Your own Flexible Friend

There is a certainty that the ability to be flexible in business is one that will stand you in good stead when times get hard.  This is one of those theories in business that always seems easier to say than to do.  Be fair if you are a tradesman what else can you do?  

You are a hypnotherapist what’s next?  You keep peoples books how do you become more flexible?

In reality we can all be flexible.  Think about the way we service customers for a moment.  Can we work at different times?   

Would it help if you can price in a more user friendly format?  In fact ere are all sorts of ways we can introduce flexibility into our business. 

In a recent piece by Amy Gallo she proposes it is vital that your business plans are kept flexible so you have the best possible chances of success.  Her main point is that business planning is often out of date as soon as it is written.   

This is also cited as a contributing fact of business failure (4 out of 5 new business fail in the first 5 years).

Check out the article and see how you stack up.

http://tinyurl.com/2cvz564

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To more success in Business

©Paul Johnstone & The Paradigm Shakers

Social media – Anyone can make money from it!

We all know that anyone can make money from social media it’s a doddle!  But then again to make it work you need a strategy, and that’s where it often comes unstuck.  

Making sure people have heard of your business and have warm feelings towards you is vital for success. Businesses that customers feel they have a personal relationship with are usually the most successful, there are many ways of marketing your business but social media inspires loyalty more quickly and effectively whilst reaching large numbers of people than any other way.

The need to have an effective social media presence in today's fast moving business environment is pressing. Particularly now that information sharing is now the province of many and your reputation can be built and dismantled with the click of a mouse.

Of the ways you communicate social media gives you the greatest opportunity to make your impact feel personal.

These days it is increasingly common for businesses to search for employees or partners online and to view their social media pages during the interview process. Being social media savvy can help you to get that job or contract.

Anyway here are 10 top tips for making Social media Work for You

1. Get a strategy
2. Update regularly
3. Use it as a resource
4. Show your expertise
5. Be Yourself
6. Keep in touch
7. Make the first move
8. Link your accounts together
9. Be creative
10. Monitor your results

Check out these tips and more for free at www.paradigmshakers.co.uk

click on the free tips download



To your success in Business

Paul Johnstone

Better knowledge for women in business

Well the governments of the south sea islands seem to be suggestion in a piece in the Fiji Times.

THE expansion of business knowledge just got better for women of the Pacific following a pilot program on business advisory.
At the Secretariat of the South Pacific's Community Education Training Centre, 20 women from the region graduated in business training at national level.

Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Peter Forau said at the closing ceremony of the 12 day program, the graduates join 120 other women that were trained through CETC since 2004.

Such an achievement enabled the provision and maintenance of business training to many women at national level, he said.

"The fact that CETC has seen it fit to focus on business training for women is applauded and shows the quality of the thought process that is invested in the design of the centre's training program," Mr Forau said.

He hailed the centre for its focus on meaningful and worthwhile training activities that could positively change the lives of women and communities.

"As the saying goes - the wealth of our women is also the wealth of all.

"The bigger lesson though is what difference will the skills you have gained make in your own lives?

"Use the skills to your advantage, help other women develop and become leaders in the development of our communities."

So why are the UK so far behind?  Training is the recognised way to improve skills.  Or best expressed through the phrase “Knowledge is King”  If you believe as I do that write to your
MP their email address is

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

Ask them why in a time of economic slow down, so little is being spent on training.


To your success in Business

Paul Johnstone

www.paradigmshakers.co.uk/

Confidence is Key to your success

Confidence is important and fragile.  Ask any football or rugby player how easy it is to loose confidence in a game.  It’s a fragile commodity, and one you have to manage.

When presenting confidence is something we all need.  Our normal preparation helps as we concentrate on the message.  And of course practice helps a lot.

Here are a couple of tips to help you present with confidence

·    Know your subject, knowledge is king
·    Relax, knowing your subject helps a lot
·    Breathing techniques a great way to overcome nerves
·    Preparation is your best friend
·    Enthusiasm for the subject

The lady in this vidio has confidence in abundance - but she lets that get in the way of her very personal message. She has so much to say but lets other things take your mind away from her message   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S_xT1_Lr3k 

To your sucess in Business

Paul

www.Paradigmshakers.co.uk/ 

It’s all in the application.

You all know a ton of motivational and business sayings.  Yes you do.  Here’s the issue we all know these great things but it’s how we apply them to our business that sets us apart from the also ran’s.

Here are some of my favourite sayings that I know you can apply to your business,(with just a little thought). Check them out and see which ones are appropriate for your business.

"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man."            -- Elbert Hubbard

"We must open the doors of opportunity. But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors."        -- Lyndon B. Johnson

"The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it, put your whole soul into it ---every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have."
--- John D. Rockefeller III

"Champions know that their success is inevitable and that the best way to forecast the future is not to follow the benchmark but to create it." Warren Giffin

“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect” Vince Lombardi

Some unattributed quotations
Success: We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.
Risk: You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
Imagination: A mind stretched by new ideas never regains its original dimensions.
Opportunity: You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
Effort: Life does not require us to be the biggest or the best. It only asks that we try.
Teamwork: There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching out and lifting people up.
And Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to achieve uncommon results.
Courage: In the end the only people who fail are those who do not try.
Excellence: Some succeed because they are destined to. Others succeed because they are determined to. (which are you?)
Attitude: If it is to be, it is up to me. and "Your attitude shall determine your altitude."


Oh by the way.  How many legs does the Elephant have?


To your success in Business

Paul Johnstone

www.paradigmshakers.co.uk/

News for the SME Community

News for the SME Community

A quick start for you – David Cameron has unveiled David Young as his adviser on enterprise.  For his sake I hope this is better thought out than some of the initiatives announced. 

Lets give this one the benefit of the doubt as Lord Young as we should call him does have a track record, however that part ended in the 1980’s and since then he has been mainly on the boards of larger companies (nothing wrong with that) but he is removed from the small business environment.

There are two pieces about him so take a look and make your own minds up. 

Here they are

Reuters http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLNE6A000I20101101

BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11663262


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Oh the image, what do you see, a Duck or a Rabbit? 


To your success in Business

Paul Johnstone

www.paradigmshakers.co.uk/