No More ‘To Do’ Lists #6

No more ‘To Do‘ Lists item 6 is

DON’T GET THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK HABIT

We spend 95% of the time focusing on the 5% of things in our businesses that don’t work… and only 5% of the time focusing on the 95% of things that really do work.

If we do screw up we already know about it so let’s recognise the mess and get on.

In his ‘Winning’ book, Clive Woodward describes just such a situation. In summary, he says that if the team lost there was no point dragging them into the boardroom to dissect and analyse every action made that (may have) contributed to the poor result… It was only when the team won that he would take them into the boardroom to dissect and analyse every action made that (may have) contributed to the good result ie he got them to focus on what they were doing right.

If you get/see what you focus on then it seems mad to focus on what’s gone wrong and it seems obvious to spend more time looking at what really works.

RELEVANT LINKS
Clive Woodward - the Winning book
No more 'To Do' lists #5 - more on Woodward

Magic Million - video..

The starting/intro video for the Magic Million in London! And the delegates' thoughts...

RELEVANT LINKS
Magic Million in London - intro
Magic Million in London - delegate feedback
The Elusive Magic Million - blog entry

Radio Shows - Bill Moore and John Farrell

Bill Moore runs an online radio station entitled "A Smiling World" - the strapline on his business card says "Check out my radio show on wealth and happiness".

He mentions, and reads out of, the Bright Marketing book on the last two shows (#'s 13 and #14) now on the archive of http://www.blogtalkradio.com/asmilingworld. I met Bill at a Barclays 'Let's Talk... event'.

The whole radio station idea is great. Check out Glastonbury Radio which clearly focuses on things alternative and gets a massive following - Kiki and I were on John Farrell's 21 grams show last month.

Should you have your own radio station?

RELEVANT LINKS
Bill Moore - personal website
"A Smiling World" - Bill's radio station
Glastonbury Radio - link
Robert & Kiki on radio Glastonbury - click on the '21 grams show' link and then on 'Going green in your business' - radio interviews

SMEweb Blogs#2

I am continuing to write a series of short, tight blogs for the people over at SMEweb. Recent posts you might like to look at include:

Kick that mobile addiction
How will you grow your business?
Tear up the business plan
Finger in the air research
Obsessed with strategy, marketing and teams
Does advertising give value for money?
Get the business working for you

RELEVANT LINKS:
SMEweb - the first blog entry with SMEweb
SMEweb - the website

No More ‘To Do’ Lists #11 & #12

No more ‘To Do‘ List item 11 is

DON’T TAKE IT ALL TOO SERIOUSLY

No-one enjoys working with a bore… and while we are at it,


No More ‘To Do’ Lists #12 is

DON’T FORGET WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE

When you are on your deathbed you will not say “I wish I ‘d spent more time at this office”. Get real, have fun, laugh and lighten up!


RELEVANT LINKS
You going to have to wait for 6,7,8, 9,10 and 11 - coming soon

Blackberry Stats

From The Sunday Times:

"When you go on holiday with your family, should you stay in touch with the office or leave all your work gizmos behind?

"A survey by Stark Brooks Associates, a recruitment consultant, showed 97% of holidaying business people took their mobile phones and 68% either a laptop or a Blackberry. Just over a third would not consider staying in a resort without wireless access."

What ever happened to taking a proper break? What about helping your Number Two to develop by leaving them in charge? Does taking the Blackberry with you really mean you are more relaxed when you go away? and more relaxed when you come back?

RELEVANT LINKS
The Sunday Times article: Me, My Other Half and the Blackberry
Your Mobile Addiction! - blog entry
No more 'To Do' lists #3 - blog entry
emails vs marijuana - dope wins every time - blog entry

No more 'To Do' lists #5

"Don't do" #5 is:

DON'T WORK WITH (OR EMPLOY) ENERGY SAPPERS

This is 'stolen' from Clive Woodward.

From time to time we all work with energy sappers/zappers and don't we just know it! They seem to squeeze every last ounce of passion and excitement out of any project. Their mantra is some permutation of:

"Yes but..."
"If only..."
"They won't/can't'/haven't/shouldn't/couldn't..."
"Well, if that's what you want to do..."
"I don't really see the point of..."

And don't the energy sappers just love the "they" word. "They did this..", "They do that..."

Oh how I hate these people! They become high-maintenance (and usually low-profit) because of the damage they do to your own immune system. Their stress and negativity-dumping behaviour sucks the very lifeblood out of your most precious asset - your enthusiasm.

Replace all energy sappers with energisers - it is as simple as that!

RELEVANT LINKS
Clive Woodward - the Winning book
No more 'To Do' lists #4 - blog entry
No more 'To Do' lists #3 - blog entry
No more 'To Do' lists #2 - blog entry
No more 'To Do' lists #1 - blog entry