What Inspires You?

They say life is short. Billy Connolly pointed out it is the longest thing you ever do!

For many people, one week is the same as the next...is the same as the next...is the same as the next.
What inspires you to get up each day and get on with your life? Is it your pay cheque? The idea of living a better life? Is it contribution to others? Is it providing for your loved ones?

If you don't have an inspiration, how can you expect to face the day energised and ready to rock?

So what inspires you?

Who Are You Selling To?

So many sales people run around trying to get new clients, they forget about their existing ones. One company I was talking to last week is in severe financial crisis. They are so focussed on getting new customers to get them out of debt that they forgot about their existing ones.

It is a commonly accepted figure is that it is 5 times easier to sell to existing customers than get a new one. Soooo many people know this, but most RARELY act on it. So today, what additional or repeat product or service can you sell to your existing client base? 

Who are you selling to? 

What Do You Want?

It has often been said that you will get what you want once you want what you've got.

The book Affluenza talks about how many people spend money they don't have buying things they don't need to impress people they don't like.

Whether it is the "stuff" or people you have in life or the clients and customers you have, once you start showing appreciate for them, you can't help but attract more of the clients, customers, "stuff" and people into your life.  You just have to show your existing ones how much you appreciate them.

What do you want and what have you already got?

How Will You Celebrate

It's my birthday! On Tuesday I turn 43 years old. Happy birthday to me!

I must confess the each year just keeps getting better. Sure there are things I would like to be different in my life but on the whole I have a blessed life.

It was Socrates who said, "A life unexamined is a life half lived." So for my birthday, I would like you to celebrate by examining your life. To make it easier, I have created a 2 page tool I call the "Birthday Bash". It allows you to consider the last 12 months and the next 12 months.  What lessons have you learned from the last year and what can you do different for the next year.

I am celebrating my birthday by completing the Birthday Bash and having the day off, how will you celebrate?


PS Make sure you have your birthday off too! Put your leave form in today to make sure it happens. No one should have to work on their birthday!

Do You Re-Create?

Wow! What a couple of months!

It feels like I have gone from conference to conference, coaching to coaching, client to client.
I was even working several weekends. 

While I had a lot of fun doing this, I was also quite exhausted. Consequently I have done nothing for the last three days. Well maybe a bit of reading and a comedy festival show and a BBQ christening but nothing that required my normal work mode.

It is always important to have time for Rest and Recreation (Re-Creation).  Think of it as giving your life equipment a grease and oil change.  Time off running the equipment to ensure its long term operation.

So do you Re-Create?

PS This photo is of the ROSA Conference held out in the middle of the bush with NO mobile phone coverage or Internet - that was scary. Others commented it was 1/2 star accommodation. While the bunks in the dorm were comfy, it was also 5 star fun with campfire singing, whitewater rafting, trout fishing and astronomy (Saturn's rings on show!)

Who Wins a Price War?

Who Wins a Price War?
I was running an MC Mastery workshop on Saturday and there were questions about pricing. In the industry some are charging 10 to 30% of what others charge.

I learnt early in the game "No One Wins a Price War".

Look at recent price fights with the supermarkets.  Milk prices are down, bread prices down and beer prices were almost down.  Supermarkets have long had "loss leaders" - products at or below cost to get customers in the store. They then make up the margin on other products.  Customers get the illusion of a bargain but suppliers get taken advantage of!  Dairy farmers make less profit per litre on milk than supermarkets do yet the farmers do all the hard work (I grew up on a dairy farm and know the large amount of work for the small amount of money).


CUB chose not to participate in a beer war but not selling product to the two major supermarkets. They also sent team members to buy back valuable brands of wine that were being sold below wholesale. Don't mess with CUB!


What about your prices? Once you have to start defending your prices, you are lost.  Put your efforts into showing your value and how much it is worth and you stay out of a price war. Show your prospect what they get for their money.  What intangibles as well as tangible products and services. 

This is the same for employees. Don't ask for a pay rise because you haven't had one for over 12 months. Justify your pay increase or bonus request by showing how much value you have brought the business.  Money you have saved, sales you have contributed to, and value you have brought to the business.


No one wins a price war, so don't even think about it. Focus solely on the value you are providing and make it a logical win-win decision.

But Who Are You REALLY?

I seem to have been surrounded by kids on the weekend.  

• Friday night I was with my brother's three kids where we had an impromptu disco, karaoke, and singer impersonation session
• Sunday afternoon Wifey's brothers three kids dropped over as I was harvesting the sunflowers and in their excitement nearly slammed the car door on one another
• Sunday night was at a friend's place where their two kids were doing what kids do; sleeping on the dog, planning time to spend with Dad for the week, diving on the couch, showing off their chooks and vegie garden.

I LOVE the enthusiasm and vibrance of kids.  They represent true authenticity. Who they are right now is who they are. They happily tell you how they feel, they have opinions on most things, their emotions show easily and quickly, and you pretty much know how they feel and who they are.  The same cannot be said for many adults.

All my life I have been accused of being "childish".  So many people have told me to grow up. A friend who works in Child Psychiatry said she would assess me at being about 14 years old.  Legendary base baller Chili Davis is attributed to having said "Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional." I believe we can be mature, professional and sophisticated combined with childlike enthusiasm and energy.

So who are you REALLY?  Are you really how you behave or have years of "shoulds" changed how you are in the world?  Does your inner child need to burst out and say hello?

Who are you REALLY?

PS I will be in Adelaide on Friday 15th April being childish with some non-profit clients. If you are looking for a workshop on how to Get More Sales or want to Ignite Your Team on Thursday 14th April, please email me!

Picture: SherbyBonBon