August 19, 2012

Guest blog by Claire Brummell of Feminine1st

By JaneFrankland | business start ups, Established business, New business | 3 Comments

The Feminine Approach to Business Success

Us women have got a bit of a tough job these days. Not content with the roles of wife, mother and home-maker, we decided (many years ago) that we wanted more. We wanted equality, we wanted everything that men had, we wanted it all…and now we’ve got it all.

The downside – we have absolutely no idea how to manage it! We’re wearing dozens of different hats, trying to be everything to everyone and quite frankly, it’s exhausting. One of the biggest challenges in this huge change has been how to create our success in the business world.

In order to be considered equals in the workplace, a lot of women have felt the need to prove themselves…and many still do. Prove that they are equal to, or better than, their male counterparts. Unfortunately a lot of women have mistaken then word ‘equal’ for ‘the same’. In order to prove our worth in the business world, a lot of us have taken on the approach of the men. We’ve modelled the people at the top of our respective fields and in doing so have replicated a very masculine way of working.

Women in business have become tough, independent, uncompromising and ultra competitive. They have stepped into the shoes of the men at the top and in doing so have also taken on ‘their way’ of doing business too. I’ve lost count of the number of times that when referring to a woman in business I’ve heard the phrase “she’s got balls”….need I say more? 🙂

There are two main challenges with taking this approach. The first is that it’s not actually the most effective way to work. In some circumstances a very masculine approach works very well…in others, to be blunt, it doesn’t. You only need to look at the statistics to see what a women’s touch does for corporate success.

When looking at the Fortune 500, the difference in performance between companies with a minimum of 3 women on their boards and those who have none is very revealing. Those with at least 3 women on their boards outperform those with none by 46% for return on equity, 60% for return on invested capital and 84% for return on sales. The numbers don’t lie…

The second challenge is that if the woman in question is feminine at heart (which the vast majority of women are…although many of us have lost touch with it), it actually jars with our nature. We’re physically not built to be able to operate in a masculine way for extended periods of time…to do so takes testosterone, a chemical that we only have in small supply. When the testosterone has gone we’re left running on adrenaline, which can lead to exhaustion as well as other health and energy issues. We end up feeling tired, stressed, frustrated and often unhappy.

So what is the alternative?

The answer is that there is a very effective approach to business that comes from making the most of our feminine traits (and no I’m not referring to high heels, short skirts or low cut tops…before you ask).

This isn’t to say that we never use the masculine approach (in fact, there are times when it is incredibly useful, even necessary) just that we feminine women operate from a more feminine approach the majority of the time, and then utilise the masculine traits like a toolbox to pull out as and when the situation requires it.

So what is the Feminine Approach to Business Success?

Earlier this year I put together a series of 30 videos each with a different tip or tool to help you employ the Feminine Approach to Business Success:

For the next 30 days I invite you to watch one of these videos each day…and ‘try on’ a more Feminine Approach to Business Success and see how it works for you. You might be surprised…

Stay fabuous!

Claire x

About Claire Brummell

Having lived for 20 years of her life behind a masculine mask herself, Claire Brummell now has a passion for helping women and men reconnect with what it really means to be feminine or masculine in order to transform their lives.

Claire works with women and men all over the world to help them fulfil their potential by reconnecting with their natural strengths and rediscovering their authentic power.

Many women spend a lot of their time battling a sense of overwhelm, inadequacy and pressure; their lives feel like a continuous juggling act. Claire’s engaging content helps women to release the struggle for control and perfection that so many experience, allowing them to feel more confident, effective and fulfilled by stepping into their full potential.

Connect with Claire here:
www.feminine1st.com
Blog: www.feminine1st.com/blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/feminine1st
Twitter: www.twitter.com/feminine1st
Youtube: www.youtube.com/feminine1st

August 13, 2012

Story tell like an expert in five easy steps

By JaneFrankland | business start ups, Established business, New business, Selling, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Why it's vital to become a good storyteller

Storytelling is an age-old tradition that we have been brought up on since being children. It has been the centre of many celebratory and social events for centuries. Whilst a truly great storyteller is blessed with a unique gift, it is possible for anyone to gain these skills and become competent.

[box]“Everyone loves to hear a good story, but the story is only as good as the storyteller.” TWEET THIS[/box]

Being a good storyteller is a vital part of what we do as entrepreneurs. Why? Well, when we do it well we get people’s attention and we gain their trust. And, when we have this, we make more sales – simple! We all love stories and we can all relate to people through them. So whether you are writing, video blogging or speaking you need to know how to communicate through stories because it’s a better way to engage with your customers and pull them in.

Here are 5 tips for storytelling:

1.   Include dialogue. It’s the key to successful story telling as it far more engaging than just telling someone what to do.
2.   Act it out and become the person you are telling the story about. Take on their persona, their tone of voice or accent. Put some performance into it. You become more believable. Put yourself in the moment. It’s so powerful.
3.   Use your words and paint the scene so you can understand who it is that it’s being told about.
4.   Passion – when you’re passionate about something you have something to say and will be more engaging and therefore believable
5.   Practice – you know what they say – practice makes perfect so start by writing daily – 1000 words and even better still – video blogging!

In the comments below, let me know your top tips for telling stories. Let me know what action you'll take as a result of watching and reading this post too. I'd love to hear.

Thank you, as always for watching, reading and contributing here. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends!

With love and gratitude – as always,

August 5, 2012

What everyone ought to know about pain

By JaneFrankland | business start ups, Established business, Lifestyle, New business, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

The real truth about pain

Most people know the saying ‘no pain, no gain’ and right now I feel like some sadomasochist when I write and tell people that I like pain! My reasoning is because I know that it is actually my friend and ally. It tells me when I’m injured, it makes me hungry (for success) and it forces me to take action. Pain is not pleasant, it can keep you up at night and make you angry but believe me when I say that in the end going through pain is beneficial for you.

Often when you try something new, you’re not very good at it. If you’re a high achiever, this means experiencing the pain of discomfort and sometimes failure. What you’re essentially doing is stepping outside of your comfort zone. But, rest assured, everything that happens to you, as a result of doing this, serves you in some way. Pain can be both feedback that something is amiss and it can also signal great growth. Sure it hurts and it’s not welcome, but it’s unavoidable for the successful entrepreneur.

If you ask a champion in any field of endeavour about pain, you will find that rather than avoid it, they embrace it and accept it as part of the game they must play to win. Champions realize that pain equals growth and the benefits far outweigh the discomfort. Look at what these three champions said:

Arnold Schwarzenegger: “I realized that pain could become pleasure. I was benefiting from pain. I was breaking through the pain barrier and shocking the muscles. I looked at this pain as a positive thing, because I grew.”
Cyclist Lance Armstrong: “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit however, it lasts forever.”
Muhammad Ali: “I hated every minute of the training. But I said to myself, bear the pain now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”

Achievement expert Brian Tracy says, “90% to 95% of people will withdraw to the comfort zone when what they try doesn't work. Only that small percentage, 5% or 10 % will continually raise the bar on themselves; they will continually push themselves out into the zone of discomfort, and these are always the highest performers in every field.”

Studies at the University of Chicago by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, back this up too. The findings concluded that the highest achievers are those who consistently push themselves out of their comfort zones. Instead of withdrawing to their comfort zones when they don't get immediate positive results, they force themselves to stay at this awkward, uncomfortable and painful (but higher and better) level of performance until the pain finally subsides and they become comfortable at the new higher level.

So, what I’d like you to do is to take a moment and think about the sum total of everything you’re currently doing to improve your business. Think of every detail you can – the sales, the marketing, the admin, the technology, the operations, the management, the HR and recruitment, the level of effort, the sweat, the time that you put in – everything.

Now grab a pen and draw a small circle in the centre of a sheet of paper. Imagine that all the work you’re doing is contained in that small circle. Inside your circle, write the words, “where I am now – my comfort zone.” Next, take your pen and draw another circle outside the first one, and write, “the pain and I suck zone.” Finally, draw another circle outside of this and write the words, “where the magic happens and the kick ass zone.” This outer larger circle represents personal growth, increased performance and positive change.

If you’re not seeing the changes you want – a frustration that so many of us experience at some time in our life – it means you’re staying completely inside your comfort zone most of the time. In order to make a positive change in your life, you have to expand your boundaries by moving outside of this circle.

So, go do it! And, when you've done it, remember, this is too: expanding your comfort zones is a life habit. Each time you grow and step outside of it the pain subsides, the benefits are realized, and the pain is forgotten. You’ll have reached a higher level of achievement that will eventually become your new comfort zone! When this happens it’s time to press on again.

Tom Hopkins, a sales trainer and one of the world’s top motivational speakers, taught me this lesson recently when I read his book, ‘How to master the art of selling', “The pain of every change is forgotten when the benefits of that change are realized.”

[box]““The pain of every change is forgotten when the benefits of that change are realized.” TWEET THIS[/box]

In the comments below, tell me how you deal with the pain that results from expanding your comfort zone and what methods or techniques you use to combat it. Let me know what action you'll take as a result of watching and reading this post too. I'd love to hear.

Thank you, as always for watching, reading and contributing here. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends!

With love and gratitude – as always,

July 29, 2012

Why failure is an entrepreneurs best friend

By JaneFrankland | business start ups, Established business, New business | 20 Comments

You are going down!

When you’re new to business, the last thing you expect to hear is that failure is your best friend, but I have to tell you it is! Furthermore, that it's good to fail, and that it’s even better to fail as fast as you can. In some cases too, the more often you fail the sounder an investment you'll make! Let me explain why.

Fail your way to the top!

Failure is good. It’s like fertilizer. It makes you grow faster and stronger, but only if you commit to not quitting.

[box]“Failure is good. It’s like fertilizer. It makes you grow faster and stronger.” TWEET THIS[/box]

Many people sadly become overwhelmed at just the thought of failing in business, so they never try, or they give up at the first hurdle. That’s not a problem as being in business is not for everyone and unless you’re going to accept this and work to overcome it it’s probably best you don’t even start.

Failure sorts the wheat out from the chaff. The fear of it is very real and must be overcome otherwise it will take control and limit what you accomplish.   Success is often hatched out of adversity or what is perceived as failure; therefore it’s crucial to get things into perspective. It’s not a question of if you will fail; it’s only a matter of when. Failing does not make you a failure, for we are all human, however, not learning and growing from it does. So the most important factor is how you respond to that situation. The only people who are excused from failure are those who never try.

I can think of so many famous entrepreneurs who have failed in business but the example I want to give you, and the one most often used, is of Thomas Edison. When a reporter questioned him about his many failures in perfecting the light bulb, he replied, “I did not fail a thousand times, I learned a thousand ways that it wouldn’t work.”   It is this defiance of failure – this entrepreneurial attitude – that of a champion, that truly captures the essence of what so may deem as failure. Invaluable lessons are always learnt through what is thought to be failure. And, such learning experiences will continue to be essential to success.

The following ideas may support you through failure or help you change your perspective towards it so that you are able to embrace it as a means of growth in your personal pursuits.

I never see failure as failure, but only as a learning experience.
I never see failure as failure, but only as the negative feedback I need to change course in my direction.
I never see failure as failure but only as an opportunity to develop my sense of humour.
I never see failure as failure but only as an opportunity to practice my techniques and perfect my performance.
I never see failure as failure but only as the game I must play to win.
I am not judged by the number of times I fail but by the number of times I succeed, and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying.

Everyday we make a decision about our attitude to failure. We can take it personally, have it destroy our day or our business, or we can brush it off and keep going. Remember, failure is not the end unless you allow it to be – just as Zig Ziglar said, “Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.”

I hope you'll watch the video and review these attitudes to failure. Use them every time you take a risk, or make a move that results in less than a win. In the comments below, tell me how you deal with failure and what methods or techniques you use to combat it. Let me know what action you'll take as a result of watching this video and reading this post too. I'd love to hear.

Thank you, as always for reading, watching and contributing here. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends!

With love and gratitude – as always,

July 15, 2012

Six tips to make networking at an event easy and enjoyable

By JaneFrankland | business start ups, Established business, New business, video | 5 Comments

Networking is the key to success in business

I recently attended an event and was inspired by Claire Brummell from Feminine 1st when she spoke about networking. Her presentation reminded me that for some people networking is second nature but for others it’s hard work, tedious and nerve racking. Both parties, however, recognise that networking is the key to success in business. So how can you enjoy it and master it if you’re feeling overwhelmed when attending an event?

1. Look approachable and smile

This is such a simple, basic rule, yet so many people don’t even think to do it. I’m not going to give you a hard time, for if you’re anxious it’s probably the last thing on your mind. However, in order to succeed at networking you need to overcome this and look approachable. No one warms to a scowling, serious face. A smile, on the other hand is incredibly welcoming.

2. Use body language and mirroring

Let’s be honest here, joining a group can be awkward even for the pros. One of the best ways to do this is by quietly approaching the group and standing on the peripherals. I wouldn’t recommend introducing yourself immediately unless asked to. Rather, I would suggest listening attentively and mirroring the group’s body language. What you’ll find is that soon enough the group will open up and invite you in to participate.

3. Use the event facilities as your aid

Coffee and tea areas are a perfect place for striking up conversations, and mundane conversations are usually good to get a dialogue going. Once you’ve struck up a rapport you can then ask more pertinent questions, for example, why are they at the event, what do they hope to get out of it, what do they do etc.?

4. Ask for an introduction

Asking someone else to make an introduction is probably the easiest way to network and I’d thoroughly recommend it. Let someone else do the legwork! Obviously if you’re at a large event then this probably isn’t practical, but for smaller events it is.

5. Ask interesting questions and be interested

Asking interesting questions is one of the fastest ways to build not only your credibility but also rapport. Furthermore, it’s a lot easier than bargaining with an opinion.

Most people love to talk about themselves. If you can get people to discuss their experiences and opinions and listen with genuine interest, giving them your full focus and attention you will build immediate rapport and trust. Be authentic, share your passions and help other people feel good about themselves.

6. Be generous and helpful

It’s incredibly refreshing to have someone offer to make an introduction or connection or share some useful information at an event. Remember, if you do this; follow up, as you’ll be seen as an action taker, dependable and a person of their word.

In the comments below, tell me how you get on with networking and what methods or techniques you use. Let me know what action you'll take as a result of watching this video and reading this post too. I'd love to hear.

Thank you, as always for reading, watching and contributing here. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends!

With love and gratitude,

July 3, 2012

Dealing with a time management objection

By JaneFrankland | business start ups, Established business, Lifestyle, New business, Selling | 7 Comments

Excuses: I'm time frazzled!

Excuses, excuses, excuses – I've heard my fair share of them and I have to say that time is often top of the list. So, how do you deal with this when someone gives it to you as a reason for not doing something? This short blog answers that question. I've written it with the aim of providing you with some useful tips and also to help you see things from the point of view of the time frazzled person that you're dealing with.

Understanding the time management problem

So, firstly, let’s get honest here about not having enough time. Who feels like there are never enough hours in the day to get it all done? I for one often do, and I know that I’m not alone. Most of us regularly feel overwhelmed as we’re increasingly leading hectic lives.

Whilst technology may have become our ally on many levels it’s also made things a lot worse. Being the ‘devil in disguise’ to a certain extent, mobile technology advancements have meant that we’re now expected to be contactable (and in some cases working) all the time, whether we’re in a job, running our own business or just being a parent.

The top reasons why things don’t get done

We procrastinate
We get distracted
We can’t say no
We don’t delegate or outsource
We can’t let go as we’re perfectionists
We take on too many commitments and spread ourselves too thin
We can’t accurately estimate how much time something is going to take
It's not important enough to us

How to reclaim control and deal with the no time objection

So what can you do to help yourself and combat this time management challenge? How can you reclaim control and deal professionally with the ‘I've got no time' objection?

Well, one of the first things you need to be aware of is that this is an excuse. Time is just a statement of priority. We all have 24 hours in the day to get done what we want/need to get done. I for one find this incredibly exciting as it really does put all of us on a level playing field. What this actually means is that what we do with our 24 hours is simply up to us! We have to own this and take responsibility for it!

Like everyone else, we prioritize. We choose to do whatever we want to do with our time. Time is like currency – we trade it – choosing to give something up in order to do something that is more of a priority to us, our business or our family. If something is important to us, we will always make time.

I'm hoping this is all making sense to you by now. The final thing I want to say on this subject is simply to encourage you to be honest with those that you’re speaking to. If they are struggling, or getting stressed be there to help. We all need it sometimes!

In the comments below, tell me how you deal with the ‘I've got no time' excuse. Let me know too how you prioritize your time and overcome your time management challenges. Is there anything that you regularly choose to give up or sacrifice in order to get something done that is more of a priority to you, your business or you family? And, finally let me know what action you'll take as a result of watching this video and reading this post too. I'd love to hear.

Thank you, as always for reading, watching and contributing here. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends!

With love and gratitude,

June 17, 2012

How to blog and write an outstanding blog!

By JaneFrankland | Established business, New business | 2 Comments

Guest blog, by writer Chelsea Haden

For a while people have been asking me, how do you write a blog, and where do you start. So, I asked my friend Chelsea Haden, who's a writer, editor and frequent blogger as to whether she'd do a guest blog for me on it. Thankfully she agreed!

Understanding the basics of blogging

We’ve now entered the age of the blog and according to a survey done by HubSpot websites with blogs are more likely to get 55% more visitors than those without. For those in business, that means a lot more potential new customers and the reason why so many are doing it. There's no accurate estimation of just how many blogs are on the World Wide Web, but recently I read that there are over 450 million English language blogs out there. Now that’s a lot of information – don’t you think?!

With all this information floating around it’s becoming even more essential that your blog is the best version of itself; and for this to happen there are a few things that you need to take into consideration.

What blog platform should I use?

Choosing the right platform is essential and there are so many out there, for example BlogSpot, WordPress, Flickr, Tumblr, and Pinterest, are to name but a few. I’ve worked with all of these platforms but WordPress comes out on top – all of the time! This platform is like having your own website. You have an option to upgrade and go for a self-hosted site if you desire or use the free version which is just as good. You can use a range of themes that are majorly customizable – from colours, layouts and widgets. You’re never alone as it has a large community where you can gain technical support and introduce your blog to rest of the blogging world.

You can have as many blogs as you like and across different platforms. However, I would suggest having one blog on each topic that you write about as this gives each topic the attention it deserves, rather than duplicating content which Google now penalizes you for – by lowering your ranking.

What do I blog about?

Finding your blog purpose is probably one of the most important factors that you’ll have to think about. Are you blogging for personal reasons or for your business? If you're blogging for your business then it’s wise to use your content to let your customers know: company news and updates, any new services and products, how you feel about certain topics etc. Blogging for business is an ideal way to show your customers that there is a human in the heart of your business! Remember your posts should reflect the person that you are.

How do I get my blog ‘out there?'

The good news is, if you're using WordPress then this platform allows you to write your own ‘tags.' Tags are keywords and phrases that people are likely to search for, and when they do, your blog should come up. Essentially you're SEOing your own blog so that it can be found. There are ways to increase your likelihood of this:

Social media – ideally you should be using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to promote your blog.
Directories – there are a wide range of directories to submit your blog to, for example, 24 great blog directories can be found at: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/20-essential-blog-directories-to-submit-your-blog-to/5998/
Six degree rule – shout about your blog! Someone knows someone, who knows someone, and so forth.
Interact with the blogging community – have a read of blogs that you think will compliment yours; read their content and get involved with the conversation: comment! Get people to guest post for you, and guest blog wherever you can as it will attract a whole new readership.

How do I make my blog stand out?

Take into consideration representational skills: people have different ways of taking in information – some through sound, others through pictures, videos, and specific language. These learning means are known as visual, audio and kinesthetic. A wise blog takes this into consideration and incorporates them all – to build rapport.

Personalise it: A great blog should have some form of branding whether it be a logo, specific colours, and/or a memorable name.

Content: This goes back to relating it to your blog's purpose. What do you want your blog to be known for: inspiration, worldly goings on, industry updates etc. I find that most of the blogs in the world are covering the same information, but it’s their take and perspective that makes them interesting and readable.

Make it easy for people to follow: Always provide an RSS subscription. Also consider offering your readers a newsletter, and make sure your subscription boxes and social media buttons are easily seen.

Remember, blogging is easy providing that you consider the above, and content is always KING. Whilst a few blog for the SEO benefits, your readers won’t stay or follow you if your content is meaningless, so instead aim for vibrant, relevant and informative!

About Chelsea

At only 21yrs, Chelsea Louise Haden, is an exceptional young entrepreneur. She works as a freelance writer and editor. In her spare time she's addicted to social media, has a passion for all things inspirational and aspires to cook every vegetarian recipe that's ever been thought of! She blogs at www.clouisehaden.wordpress.com and www.bloggerforyou.wordpress.com.

If you've enjoyed this post, in the comments below, tell me what you think about blogging. Let me know what action you'll take as a result of reading this post too. I'd love to hear.

Thank you, as always for reading and contributing here. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends!

With love and gratitude,