Monday, 22 October 2018

How to Answer the Burning Question, "Was it worth it?"

How to Answer the Burning Question - Was it worth it?

As I have mentioned many times, my gorgeous wife and I have a small farmlet about 90 minutes away.

We were there again this weekend and I spent a couple of hours foofing around with some fencing that needed the box stay restrained, the droppers re-aligned, some significant wire repairs and most of the wires re-tensioned.
During the process, it started raining heavily (of course!)

Was it Worth it?

To do all of this work, I had bought some equipment: 1.5km of medium tensile wire, a wire spinning jenny, wire strainers, gripple strainers, gripples, staples, fencing ties and some other gadgets as well.
I am sure it was over $500 worth of stuff (most of which will last a long time and be used for many fencing jobs).

Was it Worth it?

My wife and her friend were sitting in front of the fire, enjoying drinks, cheese and nibbles on a gorgeous, relaxing Saturday afternoon while I was out there with Winston the Wonder Poodle accidentally putting to much strain on an old wire, struggling with high and medium tensile wire, trying to tie knots that will last for years and getting harassed by horses.

BUT WAS IT WORTH IT?

When it comes to measuring success of any venture, you need to consider the three R's. ROI, ROO and ROE. Specifically Return on Investment, Return on Objective and Return on Energy.

ROI - Financially, it probably wasn't worth it. I could have paid a handyman $100 and they could have done the work. But longer term, the financial side of of the equation will pay off. There is a lot more fencing to be replaced and a bit to repair. Having our own gear gives us the freedom and flexibility to do it when we want and cheaper than getting someone else to do it.

ROO - It was certainly a worthwhile objective. The big hole in the fence meant that cows from next door were coming to and fro as if they owned the place. Now that fence is fairly solid and I have a lot more confidence. My objective to have it animal proof (except for the Kangaroos) has been achieved. It also looks a lot tidier.

ROE - No doubt I could have hung out in front of the fire just relaxing. But the sense of achievement I got from tapping into some skills I hadn't used since I was a teenager was fantastic. Knowing I have made the fence animal proof once again means I no longer have to wonder about how to get the animals back and what sort of impact they may have on our property or the horses.

So Was It Worth It? Definitely.

Here's the thing. So often we do things, socially, around the house, at work, for others and we don't consider "Was it worth it?" In my experience, this is particularly true for businesses who sponsor events or want to exhibit at trade shows. They seem exciting and fun so seem to happen without due consideration.

Often this is because we don't know WHY we are doing it. So how can we tell if it is worthwhile if we don't know why?

It is important that we take the time to calculate if our effort was worth it and if we got the results we were after. If we didn't, then taking time to consider why not and what we can do differently next time.
That way, you can always answer the burning question, was it worth it.

PS If you are considering Sponsorship or Exhibiting, join me on a free online session on How to Get the Foundation Factors of Sponsorship Right. Click here for more information on the session or to register.

Warwick In Action

Warwick Merry - The Get More Guy, is your high energy, results focused, action oriented, no holds barred tour de force Master MC, keynote speaker and Exhibiting Specialist. He ensures your attendees Get More from your event. His MC work is like insurance for your event. It guarantees things will run smoothly and on time. As a speaker, he is like a dose of sparkling mineral water – a bubbling, burst of healthy, sustainable energy for your attendees. If you need a burst of inspiration, cogitation and celebration at your next event you MUST book The Get More Guy, Warwick Merry.

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Get More, 38 Winmalee Drive, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

Monday, 15 October 2018

Can You Help With A Bale?

Sorry the photo is bad but it was taken back in the day when we couldn't see the photo immediately after taking it, so it will have to do.

It is my dad, feeding out hay in the "Bull Paddock". It was rare to have so many cattle in here but it was because, at this time, 1/3 of the farm was flooded and under water so the cows went wherever we had space.

Times have changed.

Those trees aren't there anymore. In fact, the house got burnt down six months after our family sold it. (It lasted over 100 years in our family and six months in someone else's!)

For many farmers, the grass isn't as green either. That is the life of a farmer.

Constant changing of factors beyond your control. While farmers have developed a reputation for complaining about the weather (it probably is the most discussed topic), no amount of complaining changes it. Too wet and it washes the crop away or makes it impossible to put your cattle on it. Too dry and everything dies and you have to sell or kill your animals. That Goldilocks Zone where everything is "Juuuuust right" is so rare.

Add to that the prices you are paid for your crop, cattle, milk or produce is typically set by someone else and it becomes a challenging life. My Uncle and Aunt say "Farming is the kind of thing that looks great from a car window". Out of interest, the milk price today in Victoria is about 44 cents per litre according to Dairy Australia. According to correspondence to the Australian Parliament from the Australian Milk Producers Association, the milk price in 1985 was about 32 cents per litre. That is about 1% increase per year. Far less than the CPI. Some dairy farmers are being paid less per litre than what it costs to produce.

The current drought in NSW and QLD is reaching crisis point.

No doubt you have seen footage, images or heard stories about the complete lack of feed. So I am going to do a little something for the farmers and I am hoping you can help.

If you are in Sydney on Tuesday 7th of November, I will be hosting a LinkedIn Panel Session for LinkedIn Local Sydney and all proceeds will be going to Buy A Bale to get more hay for our farmers. This will be an amazing session with some great speakers who will share their experience on how you can make the most of LinkedIn. You also get to ask as many questions as you want.

Our fabulous line-up of speakers include (click on their name to check out their LinkedIn Profile):
JILLIAN BULLOCK Award Winner for 'Best Use of LinkedIn 2018 Australiasia' from the Social Media Marketing Institute, and a Certified LinkedIn Ninja.
JANE JACKSON Best Selling Author of Navigating Career Crossroads, 'Your Career' Podcast Host, and Career Management Coach
ANNA McAFEE Global Founder of LinkedInLocal and the Aussie lady who started a viral global movement
GEOFF ANDERSON Video Producer, Best Selling Author of 'Shoot Me Now', and Keynote Speaker
DION WOO Entrepreneur and co-founder of LInfluencers, a group who leverage the influence of companies, individuals and charities

You can find out more or book a ticket here.

If you are not in Sydney and still want to help, you can donate to Buy a Bale here. To help us track our campaign, if you can please put under "How Did You Hear About Us" - Other and then put our campaign number, RASN94911 in the details field.

On behalf of the farmers, thanks for your support. I hope you can help with a bale.

PS On this episode of the Get More Success show I chat with my FAVOURITE Industrial Designer, Philippe Guichard. Award winning designer and amzingingly interesting guy. You can listen here or click on the image below for the show.

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Get More, 38 Winmalee Drive, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

Monday, 8 October 2018

Are You Prepared for Major Failure?

"Expect the Best and Prepare for the Worst" has been my mantra in preparation for the events I host. It also applies to other areas of my life.

On the way back from the shed yesterday, the car felt funny. It had some weird vibrations going on and I couldn't work it out. When I saw in the mirror some bits of rubber flinging into the air, I knew I had a problem. I pulled off on the side of the road.

Then I thought traffic was pretty busy and I didn't want to get too close to it. The emergency lane was pretty narrow as they had that new barrier wire up. So I just got very close to it.

Yes, my tyre was flat - well, probably a little beyond flat!

Luckily I had a spare, most trailers don't. Let's be honest, it wasn't luck, I made sure I had a spare on the trailer and I check it's air pressure when I check the trailer tyres.

A quick change of tyres and I was back on my way. Again, I was expecting the best but preparing for the worst.

The same thing happens in the events that I host. Things go wrong ALL THE TIME.
It is just a matter of planning for them knowing that you can plan for 80% of the problems but 20% will come out of left field and you just have to deal with them.

In my 20 years of hosting events here are some of the things that have happened to me and others around me:

Yesterday my friend landed in Sydney to do her early morning keynote and her luggage (with her performance outfit) went to Adelaide
Flights have been cancelled, missed, delayed causing speakers to be late or not turn up. I had a flight rescheduled coming from Perth to Adelaide. By the time I got to Adelaide the even would have been over. So instead I went back home to Melbourne and had 20 mins to spare to present to the audience over the internet!
AV has failed (this happens so often that it is not really a problem anymore. The show will go on!)
Power outages
Evacuation alarms - one went off at a charity dinner I was hosting right as we were coming to the end of the night and half the people simply went home!
Speakers not showing up (this has happened a couple of times and my event organisers love that I have a keynote up my sleeve and ready to go when it does)
A death at the event. This has happened once for me and has had me re-evaluate some of my protocols.

So Dear-Reader, in what you do and in your life, how do you expect the best and prepare for the worst?

Are you prepared for Major Failure?

Warwick In Action

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Monday, 1 October 2018

Do You Match Your Marketing?

Most of us have been into, seen or drooled over cake displays like this one.

Or maybe this one

With great anticipation we order the piece (or two) that we have our eye on. It looks amazing and smells fabulous. A little bit of drool starts to form as our mouth begins watering.

We sit at the table with anticipation as finally the piece is served, maybe with a flourish, a dab of cream or some other garnish.

We probably take a photo of it, tell our dining partner how good this will be and then we have the first bite.

This is where reality comes crashing down on us.

So often the piece we have selected does not live up to our expectation or to the promise that has been made of it. We have inadvertently fallen prey to the Marketing Gap. The difference between what is marketed to us and what is delivered to us.

Companies do the same thing. They spend a lot of money marketing a product or service and telling us how good it is. The marketing is exciting. It's colourful, vibrant and enticing. We believe it, try the product or service and are disappointed.

Movie trailers seem to be the worst at this. Promising something that is never delivered.

Prospective partners can fall into this trap also. They start off being awesome only to fall back into their old ways once you have committed.

Social media seems to amplify the Marketing Gap. What you see on Instagram vs IRL (that's In Real Life for us oldies) can set you up for major disappointment.

How is Your Marketing Gap?

In what you do - professionally and personally, do you deliver on your "marketing?" Authenticity and open communication is so important in managing expectations and your own success.
Please make sure you match your own marketing.

PS I had the Mini Yoyo - it wasn't really that good.
PPS My guest on the latest Get More Success Show is Julieann Sullivan - she definitely matches her marketing. Her latest endevour is making podcasts for companies to increase their internal engagement. Click this link or on the image below to listen.

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Monday, 22 October 2018