Change – why is it necessary?
Because if you keep doing the same thing, you’ll get the same result!

Everyone knows the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. However, knowing the definition alone is not enough.

The world is changing so fast and successful people, as well as successful businesses all recognise the need to change early. They understand that there is no option other than to embrace change. But how do you learn to embrace change?

Embracing Change
We encourage our clients to embrace change and explore “What if?” scenarios when they are ready for a change or are being forced to change due to circumstances beyond their control. By asking yourself a ‘what if?’ question you begin to identify solutions and ideas, as well as flush out your fears and concerns about change.

And, let’s face it. What keeps most of us stuck in our groundhog day world is fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of not looking good or getting it right. Fear of what others might think.

However, what is fear? Fear is typically triggered by our past experiences, which are driven by negativity or something not succeeding as we had expected. Fear keeps us safe and comfortable and won’t allow us to step outside our boxes. Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real!

No matter whether the changes being made are major or minor, too often we all hit the brakes – we panic, we stop. However, in not changing, we find ourselves going backwards and becoming disenchanted, miserable and negative to be around. Or, worse still, we revert to business as usual.

So, how do we embrace change?

• Make change and fear your friends
Although fear can keep us from harm, it’s more about knowing how to use ‘your fear’ to serve you and support you in making the changes.

• Trust yourself
If you find yourself constantly complaining about something, then this is your trigger that change is required. So listen and act.

• Make change fun
By asking yourself ‘what if?’ you can start having fun with change and creating some scenarios that could just work.

Remember: the one thing you can always count on is change. You’ll either make the change or allow the change to happen to you. If you’re ready for your business – and your life – to take a new direction, then start playing with the idea of ‘what if?’

I love this quote by Vince Lombardi, a great football coach who said "If you're not making mistakes, you are not trying hard enough."

Make this month your month of embracing change and see where it takes you.

Louise Woodbury
Author of The Invisible Entrepreneur & The Invisible Partnership
www.Asklouise.com
www.invisibleentrepreneur.com
Tel: 02 9955 8888

How YouTube can help your small business

You Want It. You Deserve It. You Tube It! – the best way to promote your business FREE.

Let’s face it, today the best catchcry to live by is – the quick or the dead. If you don’t use it you lose it. If you want to stay ahead of online trends, it’s almost impossible, but if you’re way behind then your business really is dead in the water.

What is astounding is that for the sake of investing in a small video production, even a home-made version, businesses are losing out on huge amounts of FREE publicity and better SEO rankings. These are just some of the costs you will have to put up.

• Produce a video about your business or a service you provide – FREE – or almost free even if you hire a production company to do a quick and easy one for you.
• Upload the video to You Tube – FREE
• On going costs – FREE

And promoting your new You Tube site? Why not list it at the conclusion of each email you send, or at the bottom of each newsletter, invoice, with compliments slip or voice mail message? The way in which a trickle can turn into a torrent is incredibly easy and very achievable for every business.

What are you waiting for?
Check out some of these stats while you’re thinking of your first video title.

• Susan Boyle, Britain’s Got Talent - 87,014,892 views
• The Wedding Dance - 42,030,676 views
• Evian Rollerblading Babies - 18,141,154 views
• Michael Jackson Moon Walk - 17,710,772 views

So go ahead, create your account now (http://www.youtube.com/create_account), and don't forget to tell us about your experience.

Haiti Earthquake Appeal

Once again, the world as we know has changed. And, whilst most of us are planning our futures about where to in 2010, and who are we going to Be ~ we are then immediately thrown into seeing how fragile life can be.

For the Quantum Community, this year is about how to create powerful partnerships, and if you've written down that you want to make a difference in 2010, then this might just be your opportunity to do something about that goal.

And, for the sake of these human beings, what if we all decided to contribute in whatever way we can. Of course, one way is to donate, and we are recommending Plan's Haiti Earthquake Appeal as one such organisation. No matter how small or large - we all know that every dollar can and will make a difference.

Please donate online to Plan's Haiti Earthquake Appeal or phone 13 7526 or +61-3-9672-3600.

Thank you for your support.

Louise

End of 2009 & End of Decade Wrap Up

Who can believe that it’s the end of 2009, let alone the end of a decade? For those of you who are absolutely ready for a new decade – I invite you to check in regarding why? Is it because you have categorically achieved everything possible or is it because you’re ready for a clean slate?

Wherever you’re at, I invite you to complete one last exercise. I’ve created the following guidelines to help identify your achievements, and of course release those challenges. And, prepare yourself for your best ever year and decade ahead! So, get out your journal or a clean sheet of paper and start your end of year/decade wrap up.

2009 Achievements

For those of you who work closely with me, you’ll know how much of a fan I am of getting you to stop and acknowledge your achievements. So, today, or this weekend (but definitely by midnight on 31st December 2009) is your opportunity to take stock and honour what this year/decade has been about for you. Ensure that you also include the achievements of your team, your clients, your resource team and of course your family. And, why not take a look at what has been achieved in your community.

There have been some extraordinary milestones achieved and breakthrough moments in our community and therefore, if not now, then when, would be a better time to stop and acknowledge your achievements for 2009.

2009 Challenges

While you’re on a roll in celebrating and acknowledging your achievements, why not write down, and be willing to release the challenges, obstacles and recurring complaints that have been in your life during the course of 2009 or in fact the last decade. For some of you, this might be an easier list to do than your achievements. But no matter how short or long the list is – reflect on what the lessons might have been about and definitely make some decisions about not having this particular list come with you into 2010! It’s time to clear your slate.

2010 Opportunities

In preparing our clients for 2010, I have declared the year to be about: creativity, self-expression, expansion, communication and fun! What I’ve also invited our community to do is look at creating powerful partnerships with people and be willing to take 100% personal responsibility for their businesses, their life and their outcomes.

2010 will definitely be about living your life above-the-line!

So, start a new journal or year book and write down your goals, dreams and ambitions for 2010 and cover all areas of your life: you, your business, your team, your resources, your family and your community. And, remember: first think it – second act it and third be open to receiving the opportunities that come knocking on your door.

On behalf of Quantum Dynamics, William & I acknowledge you for your achievements in 2009, your courage of conviction to not give in when those challenging times have presented themselves. But more importantly, we invite you to declare that 2010 will be your best year and the beginning of your best decade.

We thank you for your ongoing partnership over the last year and for many of you the last decade.

Louise & William

Clearing the Slate

There are now six weeks till the end of 2009! Or for those who are counting down the days, well there’s just 46 days available to clear your slate.

So, the topic of discussion with a number of my clients this week has been focused on ‘what’s left on the list that needs to be achieved’?

And, for those entrepreneurs who love the 11th hour rush – well why not take stock of where you’re at and what you definitely do not want to carry forward into 2010.

How do you clear the slate?
I get my clients to complete a stop and review process which focuses on identifying what has been achieved, what the challenges are and in moving forward what are the top priorities.

So, take a sheet of paper and fill in your answers to the following questions:
1. What am I most proud of? What are the standout achievements up to this point?
2. What have I been most challenged by? What are the recurring themes?
3. If I was willing to clear the slate for the year, what are my top priorities?

Get a Partner
Obviously, my role with my clients is to hold them accountable to take action and achieve their goals. So, I highly recommend that if you want to have a blank canvas for 2010 that you get started today. Write your list, engage a buddy or a coach to help fast-track you and start to imagine how you will feel, knowing that everything you set out to achieve in 2009 is complete!

Celebrate
I encourage my clients to acknowledge their achievements – so what reward could you give yourself – start thinking.

What if you could begin a new year with a totally clear slate - what would be possible for you, your business, your family, your community? Let me assure you that this is well worth the effort to write your list and get started.

Here's to your success of clearing the slate.

Technology & Having access to a 20 something year old

Last night we were at Cirque du Soleil - Kooza in Santa Monica and in front of us was a young guy with his iphone on - scrolling through his Facebook account. This of course took my interest and we got talking. I asked if he was a geek and with great confidence he responded 'yes, I'm a geek' - we all laughed.

He told us about how to upgrade the iphone as his was only a month old, whilst mine is a year! And, without hesistation he offered to get facebook loaded for me - wow - right here, right now at Circque du Soleil.

So, what do these guys have that we don't (as a 40 something year old)?

Well, consider that it's their thinking and the fact that they were born into technology as opposed to have to adapt and now keep up. So, whilst we all might be challenged by Gen Y - what if we really understood their strenghts, what kind of partnership might you have let alone the leverage in your business?

So, 3 tips on working with Gen Y are:

-Talk to them - without the filter of what would they know
-Understand that they like to help if you'll only allow them to
-Be generous in recognising them when they do add value

Also, take a look around, how many Gen Y are in your centre of influence ie your own family, your relatives, your children's friends - perhaps even the next door neighbours children.

How might this talent be fully utilised in your business?

Love to hear your thoughts or tips on working with Gen Y.

Louise

A New Team Member - Are You Prepared? Are They Prepared?

Last week I was conducting a workshop on how to get the best outcome with a new team member during the first 90 days. During this workshop, one business owner raised an issue he was having with a new recruit, stating that their new telemarketer “seemed to be bolting off in different directions ……we’re constantly having to pull her back on track ……she’s a bit too independent.”

My first thought was that he was describing a racehorse and I had this image of a starting gate at a race track. The jockey is ready for the race – focused on the finish line …. the bell rings …. the gates open and the horse charges off in a totally different direction. Chaos ….. panic ….. quick thinking …. but ‘who’s in charge?”

Of course a good jockey knows that to get the best out of his racehorse he needs to work with the horse. And, whilst it’s important to remain in control of the reins, isn’t it a question of how tightly you hang on? I’m sure you’ll agree that this is not dissimilar to when someone new joins your team.

How long does induction take?

From my perspective, it takes a full 90 days, or 12 weeks, for a new person to be inducted into an organisation. And, during this 90 days what is required from either you as the owner of the business, or your management team is great leadership and management skills, together with being a great coach and mentor and having a very clear road map. I feel its also about you being willing to learn something new – after all a new team member brings a fresh pair of eyes, so why not capitalise on this opportunity.

Flexibility and Valuing Difference

Back to our ‘independent’ telemarketer ….I stated that she is likely to be people-driven as opposed to task-driven and therefore needs to feel at ease with the environment, her new team members, what the company stands for, in order to comfortably get on the phone and promote the business. While sales people can be very good tap dancers, they still need to feel that the company behind them can deliver.

If there isn’t a strong induction plan in place, new recruits will become independent and will default to creating their own tried and tested solutions to produce a successful outcome. And, whilst that method might have worked in the last company – it’s not likely to work for you.

So, how do you get someone like this focused, and not charging off in different directions?

The short answer to this is all about your plan for the 90 days, your expectations about what you want to achieve and how you’re going to work with this new team member. And, it’s also about getting the new team member to take on the responsibility of mapping out their own 90 day plan.

For achievement-driven people, this will be a great start because they will be able to create their own success benchmarks and monitor their own progress.

But let me share with you an extract from The Invisible Entrepreneur

The induction of a new person is based on the five-step delegation process. The questions I focus on with any owner or a manager of a business about inducting a new team member are:

o How will a new recruit get set up for success in their first day, first week, first month – through to the end of the 12 week period?

o What is your plan of action for that person for the first week of induction? How do you and your managers prepare for a new team member to arrive and join the team? The reason for asking this is there is usually a lot of nervous energy, excitement as well as anxiety that comes into play (often unconsciously) and this has to be managed.

o What are your expectations: what is to be achieved?

o How will the above matters be discussed with this new team member?

o Who does this person report to and how will this be set up?

o Do you have a stop-and-review process in place each week? A stop-and-review process, held at the end of each week, at - least for the first three month, reviews what was achieved, what worked, what didn’t and what you could do differently in the second week of induction...and so on.

I’d love to hear about your success factors – what has worked well for you?

And, if you have any specific questions or would like help with your new employees, then email me louise@take3months.com or call me on 02 9955 8888.