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HOW TO AVOID THE 3 MISTAKES BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE

  • Belinda Nell
  • November 26, 2020

Presently, Covid-19 affected businesses differently. Typically, we saw that businesses had to pivot what they were doing to ensure that they remained open and step up to meet the new demands of their customers.

Over the last 8 years as business coach I have seen several mistakes that business owners make and in the wake of the pandemic I would like to bring your attention  to the 3 most prominent mistakes and what you can do to prevent them.

Not having a business plan

The circumstances in 2020 were not easy and many businesses struggled to survive. There were also those who grew exponentially as they took advantage of changing customer habits and needs.

It is my belief, however, that businesses need to have a road map to know where they are going and failure to plan results in planning to fail.

Just this week I ran a webinar on business planning for a group of 200 tradesmen, which proved to be a light bulb moment for most…

Given that it was close to year end, I asked the business owners, “who has a written business plan?” The answer from the polls revealed that only 35% had a written business plan, whilst 65% had nothing in place.

I then posed the question “do you update your business plan quarterly?” to the business owners who had a written business plan.

Only 33% of the owners who had a business plan said that they updated their plans quarterly, the majority or 67% did not – and probably never looked at the plan again.

This analysis of the results shows that only a staggering 12% or 24 out of the sample of 200 business owners actively worked with a business plan to help them grow a sustainable profitable business that can work without them.

Lastly, I asked, “do you as business owners have a financial plan for your business?”

47% said that they did not have a financial plan (budget) for their business.

What should you do as business owner?

I believe that every business needs a clear written plan, because writing it down brings clarity.

It does not matter what your circumstances were in 2020, if you want to stay in business develop your 2021 plan, do a SWOTT analyses and develop a clear monthly budget.

All businesses must develop their 2021 budget

You must have clear SMART sales goals and a realistic expense budget. Create a 12-month budget to measure and track actual expenses in your weekly and monthly finance meetings.

Operating without a budget puts you at a distinct disadvantage to competitors who know their costs, monitor their results, and make business changes quickly if things do not go to plan.

Not ensuring you have the right team

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is that they micromanage the business for far too long.

Being the manager does not mean that you must micromanage your staff. You have appointed them to help you build your dreams, not theirs.

Poor hiring decisions (and specifically when family members are involved) is a common challenge when there is no recruitment process.

Employing family members is great when the wind is in your sails but beware of the tension in the family when family members are asked to leave.

It’s a well-known fact that the team is the most important piece of the puzzle for any start-up and one wrong hire can lead to its downfall.  Hire for attitude, beliefs, values and tenacity first.

Business owners can easily fall into the trap of hiring team members who are just good-enough. This is normally the case when budgets are tight and when the business is trying to ramp quickly.

Having the wrong team members can be deadly.

Remember to hire slow and if you make a mistake, fire fast. Business owners should develop a recruitment process for their business and look at ways to save time.

Explore disqualification steps in the process, be clear on the criteria and use group interviews to save time.

Remember WHO you employ is one of the most important decisions you can make for the growth of your business.

Not having a clear and actionable marketing plan

The best marketing is consistent marketing.

Marketing is an essential part of promoting your business, creating visibility, and growing your sales.

Business owners often get sold on new marketing tactics without measuring the results or understanding how it aligns to their business goals.

For the business owner to know what the best investment in marketing tactics all strategies are must be tested and measured.

Some of the common marketing mistakes made by business owners include:

  • Treating marketing as an expense and not an investment. The sole purpose of marketing is to get new target market leads and to convert them to customers and then make them raving fans.
  • In turbulent times the first reaction from business owners is typically to reduce the marketing spend. This is the absolute wrong decision. Marketing is the very catalyst you need to spur growth and drive new opportunities.
  • Not developing a written marketing plan and budget is common amongst SME’s. We know that without a rock-solid marketing plan, businesses have a high rate of failure. It is a known fact that marketers increased their effectiveness exponentially when they developed a documented content driven marketing strategy.

My advice to business owners is to take the time to develop a written strategic marketing plan.

Calculate the financial costs of implementing your strategies and budget for around 8% of turnover.

Your plan should consider resources for activities like website design, inbound marketing, marketing collateral, social media etc.

Look at using the services of an expert to assist where you don’t have the expertise or time to execute on consistently.

Another problem could be that you are targeting the wrong audience and as a result you are flushing marketing dollars down the drain.

How can you decrease the cost of getting leads whilst at the same time driving up customer lifetime value?

If you target your ideal client, you will maximize the most of your marketing budget and find yourself attracting and keeping more customers.

So, what is going to do differently in 2021?

Yes, that is my question – what will you and your team be doing differently in 2021?

You still have time to think this through but why don’t you put in the work and start 2021 with clarity of focus and a detailed actionable business and marketing plan with a team that is aligned in supporting your business goals.

Wouldn’t that be great?

Connect with me today to schedule your one hour complimentary business strategy consultation session – you won’t regret it!

Yours in Business,

Coach Bert

 

 

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Uncategorized

Are You Living in a Pandemic of Hope?

  • Belinda Nell
  • November 16, 2020

Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed the businesses and livelihoods of millions of SME’s and even big corporates all over the world.

It has destroyed the hopes and dreams of many business owners for 2020 and as we come to grips with the year that was, but what can we expect of the future and even just of 2021?

In unpacking this pandemic and the impact there of on our businesses, we begin to understand that life as we knew it has changed forever.

Looking into the rearview mirror we get to understand how this pandemic has changed the world, our country and our communities forever.

One of the changes we see is that consumers and our communities at large are expecting different things from business.

It’s no longer just the free-market economy and its drive towards wealth creation that is at play here, its also how we address and speak to issues like training, immigration and automation and how that affects our employees and our communities.

As stated in one of the latest McKinsey Insights reports on this issue “… the business ecosystem is evolving; those who resist will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage”.

To understand this change we need to find answers to questions like:

  • What are the implications for business under COVID-19?
  • When will the pandemic end?
  • How has B2B business changed in the COVID-19 era?

So, what will 2021 bring?

We can make all sorts of assumptions and we should certainly look at different scenarios for our economy and business growth. I would like to suggest that we take a positive outlook and work on developing our “HOPE for 2021!”

Yes, if we look at the Pandemic of Hope, what does that bring for 2021?

In this case hope could be built on what we expect to Harvest, new Opportunities we identified, identifying the areas that our Profits will come from and lastly deliver with service Excellence.

Unpacking our HOPE for 2021 and beyond

Let’s first look at Harvesting

What would you harvest if you didn’t plant anything in 2020?

We know that after winter, we get spring and it becomes a time to plant and to ensure we have put enough seed in the ground for a bumper harvest.

Most businesses had to go the extra mile to ensure that they bring not only new customers onboard but also that they keep the existing ones.

With the economy now starting to look like its picking up, under our current lock-down levels – are we ready for it?

Yes, the size of the economic cake has decreased but if we have done our planting correctly, there should just be a better return on that investment in 2021.

What are the Opportunities for you and your business in 2021?

It is firstly going to depend on you and your mindset about the state of the current economy and what is happening in our communities, our country and our businesses.

What we believe is important, because we know that Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, either way you are right.”

Let’s develop a positive mindset and take ownership of our businesses so that we can ensure we deliver the results in our business and our lives that we dreamed about when we started it.

I believe that as leaders we have no choice but to strive for Extreme Ownership. Ownership that Jocko Willink and Leif Babin describe as follows:

 “Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.”

They also state that “Once people stop making excuses, stop blaming others, and take ownership of everything in their lives, they are compelled to take action to solve their problems.”

However, the way this is still described in a way that is distant from us.

I would like to believe we need to describe this as follows: “Once I stop making excuses, I stop blaming others, and I take ownership of everything in my life, I am compelled to take action to solve my problems.”

That’s our opportunity, we must do it as leaders, as business owners!

So how do we stand to Profit in 2021?

There are several ways and perhaps the first is that we have a business that has survived and now we are developing a plan and implementing a growth strategy.

As strategy that will make the business more resilient and that will ensure our teams are fully committed and inspired in growing the business and helping us build our dream.

Let’s be clear we need to develop and run a business that is profitable and that has the cash flow to pay the bills and the costs of running it. Our current finances are extremely important and must ensure we have predictable cash flow, but live is more than money.

How do we get back to a life worth living?

How do we ensure that we don’t burn out before we have completed the race?

As business owners we must also take care of ourselves and our capacity to earn in the future.

Excellence could be the differentiator!

How can we stand out as business from the rest of the pack?

What is our niche and why would customers come back and make us their number one supplier of choice?

I believe the answer lies in service excellence! Service that everybody talks about and brings us raving fans and customers that cannot stop talking about us!

Service excellence is our ability to consistently meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.

It’s also a known fact that 72% of customers will share a great experience with 6 or more people. With referral marketing, this is an immensely important number as 74% of consumers consider word-of-mouth a key influencer in their purchase decisions.

How would you WOW your customers?

I believe we have HOPE. We can Harvest what we have planted in 2020.

If we apply our minds, we will identify many opportunities that we will profit from in our business and our life.

Lastly, I believe that Service Excellence in everything we do will massively impact our business results.

Should you wish to connect and discuss the above, feel free to email me at bertweenink@actioncoach.com .

Yours in great business,

Coach Bert

 

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The link between mindset and business success explained

  • Belinda Nell
  • November 4, 2020

As an ActionCOACH Business Coach I often use the formula for life success and the Identity Iceberg to explain the link between the business owner, your mindset and business success.

Let me explain:

The formula for life success is   BE x DO = HAVE

Yes, it means that what I have today is because of the human being I am and the actions that I take.

We know that nothing changes unless you do something.

 

Basically, this formula shows us that what you have achieved in life has a lot to do with your current mindset and the resultant actions you take.

What we become in life is dependent on our pursuit of bettering who we are –  whether it be for personal or professional development, our current identity and our beliefs and value system.

Is who you are today holding you back or the way of you breaking through your glass ceiling?

What are the decisions you need to make, the steps you need take or the activities you need to DO to achieve your dreams or success?

It can be anything from proper planning (and acting on that plan), to upskilling yourself on sales and marketing to ensure business success.

Did you know that our Entrepreneurs Academy Programme is aimed at re-educating business owners like you and is also a mini MBA?

The Identity Iceberg

 

Let’s delve a little deeper into your mindset with the help of the Identity Iceberg model.

  • Firstly, Our Behaviour

Below the surface are the 4 personal characteristics that drive our behaviour, actions and decisions.

Jim Rohn said “ we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.”

Our identity is formed by the environment we grew up in and in turn it creates our values – what we were taught growing up.

  • Our Actions and Decisions

Every action we take or decision we make is a result of our beliefs, values and identity.

We may believe that it is acceptable to act in a certain manner and we might have the skills to do it. But we won’t do it if it clashes with our values and identity.

  • Results

It is important to reflect on the results one wants to achieve and to identify what the interferences are that detract us from reaching our goals.

It’s about understanding the root cause and once you have discovered the real reason for not achieving your business goals you can work towards remedying your situation to achieve those results you really want.

Now let’s combine the BE x DO = HAVE formula and the Identity Iceberg for personal and business success

 

From the above diagram we can see how everything starts falling into place regarding our lives, because:

  • BE = Identity + Values + Beliefs + Skills
  • DO = Actions x Behaviour x Decisions
  • HAVE = Results

We now know that what is true in our lives will reflect on our business results or success.

Is your current behaviour, decisions or actions impacting the business negatively and frustrating you to end?

Often business owners and entrepreneurs do not realize that they are stuck in a cycle of self-sabotage.

This affects business performance because of the fear of failure, limited belief in oneself and a lack of skills that will hinder a business owners potential in the following areas:

  • Business planning and goal setting
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Cashflow
  • Leadership and Teamwork

As your business coach, I will work with you to ensure you have clarity of focus.

I will guide you as the business owner in making better decisions and I will act as a sounding board to help you take better actions.

As your trusted advisor, I can help you take your business to the next level, generate the profit your dreamed of and build a legacy for future generations.

Connect with me today to schedule your complimentary business strategy consultation session.

We can start to unpack the gap between your current business results and the results your dreamed of.

Yours in great business,

Coach Bert

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Yes, you can have it all: A successful business and great personal relationships!

  • Belinda Nell
  • September 22, 2020

Is the day-to-day running of your business causing unnecessary strain on your relationships with the people you care about most –  your spouse, your son or daughter or a close family member?

Are red flags appearing before your eyes when you read things like:

  • I don’t have enough time in the day … my business consumes me.
  • I feel that my husband / wife’s business is more important than me, what do I do?
  • If it is to be it is up to me!
  • I resent it that my partner doesn’t involve me in the business decision making process. These decisions could severely impact our lifestyle ….

Running a business can be daunting at times.

Mental, physical, and emotional stress or fatigue is known to bring out the worst in one’s character and often leads to a communication breakdown – in the workplace and at home.

But there is help …

Conducting an audit on your personal lifestyle can help you identify how to better manage your business and your personal relationships.

Consider the following:

  1. Analyze your goals and commitments.

Often, business owners are married to their business as well as their partners.  It takes commitment, communication and team work to make a relationship work.

You must communicate openly with your business partner, involve them in the decision-making process and ensuring that your business goals are aligned?

  1. Identify the source and address the fear that causes your stress:

Not all fears or stress are the same! Some fears can inhibit business owners from acting whilst others can be the driving force for change and growth!

Sources of fear or stress can be:

  • Financial and cashflow concerns about the business
  • Being the leader and taking bold action to manage the business
  • Fear about the future longevity of the business
  • Threats to the self-esteem of the business owner

An article published in the Harvard Business Review defined the fear of failure as “a temporary cognitive and emotional reaction to a threat to potential achievement. Fear of failure is a state rather than a trait” Remember that!

  1. Begin by managing your time wisely and work smarter, not harder.

Yes, life and unforeseen circumstances do happen – the key is to bounce back with a plan. Allocate your business and personal hours and stick to those hours! Easier said than done, right!

Not enough hours in the day?  Yes, there are.

Review your current business systems then test, measure, and adjust them accordingly.  You will soon see how much free time you will have once your systems start working for you.

  1. Invest in a support system for your business

I am privileged to have worked with many family-owned businesses throughout my career as a business coach. I help successful businesses owners grow their teams so they can work on their own personal development.

One of the most important benefits of business coaching is that it frees up your time! Time for your family, time for a holiday, time to develop meaningful relationships and time for self-development. The focus is on what is urgent and what is important, or both.

By investing in business coaching, entrepreneurs and business owners alike have realized how the proven framework and strategies have benefited their lifestyles. I have helped many clients and shown them how to

  • Overcome their fears about business
  • Implement the critical systems and controls
  • Lead and manage their people
  • Develop a business plan to grow their businesses

Do you need more time to manage your life and still focus on your business priorities?

Connect with me today to book a complimentary discovery call and consultation session. 

You won’t regret it!

Yours in great business,

Coach Bert

bertweenink@actioncoach.com

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Don’t Give Up Now!

  • Belinda Nell
  • September 7, 2020

Yes, when you are tired of starting again, in business and in life, don’t give up!

It is easier said than done and especially in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and yet for my family this has been our driving force for the last 9 months – Don’t Give Up, Give it to God!

Let me share with you my story and how God walked with us as a family on our journey of the last 8 months.

In December 2019 my wife was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and she had to be operated on immediately. Although she wasn’t feeling healthy prior to the diagnoses, she believed this was more a case of burnout due to all the pressure from her work. As always, the December holidays would renew her energy and motivation.

After 7 doctors’ consultations in the 2 months prior to the diagnosis and as a result of a persistent dry cough she was referred for a series of x-rays and a CT-scan. And heard the words you do not ever want to hear in your life – “you’ve got colon cancer.”

It was during this time that my wife, Isobel, saw a post on social media on Psalm 118:14 that truly motivated us as a family and strengthened our belief in Jesus Christ in this period. Whenever we felt hopeless and down, reading the words of Psalm 118:14 gave us new inspiration

Psalm 118:14 says, and I quote “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation”

We truly believed that this battle wasn’t ours, it’s the Lords.

The following words come directly from this post on social media, and it motivated us every single day:

Whenever you feel like giving in or giving up, remember that your strength comes from the Lord.

Whenever you are down and out and can’t seem to pick yourself up, remember that your strength comes from the Lord.

When you feel weak and overwhelmed, remember that your strength comes from the Lord.

Don’t you dare give up now!

God has amazing things in store for you.

  • During the battle the Lord will fight for you.
  • During the trial the Lord will strengthen you.
  • During the test the Lord will encourage you.

You shall be a conqueror;

You are part of a royal priesthood;

You are the head and not the tail;

You shall prevail in this life;

You will defeat the enemy and you will inherit eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Don’t give up! Give it to God

Author: Unknown

Based on the Facebook Post by Phillips Temple CME

On Friday, July 17th 2020, 8 months after hearing the devastating news of having cancer, my wife Isobel got the news that there was no trace of cancer in her body.

God is Good and we can certainly testify of he fought for us, that he strengthened us and that he encouraged us during this time of battle.

We have shared this inspiration of Psalm 118 with our friends and family, with other cancer patients and with whomever we believed that this would inspire, to not give up.

Perhaps you need some inspiration and motivation for your life and your business!

Stay strong and believe in him. Don’t give up, give it to God!

 

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3 Ways to Maximize Your Marketing

  • Belinda Nell
  • August 24, 2020

The lockdown of our economy  made business owners and marketing managers rethink the way marketing is done and how to attract new customers.

Many small business owners have traditionally relied on word of mouth referrals and networking events but now have to look elsewhere for new prospects and customers. Social distancing has forced many of these events to convert to virtual platforms which resulted in a prolonged sales process.

Business owners have started to realize how important digital marketing is in their marketing strategies and we know that more consumers moved to online shopping.

In lockdown consumers became more active on social media platforms via their smart phones.

3 ways to will help you maximize your marketing investment going forward:

1. Optimize Your Digital Marketing

To optimize your marketing on all digital platforms you should consider some of the latest changes and trends. This includes regularly putting out quality content, that is of value to prospects.

Also ask yourself the question how can we take advantage of all the time people are spending consuming social media and how can we enhance our engagement?

Other areas that need your attention would be SEO as search engine behaviours might change, for instance, blogs are more popular.

Over time the engagement in social media is changing and according data from Sprout Social, social posts across networks and industries received 7.3 times more engagements per post per day in April 2020 when compared to March 2020.

2. Your Businesses must walk the walk

Yes, customer reviews are important and consumers are more inclined to listen to what a customer’s say of us that what we claim we do.

Reviews and testimonials are important from a credibility perspective when you want to stress how great your customer service is. An even better alternative will be to capture those reviews or testimonials in a short video recording and use that on your website and social media.

Businesses that have reached out personally to customers and clients for feedback are getting it. Communicate consistently and be transparent, honest and comforting.

Consumers today want to feel safe and they want to fulfil their basic social needs, like meeting with family and friends, now. Ask yourself; what problem do consumers have, what do you have that can alleviate this problem and how do consumers go about obtaining your solution?

We know that businesses that care about their employees and the world at large, not just their customers, are seen to be deeply credible.

3. Your Website is Your Shop Window:

So, what should you do with your website? It is vital that is it up to date and your message is clear… Look at your landing pages and website content, is it still relevant? If not, review and adjust accordingly. Remember, simplicity is key!

Ask yourself how you can increase your digital footprint? Continued focus on SEO strategies will pay off but it isn’t a quick fix.

Consider new developments and make your offering easy to buy. For instance, does your website have live chat (if appropriate) a clear call to action and phone number and a contact form?

How accessible is your business? Is it designed for e-commerce and how do you ensure delivery? Is it click and collect, are you using your own transport or outsourcing to third parties and is that process explained on the website?

Lastly, it is important that you conserve cash for marketing.

It might not be easy but you just might want to reduce unnecessary expenses for now in order to seize marketing opportunities in the future.

Remember that your current marketing and advertising choices will determine how well your business bounces back.

It is of critical importance to question what the right messages are in a post COVID-19 economy. What is sensitive and what do people want to hear right now to address their needs and wants?

Remember that your target audience might resist being overly marketed to. Simply put, the only thing people are curious about now is survival, so what is it about your brand that will enable them to do so and how do you enlighten them?

Now more than ever, the keystone of your marketing campaigns should be based on empathy and authenticity.

Points to ponder:

Is your business seen as a caring ally to your prospects and customers?

Remember that commitment from customers only occurs when the foundation of familiarity and trust is built.

Remember that as business owner you have to ensure that your marketing spend gets a return. If you marketing investment does not deliver a profitable return it’s up to you to make the changes.

Marketing is an art and is continuously evolving according to trends and to competition. How well you market determines your lead generation, sales, overall market share, etc.

One must be prepared to learn and adapt to change – or face being left behind.  A notable case in point is Skype.

Skype has been around for 17 years, yet the company did not adapt their messaging or evolve with their consumers, so what is the most used platform for virtual connection today – Zoom!

Do not let your business become redundant or left behind or follow in Blackberry, Nokia or Skype’s footsteps – get your marketing messaging right, engage with your consumers, stay innovative and ahead of the competition, create that workable sales funnel and start reaping the benefits today.

Always remember, a business coach is your best ally and can guide you in ensuring your business messaging, marketing strategies or objectives compliments your business to ensure it will survive and thrive.

Connect with me to set up your one hour free business consultation today: actioncoach@bertweenink.com

Yours in great business,

Coach Bert

www.bertweenink.com

 

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Did Video Really Kill The Radio Star?

  • Belinda Nell
  • August 20, 2020

Did Buggles really know the impact technology would have on the world when they penned the lyrics to Video Killed the Radio Star way back in 1978?

 Yes, we all know that Marketing is always evolving in innovative ways and what works well for you or in your business, might not work as well for your competitors offering.

Do not put all your eggs in one basket!

Effective marketing is a combination of two or more strategies working in harmony to generate more quality target market leads for your business.

Through testing and measuring different combinations you can determine which adds more value to your business and achieves the results you want.

Not sure where or how to begin?

Take a step back, think about and focus on the needs of your ideal customer and how you can add value to their lives by solving their problem/s.

What is the easiest way to reach your customer?

There are many strategies to choose from. Given that video marketing is trending…  let’s examine this fun strategy!

Did you know: watching a video will entice 85% of viewers to engage with your business with the intent of making a purchase or to inquire about your offering?

Visual communication attracts more attention and can affect a person’s attitude towards your product or service offering.

Notably, posts with a combination of both content and visual imagery produce 180% more engagement than singular posts.

The above data provided by HubSpot reiterates how important video marketing is and how the effectiveness is increased when used in conjunction with other strategies.

 Make more sense by saving cents – now that’s great business sense!

Think about it.

Video marketing pros far outweigh the cons. It is relatively cheap and easy to produce, you only need to plan the content or the script, have the correct equipment on hand and data to upload your videos onto various platforms.

You control the visibility of the video throughout the duration of your campaign and can reuse the material in the future if need be.

Compared to creating a radio ad which is dependent on various factors such as; production costs, radio advertising rates, ad timing and material lifespan and radio listener-ship – it makes more sense and you have more control and access to your content.

Are you resistant to the Marketing Revolution?

You must embrace this change. Resistance is futile and it creates a much larger risk… the risk of business failure.

Need help getting your creative ducks in a row and empowering yourself with the marketing know-how?

We have just the thing for you … our next MarketingRICH bootcamp!

It covers everything you need to know in order to start implementing results based marketing in your business. After all, you need to generate those leads and grow your profits.

Here’s what participants are saying about the value they received from the bootcamp:

“The highlight for me is that there is a ton of useful information to use and a lot to learn.” Marezanne Willemse , Varing Kwekery / Bark Unlimited Organics

 ‘We are given sound advice and there is a sense of community.” Tony Sham, Interactive Direct

Are you innovative in your marketing approach?

Connect with me today for more bootcamp information or to discover how business coaching can add value and grow your business: actioncoach@bertweenink.com

Yours in great business,

Coach Bert

www.bertweenink.com

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Say YES to life in spite of everything in 2020.

  • Belinda Nell
  • August 17, 2020

Sometimes, we all find ourselves in an emotional and motivational slump and it’s probably even more so during the last few months of 2020.

You feel frustrated and worried as nothing is going to plan in our businesses and in the economy.

Yes, there are only so many motivational quotes and posters one can read to try stay inspired.

In times like these, I am reminded of Stephen Covey’s concept of the Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence from his book – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

For those who are unfamiliar with this concept: within the Circle of Influence, at the centre, lies a smaller Circle of Control.

These are all the aspects in life that we can personally control from our words, to our actions, to what we think and whom we associate ourselves with.

On the outskirts of the Circle of Control is our Circle of Influence.

In this circle lies our work ethics, our businesses and our health – everything in life which we can somewhat gain control over. Our Circle of Concern is the outermost circle.

It contains everything we as individuals cannot control such as; the economy, the government, natural disasters and so forth.

So, to simplify the concept: if you work hard on yourself and what you can control within the Circle of Control and Influence, that circle will eventually expand and reduce the negative stresses derived from the Circle of Concern.

However, if you only focus on the Circle of Concern and waste time and energy on things that are beyond your control, your Circle of Influence shrinks.

Where you focus your energy and time will determine your level of stress and whether you are a proactive or reactive person.

Here are a number of ways in which you can become more proactive and expand your Circle of Control or Influence personally and professionally:

 

  • Avoid negative social media posts or articles – these are known to affect your mind-set and nowadays it is getting harder to determine fact from fiction on the social media platforms.
  • Prioritize and plan your time wisely. Start by identifying the time of day when you the most productive and schedule your tasks according to your productivity levels in order to accomplish your daily goals.
  • Surround yourself with positive people or knowledgeable people who will keep you inspired. Leverage off their energy and skills and learn from them.
  • Identify the problems which you can control and influence or solve. If you need support or help don’t be afraid to reach out to those that can help you. Even the most vulnerable of people have become successful once they embraced their vulnerability.
  • Attend impactful webinars that will add value to your life – for business as well as recreational purposes. There are many pearls of wisdom to be found in webinars hosted by reputable training companies and coaches.
  • Look after your mental and physical well-being. Your health is in your hands. If you do not have good health this will have negative repercussions on your life and your Circle of Influence for many months or years to come.

Obviously, practice makes perfect and you need to apply yourself in order to achieve a proactive frame of mind.

Do things one step at a time.

Remember what Victor Frankl said, “we give life meaning through our actions, but also through loving and, finally through suffering”. It is always possible to say yes to life.

Need help to stay inspired, become more proactive in your business and expand your Circle of Influence?

Complete the Get My Business Booming Survey and qualify for a one hour free business strategy consultation: or connect with me directly via email: bertweenink@actioncoach.com

Yours in great business,

Coach Bert.

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Blog Leaders
Business, Coach

Who supports business leaders in their time of need?

  • Bert Weenink
  • August 6, 2020

I just googled that question – no relevant content appeared on the first page of Google.

I only found articles on the 5 or 12 things leaders should be doing, right now, to support their team and lead their business to success. I also found what employees really need to hear from leaders right now and how leaders need to support their employees.

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Digital Marketing
Business, Coach

6 Valuable Marketing Tips for Business Owners

  • Bert Weenink
  • June 23, 2020

Managing your family business or any type of business can be challenging and daunting at times.

One of the biggest obstacles most SME’s face is managing a healthy cashflow. We also know that increasing sales or profits by creating a workable sales funnel through improved marketing outputs is vital to attract new customers and closing more sales.

Business owners may experience a lag or a loss of effectiveness in their current strategies that have been used repeatedly throughout the years.

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