Out and about helping YOU succeed

Are you really spending your time on what is important? Do you even know where that time goes and why you never have enough?

These are common gripes and questions which come up with all the people and businesses we deal with. A lot of people have even been on “Time Management” courses to help them organise themselves even better than they did before!

We then ask, “what are you spending the time on and what did you get done today”. More often than not it is difficult to answer – “but I know I have been busy”.

My question to you is are you focussed and effective? I do not mean are you busy or well organised, I mean are you EFFECTIVE? Does what you spend time and money on deliver any measurable benefit and could you do it an easier or more effective way. For example – A door to door salesperson can be very efficient, excellent and selling door to door, BUT are they effective? They could sell much more using a better method such as e-mail or direct mail.

Let me tell you about Pareto’s law which I use all the time when working with businesses. A simple definition is ……80% of the outputs result from 20% of the inputs. Think of it this way:

80% of the results flow from 20% of the actions

80% of the profits come from 20% of the customers

80% of the business comes from 20% of your product lines

And I could go on – most of the time its even more extreme.

Think about this in relation to what you do day by day and how much time you spend doing it. Let me give you an example: Do you check your emails every 10 minutes and break off from what you were doing? Why? Most of them are junk anyway and if you ignored the 80% of dross and concentrated on the 20% important think what would happen. Don’t let that pop up box, telling you an email has arrived, run your life. Turn it off. Check your email when you want and stop the interruptions. Its a lot easier to ignore the rubbish all in one go and then concentrate on the important.

Think about it – what is the 20% which really generates value and profit for your business and stop doing all the rest. Challenge yourself to change and become EFFECTIVE and transform your life.

Carol Buchan

Labels: business, Change, Growth, Profit, Time, usiness

I have finally sorted out my blog and will be regularly reporting what is happening.

A lot has happened since my last blog but let me tell you about a company that has attended all of our Business Community events in Skipton. (More info on the website)

This person (who I will call Fred) is not a networker or familiar with such events but did come to our community event and was very quiet and concerned.

Each event he has grown in confidence and in contribution but there is more. Talking with his colleague who also comes the the event Fred has started to change his behaviour. They are focussing on what they do. Starting to measure and report on both activity as well as results and its already benefiting the business.

Progress has started to happen because they have learnt more about what the business is and what it should be doing. Measuring and understanding this has been the first part of the change and making the change happen.

They are already asking their customers for referrals from people who they believe can benefit from their service.

This is fantastic feedback for us, and also why these events and the community is so important in building success - but it only happens if people change.

What's important in your business? What is it that needs to happen and for you to focus on?

Give us a call or meet with us or attend the events - It will help and it will give you benefit.

Looking forward to hearing from you
Carol