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Getting the Message Across: What works best?
What is the best way of getting the message across? Marketing gurus list the principles of good marketing—A I D A—a message has to Grab Attention Keep people Interested Make them Desire what you are offering And make them Act So we all work hard on that perfect message, crafting what we are going to…
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Personality Conflict? How to Start the Conversation
Personality conflict at work? Frustrated that someone won’t listen? Stuck because someone resists change? Awkward customer? Or staff? Can’t get round to talking about it? Here are some tips… Think of Traffic Lights Pause Breathe slowly and deeply, relax…Research shows that this helps you to be more rational. When you are angry, frustrated or upset,…
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The Story You Tell Yourself Affects Your Life
The story you tell yourself about what happened becomes your reality. What you remember is the story you told yourself about an event, not what actually happened or your feelings during the event. We define our past, describe our present and predict the outcome based on this story. This is brilliantly illustrated in Daniel Kahneman’s video about the experiencing versus…
Read MoreTracy Island Debate–A Valuable Lesson
The Background (All names changed to avoid embarrassment). In 1992, there was a surge of demand for Thunderbirds Tracy Island which meant all the parents rushed about to buy their kids one. Except us as we didn’t have much cash at the time. Of course, Henry, the rich kid in the class, had parents…
Read MoreEnterprising Surprise
If entrepreneurs had initials behind their names, they would be: GID, MIH, DIN, GFI (Get it done, Make it happen, Do it now and Go for it!) . …
Read MoreProcrastination: 5 Reasons we don't get round to doing things & How to Get Going
Procrastination: 5 Reasons We Don’t Get Round to Doing Things Merriam-Webster defines procrastination as “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done”. So if it should be done, why don’t we do it? There are 5 reasons for procrastination which this post looks at: one which is used most frequently, two which we use when…
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Third Culture Kid: Where are you from, really?
When someone asks: “where are you from?” I reply “do you mean where was I born, where did I grow up, where do I live now or where do I call home?” They don’t usually want the whole story so I’ve abbreviated it to “I was born in the USA, brought up in India…
Read MoreIt’s never too late
It is never too late to be what you might have been. George Eliot How often do we say.. …if only I’d ………(studied more at school, worked harder, taken that chance) I might have………. (gone to university, got a great job, landed a fantastic customer, been famous) And then move on with regret? In my…
Read MoreSmall Change, Big Difference
Small Change, Big Difference In business and in life we often concentrate on the big projects, the big customers, the “cash cows”. We look for the instant hit, the impressive entrance, the present that they’ll love, the comment they’ll all remember….but research shows that what people value most is consistency and authenticity. Change is scary…
Read MorePutting it right when it all goes wrong
Putting it right when it all goes wrong What is the best way of moving forward when things go wrong? Smiley’s Clinic in Minneapolis took guidance from Jeffrey Liker’s The Toyota Way in developing the “Smileyota Way”. Dr Tim Ramer summarises it as: Patient First, Remove the Blame, Make it Visible, Make it Better, and Make it…
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