staggering 26 million plus giving activities.

up on stage with a large cheque made out to a charity. It’s NEVER about the money— it’s ALWAYS about the IMPACT.’

The activities cover a wide area from food to education, health, environment and

By 2020 B1G1 want to reach 1 billion micro giving activities. That’s a lot of lives impacted and that is exactly

A Simple Question

‘What if every business transaction in our world gave back in a way that really impact lives?’

The B1G1 model

That thought became the foundation of a global revolution.

sustainability.

what it is all about!

story cover

entrepreneurs

special

Probably the

BEST entrepreneur

UK

in the

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

I am prepared to â&#x20AC;&#x153; try anything once

Sir Richard

Branson How the Virgin entrepreneur created one of the most recognized brands in the world and had fun doing it!

by Colin Tomlin

Even fewer can say they has built one of the world’s most diverse yet successful business empires under one roof.

Only one, though, can say that they have built eight separate £billion companies.

That prize goes to Sir Richard Branson, the world’s favourite entrepreneur and chairman of the Virgin Group.

What started as a student magazine by an ambitious sixteen year old dyslexic has morphed into a business enterprise consisting of over 400 companies.

In a little under 5 decades, operating in core areas of travel, entertainment and lifestyle, Virgin has become a £23 billion business empire known the world over as the consumer’s champion.

“

Screw business as usual!

“

V

ery few people can say that they had absolute fun building an extremely successful brand.

A Virgin’s first baby

The Family grows

Young Branson, however, was not the bright scholar his family may have hoped he was and was later diagnosed as having dyslexia.

Two years later what became known as Virgin Records was established and by 1980 had gone international. This helped to establish Richard’s reputation as an international entrepreneur.

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson was born in London into a line of legal eagles. His father, a barrister and his grandfather, a High Court judge. With this heritage, he was almost certainly destined for a life in law.

What he lost out in academic ability, though, he certainly made up for in sporting and social aptitude. It was in the latter that he really excelled!

And so the Virgin gave birth to an offspring. A magazine!

Student magazine was launched in January 1968 by a 17 year old full of enthusiasm, drive and a relentlessly ability to tap into what consumers wanted.

Flushed by the success of Virgin Records by 1985 he had founded his much loved Virgin Atlantic Airways. If that wasn’t enough Virgin became part of a consortium of companies that helped to establish BSB, bringing satellite

was only too willing to shake up any industry where the customer was getting a bad deal.

Global to Galactic

broadcasting to the UK. The 90's saw the brand extend into publishing, radio broadcasting, cola, vodka, personal financial services, rail travel, cosmetics, mobile telecoms and health clubs.

The brand was now firmly established as the global consumer champion who

If the 80's and 90's were about Virgin going global, the turn of the century heralded ambitions that were literally out of this world, with the launch of Virgin Galactic.

At the same time Virgin started to emerge as a very responsible corporate citizen establishing initiatives like Virgin Unite & the Elders, the latter somewhat like a global board of directors for Earth plc.

How does he do it?

When asked just how he built the world’s most successful brand conglomerate, Richard is keen to downplay his achievements.

However, his ability to do some of the most amazing things that goes against conventional thinking is summed up in one phrase.

‘Screw it. Let’s do it!’

6

ways to build

your business like a (in Richard Branson’s own words)

1. cherish family

2. love a fight

3. think future

“I'm often asked who my biggest inspiration is, and who has had the most profound influence on my business life. Like most people, I answer: my mother.”

“We, we - as I say, we go in and shake up other industries and I think, you know, we do it differently and I think that industries are not quite the same as a result of Virgin attacking the market.”

“We believe that within five years, 96 percent of British consumers will have access to the Internet, whether it be through a personal computer, a set-top box or a mobile phone.”

6. have some fun

5. secure funds

4. embrace failure

“I've had great fun turning quite a lot of different industries on their head and making sure those industries will never be the same again, because Virgin went in and took them on.”

“There's a very thin dividing line between success and failure. And I think if you start a business without financial backing, you're likely to go the wrong side of that dividing line.”

“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.”

Sir Richard’s 1

Eve & Edward Branson

Richard is very much a perfect mix of his parents. Whereas as Mr Branson Snr was very much a deep thinking, relaxed, charming man, Mrs Branson was very much an adventurous, entrepreneurial, lively former air hostess and gliding instructor.

1

3

top

mentors 2

Throughout Richard’s life they have not only been doting but long suffering ones too.

Unfortunately, Ted is no longer with us but his beloved Eve, at 89 this year, is as determined as she has ever been. I guess she passed on that trait.

2

Nelson Mandela

23 years ago, when Nelson Mandela was released from prison to walk into the President’s palace, Richard Branson was on the streets of Johannesburg and was privy to the euphoria that greeted the man who went from public enemy to public enigma.

Eve & Edward Branson

Nelson Mandela

3

He openly says of Mandela; ‘The kinds of people I aspire to be like are people like Nelson Mandela.’

3

Sir Freddie Laker

It is not difficult to see why Sir Freddie is such an iconic figure to Sir Richard. Both are aviation underdogs, who are loved by the public and loathed by the aviation Goliaths. Both have been subjected to a dirty tricks campaign by British

Sir Freddie Laker Airways in an attempt to drive them out of business and both have been awarded huge payouts by British Airways after being sued. Both have a love affair with the Caribbean.

That’s where the similarities

are likely to end.

Whilst Sir Freddie retired to the Caribbean and ran an airline business there, Richard Branson is likely to continue with his quest for changing business as usual until he is grounded! eg

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

read eg

We show.

You know.

You experience growth.

Are you

a true entrepreneur?

(12 definitive ways to tell) 1. Endlessly Optimistic A true entrepreneur is always armed with a bottomless well of optimism. Hopefulness about the future they are creating is something that they have in abundance. · ·

Are you optimistic about the future?

Are you filled with hope about the outcome of your BiG idea?

2. Never Gives up

3. Takes Risk

They are laced with bags of tenacity! They possess a dogged determination that just refuses to give up. After each dose of ‘failure’, they rest, recoup, refocus and restart the quest of making their BiG idea a reality.

Entrepreneurship is risk. Risk is entrepreneurship. It’s all about seizing the initiative and sticking your neck out and moving forward towards a future based on your BiG idea.

· ·

Are you single minded?

Are you willing to stick it out to the end?

· ·

Are you willing to give things a go?

Is playing it safe not appealing to you?

4. Retains Focus on the BiG picture An entrepreneur makes a calculated guess about the future and keeps focused on what that future looks like, while successfully navigating the level of detail that is necessary to make it happen. ·

Are you able to retain focus despite having to get involved with the detail?

5. Essentially Solves a Problem

8. Easily Engages Others

Every great entrepreneurial endeavour is based on solving a problem. Without exception!

Entrepreneurs are problem solvers who find a way to create a business out of a solution.

“I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own efforts.”

John D Rockefeller, one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs got it down to a tee. However, that only happens when you engage others.

Do you know problem you are solving?

What is the solution you have packaged?

· ·

Are you a delegator?

Do you engage well with people?

10. Encourages Themselves & Others A true entrepreneur is an encourager. His/her likes nothing more than to encourage people as they help to make their dreams come true. They know that without the help of others, their dreams will stay exactly that.

A dream! · ·

6. Persuasively Sells Idea

11. Understands that it’s all about Service

An entrepreneur who doesn’t have the ability to sell is like a racing car without wheels or a racehorse without legs.

A severe handicap!

Entrepreneurs know how to sell persuasively by knowing what people want.

A wise man once said ‘The greatest among you is a servant’.

A great entrepreneur knows it’s all about a great idea served well! The one who serves or meets the customer need best gets the greatest reward. So, serve well!

How confident are you about selling your solution?

Are you clear of the benefits of your solution to the target audience?

·

7. Responds to the Changes It is said that the average entrepreneur tries 17 times before getting it right.

That’s a lot of changes.

The key is about your response. It is what separates the successes from the failures. A lot of things have changed haven't they?

How’s your response? · · · ·

Have many of your ideas not quite gone to plan?

Do you find it easy to move on?

Do you find it fairly easy to reinvent yourself?

Are you a flexible person ie open to changing your mind ?

Are you a natural encourager?

Do you find it easy to look for the best in people

·

9. No Taking No for an Answer True entrepreneurs do not like to hear the word. “No”. They like people to see their BiG idea.

Nothing is better for an entrepreneur than others agreeing with their passionate view of the world. “No?” ‘What do you mean “No”?’ · ·

Are you very passionate about your view of the world?

Does it really frustrate you when people don’t see the world the way you do?

Do you love to serve others?

Do you get a buzz from helping others?

12. Realizes when a Season is over and it’s Time for something else All good things come to an end. Cassette tapes gave way to compact discs which now has dwindling appeal now that mp3's and downloads are the new thing. Ride the wave but know when you will need to look for a new wave! ·

Do you have a good sense of timing?

√

If you answered mostly yes, you’re likely to be entrepreneurial!

8

tips to

Tip ONE ^^^

START, even if you don’t know how you are going to finish Your greatest enemy is PROCRASTINATION. You want to do it but you just can’t seem to muster up the motivation to act!

Well, here’s a profound yet simple truth. You will not get anything done until you start it!

Tip TWO ^^^

Focus on the possibilities instead of the limitations.

In life, what you see is what you get! So if you look at the limitations you will always be limited!

However, if you look at the POSSIBILITIES, a whole new world opens up!

Tip FOUR ^^^

Hang around with people who make their ideas happen.

Your environment is vital!

Tip THREE ^^^

And it is created y your thoughts and the people who influence your life.

Remove the words ‘I can’t’ from your vocabulary.

So be careful who you let influence you. It makes all the difference.

As the popular saying goes, ‘If you say you can or you can’t then you are right.’

If you hang around with eagles then you are likely to soar.

Hanging around with ducks, however, will leave you on the ground. You may jump for a little bit but you will never truly fly!

If that is the case why not recalibrate your thoughts and speech to be ‘I can’. Once you do that….

‘Yes you can!’

Make sure you are careful about who you let into your life.

Tip SEVEN ^^^

Allow yourself to receive help (there is no gold star for doing it all) My Dad used to remind me of this all the time. Hw would say, ‘No man is an island.’

He was introducing me to the idea that independence is a dangerous thing.

He wasn’t saying be dependent either.

get anything

done!

Tip FIVE ^^^

Tip SIX ^^^

Learn how to enjoy the process (it may take you a while to get there)

Be open to feedback and suggestions from others.

Sometimes we focus so much on the destination that we just do not enjoy the journey.

There is an old saying that goes like this:

I’m a visionary, I hear you say.

I have to focus on the end point, I sense you think.

That, may well be true, but if you cannot enjoy the process and have some fun, you will be frustrated, you may even be burnt out.

Enjoy the journey.

And love the process!

He was simply opening my eyes to the idea that interdependence is what it’s all about.

Helping others and allowing ourselves to be helped!

Tip EIGHT ^^^

Reward yourself and be proud of even the tiniest progress.

How do you eat an elephant?

You eat it one bite at a time.

Sometimes we are so focussed on devouring the elephant or getting the task done that we do not pause and rest after each bite.

Celebrate the little things.

‘Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.’

It rejuvenates, encourages and refocuses us because invariable we become tired and weary after prolonged periods of activity.

See the opinions and the advice of others whose wisdom you value and whose character you trust.

Stopping and celebrating our progress gets us ready for the next bite even if its only the 5th bite of 5000 bites.

Before you do anything, no matter how revolutionary or innovative it sounds, make sure you run it by at least 3 people. They can save you a lot of time and resources.

Engage with these tips and get it done!

So, what are you waiting for?

Get to it now! eg

?

Glad you took the

PLUNGE

Rafe & Claire Kirkcaldy, an entrepreneurial couple from East Anglia, tell us what they do plus why, when and how they decided to take the plunge.

1. What is the name of your business and what does it do?

We named our company ‘Out of the Gutter’ as it was a matter of fact due to our shock redundancies! Life changing decisions, when you're pushed, can force you to ‘take the plunge’.

It’s a new style, property cleaning & maintenance solutions business. We professionally clean external surfaces surrounding any residential, commercial or pubic owned property.

Gutters, fascia, roof tiles, glass, conservatories, decking, brick weave, pavements, patios and even solar panels now, they appear to be perfect places for pigeons to sit!

So from the ridge tile on your roof to the patio and drains below anything within arms reach and in between, top and bottom, we'll clean, protect and assist in providing a solution to fix it!

2. How long have you been running the business?

Rafe had been made redundant more than once in 15 years and finally after serving 11 years in project management in the motor trade, it was time for an outdoor activity!

This is a constant reminder of where we've come from and how things can change positively, we've grown through the current economic climate, becoming self employed seemed an impossible insecure risk and there were many tasks to overcome! However, we confess, it's all been well worth the cost! We have gained much wisdom, built great friendships and business relationships

along the way with many good hard working people, all developed from a tiny mustard seed of faith...Out of the Gutter was the only choice, so we took the plunge!

3. Why and how did you get into that?

From Rafe's redundancy in Oct 2008, we began to grasp a random idea. At the same time Rafe's passion for DIY was growing. Years before the children were born, he qualified as a C&G carpenter & joiner and was often finding new creative solutions for almost anything broken. The passion began to grip, and we got advice from business mentors and wisdom from those who had walked similar paths.

We also asked ourselves and others ‘what needs to be provided in the community?’

From that process the idea of a ‘Specialist Gutter-man’ emerged. ‘After all, who do you call to clear your blocked gutters’

4. What’s your long term game plan?

5. Would you go back to being employed?

We expect to be able to take on more staff within the next three months. We may consider government apprenticeship schemes, if college courses become relative and feasible!

Go back to being employed?

That's not in the OOTG manifesto, it would need a great change in circumstances and particularly, employment

We are currently operating within Norfolk & Suffolk areas and we intend to expand primarily locally and eventually nationally. The realisation of how good it is to work for yourself, creates a self-employed buzz and that builds your own future, directs your steps, learn from experiences, become a provider for a first class product and solution service.

‘Great ideas work, when a team are united in hard work!’

regulations to make it worth while to go back, how else could we work together as a family? Why get restricted doing a job for someone else and not earn the rewards nor benefit from a great accomplishment! There is no regret when it begins to work!

reps is what makes muscles grow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The last three or four

This area of pain divides

the champ from someone who is

not a champion

â&#x20AC;?

eg

We show.

You know.

You experience growth.

ion Arnold Schwarzenegger

Actor, Politician, former Mr Universe

The Dream

Numbers

by Alex

Gordon, accountant, author, motivational speaker, dreamer

The seven key numbers that all successful companies must implement into their growth strategies

What do they call you?

An entrepreneur, an infopreneur, mompreneur, self-employed, businessman or woman?

The names are growing everyday but regardless of what you are called, to be successful in any business the numbers must stack up. Doing business is a numbers game, get it wrong, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fired, get it right and you are smiling all the way to the bank like Richard Branson. You must achieve the best results, every time.

So what are those numbers that will make your dreams become reality?

1. Sales

Believe it or not, you must find a way to sell what people want.

It sounds very basic but a lot of businesses are selling what they want. Sales are driven by what your customers want or think they want and are prepared to vote for with their pounds. There is either a natural demand or you create the demand. Until cash changes hand there is no sale.

How have you determined your selling price for each unit?

Is it based on the unit cost plus a mark-up?

Do you really know what the unit cost is?

2. Gross Profit

Let's say you are selling what customers want, are you making money?

Before looking at your overheads, are you covering the Direct Costs associated with producing your product or service to bring it to market? These are your Production expenses, purchases, sales expenses and direct wages, all the cost that you incur as a result of what you are supplying or providing.

So, what is the Gross Profit Margin, (Sales - Direct Costs (%))?

Is there a margin for your industry?

Is it normal to have a margin below or above 10%?

3. Overheads

So you have covered your Direct Costs, but is the contribution enough to cover the overhead expenses?

At this point you would be thinking of your break-even point, selling just enough to

cover your variable plus fixed costs.

Your total costs are split between those that are fixed; (do not change on a weekly or monthly basis) or variable; (those that vary with the level of production activity).

Does your rent change on a monthly basis or with the number of items you are selling?

So, would it be fixed or variable?

4. Break Even

At what level of sales do you Break Even, you are neither making a loss or a profit?

The break-even point must always be considered.

You may sell enough to cover your variable costs but is the contribution large enough to cover those fixed costs you incur even if you did nothing.

5. Profit Margin

What does the net profit margin look like, (Gross Profit - Overhead Expenses (%))?

Even if you did not know the margin, are you making a

profit?

Is that profit enough to keep you in business?

How does it compare to your original budget?

6. Return on Investment

Your money needs to be working for you, at all times. If placed in the bank you expect interest to be paid. The higher the risk the greater the return.

If invested in a business you expect a Return On Investment (ROI). This is the profit divided by the capital employed. So is your money working for you at a satisfactory level? If other people have invested in your business, are they satisfied with ROI? At what level of sales do you Break Even, you are neither making a loss or a profit? The break-even point must always be considered. You may sell enough to cover your variable costs but is the contribution large enough to cover those fixed costs you incur even if you did nothing.

7. Cash

Cash is king!

It is the lifeblood of any business, large or small.

Businesses sometime fail not because of lack of profit but due to insufficient cash to pay for things as they fall due.

The flow of cash in a business is determined by the credit terms you allow on the sale of your products or services against the credit terms your receive on your purchases. To maintain the balance pay very close attention to the credit terms you agree and have systems in place that monitor and chase customers that stretch your terms.

Where ever you are in business make sure you understand the 7 key numbers that will set you on path to Growth. If you do not intentionally grow your business it will die.

Are you equipped for

your journey?

G1R

We show.

You know.

You experience growth.

ROW

experience

eg growth with

Training

Why bother with

Training?

by Edward

Hollamby

Organizational Training Specialist

Why should entrepreneurs spend money on training themselves & staff particularly in these times of austerity?

> If your organisation is in major financial difficulties – this needs to be address first > If you just want your staff to have lots of certificates to show evidence of CPD or to ‘tick-boxes’ > If you are using trainers who may be competent in their knowledge, but not necessarily competent at training If the above applies to you or your organisation, then your hard earned cash is better spend on other priorities.

However, if you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve through training then making that investment is a must.

You must be clear that the training providers you have identified are going to meet your learning outcomes, and that the cost of them doing so, in terms of time and money is reasonable.

Training – good, clearly defined and well-presented training – is a way of changing people.

Training, therefore, is an integral part of managing your business. If done well, it should inspire and motivate, equip and enable. It creates a pathway towards success for individuals, teams and organisations.

It is more likely to do this when the content is agreed in advance, the money that exchanges hands is realistic for both parties and when a targeted, wise approach has been taken.

Over the last 10 years, we have delivered training to over 7000 people from over 300 organisations all over Europe.

In that time we have learnt that the only way to make training work is by developing people in order to develop growth and to do this

...if you want to change your organisation, change your people.

In my experience the best training comes about when a number of things happen, some of these being: > when everyone understands and values the reason why training is being provided > when even mandatory training (such as health and safety) has clearly defined outcomes for the learners that go beyond ‘box ticking’ >when a company can afford the time and financial investment > when the training provider demonstrates competence in terms of knowledge of the subject and their ability to communicate that knowledge to people like you and your staff.

by providing a wealth of training; at affordable prices; to suit all needs and to make the best out the investment in us that has been made.

We pride ourselves on delivering training that makes a difference, we will say ‘no’ to requests for a number of reasons. You see, the reputation we have worked hard to develop, hinges to a large extent, on us giving the customer what they want.

Profit is a result of meeting (or ideally exceeding) the needs of customers - as are referrals, good PR, motivated staff – all the ‘stuff’ we all, as entrepreneurs and business leaders long to see within our companies.

‘I would be delighted to discuss your organization’s training needs with you!’

Here are some obvious reasons why...

It’s often been said that if you want to change your organisation, change your people.

Edward Hollamby, ESH Consultancy & Training

For some organisations, they shouldn’t.

Click to find out more

The Social Media

Masterclass

with

10 of the best

social media consultant, internet mentor & founder of Socialable.co.uk.

Technology

features for your Business LinkedIn may not be the most exciting or fun social network out there, but it’s an amazing tool for businesses – if you master it and make full use of its features you can really help your business in the long run. I personally use LinkedIn quite often for business reasons (what else, after all?) and I found it has lots of amazing benefits. LinkedIn is great for: >Networking >Lead generation >Promotional purposes (paid & un-paid) The trick with LinkedIn is to know all the little secrets so you can make full use of the popular social network. It has lots of interesting features that not everybody knows about and they launch new ones at a very rapid rate, probably due to their perpetually increasing number of users, so it can be very hard to keep up and know which features to use to get the most out of LinkedIn. This has been bugging me lately so I decided to make a to-the-point list with LinkedIn’s most relevant features for businesses.

1. Mentions

I thought it best to start with LinkedIn’s latest feature, as there hasn’t been a lot of talk regarding it and it’s a pretty useful feature. LinkedIn now allow their members to mention their connections and companies in their updates, which is very similar to Facebook’s “mention” feature.

All you have to do is start typing the name of the connection or company in the status update box or in a comment field and then select the name you want – and then that person or company will be notified of the mention. It might not sound like much, but it’s a very useful feature, as it allows you to easily start a conversation with someone.

Most people don’t check their feed regularly and read through all status updates, so the fact that they are notified that gives you a much better chance that they will see your update and ultimately,

comment on it. Since there is so much noise on LinkedIn, this new (and great!) feature gives you a great advantage and an amazing opportunity to build a relationship with any of your connections.

It’s also worth mentioning that you aren’t necessarily limited to your existing connections.

You can also mention other users that are commenting on a post on the LinkedIn Homepage – so you can use this feature to also meet some new people and make some new connections that might have been harder to make otherwise. The guys at LinkedIn are also promising that sometime in the near future users will be able to mention their colleagues even beyond the LinkedIn Homepage.

‘...an amazing opportunity to build a relationship with any of your connections.’

2. Linked In Search

LinkedIn have also been working on their Search algorithm and tried to include some extra features to make the whole process better and more efficient. The “search” feature shouldn’t be looked over, as it can really help professionals and their businesses. And with the new features, it’s even more useful.

By using LinkedIn Search to its full potential and spending just a little extra time with it, you can discover new people and companies to connect with that you can later build relationships with and even get some leads out of it.

With the new LinkedIn Search, you will get more suggestions: auto-complete can give you some extra ideas when searching for someone, but more importantly, their “suggested searches” feature can help you discover more connections and more companies. For example, you can enter a job title and you’ll get example search queries related to that title of people, jobs and top results.

Their algorithm is also better: basically, the more you search for things, the better it will understand you and your needs and over time you will get better and better results.

Another new feature is that you can now save searches and get automated alerts whenever something new pops up in that search – great for saving time!

‘...discover new people and companies to connect with that you can later build relationships with’

3. Company Pages

Have you considered setting up a LinkedIn Company Page yet?

At the moment LinkedIn reports about 2.8 million Company Pages and HP is the first to cross the 1 million followers line. So if you have a business – why not start a Company Page of your own?

It’s a very useful feature that will allow you to reach more people, get more engagement and raise your brand awareness.

‘...a very useful feature that will allow you to reach more people, get more engagement and raise your brand awareness.’

4. Get Introduced

This great LinkedIn feature allows you not only to make new connections, but also to make the best connections possible. With Get Introduced you can search your connections’ connections by keyword and if you find someone that you would like to be connected to, all you have to do is get the initial connection to introduce the two of you.

This way you can make great strategic connections that can really help your business.

‘make great strategic connections that can really help your business.’

5. LinkedIn Signal

The LinkedIn Homepage can be quite overwhelming and it can get very hard to get to the information you actually care about. Fortunately, there’s LinkedIn Signal: a great feature that allows you to search through conversations, updates, etc. so you can instantly find out what you actually want to find out, without having to go through mountains of unnecessary information. What’s great about LinkedIn Signal is that you’re not limited to searching just with keywords, but you can also use locations and topics and add up to ten filters.

With Signal you can also keep up with your connections’ updates in real time and get a feel for when they are active on LinkedIn, which gives you a window to approach them.

‘find out what you actually want to find out, without having to go through mountains of unnecessary information.’

6. Groups You May Like

Joining groups is a must if you want to make the most out of LinkedIn. And not just joining – but also participating regularly. Groups are great tools for meeting new people, establishing relevant connections, getting leads and for establishing yourself as an expert and go-to guy (or gal!) in your field. But joining just one group isn’t enough: the more, the merrier! And the more people you get to meet!

With LinkedIn’ Groups You May Like feature, LinkedIn gives you the most relevant groups for you, by looking at the attributes you have in common with other members in groups. Which can be a little scary, but also incredibly useful!

‘joining just one group isn’t enough: the more, the merrier!’

7. LinkedIn Recommendations

LinkedIn Recommendations are, well, what they sound like: LinkedIn basically allows its users to recommend each other so that other users can see that endorsement. It’s quite a useful tool, as if you get lots of recommendations your profile will be that much better and more appealing to others. So, if you haven’t already, start recommending people that you admire and wait for others to recommend you as well.

‘if you get lots of recommendations your profile will be that much better and more appealing to others’

#14 on Forbes list of Top 20 Women Social Media Power Influencers

‘Lilach Bullock, a social media marketing consultant with a strong following and some nice comparison work that looks at Pinterest, Facebook, earned media and more.’

Haydn Shaughnessy, Forbes

@LilachBullock’s blogs can be found @ www.socialable.com

8. Common Interests

With the Common Interests feature you can see everything that you have in common with another user: groups you’ve joined, skills, causes and interests. Make sure you add all of your interests, skills etc. and join as many relevant groups as you can (the keyword here is relevant!) as many people might decide whether to connect with you or not based on your common interests. The great thing about this feature is that you can now very carefully examine potential connections that could turn into potential clients. And with this feature you also get a great in – knowing what the two of you have in common can give you all the necessary information you need to be able to reach out and spark a conversation with them.

9. Rich Media Tool It’s no secret how important visuals are and LinkedIn has definitely caught on to that when they launched the “new LinkedIn”. Everybody has noticed how much more image-centric LinkedIn is now, but not everyone knows of the Rich Media Tool. With it, you can now add different types of media, such as video and presentations, to your Summary, Experience and Education fields. This is a great feature that allows you to get that extra edge over the competition: the better your profile looks and the more interactive it is, the better!

‘...you can now add different types of media, such as video and presentations, to your Summary, Experience and Education fields.’

10. Get Introduced

With the Sharing Bookmarklet, LinkedIn gets, well, more social! All you have to do is go here and drag and drop the button on your browser toolbar. Once you have the bookmarklet you can start sharing webpages with your connections even if you’re not on LinkedIn. It makes it very easy to share anything you might find on the web in just seconds.

‘It makes it very easy to share anything you might find on the web in just seconds.’

So, why not join a network of over

225 million professionals for networking, lead generation & promotion

‘The great thing about this feature is that you can now very carefully examine potential connections that could turn into potential clients.’

Click below to become socialable

www.socialable.co.uk

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