Just back from the New Start Scotland show in Glasgow last Friday, and I have to say I really enjoyed the entire experience...
Billy Connolly has done the people of Glasgow a great service as the minute I hear a Glaswegian accent I find myself smiling!
As always, the Scottish people are so positive and friendly it is such a joy to speak to an audience of them, and they are always receptive to new people and ideas. I've already had lots of emails with positive feedback and it is great when so many people write with their appreciation.
It made me realise once again how much I love working in the small business sector, inspiring, motivating and helping entrepreneurs achieve business success. And at the same time being paid for it! As I said to my audience, putting your passion at the heart of your business is the greatest gift you can give yourself - as you'll never have to 'work' again.
As well as speaking in the main seminar hall, I also did the debut of my new 'Magnetic Marketing' workshop at the Show which seemed to go down really well. Essentially 'Magnetic Marketing' is all about creating products services and experiences at the heart of your business so attractive that customers naturally come to you (rather than you having to go to find them)- and then making those brand experiences so emotionally intense that people can't help themselves but buy from you.
It's a much more feminine and seductive way of marketing than the old male 'sell sell sell' techniques, and a much more powerful way to build a business longer term.
Watch this space for more on Magnetic Marketing over the coming months...
Monday, 17 March 2008
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Enterprise Academy
Brilliant news that Peter Jones has pioneered a new Enterprise Academy backed by Gordon Brown, which will open in 2009.
The UK is on a journey here, and actually if we want to change the culture in my view it needs to start at the beginning of a child's education (and by that I mean from babyhood onwards), and must encompass giving our children the 'positive thinking' tools which foster self-belief, determination and drive. In my experience, if an entrepreneur has these three qualities embedded in their psyche, they don't actually need anything else.
The UK is on a journey here, and actually if we want to change the culture in my view it needs to start at the beginning of a child's education (and by that I mean from babyhood onwards), and must encompass giving our children the 'positive thinking' tools which foster self-belief, determination and drive. In my experience, if an entrepreneur has these three qualities embedded in their psyche, they don't actually need anything else.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Not-So-Easy-Tigers
If you follow my Blog you will know that I do make an effort to only Blog on positive subjects (Alpha Male and Dragons' Den related subjects excepted of course :-), but occasionally there comes a customer experience so hideously dire that I feel moved to report it to you.
And that occasion came today in the form of my third son's 5th birthday party which (at his insistence) I chose to hold at the Easy Tigers Play Centre in Chesterfield. [This is one of those industrial units with a huge climbing and soft play zone where you can let the kids run loose for an hour or so while parents can sit and have a cup of coffee.]
Said party was booked to start at 10.30am so we decided to arrive nice and early at 10am to ensure we had time to set up before Eddie's friends arrived. Mistake #1.
'I'm sorry madam, your party is booked for 10.30, your table is not set up yet, you'll have to wait until you can go in.'
It is a Sunday morning, the centre has only just opened and we can see there are lots of free tables inside, plus other kids are merrily arriving and going inside, but we (my husband and I, plus our 5 kids - including baby in carry seat) are left in the draughty foyer to wait for half an hour.
I query the decision only to be told 'It's policy'.
So I ask to see the manager.
A black and flame haired lady materialises (who can't be much older than 25) to tell me once again 'It's policy' but this time with a 'darling' added for good measure.
In my most persuasive and friendly tones I say 'Look, we're here parked in the foyer with 5 kids in tow including a baby; you're empty in there, SUUUUUUUUURELY we can just go in and get a cup of coffee while we wait?????' Eventually she relents and (after another 10 minutes or so mind) we are finally shown to our table.
Kids then arrive and play, but unexpectedly we have about 10 mums who decide to stay and wait - not a problem of course and they all take a table for a coffee and a natter.
An hour later the play session ends and the kids go to their party zone - a 'cage' with tables for their lunch. This is when the fun and games really commence.
I have ordered a 'platter' of food for the adults and ask where it is so that the mums can eat while the children tuck into their nuggets and chips.
'Sorry, we can't serve the adults food in the party area, they'll all have to sit at a table outside.'
'Why is that?????' I ask.
'Company Policy' I am once again told.
So, all the mums reluctantly leave their little ones and move back into the seating area; 5 minutes later a tiny plate with literally 2 rounds of sandwiches arrives; 4 ham triangles and 4 tuna ones, plus a small bowl of crushed up tortilla chips and salsa dip.
OK, my fault for not ordering enough, so to correct the situation I ask where Eddie's birthday cake has been taken so I can cut up some slices of cake for the mums to eat. It is plenty big enough for everyone.
'Sorry, we can't cut up the cake in the party area, we don't allow knives near the children. It's company policy.'
'OK' I say 'Can someone cut up the cake in the kitchen?'
'No, the cake has to be cut in the play area, it's company policy.'
'OK, let me take the cake and the knife I brought along out to my car so I can cut it up there and bring it back in for the mums.'
'Sorry, we don't allow any food to be eaten on the premises which has not been purchased here. Company policy.'
'But I've got 10 mums out there with a tiny plate of 8 sandwiches and I'd really like to be able to give them a slice of cake while they wait!' I protest.
'Well you should have ordered more food then.'
GRRRRRRRR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At this point, I express my exasperation with their 'company policies' which seem to have the business so tied up in red tape it is impossible for the party to be an enjoyable and stress free event. After all, the Easy Tigers website does state that the founders mission was that 'We wanted Parents to take it "easy" whilst their "tigers" were having fun.'
I ask to speak to the centre owner.
'They own the business but they're not often here' I'm told.
'Well that's clear!' I say - if they were around a bit more often they might know just how their centre is being run.
So I ask for the owners' names, so I can write to them about my customer 'experience'.
'We're not allowed to give you the owners names' I'm told. 'Company policy.'
Hmmmm.
Flame haired manageress then materialises once again to say 'Is there a problem darling?'
'Well, yes actually there is' I tell her, and recount all the events of the day and my frustration at how stressful the entire process has been. I am conscious that, by this point, I have turned into the 'Customer from Hell' - someone to be viewed with much amusement by all concerned. After all, they're all low paid workers doing part-time jobs and it isn't their business to worry about is it?
'There's no need to write to the owners' I am told, 'we have a feedback form here for you to fill in if you like.'
'Somehow I don't think the boxes on your form are big enough for what I want to write' I tell her, and disappear off to join the mums.
Party then draws to a close, and I ask if the coat racks on wheels can come to us at the mum's table so everyone can collect their party bags before leaving.
'Sorry they have to go to your party table' I am told, meaning everyone has to once again relocate before departing. By this point I am too stressed to argue.
Well, the main thing I guess is that the kids all had a good time, but I have to say as an adult I don't think my stress levels could have been any higher than at the point when I departed that building. So much for an 'easy' experience.
Oh well, the kids are 12, 9, 5, 2 and 5months - so I figure that is only another 60 or so birthday parties to endure before they have all got to the age where they don't want them any more... *sigh*
I don't suppose the owners of Easy Tigers will care much about this post or my complaint either - it's a great little business with hundreds of mums and kids crammed into every weekend session all overseen by what are clearly low cost staff none of whom seem to be old enough to have kids of their own. And I'm sure they generate more than enough business not to worry about losing mine.
It just really frustrates me - as an entrepreneur and a business advisor - to encounter businesses which are so tied up in 'company policy', it results in them actually being really badly run.
And that occasion came today in the form of my third son's 5th birthday party which (at his insistence) I chose to hold at the Easy Tigers Play Centre in Chesterfield. [This is one of those industrial units with a huge climbing and soft play zone where you can let the kids run loose for an hour or so while parents can sit and have a cup of coffee.]
Said party was booked to start at 10.30am so we decided to arrive nice and early at 10am to ensure we had time to set up before Eddie's friends arrived. Mistake #1.
'I'm sorry madam, your party is booked for 10.30, your table is not set up yet, you'll have to wait until you can go in.'
It is a Sunday morning, the centre has only just opened and we can see there are lots of free tables inside, plus other kids are merrily arriving and going inside, but we (my husband and I, plus our 5 kids - including baby in carry seat) are left in the draughty foyer to wait for half an hour.
I query the decision only to be told 'It's policy'.
So I ask to see the manager.
A black and flame haired lady materialises (who can't be much older than 25) to tell me once again 'It's policy' but this time with a 'darling' added for good measure.
In my most persuasive and friendly tones I say 'Look, we're here parked in the foyer with 5 kids in tow including a baby; you're empty in there, SUUUUUUUUURELY we can just go in and get a cup of coffee while we wait?????' Eventually she relents and (after another 10 minutes or so mind) we are finally shown to our table.
Kids then arrive and play, but unexpectedly we have about 10 mums who decide to stay and wait - not a problem of course and they all take a table for a coffee and a natter.
An hour later the play session ends and the kids go to their party zone - a 'cage' with tables for their lunch. This is when the fun and games really commence.
I have ordered a 'platter' of food for the adults and ask where it is so that the mums can eat while the children tuck into their nuggets and chips.
'Sorry, we can't serve the adults food in the party area, they'll all have to sit at a table outside.'
'Why is that?????' I ask.
'Company Policy' I am once again told.
So, all the mums reluctantly leave their little ones and move back into the seating area; 5 minutes later a tiny plate with literally 2 rounds of sandwiches arrives; 4 ham triangles and 4 tuna ones, plus a small bowl of crushed up tortilla chips and salsa dip.
OK, my fault for not ordering enough, so to correct the situation I ask where Eddie's birthday cake has been taken so I can cut up some slices of cake for the mums to eat. It is plenty big enough for everyone.
'Sorry, we can't cut up the cake in the party area, we don't allow knives near the children. It's company policy.'
'OK' I say 'Can someone cut up the cake in the kitchen?'
'No, the cake has to be cut in the play area, it's company policy.'
'OK, let me take the cake and the knife I brought along out to my car so I can cut it up there and bring it back in for the mums.'
'Sorry, we don't allow any food to be eaten on the premises which has not been purchased here. Company policy.'
'But I've got 10 mums out there with a tiny plate of 8 sandwiches and I'd really like to be able to give them a slice of cake while they wait!' I protest.
'Well you should have ordered more food then.'
GRRRRRRRR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At this point, I express my exasperation with their 'company policies' which seem to have the business so tied up in red tape it is impossible for the party to be an enjoyable and stress free event. After all, the Easy Tigers website does state that the founders mission was that 'We wanted Parents to take it "easy" whilst their "tigers" were having fun.'
I ask to speak to the centre owner.
'They own the business but they're not often here' I'm told.
'Well that's clear!' I say - if they were around a bit more often they might know just how their centre is being run.
So I ask for the owners' names, so I can write to them about my customer 'experience'.
'We're not allowed to give you the owners names' I'm told. 'Company policy.'
Hmmmm.
Flame haired manageress then materialises once again to say 'Is there a problem darling?'
'Well, yes actually there is' I tell her, and recount all the events of the day and my frustration at how stressful the entire process has been. I am conscious that, by this point, I have turned into the 'Customer from Hell' - someone to be viewed with much amusement by all concerned. After all, they're all low paid workers doing part-time jobs and it isn't their business to worry about is it?
'There's no need to write to the owners' I am told, 'we have a feedback form here for you to fill in if you like.'
'Somehow I don't think the boxes on your form are big enough for what I want to write' I tell her, and disappear off to join the mums.
Party then draws to a close, and I ask if the coat racks on wheels can come to us at the mum's table so everyone can collect their party bags before leaving.
'Sorry they have to go to your party table' I am told, meaning everyone has to once again relocate before departing. By this point I am too stressed to argue.
Well, the main thing I guess is that the kids all had a good time, but I have to say as an adult I don't think my stress levels could have been any higher than at the point when I departed that building. So much for an 'easy' experience.
Oh well, the kids are 12, 9, 5, 2 and 5months - so I figure that is only another 60 or so birthday parties to endure before they have all got to the age where they don't want them any more... *sigh*
I don't suppose the owners of Easy Tigers will care much about this post or my complaint either - it's a great little business with hundreds of mums and kids crammed into every weekend session all overseen by what are clearly low cost staff none of whom seem to be old enough to have kids of their own. And I'm sure they generate more than enough business not to worry about losing mine.
It just really frustrates me - as an entrepreneur and a business advisor - to encounter businesses which are so tied up in 'company policy', it results in them actually being really badly run.
Saturday, 8 March 2008
International Women's Day
I'm not sure who creates these special days in our calendar, but yesterday was 'International Women's Day' and this week I spoke at two events in celebration...
The first was for the ladies of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce at a special lunch on Thursday; the second was later that evening for a women in business event for Business Link London.
I have to say that I love speaking to all female audiences - they have a great energy and are much more responsive than men. They are also very receptive to some of the more 'touchy feely' subjects which I frequently visit in my Blog.
At the London event (which I did in partnership with Julie White who is the entrepreneur behind Truly Madly Baby and who appeared on Dragons' Den) we did an open workshop to over 200 hundred women which involved the audience on three subjects: Celebrating Success, Overcoming Obstacles and Mental Attitude.
First we enjoyed some great stories of success amongst the women present who were all cheered by their contemporaries - like the lady from Elizabeth's Emporium which specialises in making fabulous cakes and who won a commission for Wedgwood quite by chance after asking for a big break. Her creation is now on display in the Wedgwood shop in Regent Street.
Secondly, where people in the audience were bold enough to share their dilemmas there was always someone in the audience with the solution they needed - like the lady who was facing the eviction of her business premises in four weeks' time and who was instantly offered a low cost incubator unit which she could move into with immediate effect.
And finally when it came to mental Attitude I asked about who was using the 'Law of Attraction' to manifest positive results in their life. There was lots of excitement in the audience as we talked about this topic - a raised vibration if you wish - and we had some wonderful stories about women who had attracted amazing opportunities just through using positive intention - in particular a lady who responded to her intuition that she should become a midwife and ended up attracting all the support she needed to become a 'doula'.
Julie and I enjoyed doing the event so much that we have decided to join forces again for other events so watch this space for news!
Have a great day!
The first was for the ladies of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce at a special lunch on Thursday; the second was later that evening for a women in business event for Business Link London.
I have to say that I love speaking to all female audiences - they have a great energy and are much more responsive than men. They are also very receptive to some of the more 'touchy feely' subjects which I frequently visit in my Blog.
At the London event (which I did in partnership with Julie White who is the entrepreneur behind Truly Madly Baby and who appeared on Dragons' Den) we did an open workshop to over 200 hundred women which involved the audience on three subjects: Celebrating Success, Overcoming Obstacles and Mental Attitude.
First we enjoyed some great stories of success amongst the women present who were all cheered by their contemporaries - like the lady from Elizabeth's Emporium which specialises in making fabulous cakes and who won a commission for Wedgwood quite by chance after asking for a big break. Her creation is now on display in the Wedgwood shop in Regent Street.
Secondly, where people in the audience were bold enough to share their dilemmas there was always someone in the audience with the solution they needed - like the lady who was facing the eviction of her business premises in four weeks' time and who was instantly offered a low cost incubator unit which she could move into with immediate effect.
And finally when it came to mental Attitude I asked about who was using the 'Law of Attraction' to manifest positive results in their life. There was lots of excitement in the audience as we talked about this topic - a raised vibration if you wish - and we had some wonderful stories about women who had attracted amazing opportunities just through using positive intention - in particular a lady who responded to her intuition that she should become a midwife and ended up attracting all the support she needed to become a 'doula'.
Julie and I enjoyed doing the event so much that we have decided to join forces again for other events so watch this space for news!
Have a great day!
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Back From Florida
Just back from a fabulous holiday in Florida courtesy of Mr Badger's US parent company - our first vacation for a long time what with Baby Jack being born last October. We went without the five children which, much as I adore them, was a really welcome break.
We stayed at The Breakers in Palm Beach (just along the coast from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort) - fabulous, if not a little windy...
But the one thing I wanted to mention (following on from previous posts) is that the whole of Palm Beach (not just people in the resort but everyone from taxi drivers to shop staff to toilet attendants) vibrated with the same soft warm positive energy. In fact, I didn't encounter a single person who wasn't happy and optimistic and friendly. And if you have ever been to Palm Beach you will know that it is lush and beautiful and dripping with money.
In direct contrast to the edge of the people in New Jersey which we transitted through en route - who seemed to do misery en masse.
So, an interesting observation: that places have an energy which seems to rub off on everyone who lives there. The question is, what created the energy of the mass?
The people or the place?
Yes of course you could argue that sunny places are always going to make people happy, but here in Bakewell we have a similar 'warm & friendly' phenomenon - and it rains most of the year.
Comments most welcome!
PS Glad to see the Blog is still attracting lots of controversial debate...
We stayed at The Breakers in Palm Beach (just along the coast from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort) - fabulous, if not a little windy...
But the one thing I wanted to mention (following on from previous posts) is that the whole of Palm Beach (not just people in the resort but everyone from taxi drivers to shop staff to toilet attendants) vibrated with the same soft warm positive energy. In fact, I didn't encounter a single person who wasn't happy and optimistic and friendly. And if you have ever been to Palm Beach you will know that it is lush and beautiful and dripping with money.
In direct contrast to the edge of the people in New Jersey which we transitted through en route - who seemed to do misery en masse.
So, an interesting observation: that places have an energy which seems to rub off on everyone who lives there. The question is, what created the energy of the mass?
The people or the place?
Yes of course you could argue that sunny places are always going to make people happy, but here in Bakewell we have a similar 'warm & friendly' phenomenon - and it rains most of the year.
Comments most welcome!
PS Glad to see the Blog is still attracting lots of controversial debate...
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
The Secrets of PR for Less Than £50
If I look back at my entire business journey, and all the money I ploughed into advertising campaigns etc., the most valuable marketing activity every time was always PR.
In fact I would go as far as to say that if you only had the budget or time to do just one marketing activity then you could easily build a business using PR alone - it just takes a little more time and tenacity, that's all.
My new PR Louise Third at Integra was a particularly brilliant find. She 're-launched' my personal brand last Autumn - after a nightmare period of being destroyed by the mainstream media post RLD crash - and the coverage I have so far received (see the PR section of my website) has been wholly positive and supportive, with lots more in the pipeline - including the cover article in April's Director magazine to co-incide with the launch of my new book.
She also does lots of work with 'Beermat' entrepreneur Mike Southon and is author of 'PR on a Beermat'.
Louise is now holding a series of short workshops with Daily Express journalist Maisha Frost, the first of which is at the British Library on 13 March from 5pm to 7.30pm. They're designed to help you maximise your chances of gaining coverage if you handle your PR yourself. If you are running your own business, need to pump up your sales and marketing activity, but don't have a huge budget to spend on external PR support, I really would suggest you go along.
It could be the best £47.50 you ever spent!
In fact I would go as far as to say that if you only had the budget or time to do just one marketing activity then you could easily build a business using PR alone - it just takes a little more time and tenacity, that's all.
My new PR Louise Third at Integra was a particularly brilliant find. She 're-launched' my personal brand last Autumn - after a nightmare period of being destroyed by the mainstream media post RLD crash - and the coverage I have so far received (see the PR section of my website) has been wholly positive and supportive, with lots more in the pipeline - including the cover article in April's Director magazine to co-incide with the launch of my new book.
She also does lots of work with 'Beermat' entrepreneur Mike Southon and is author of 'PR on a Beermat'.
Louise is now holding a series of short workshops with Daily Express journalist Maisha Frost, the first of which is at the British Library on 13 March from 5pm to 7.30pm. They're designed to help you maximise your chances of gaining coverage if you handle your PR yourself. If you are running your own business, need to pump up your sales and marketing activity, but don't have a huge budget to spend on external PR support, I really would suggest you go along.
It could be the best £47.50 you ever spent!
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
The Bank of Abundance delivers...
In my Blog post yesterday I promised to let you know as soon as something manifested.
Well, I opened up my email this morning to find a message confirming a deal - for exactly £10,000 - decided on yesterday.
Spooky, huh?
As they say, you don't need to understand exactly how electricty works to switch a lightbulb on...
Well, I opened up my email this morning to find a message confirming a deal - for exactly £10,000 - decided on yesterday.
Spooky, huh?
As they say, you don't need to understand exactly how electricty works to switch a lightbulb on...
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