Tony's Ideas Page

Entry level DSLR

2012-01-04T16:19:00.004+13:00

Are you ready to step up to the next level of photography but worried about the complexity a DSLR?

Worry no more... there are a few options available:

1. Firstly, forget about entry level DSLRs - get the next step up otherwise you'll regret wasting your hard earned money on a very basic camera.

2. Consider a micro four thirds camera if you are wanting the convenience of a smaller camera you are more likely to take everywhere.

3. Don't dismiss upgrading your camera phone & using one of the excellent applications such as Hipstamatic or Instagram to help develop your photographic eye.

I decided to buy a Canon EOS 600D (also known as Kiss X5 or Rebel T3i). I like the versatility that allows me to let the camera pick the best setting, or allows me to choose the setting I want. It has art filters plus a great video function with an articulated screen which enables a more artistic element to shots without the need to get on the ground or a ladder to get in the air.

So far I have been very happy with the quality of the colors & the clarity of the shots. The camera feels comfortable & can be easily handled in one hand. The kit lens provides good versatility & enables me to get a good feel for other lenses I might need depending on the shots I'm taking.

You can check out some of my shots on Flickr - It's easy to see when I upgraded my camera - http://www.flickr.com/photos/42371658@N00/

Simple diet tips

2012-01-03T08:28:00.003+13:00

Dieting is like a bank account, the only difference being you usually want your bank account to grow.

With dieting we need to know how many calories are going in & how many calories are going out. If less calories are going in & more calories are going out, we are losing weight.

Simple & cheap ways to lose weight:

1. Eat less

2. Eat smaller portions

3. Serve meals on smaller dishes

4. Drink more water

5. Replace sugary drinks with water

6. Brush teeth after meals to stop after dinner snacking

7. Start an active hobby

8. Have support

9. Give away old large size clothing

Reasons to maintain a healthy weight:

1. Live longer

2. Live healthier

3. Remain active

My 10 favourite iPhone apps

2011-09-11T10:18:00.006+12:00

Obviously the 3 main functions of the iPhone are hard to do without - the Phone, the iPod & Messages.

Yesterday I noticed that the most popular camera on Flickr is now the iPhone 4! They say the best camera is the one you've got with you when you need to take a photo & I guess that is often the camera phone.

In addition to these, my 10 favourite iPhone apps are:

1. Hipstamatic - I love the surprise of the photo, especially using the random mode. It captures a look & feel that I really like. It does all the post-production & the results are great.

2. Scrabble - I was never a fan of word games until I found the scrabble app. Each game is quite short & fills in those moments where you want to have more than mindless fun. I've even learnt some new word - just no idea what they mean.

3. Safari - OK, so it's not really an app, but it's impossible to get the information I want, when I want it without Safari on the iPhone. It just works so reliably well.

4. Flashlight - This has saved my life a few times when trying to navigate slippery or narrow steps at night. It launches quickly & is bright enough to guide my way.

5. Geocaching - Ok so I'm a bit of a nerd, but an outdoor nerd. It's fun going on a treasure hunt to find a hidden logbook. This app makes it easy to find these treasures without much forward planning. The app is expensive compared to others, but cheap compared to buying a GPS.

6. Tomtom navigation - Another expensive GPS app, but invaluable to tell me where to go. I haven't bought any voices yet, but it would be great to get a Star Wars character to navigate me through the universe.

7. Facebook - I'm not the biggest facebook user, but I like to stay connected with who is doing what & this app (although quite basic) does most of what I want.

8. Simpleminds - This is a great little brainstorming app that is free to download, then if you like it, buy it for more functionality. I use it for lists, notes & exploring ideas.

9. Angry birds - What list would be complete with Angry Birds. Epic, awesome & fun. Each level is quick, simple & engaging. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new app where the pigs revolt... maybe it could be Revolting pigs!

10. Quickpix - Sometimes the iPhone camera isn't fast enough. Quickpix is the camera that should've come with the iPhone. It can even take a picture as soon as you launch the app so you never miss a moment.

It's hard to stay up to date with the daily changing world of the iPhone app store. but these 10 have stood the test of time & I would definitely recommend them to download from the iPhone app store.

Are you LiKE minded?

2010-05-21T19:37:00.001+12:00

The LiKE® minded network began from a desire to work with LiKE® minded people, those people that haveleadership qualities, focus on the things in life which are important, growing through knowledge and are full of energy.

We have developed a simple but effective framework to help LiKE® minded people have a fulfilling life.

To download the:
LiKE® framework

A newbies guide to geocaching

2010-01-06T08:12:00.005+13:00

I recently heard about geocaching and thought I would give it a go. I did & I really enjoy it.

What is geocaching?

I think of geocaching as a treasure hunt using a GPS.

How do I get started?

The official website is www.geocaching.com where you can sign up with a free basic membership. This gives you access to all the geocaches around the world.

Each cache is recorded by:

- the longitude & latitude

- difficulty & terrain rating (5 being the most difficult)

- the type & size of the cache

Do I need a GPS?

Having an accurate GPS is an advantage. Many car navigation models don't have the accuracy for off-road searching but can be a good starting point. Likewise you can use Google maps or Google Earth to pinpoint the co-ordinates, then use the description and hints to locate the cache.

What is a cache?

A cache is a container (ranging in size from a tiny 1cm high tube to a 20 litre bucket) which contains a logsheet and it may also have items that can be swapped (including special geocaching items called geocoins or travel bugs). There are also Earth caches which are interesting geographic finds.

How do I get started?

Go to www.geocaching.com

Enter your current location

Find a nearby cache that is at least 400ml in size which gives a better chance of finding it

Check the difficulty & terrain rating (start with an easy one)

Load the co-ordinates into your GPS

Take appropriate clothing & supplies

Explore!

When you get back, log your find on www.geocaching.com

Is there anything special I should know?

There are some 'rules' & 'etiquette' that should be observed:

1. If you take something from a cache (never take the logsheet, pencil, sharpener or eraser), leave something of equal or greater value.

2. Make sure you leave the cache as & where you found it (unless it was exposed incorrectly).

3. Watch out for muggles (non-geocachers). Part of geocaching is exploring secretly so others aren't aware of the caches.

4. Respect the environment. Take out your rubbish & don't ruin any natural environments.

5. Be polite & respectful to other geocachers, especially those who went to the trouble of making the cache in the first place.

6. Have fun! Share the fun!

What do I need to watch out for?

It is important to be safe. This means having the right gear for the conditions, being sensible around hazards, checking routes, being prepared and having backup plans if anything doesn't go to plan.

I've found myself on the wrong route to a cache. It is also worth checking that you have the correct co-ordinates!

What should I take?

Here's my (ever-growing) list of useful items:

- Good shoes or boots

- Food & water

- Pen & paper

- Camera

- Bag

- Goodies or trinkets to swap

- Geocaching application for my iTouch

- GPS

- Sunscreen, sun hat & insect repellant

- Positive attitude

- Small first aid kit (including antibacterial wipes & tissues)

- Layers of clothing & wet weather gear if appropriate (remember the weather can change)

- Cell phone

What now?

log into www.geocaching.com & start exploring the wonderful world we live in!

Happy geocaching!

If you have any questions or want to add anything, please feel free to post comments. If you want to share your geocaching stories, I'd love to hear them.

Creating great testimonials

2009-11-20T22:13:00.004+13:00

Here are the questions that you can use to help develop top rate testimonials:

1. What do you like most about the service?

2. What were your perceptions before we started?

3. How has that perception changed?

4. What are the three biggest benefits?

5. Would you recommend our service?

6. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

The answers are then given back to the client in a draft summary for them to approve & send back.

For example:

Hi John

I really liked the way you paid attention and listened about my personal situation & developed a plan to help me achieve & protect my goals.

I was feeling a little anxious before we started because I had never thought about some of the issues previously, but after talking it through felt I was in safe hands.

The benefit for me is that I have a motivating goal, a backup plan if things don’t work out due to unforeseen circumstances and I know you are there if you need me.

I would definitely recommend your service to my friends and family.

Thank you once again for your professional & thorough service.

Sincerely,

Tony

Losing the love(mark)

2009-10-06T22:55:00.004+13:00

I loved my ipod touch... but now it's gone... the irreplaceable needs to be replaced because of a fault & the store not replacing it, instead sending it away for analysis - so much for their money back guarantee...

My ipod was with me 24/7...

- It kept track of my life with the calendar

- It lifted my spirits with the (disputably) best track list in the world

- It inspired me with some amazing audio books

- It made me laugh with the great podcasts

- It educated me with leaders sharing their thoughts on video

- It amused me with games

- It woke me in the morning with it's alarm

So, my lovemark has been taken from... Now I have to fill the gaps in my life

Creating meaning

2009-09-14T22:36:00.003+12:00

I gave blood the other day & thought it would be great if the Blood Donor Centre told the donors how the donation was used.

I would feel more motivated if I knew my blood made a positive difference in another person's life. It would create 'significance' for the donation.

This could be an automated e-mail that said something like:

Hi Tony

Thanks for taking the time to donate some of your valuable blood.

It was used to help a young burns victim.

We look forward to seeing you next month.

Stay healthy!

Regards

Dr ......

High tech! - Tony's Toastmasters speech

2009-07-01T21:07:00.005+12:00

I knew I was spending too much time on the computer when my wife sent me an e-mail, asking if I was coming downstairs for dinner.

I was introduced to computers back in 1978 with the first colour computer called a compucolor. This was just after I played pong - not the smelly type either. But with the compucolor I could travel through space with star trek, rule kingdoms playing Kings Quest and visit bars amongst other dodgy activities with Leisure Suit Larry.

My first work computer was at the National Bank, but each day we got our paper back up files - just in case "the computer" failed (which it did once). My second job introduced me to the Macintosh which had some great games.

My first really fast computer was a 486 in the mid 90‘s with an incredible encyclopedia called Encarta and movie database called Cinemania. It seemed mind boggling that so much information was available on these CD ROMs. To give you an idea of the computing power of a 486, we ran 9 users in our office off 1 486 computer!

We also had bulletin boards & on-line games which meant tying up the phone lines while we played Doom on 9,600 bits per second modem connections. Last night my broadband was 5 million bits per second!

I joined the internet in the mid 90s with a company called Compuserve. It cost $19.95 per hour which is equivalent to $27 after tax today - so I had to work for 3 hours to get 1 hour on the internet!

When Xtra started on 1 May 1996 & I joined, paying $5 per hour. In August of that year, it halved. Today I pay the equivalent of 5 cents per hour.

But suddenly the world started seeming a lot smaller & the information much broader.

I remember the first time I introduced my mother to the computer.

After explaining to take the mouse and her screaming “Where’s the mouse?”, she began waving it in front of the screen. When I showed her the internet & told her it could answer any question, she thought for a minute, then typed “How is my mother today?”

But the internet can be really useful too. I’ve used it to buy a piece of the Berlin wall & a signed picture of Kenny Baker (the actor inside R2D2).

On the internet, I found out that in 2002 scientists spent a whole year determining the funniest joke was:

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.

He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

There are also some wonderful one liners like:

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

or words of wisdom, like:

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

But as one person said, getting information off the internet is like getting a drink from a fire hydrant.

But some people just shouldn’t talk about the internet.

George Bush - is quoted as saying "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."

But these last 2 quotes sum it up for me:

"The Internet is a giant international network of intelligent, informed computer enthusiasts, by which I mean, "people without lives."

or "Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks”

Midnight Youth

2009-06-27T20:31:00.002+12:00

<a href="http://midnightyouth.bandcamp.com/album/the-brave-dont-run">All On Our Own by Midnight Youth</a>

The magic of great copywriting

2009-06-20T13:40:00.003+12:00

Recently a broken washing machine sold on Trade Me for NZ$5,160!

It started with a NZ$1 reserve but due to some original & creative thinking, the seller was able to add value to the machine. It even has its own website now - www.scarywashingmachine.com

I'm impressed how a piece of writing can add so much value, but I guess it's like so much of what we buy... a CD is only a piece of plastic, worth about $0.10, but we pay $30 because of the creative skill.

Congratulations Mike - Kiwi ingenuity is alive & making lots of money!

The auction had over 800,000 hits and a huge number of comments.

This is what Mike Whittaker (the seller) wrote:

Old mid 80's Fisher and Paykel top loader.
Goes like a rocket!

By 'goes like a rocket' I actually mean that literally.
It actually shakes the house.

It's the loudest most violent sounding washing machine I have ever encountered.
It makes guests scared and children cry. I've lived with it like that for almost a year and it still scares me.

Once while washing a load of towells it got a bit out of balance and it got so out of control for a minute that I swear I actually saw a porthole to another dimension open above it just for a second, there were dinosaurs on the otherside and they looked scared too, it almost sucked me in but I held onto for my life to the deepfreeze. It sucked my shoes and pants off though and it got the iron as well which pissed me off because it was quite a good one. Luckily it sucked it's own power cord out of the wall and stopped before the whole house went in.
I drew a picture of the dinosaurs i saw incase people didn't believe me, they are partly red because my green felt ran out half way through.

I think it would be good to paint it matt black and put steel spikes all over it and draw demons on the front, however I have added an image of another possible customization option for people who like horses.

On heavy duty spin cycle it sort of sounds a bit like the tortured howls of 1000 undead writhing in the sulphury pits of hell mixed with a train with carriages full of scrap iron sliding down the road with no wheels, on fire, into a bell factory.

Thankfully it's bite is not as bad as it's bark. It washes fine, completes cycles, does everything it's supposed to.
It leaks a bit when it's running, always has.
Its a bit grubby, could do with a wipe down, I refuse to touch it because I'm still getting over the whole dinosaur scare thing.

If your in a fix and need a cheap washing machine and are either completely deaf or hate your neighbours this baby is for you.

Ideas map

2009-06-15T21:06:00.003+12:00

I recently heard a leader in the marketing game talk about a map they had on their wall, where they pinned all the locations that the staff came up with great ideas for their clients.

They had 100's of pins in the map - but only 13 were in the office.

Some might think that they should spend more time in the office! But seriously we all know some of our best ideas occur when we are not trying to come up with them.

Whether it's:

- in the shower

- going for a run

- waking in the middle of the night to jot down some notes

- over a great meal & a bottle of plonk

- in the car

To allow the creative juices flow we need to get out & explore!

It's not about stress

2009-06-13T21:46:00.003+12:00

I hear people talking about "stress" as if it's a problem. I'm not an expert but I believe it's actually our level of resilience to certain events that can cause problems when we are less resilient.

Selye's general adaptation syndrome helps explain how our resilience can cope for a period & the better our resilience, the longer our resistance. (The 3 stages are Alarm , Resistance & Exhaustion) - You can read more about the model at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(medicine)

Things that erode my resilience:

Pain
Tiredness
Illness
Loss

Things that build my resilience:

Sleep
Goals
Enjoyable activities
Movies
Music
Being with people I like
Constructive feedback
Learning
Spirituality
Physical activity

I'm going to continue to focus on building and maintaining my resilience.

Sales ideas

2009-05-27T20:16:00.003+12:00

I was thinking how some companies could grow their business during a recessionary economy...

How about luxury car suppliers teaming with sales managers to help drive sales performance?

The sales person could choose a vehicle & create a sales target programme that will motivate them to achieve a higher target & get them into a classy vehicle of their choice.

This is an example where teams could co-operate to create synergy & win-win-win outcomes.

Brand leadership

2009-05-09T22:42:00.003+12:00

Currently I am studying leadership & was interested to see the similarities between great leaders & great brands.

Great leaders have a strong sense of purpose, to achieve progress towards an aspirational goal.

The great brands that resonate strongly with me also have a strong sense of purpose, combined with client centricity. They seem to suggest that they are here to make our lives better.

I would be interested to develop this thinking further...

The 3 i's of decision making

2009-03-22T18:55:00.002+13:00

When making decisions it's important to:

1. Get good quality information

2. Interpret the information using various perspectives

3. Implement the decision with benchmarks in place to measure progress & success

A land of milk & honey

2009-03-18T20:24:00.003+13:00

Whether it was the lure of a better life or an escape from an existing one, New Zealand held the hopes and dreams that drew people to its shores, whether it was in the last year, last 100 years ago or thousands of years ago.

The British Government rallied people in the early 1870’s to recruit:
“married agricultural laborers and single female domestic servants, provided they were ‘sober, industrious, of good moral character, of sound mind and in good health.”

Posters were put up & newspapers ran stories like this one from November 1873 in the Labourers’ Union Chronicle wrote,
“Not a farm labourer in England but should rush from the old doomed country to such a paradise as New Zealand – a good land – a land of oil, olives & honey – a land where in thou may’st eat bread without scarceness... Away then farm labourers, away! New Zealand is the Promised Land for you,

There was a flood of immigrants, being enticed by the promise of a better life coupled with a range of cheap & free fares.

My Great Great Grandfather was one of those, a farm labourer who chose to leave Ireland back in July 1876. I wondered what hope he & his family packed when they left an impoverished Ireland where demand for farm labourers had fallen by 16% due to cheap imports.

Imagine a 31 year old George McCombs & his wife Kate with their 2 sons James aged 2 years & Charles who was 2 months sailing for 93 days to the other side of the world.

Imagine you had been travelling on an old wooden boat for the last 3 months. I start feeling bored travelling in an aircraft for too long. The 18 hours it took to get the family to LA a few years ago seemed long enough, let alone 2,230 hours on a boat.

There were 290 people, including 81 from Ireland, on the boat that came into Wellington Harbour in October 1876. It’s hard to imagine what these pioneers would’ve thought about old Wellington.

The ship’s doctor recorded there were no accidents or sickness however 3 children under 2 died and one was born.

The ship’s passenger list was a mixture of families, single men and single women. There were farmers, carpenters, a couple of tailors, a 16 year old teacher, servants, dairymaids and a range of others from all over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

New Zealand wasn’t everything that people expected and about 40% of those who arrived in the 1870’s left again.

The McCombs family arrived in Wellington harbour but made their home in Christchurch.

Who would’ve thought that their eldest son, James, who left school after standard 6, would represent the Lyttelton seat in Parliament from 1913 to 1933 and when he died, his wife, Elizabeth would succeed him as New Zealand’s first woman Member of Parliament until she died in 1935, and their son (my grandfather) Terry would then hold the seat until 1951.

I’m sure George & Kate didn’t expect these things to happen, but by taking a risk and choosing to follow a path into an unknown world, they created opportunities for their descendants. If they hadn’t taken that risk I wouldn’t be here today, just as if your ancestors hadn’t made certain decisions you wouldn’t be here either.

The dreams that our pioneering ancestors had still hold true for us today.

Although we are told the world’s economy is in a recession and some say on the brink of a depression, we certainly have a better quality of life than a farm labourer in 1876, when the life expectancy for a male was only 50 & females could expect to live until 54. Those born in 1876 only had an 86% chance of celebrating their first birthday. Today we are concerned about outliving our savings and many are already choosing to continue working beyond the retirement age of 65.

My 16 year old son was recently awarded a farming scholarship. He had a dream for his future – of one day owning his own farm. This is a dream that he had when he was 2 & he told me a story that he called “The Tractor Boy”. We had visited an uncle on his farm and that had sown the seed. He often talked about farming being in his blood. Part of me believes that this dream of my sons, could’ve also been the dream of his great, great, great grandfather while working on a farm back in Ireland, that even if he wouldn’t maybe his descendants could own their own farm one day.

I encourage you to reflect on the hopes and dreams that your ancestors had. The promised land we call New Zealand still holds great promise. That promise is held within us – it’s people – He Tangata.

Those hopes, dreams and aspirations exist for us all if we are prepared to take risks and look for the amazing opportunities on this sliver of land on the edge of the world, we have made our home.

My Waitangi Day speech

2009-02-06T20:35:00.003+13:00

I am proud to be a New Zealander, to be a thread in our diverse and beautiful tapestry.

On Waitangi Day we can look around at our nation, our community, our neighbours and our whanau, the tangata who have chosen to make Aotearoa our home.

Whether we are tangata whenua or tangata tiriti, the Treaty of Waitangi is a frame like an unthreaded loom. The threads on the loom that bind the nation are its' tangata!

Let us not just come together on this one day, but let us bind as a nation so together we can become stronger and cohesive.

Let us stand proudly and acknowledge the past but focus our eyes firmly on the future and support each other to be the best little nation on the edge of the world!

Together we will weave a future that we can individually and collectively be proud to call our home.

It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.- Bill Gates

2009-02-06T13:15:00.003+13:00

I read this quote in Kirsty Dunphey's weekly newsletter today. There is some truth to reflecting on failures, however I have come to realise how important it is to reflect on successes.

Being able to replicate & build on success is the key to continued success.

Reflecting on why we are successful helps us do the right things more often. Whether it's winning a new client or a round of golf, learning what we did right is often more valuable than trying to fix what we might've got wrong.

The revised quote could be:

"Celebrate success, then learn from it & build on it to replicate the success!" - Tony

Staying ahead of the pack

2009-01-31T20:32:00.002+13:00

By the time we hear about new ideas or trends it's probably too late.

Remember when we were all told to write articles like "7 reasons to buy such as such"? Now everything I read seems to have been based on this golden rule - except now it's boring & the gold has turned to tin...

Companies like Saatchi & Saatchi try and stay ahead of the pack. When all other companies seem to be going green, they are talking about blue. But they are also working on the next colour!

In New Zealand we have a lot of sheep - but it doesn't mean we need to follow each other like a flock of sheep. The challenge is to play our game by our rules & change them every now & then to keep the relevant.

I'm sorry

2009-01-22T19:51:00.002+13:00

Often in times of conflict an apology is all that is needed to diffuse a situation.

An employee can apologise on behalf of a workplace, rather than apologising for something they have personally done. I remember doing this when I worked for the Railways & the person complaining consoled me by saying "It's OK, it's not your fault".

Likewise, it's possible to say sorry that a situation had occurred. Again, it's not taking personal responsibility but acknowledging the disappointment of an event. This is useful if each party blames the other. An apology can open the door to constructive dialogue.

Finally, if you are responsible - fess up & apologise - fix it - learn from it - and then move on positively!

My 4 top diet tips

2009-01-22T19:08:00.002+13:00

Water - A glass of water before a meal can fill the stomach & leaves less room for over-eating

Brush teeth - Changing habits like brushing teeth after a meal rather than before bed can stop snacking after meals.

Leftovers - Leaving food on your plate can create a feeling of control over the food. Parents may have drilled in negative messages of starving children or making the cook feel bad by leaving food.

Exercise - A work out is a great way of burning calories. It also creates healthier eating patterns. Careful not to cut back the calories too quickly while the body adjusts to the additional exercise.

The logistics of dying

2009-01-10T17:50:00.004+13:00

When I saw some of the challenges my mother-in-law had to deal with, caring for her husband at home who is terminally ill with a brain tumour, I searched for a solution to help with communication.

I thought there must be a tool that can assist with communication.

When I couldn't find anything, I developed a sheet that can be laminated & used to make communication easier.

The sheet deals with the basics such as:

What day it is.
What the meals will be.
When visitors will be welcome.
What events will be taking place that day.
Any notes.

The second page is a device to help with communication when the patient has difficulty with verbal communication. It has letters, numbers, words and a scale to indicate responses.

If you know someone who could benefit from this idea, please feel free to use it. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please let me know.

Don't waste your money sending calendars to your clients, unless...

2008-12-24T16:02:00.002+13:00

Do you send your client a calendar every year?

To maximise your investment in this marketing activity, buy a packet of gold star stickers (or similar) and do the following:

1. Put the star on a date in the calendar.

2. In the cover letter add "You may have noticed I have put a gold star on 12 March. I will call you on this date to organise a convenient time to meet and discuss your ..."

3. Call the client on this date to grow your business.

4. Measure your success.

This approach does 3 things:

1. It creates an expectation with the client.

2. It makes you do what you say you will.

3. It reinforces your integrity when you do what you say you will.

This year invest in your calendars to create activity & deliver tangible results.

Quantum of Solace - no spoilers!

2008-11-26T22:48:00.002+13:00

The latest James Bond movie continues where Casino Royale left off. I suggest watching Casino Royale before watching Quantum of Solace so that you are familiar with the story & characters.

Make sure you show up on time - one of the best action sequences is the beginning.

You may be a little disappointed if you are expecting this movie to be as good as the last - but this James Bond is raw and intense with lots of blood.

It's a full on experience - so stay alert to keep up with the action. Just expect more of a Jason Bourne experience, rather than a traditional James Bond film.

Enjoy!

Lay blame or accept responsibility

2008-11-26T22:36:00.003+13:00

Australia thought they could just show up & win the Rugby League World Cup, but fortunately New Zealand had different plans.

Rather than accept defeat gracefully, the Australian coach, Ricky Stuart, decided to blame the referee.

New Zealand has been in a similar position of blaming the referee when the All Blacks were eliminated in the playoffs in the Rugby World Cup after France scored off a (suspected) forward pass.

Laying blame is one of the most disempowering activities we can perform. If we want to move forward & grow, we are better to accept responsibility, learn and then move on.

There will always be someone or something to blame - or we can accept responsibility & move on, a better, stronger, more empowered person.

When a brand sells out

2008-10-26T09:08:00.005+13:00

I read an interesting post about the James Bond movies and some overtly placed product brands. You can check out the whole post at: James Bond Brand Shaken by Product Placement.

I was disappointed by Ford & Sony's placements in Casino Royale and thought that they tarnished their own brands, but also the good name of James Bond. Having said that, I was surprised that product placements have been a regular feature of James Bond films for many years.

I would be interested to know Ian Fleming's views on product sponsorship, after all I'm sure the brands he mentioned in the Bond books did well as a result and why shouldn't Fleming be rewarded for their success? A branding dilemma?

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/877228/34841063

Sales Success

2008-10-05T12:54:00.000+13:00

In his book, Sales Success, Robin Daubney makes some interesting observations about highly successful salespeople. They all have a very positive mental attitude. He quotes a study that attributes 94% of success to a positive mental attitude and only 6% on aptitude or ability.

Top earning salespeople were analysed and they found that they:
- Had high levels of determination
- Had strong self-discipline
- Had a great desire to succeed
- Worked hard
- Had good health

Local CARFT Show

2008-09-30T21:47:00.004+13:00

I passed a sign yesterday advertising a local craft show.

In fact I probably passed hundreds of signs, but this one stood out in my mind. Why? Because of the spelling of "craft". I am sure this was done accidentally, but it was actually effective because it made it stand out.

I'm not advocating going out & misspelling signs, but our brains are obviously programmed to pick up things that aren't right. Maybe it's something to help our ancestors spot the prowling lion on the African plains!

I guess if we want to stand out we need to be unexpected & different!

Quick & easy cannelloni recipe

2008-09-28T12:14:00.004+13:00

This is perfect for dad's to cook when mum is away. It quick, easy & cheap.

Ingredients
Chicken, cheese (ricotta, feta, tasty), cannelloni, pasta sauce, spinach, oil.

I cut the chicken in small pieces, cooked it, added the spinach.

I then added the chicken & spinach with a can of pasta sauce, tub of ricotta cheese, some feta cheese & grated tasty cheese (but I think other varieties of cheeses would work well) and mix it all together.

Get the kids to stuff the cannelloni tubes (straight out of the packet) & lay them in a roasting dish. Drizzle with oil (I used rice bran). Cover with another can of pasta sauce, grated cheese & breadcrumbs.

Bake for 35 minutes on 155C or until pasta is cooked.

Serve with salad. My kids loved it & I enjoyed it because it was easy, delicious & the kids ate the lot!

What are you in control of?

2008-09-28T11:27:00.001+13:00

What are you concerned about? The economy, global warming, investment markets, the election? What can you control? Your appointments, your attitude, motivation, and helping the people you are talking to.

Stephen Covey, in the first of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Be Proactive, writes about the Circle of Influence which sits inside the Circle of Concern. Basically, encouraging us to focus on what we can control. An example would be if you were concerned about world hunger. You can’t save the world, but by buying a goat for a family in Kenya, you can influence some change.

I encourage you to focus on what you can control and not to get distracted by all the media “noise”. There is a lot of opportunity to help people protect & create financial security for their future. Ask key questions to find out what is important to the people you are talking to, then give them what they want.

Sicko - Michael Moore (warning - some spoilers)

2008-09-20T20:48:00.003+12:00

Lets start by saying this is a biased view of the American "health" system, however even if part of what is in the movie is true, it should sound a warning about a system that needs its' own health check.

It's interesting to see how the wealthy companies are pulling the politician strings and we see who is actually creating government policies. It does make a mockery of what we thought was a democracy.

I was touched by the Cuban scene where the participants were able to get better treatment in Cuba.

Moore also looked at other health systems including France, UK, Canada and Norway. He was also biased by not looking at what didn't work so well in these systems. For instance, New Zealand's health system is far from perfect, however compared to American standards, there is no way I want to be sick in the US. I am happy to have private healthcare to look after my family if the public system doesn't deliver to expectations.

With ageing populations around the world there will be continued pressure on health systems as demand exceeds supply. However with scientific advancements we should see an increase in medical care. The ageing population will also be a large portion of the voters and will have a larger say in determining health policy.

Free cure to overcome the embarrassment of being bald

2008-08-27T21:19:00.002+12:00

It was devastating to be told that I was going bald at 17 years old. I sometimes wonder if it was the stress of this news that hastened the follicles being washed down the drain in the shower.

Being a teenager in the 80's I grew up wanting to be like Thomas Magnum from Magnum PI. It was difficult coming to terms that I was more likely to star as Higgins.

Although I had anticipated that I would inherit the baldness gene from my grandfathers, it was still difficult to come to terms with going bald. I tried a few home remedies which didn't work.

What changed was my attitude. Rather than hiding my baldness, I embraced it & cut my hair short. At one stage I shaved my head, but my pasty skin made me look ill, so I stick to stubble now.

I also chose not to use hair regrowth formulas or a wig or toupee. So (in my mind) I choose to be bald. Taking control of my baldness gives me a feeling of power & control. Rather than changing my head, I changed my attitude & feel comfortable with my baldness.

Organ donors

2008-08-27T20:23:00.002+12:00

Some countries have a higher organ donor rate than others. In New Zealand 2 of the major issues seems to be that the next of kin are too emotional to make decisions and medical staff are not always comfortable asking permission.

I wonder whether a special donor tattoo could be developed and hygienically applied to indicate whether a person is an organ donor?

This could certainly increase our donor rates.

Catchy & inspirational

2008-08-09T09:25:00.003+12:00

Kevin Roberts from Saatchi & Saatchi has written about Lovemarks & sisomo.

My 11 year old son introduced me to a fabulous ad from Discovery Channel that embraces the concepts of Lovemarks & sisomo. It engages the passion of the presenter with the passion of the viewer and we are given an insight to the world that the presenter loves.

I love the world too!

The story of food

2008-08-04T22:06:00.002+12:00

Tonight I got to share the passion of Martin Bosley. He spoke of his love affair not just for food, but the creation of a dish that has a story.

He knows the people that catch the fish & his dishes do justice by bring together tastes & textures that delight the palate.

His 7 tips for meal time:

Create ceremony & occasion - even if its just once a week.
Nobody needs an excuse to dine out.
Be passionate about local food.
Provide exceptional service.
Use authenticity as an edge.
Be innovative.
Be a passionate ambassador.

Book review: Advance to go - collect $1 million

2008-08-02T14:32:00.003+12:00

I first heard about Kirsty Dunphey's story on a newsletter I subscribe to. I was intrigued to find out how someone so young could make so much money so quickly.

Kirsty's first book is a mix of her own story, her experience and the lessons she shares about being successful.

I found the writing style made the book easy to read. Including inspirational quotes, checklists for buying property and lessons on customer service made the book appealing to a broad range of readers.

What did I get from the book?
If I was starting in property investment or starting a business, the advice in the book is valuable as a starting point where Kirsty shares her experiences and techniques for success.

One of my favourite chapters included great marketing techniques that don't cost a bomb. She introduced me to a new acronym - RED (Rip-off, Expand, Duplicate) for finding something that already works for others. Examples of things that work include:

Hand-written thank you cards.
Recognising good service.
Remembering the wine drinkers.
Never forgetting the kids (or pets).
Delivering stress relieving pizzas.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for an inspirational story that had me wondering why I hadn't achieved what she had at the same age and then asking myself what's stopping me now?

I will be giving it to my kids to read!

For further information click here

Not all apples are the same

2008-07-06T21:34:00.002+12:00

If you go to a supermarket or green grocer you will notice that not all apples are the same. There are apples for eating and apples for stewing. Of the eating apples you will notice that there are different types with different tastes. Some apples are of a better quality than others while there are also a few rotten ones & the odd one with a worm or two in them.

So when we try & compare “apples with apples”, we shouldn’t just compare them on price.

Many other products are similar. When comparing products it’s important to understand the benefits and not just compare products on price, because (like apples) some are better than others.

Next time you compare "apples with apples", make sure your clients know about the quality of what they are getting.

I got wowed!

2008-06-28T16:15:00.002+12:00

Today I received a package that I had ordered from Kirsty Dunphey.

It cost nothing to address it to me with the title as "The Awesome..." but it made me feel like a million dollars (is that how she got her first million by the time she was 23?).

They also included a mobile phone sock & a CD, but it was the title that made this package memorable.

It made me think how I can make my clients feel extra special ...

The stress of it all

2008-06-20T20:30:00.002+12:00

I set my self a goal with a reward & a consequence.

Now that I've achieved the goal, reflecting on what motivated me, it was definitely the thought of having to deal with the consequence of burning a rugby jersey I loved.

Sure I could've reneged on my deal with myself, but living with the fact that I didn't stay true to my word would be worse.

I can recommend this strategy for goal setting & will definitely use it again.

Carrot or stick

2008-05-09T23:08:00.002+12:00

Listening to a speaker recently, he suggested that we don't just set SMART goals - but also have a reward & a consequence.

This idea resonated with me - and scares me a little.

We had to set a goal to achieve by 2 July.

I going to write a book that I've been putting off for ages.

If I send it to a publisher by then I will buy myself a nice pen. If I don't I will burn a favourite rugby jersey (which I definitely don't want to do). Yes, I am motivated to get the book to the publisher!

If you are serious about your goals, I recommend rewarding yourself & giving yourself a consequence to encourage you to achieve the things you want.

Peanut butter sandwiches

2008-05-01T22:06:00.002+12:00

At a meeting recently, a business speaker told this story...

A workman sat down for lunch with his workmates and open his lunch box. "Peanut butter sandwiches again" he announced.

"Why don't you tell your wife you want something different" offered a workmate.

"I make them myself" said the workman.

This story made the room laugh, until the speaker suggested that we are often like the workman who want to change but never make the effort of changing.

MDRT - Wellington - 24 April 2008

2008-04-26T20:12:00.003+12:00

The Million Dollar Round Table is an organisation committed to the sharing of information and ideas. Our meeting in Wellington was full of excellent ways to improve business.

Walton Rogers - First Vice President MDRT

Learn by teaching.
Customise every customers solution.
Learn to listen.
Develop an agenda for every meeting including 3 blank items at the start.

Neil Kendall - Tupicoffs

Make a meaningful positive difference for clients.
Make sure business cards have a clear name, number & e-mail address.
If you're not in your client's mobile phone you're not in their lives.

John Shackleton

Focus on motivators (rewards & consequences).
Use visualisation.
Manage self-esteem.
Set precise & SMART goals.
Work towards your goals minute after minute, hour after hour.

Don't lose weight

2008-04-24T22:31:00.004+12:00

That was the advice of John Shackleton at a session I attended today.

His advice was to focus on the desired outcome, not the negative process.

For instance, he suggested that losing weight was the process that people needed to go through that resulted in them looking slim, and that looking slim or fitting a certain clothing size should be the goal.

In other words, focus on the gain, not the pain.

How much should be spent on marketing?

2008-04-14T18:46:00.003+12:00

The amount doesn't actually matter, the fact there is a plan does.

According to Kevin Roberts from Saatchi & Saatchi, some of the most creative marketing is done on the lowest budgets .

Whether the marketing budget is $20 or $200,000, the creative juices get flowing. I am always amazed how much can be achieved with very little, and sometimes I am amazed how little is achieved with huge expenditure.

Where I live there is a well known Real Estate company called Tommy's. Tommy was telling me about his marketing where he gives away $1,000 every month. He hands out 10 x $100 notes each month to random people as he explains who he is & what he does. A great way to get people talking about him!

A business person paid $500 to sponsor the player of the day award for a whole season for an entire football grade.

I love good news marketing stories and seeing examples of simple sales successes.

CFP International Forum - 8 April 2008

2008-04-12T11:30:00.007+12:00

It was interesting to get a perspective of where New Zealand is positioned on the international stage of financial planners at the recent forum in Christchurch.

The forum had representatives from Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States in addition to attendees from other countries.

The number of Certified Financial Planners (CFP) has grown from 42 in 1973 to over 111,000 in 2007. New Zealand has 397 CFPs.

David Strege - United States
I enjoyed listening to David Strege who spoke about becoming a lifetime trusted advisor.

He shared the formula for calculating trust:

Trust = (Intimacy + Credibility + Reliability) / Self-orientation

Clients rate each of these values on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 is the lowest, 10 is the highest). The maximum score is 30.

For example if Intimacy is 7, Credibility is 9, Reliability is 8, and Self-orientation is 2, then Trust is rated (7+9+8)/2 = 12.

Further information is available at www.trustedadvisor.com

David also made the comment that money itself is worthless, unless it is spent on something that is of value.

John Holland - Securities Commission
It was interesting and comforting to hear the commission talk about the approach they are taking to work with advisors to protect investors. He referred to an illegal investment in 2001 as the reason for the disclosure regime.

Group panel discussion - Interesting points
Australia's main issues are:
- Regulation & licensing.
- A product-based (rather than advice based) system.
- Clients paying fees vs companies paying commission.
- Business costs.
- Recruitment, remuneration, retention and succession.

South Africa's main issues are:
- 48 million people, but only 5 million tax payers.
- Upfront vs renewal commission.

United Kingdom's main issues are:
- Strong sales focus from product providers vs advice focus.

United States main issues are:
- Regulation.
- New clients.
- Time management.
- Lack of effective regulation despite state licensing.
- Costs (5% spent on rent, 7% spent on regulation).

Hon Lianne Dalziel - Minister of Commerce
The minister's full speech is available on her website. Note her final statement where she will keep repeating the need for investors to be wary of dealing with anyone providing financial advice who is not a member of a professional body.

The timeframe for regulation was 2010. Members of professional bodies should feel confident about the changes. The goal is to grow investor's confidence.

Further information

You can find out more about the Financial Planning Standards Board at www.fpsb.org

Copy of the slides are available at www.ifa.org.nz under the members section.

Recent article entitled Australian advisers do it better

Country of contrasts

2008-04-03T21:10:00.004+13:00

While travelling through India, this shot of a satellite dish next to rounds of cow dung on the roof of a house illustrated the contrasts of the country.

The modern technical age, next to the traditional, sustainable and recyclable past.

I was impressed with the tolerance the people showed to each other and to the blend of cultures in the face of a new fast-paced world.

Indian Motivators

2008-03-31T18:10:00.008+13:00

The snakeboats are huge with over 100 people on each one. There are 5 people steering, 100 paddlers and 5 motivators.

I was impressed with the idea of having these motivators throughout the boat to get the best out of the paddlers. I wonder what would happen to workplaces if they employed motivators to help get the best out of staff?

We got to row with the locals & even though I didn't understand a word they were saying, I was motivated by the noise, whistling and enthusiasm.

Check out the video for a taste...

Insurance in India

2008-03-29T19:28:00.004+13:00

On my recent trip to India I thought about insurance & how it works.

This picture of a farmer taking his produce to market led me to think about the early types of insurance, where farmers would share their produce on different boats, so that if one sank, no single person would lose their entire produce.

This is how insurance still works today - where we pay a small amount to protect a much larger amount.

Lesson from India about happiness

2008-03-27T21:44:00.004+13:00

I just returned from an amazing holiday in Incredible India.

It was more than a holiday - it was an education.

The country has so many contrasts - rich & poor, beauty & filth, however it has an underlying message of tolerance & happiness.

One day I was staying in a palace watching a worker scare away pigeons. Yes, that was his full time job - banging a sheet with a stick to scare the birds. First I thought what a meaningless job it was, then I reflected on what he was doing. Walking around a 6 star garden, keeping it beautiful for the guests to enjoy. I have a feeling he took pride in what he achieved.

Another day we called on a village that looked like a shot from a Save the Children campaign. It was run down & dirty, however they were thrilled that we called in to meet them.

It reminded me that happiness is not about what I have, it's about how I choose to be.

What do you get when you combine passion, vision & expertise?

2008-02-29T09:15:00.002+13:00

This fantastic presentation introduces the extraordinary World Wide Telescope to your desktop & makes travel back in time possible.

Watch this video from TED

It's not alway what you say - it's how you say it

2008-02-24T17:43:00.005+13:00

A gravity coffee billboard has a dig at the quality (or lack) of a well-known international coffee chain.

It's an excellent example of how a well developed advertising campaign can capture peoples attention and convey an effective message.

What is copywriting?

2008-02-22T22:02:00.003+13:00

It's easy to get caught up using jargon when we are too close to our own industry.

Recently I've been helping develop material about insurance and its been an excellent learning curve as I create & then edit information so it is easy to digest.

I have recently been reading about copywriting which I find interesting, but what actually is copywriting?

It seems to be a catch-all to describe a range of writing.

In my view, good copywriters should be able to describe who their target audience is, what issues they are experts in solving and how they can develop effective solutions.

What is success?

2008-02-17T21:02:00.003+13:00

I felt despondent when I failed to achieve my goal of running 5kms in less than 25 minutes recently.

Today I decided to set new goals for my run.

Goal 1 - Run 8kms.
Goal 2 - Run the first 3 in less than 15 minutes.
Goal 3 - Say a cherry hi to people I saw.
Goal 4 - Feel good.
Goal 5 - Be in touch with my spiritual side.

I learnt that setting smaller milestone goals are just as satisfying as bigger goals.

Professional membership for Financial Advisors

2008-02-16T14:26:00.003+13:00

On the 29th of February 2008, investment advisors in New Zealand will need to provide a Disclosure Statement before giving advice.

It's a good idea for advisors to be a member of a professional organisation.

There are a number of organisations to choose from. The links below take you to the membership application areas of each organisation.

Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (click)
Their website describes the organisation as the leading membership body for insurance and financial services professionals in the Asia Pacific region. Institute members belong to a community of more than 12,000 insurance and financial services professionals who are respected for their up-to-date skills and knowledge and integrity.

Institute of Financial Advisers (click)
The Institute of Financial Advisers' website states that they are the professional body for insurance advisers, investment advisers and financial planners. The Institute is an industry leader, representing over 1400 financial advisers throughout New Zealand.

Life Brokers Association of New Zealand (click)
Their website states that this organisation represents professional independent life insurance brokers in New Zealand and facilitates the professional development of life brokers and sets a standard of excellence within the industry.

Professional Advisors' Association (click)
According to their website, the PAA's primary purpose is to provide a full range of Professional Association services to its members (life insurance, investment and mortgage advisers).

Society of Independent Financial Advisors (click)
Their mission statement is to ensure members of SIFA provide the public with independent financial advice while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards.

In addition to these organisations, there are also industry bodies and associations.

Live while you're alive!

2008-02-12T19:27:00.000+13:00

Peggy Bourne is best known as the widow of the rally champion Possum Bourne, who was killed in a car accident in 2003.

Today I heard her story about her journey.

A child growing up with missionary parents in Africa.

Her marriage to Possum.

Her life after his death and the struggle to cope to take back her life.

She shared some of her life lessons, such as:

- Acknowledging mistakes & moving on.

- Live while you are alive.

- The strength her faith has given her.

I really enjoyed her story & learnt to appreciate life a little bit more.

The power of GOALS

2008-02-10T19:30:00.000+13:00

The more goals I achieve, the more I believe in the incredible (& sometimes scary) power of setting goals.

For me, GOALS stands for:

G = GAME. It has to be fun, like a game.
O = OBSTACLES. I need to know what stands in my way.
A = ANALYSE. I need to know where I've been, where I'm going & how I'm going to get there.
LS = LASER SIGHT. As in keep focussed on my goal like a laser sight on my target.

Steps to success in 2008 and in life

2008-02-02T22:04:00.000+13:00

The team from Red Hot Business Coaching spoke about it.

Rex Pemberton, the youngest Australian to conquer Everest, spoke about it.

The power of setting goals.

The really interesting thing is that they don't need to be realistic or achievable. They can be outrageous, unattainable and scary! The tougher the goal, the more inventive we become at how we might approach it.

So, step 1 is to set the goal.

Step 2 is to identify obstacles & develop strategies for overcoming them.

Step 3 was to know what we are passionate about because this will provide the fuel to attain the goal.

The next step was to develop the plan with milestones to achieve the goal.

Finally, get started! A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step - Lao-tzu

A successful sales lesson

2008-01-30T18:19:00.000+13:00

Like the bungy cord itself, which is made up of hundreds of small rubber strings bound together, the team at Taupo Bungy worked together to ensure a successful jump.

I can learn much from their smooth process that enabled me to achieve my goal of leaping off a platform 100's of feet above a river.

From the moment I stepped up to the counter, it was like a choreographed dance sequence. The guy behind the counter took my money, I signed the waiver & received an explanation that there was no refund.

When I got to the platform they rechecked my weight (in case I lost too much weight between paying my money & getting to the platform) strapped me in, double checked the binding and explained what would happen. They took me to the edge of the platform and it was as simple as smile at the camera, 3, 2, 1 BUNGEEEEEEEE.... and off I went.

Now, I expected them to ask me are you ready? Or are you sure? But they assumed that I paid my money, I wanted to bungy and their job was to ensure I achieved my goal.

How many times in sales do we get to the crunch question and the sale fails? I believe we would be more successful if we assumed that we are offering what the client wants and get on & do the business.

We can learn from this lesson and develop a process that ensures success from the start.

Travel tips for New Zealand #3 - Rotorua

2008-01-28T21:06:00.000+13:00

Paradise Valley Springs advertises being able to pat lion cubs as its main draw card, however in my opinion the fresh water spring was the highlight.

Make sure you take a drink bottle so you can fill it directly from this amazing spring. The water is cold & so very fresh.

The animals are varied and interesting and you are able to pat many of them. You can buy a small bag of grains to feed the animals and trout as you walk around.

It's worth packing a picnic although a small cafe is on site.

Travel tips for New Zealand #2 - Rotorua

2008-01-27T21:20:00.000+13:00

We were a little disappointed at the quality of the motel in Rotorua. Don't always believe what you see on the internet. The mineral plunge pool was more of a paddling pool. My advice is to do your homework first.

The first attraction we went to was the gondola & luge. This was a lot of fun & I would highly recommend it. The gondola provides some great views. The luge is a huge amount of fun, for all ages & abilities. It is very safe.

There are lockers available for your bags at the top of the gondola plus food and a souvenir shop. You can buy photos of yourself as you speed down the luge course or travelling in the gondola.

Best to go early in the day during busy periods as the course fills up but the lines were well managed.

Travel tips for New Zealand #1

2008-01-26T21:27:00.000+13:00

I had an idea to share what we did & learnt on our holiday to Rotorua, Taupo & Auckland (North Island, New Zealand), so that others might also have a memorable and enjoyable experience. I'll post a few blogs over the next few days/ weeks.

We travelled by van, breaking up the journey with regular stops.

One of the best things we did was to give each family member (Mum, Dad, 2 girls & 2 boys) a sports bag. If something didn't fit, we didn't take it. This meant there was no excess luggage or cramped conditions in the vehicle.

When travelling in New Zealand in summer take:
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Shorts
Pants
Tops
Socks
Swim wear
Enough underwear for the whole trip
Laundry bag
Camera
Journal or travel diary
Map
Drinks & nibbles
Good footwear

Tap water is safe to drink.

New Zealand is generally a safe country to travel in, but like every country has its criminal element. Lock valuables away and don't stray from groups late at night.

By planning ahead you will make the best use of your time in this beautiful country.

Lessons my kids have taught me #4

2008-01-24T22:15:00.000+13:00

I don't want to be famous.

I remember when my kids admired and wanted to be like Britney Spears but I look at the sad life that many celebrities lead and I wouldn't want to swap my life for theirs.

I read a great quote the other day which said that happiness is found in what you have, not what you want.

Lessons my kids have taught me #3

2008-01-17T21:25:00.000+13:00

Sometimes my kids don't give a bugger (that's kiwi speak for (amongst other things) not caring what others think about you).

I like the way they are confident about who they are.

Sometimes I can be too concerned about how I think others might view me (especially the PlayStation tan look at the pool), but I try to learn from my kids & not care what I look like.

Lessons my kids have taught me #2

2008-01-16T20:11:00.000+13:00

“Be what you are. Give what is yours to give. Have style. Dare.”
Stanley Kunitz (1905 – 2006) American poet

This Christmas my youngest son gave the family gifts. I was most impressed with mine. It was a booklet containing 4 shoulder massage vouchers.

Rather than spending money on stuff I didn't need, he used his skills to develop a unique gift that he knew would be appreciated.

He taught me the best gifts are not usually the ones bought from stores.

Lessons my kids have taught me #1

2008-01-13T17:11:00.000+13:00

One of the best business lessons I was taught was at the end of our family holiday.

My 17 & 15 year olds decided a bungy jump at Taupo sounded like a good way to top off the holiday.

I thought if they can do it, I’m not too old to have a go (although I was upset I had to check the 41 to 64 year old box on the form).

It was an amazing sensation as I jumped off the platform & was thankful to the professionals who had secured me safely.

Afterwards there was a feeling that we really can do anything we set our minds to. The important steps are:
1. To set the goal
2. Work out how to reach the goal
3. Ensure the right team is in place to help reach the goal
4. Take the leap & get started on the goal

The lesson I learned was that I am capable of more than I thought.

Setting stupid goals

2008-01-01T21:49:00.000+13:00

I don't know why I did it - probably just for the challenge.

3 years ago I set a stretch business goal - and I achieved it.
2 years ago I set a higher goal - and I achieved that too.

Last year I set a goal that was twice the previous year. I didn't need to, but I wanted to see what would happen. As I got closer to the end of 2007, I resigned myself that I would go close but wouldn't achieve the milestone.

But 3 days before Xmas it happened! I achieved the ridiculously high goal. I was thrilled (and relieved).

My boss is already talking about a 10 percent increase in business. I'm already thinking about increases in multiples.

I have learnt goals are truly powerful motivators.

I encourage anyone who wants to achieve success to plan for it.

KR Connect: NZRU: two fantastic choices

2007-12-07T07:27:00.000+13:00

KR Connect: NZRU: two fantastic choices

Let them prove it on the field

2007-12-07T07:20:00.000+13:00

Those who know about New Zealand rugby will understand our current anguish.

Do we oust the current coach who failed us at the rugby World Cup, or do we let him use his experience and win the cup in 2011?

I had an idea where the coaches prove themselves on the field (sorry if it sounds like Survivor - All Black island). The idea is that the coaches take turns picking players from a pool. They then have a week to coach a winning team.

The coaches teams play it out (like the possibles vs the probables in the old days) and the winner gets the job.

Movember 2007

2007-12-02T17:15:00.000+13:00

Even though I had lots of positive comments, encouraging me to keep the horseshoe mo, I decided it was time for it to go.

I was tempted to take up an offer to wax it off for $1,000, but wimped out.

I was proud to be part of the effort that raised over $1.5 million!

At the beginning of the month I set a goal and I exceeded this.

That’s the amazing thing about goals - when you know what you’re aiming for in any part of your life you are more likely to get it.

It’s not to late to sponsor my Mo.

Please go to http://www.movember.com/nz/donate, enter my registration number which is 87413 and your credit card details.

A big THANKS to everyone who has sponsored the Mo so far!

Memorable copywriting

2007-11-22T22:09:00.000+13:00

I came across an extraordinary piece of written art that has been stuck in my mind since I saw it a few days ago.

It was in a blog entitled "I still wish I had written this" by Drew McLellan

If you have anything to do with advertising. marketing or the written word - I suggest you check it out.

Thanks Susan for the link.

The secret of longevity

2007-11-19T19:52:00.000+13:00

My son received a birthday card from his 90+ year old Great Grandmother today which contained excellent advice.

The card read " The secret to a long life is ... to keep breathing".

She added " It's working for me so far".

It made us smile!

Today I joined Saatchi & Saatchi

2007-11-18T19:40:00.000+13:00

I am an active member of a number of on-line communities:

Flickr
Blogger
43 Things
Old Friends
Trade Me
E Bay

Yesterday I was invited to join Facebook, which I had heard of but hadn't investigated.

The networking aspect of Facebook attracted me & I have joined some groups, including Saatchi & Saatchi. Already I have found some interesting information that makes me feel part of this new community.

A challenge will be to manage my on-line time so I still have an off-line life!

The CEO on reception

2007-11-16T22:49:00.000+13:00

Today I had the pleasure of meeting a CEO on reception.

This CEO stood for Customer Engagement Officer. This staff member was not just pleasant & courteous, but genuinely cared.

I know the quote that says once you can fake sincerity you've got it made, but this CEO really was sincere.

I think many people could learn from this CEO by engaging with their customer and making them feel really special.

Perception is reality

2007-11-07T18:45:00.000+13:00

Today I realised that this should really be "Perspective is reality".

Different people have different perspectives of the same event.

Stephen Covey, author of The 7 habits of highly effective people, devoted a chapter to seeking first to understand before seeking to be understood.

In my view, to say the perception is reality is flawed (and can be dangerous). I suggest using the saying "Perspective is reality" to understand where others might be coming from.

I blame the All Blacks

2007-11-04T11:07:00.000+13:00

Things haven't been the same for me since the All Blacks lost to France and were sent home early from the rugby world cup.

Rather than accepting personal responsibility for what happened, maybe I should blame the All Blacks loss?

The reality is though, I went off the rails and got unbalanced and less organised. I'm not saying I was a complete disaster, but gradually various parts of my life began suffering.

Sometimes it seemed too hard to get back on track, because so many parts of my life felt out of balance, however by changing one small part of my life, the rest is starting to fall back in line again too.

I need to maintain balance and focus, not by blaming external factors (like the All Blacks), but by being personally accountable for my life.

All Blacks lose their quarter final against France

2007-10-10T21:10:00.000+13:00

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

~ Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)American statesman (26th US president: 1901-09) from "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910

It doesn't have to cost much

2007-09-24T22:44:00.000+12:00

At a cafe today I noticed a business card draw jar that offered a prize for a $50 voucher.

There must have been 200 business cards in the jar, which surprised me how cheaply people give away valuable information.

If you're looking for ideas to get leads, try a business card draw offering a prize.

Protecting a brand

2007-09-22T15:59:00.000+12:00

I think Kevin Robert's (from Saatchi & Sattchi) Lovemarks site is a great idea that engages many people through brands.

Lovemarks is also a good lesson in protecting a brand. I see that Kevin's PR company also own www.hatemarks.com.

I wonder how many companies proactively protect their brands and intellectual property in this way, or do they wait for an issue to react to?

Passion & Pride House

2007-09-20T19:30:00.000+12:00

You may not be aware that Saatchi & Saatchi have rebranded.

In recognition of the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup, Saatchi & Saatchi in Wellington have created an amazing experience.

The building has been rebranded Passion & Pride House.

Check out my elevator ride to the 5th floor and back with the All Black team.

This is Lovemarks in action!

Brand or "bland"?

2007-09-16T20:37:00.000+12:00

New Zealand has 7,701 SMEs per 100,000 of people (this is about twice as many as Australia) according to Lezlie Mearns from Maxim at Wellington's premier business event - Thrive.

She also challenged business owners to develop more meaningful vision statements rather than rolling out the usual cliched versions.

Lezlie suggested many businesses should rename their brand and refer to it as their "bland".

Company names should be:

Meaningful
Memorable
Future-proof
Visual

The graph above was to help business owners try and discover where they want their customers to see them. Where do your customers see you?

The tangible beneits of effective communication

2007-09-15T20:26:00.000+12:00

Reflecting on my season as a kids soccer coach, I believe one of the best things I did was to set up a blog so parents and relatives could see what was happening. It also helped them understand the game from my perspective.

Other teams had some off-field issues that probably could have been avoided with effective communication.

The other benefit of the blog is that we have a record of our season.

Thinking about how to communicate with other stakeholders in any environment can be a challenge. Having a communication strategy can help. I'm not suggesting a blog should be the only way to communicate. This soccer season, in addition to the blog, we communicated by text, phone, face to face and by e-mail.

When things are going well it is worth reflecting on what is working and to keep doing what works.

Getting "Buy-in"

2007-09-14T23:03:00.000+12:00

Sometimes I hear people talk about getting "buy-in".

I believe "ownership" is much more powerful than "buy-in".

Ownership allows people the chance of creating something that they will own and ensure it succeeds.

Where possible give people the opportunity to "own" it.

106%

2007-09-13T21:11:00.000+12:00

I recall being asked if I could do 6% better each month than the month before.

This clever little sum means in a little over a year I would be doing twice what I was doing the previous year. Great journeys start with single steps.

NZ made

2007-09-12T21:29:00.000+12:00

Today I met a memorable character called Davey Hughes.

Just when a number of clothing companies are being lured to China because of lower labour costs, Davey is committing to staying in New Zealand.

His staff and customers are loyal too.

The clothing is top quality. It gets used by hunters, farmers, defence forces and search and rescue.

His business tips were:

1. It's never too late to talk things over.

2. Fire customers who aren't fun.

3. Tell staff they must have 2 possible solutions to every problem they bring to you.

4. Remember there's more to life than business.

5. Customers own the brand.

6. Forget 'passion', focus on 'love'.

7. Treasure your brand & use intellectual property protection.

Is "Good" only average?

2007-09-10T22:00:00.000+12:00

98% of people say they are ‘good’ when asked ‘how are you?”.

In other words, people who say they are ‘good’ are really just average.

This week, have a week better that’s better than good.

Try using words like: ‘splendid’, ‘ideal’, ‘top-notch’, ‘pleasurable’, ‘unrivalled’, productive’, ‘brilliant’, ‘smashing’, ‘roaring’, the list is endless!

If you’re interested, my weekend was ‘world-class’.

7 Years Key Reflections

2007-09-09T21:27:00.000+12:00

The University of Auckland Business School established ICEHOUSE in 2001 to provide education for owner mangers. Recently they brought their 7 key reflections from the last 7 years alive in a workshop.

Back to basics.
Using Jim Collins' Good to Great, they challenged participants to identify:
a. What they are deeply passionate about.
b. What they can be the best in the world at.
c. What drives their economic engine

They also asked us where we had spent most of our time in the last month - using the urgent/ important matrix.
Getting to the heart of the matter.
We were asked to do a business exercise based around:
a. Winning
b. People
c. Passion
d. Purpose

We were also told about the need to confront brutal facts.
It's lonely out there.
We discussed the importance of conversations to:
a. Share stories with like-minded people.
b. Discuss problems.
c. Explore dreams.
d. Build confidence.
Serious play.
We shared ideas of making work fun and ensuring the owner manager knew how important their attitude was in determining the culture of the workplace.
Outside in thinking.
We were taught about perspective & reframing, also learning from the edge & blue sky thinking (rather than focusing on the competition).
Making it happen.
Setting and achieving goals will move the business forward.
Tension of growth.
Balancing profits day versus future growth.
Balancing the person and the business.

Overall, I found the workshop useful and thought-provoking. I thoroughly recommend taking time out of the business to spend working on the business.

2007-08-12T21:12:00.000+12:00

I recently joined a group on Flickr and its amazing how I'm now seeing new things.

For instance, this week there is a theme about nature being "framed". Guess what? I'm now seeing relevant shots. These shots have always been there of course, the only difference is they are now on my "radar", so I see them.

This same idea can be applied to other things we look for in life.

New customers.
New business opportunities.
New relationships.

If we know what we are looking for, we are more likely to find them.

It might be useful to write down what you are looking for in as much detail as you need, and who knows? You might find it!

Need more time in your day?

2007-08-04T21:51:00.000+12:00

The most effective time saving tool I ever used was reducing meeting times to 20 minutes.

In my role as a manager and decision maker I was seeing a lot of people. I was busy - so busy I was being ineffective.

When I started having 20 minute meetings people would come to the meetings prepared, focused and usually had a recommendation for action.

If you want to start using your time more effectively, try cutting your meeting times to 20 minutes.

Perspective

2007-07-27T21:42:00.000+12:00

Coaching my son's 11th grade soccer team has taught me more than I could ever teach them.

When I put my hand up to coach them I felt pressure for them to win games, until I was taught their main reason for player soccer was to have fun. Winning was important, just not the most important, not even in the top 5. So I made sure they had fun. We won some games too which was nice.

Last weekend the team were beaten 3 nil. It didn't seem important. In fact, coming off the field we didn't seem to care about the score. You see, one of the team lost his mother during the week. Somehow losing a game of soccer didn't seem that bad when you put it in perspective.

8 years ago my sister-in-law passed away after battling breast cancer at the far too young age of 29, leaving a husband and young son. Her ashes sit in a small casket on my china cabinet by my front door.

When I step outside each morning, no matter what the weather is doing, or if things go wrong during the day, when I put it in perspective, life is pretty good.

Paying for loyalty

2007-07-24T21:40:00.000+12:00

Today I was told that I will need to pay $10 a year to retain my Whitcoulls loyalty card.

This seems like a really short-sighted decision, asking loyal customers to pay to be loyal!

Shouldn't Whitcoulls be paying me to be loyal to them?

I guess the penny-pinchers are trying to save some money - but at the cost of loyal customers ...

Having an effective trade stand

2007-07-21T22:56:00.000+12:00

I recently attended a Small Business expo, showcasing the services and products available to small business owners.

I was very interested in the diverse range of stands offering their wares. Some stands stood out from others and it was interesting reflecting on why. For exhibitors that do it well, they can expect a journey PAVED with gold!

People
Some stands had excellent people who were able to engage easily with visitors. They usually started with a relevant open-ended question that was easy to answer like: "What business are you in?".

Attraction

Those stands that were popular had a draw card. These could be giveaways, prize draws or information packs. I believe a stand must be able to grab a visitors attention within 3 seconds. Sometimes this can be achieved by having an original or popular theme.

View
Successful stands gave visitors a view of what they offered and why you would deal with them. They made it easy to get information in a clear and logical space without any clutter.

Evaluate
Outstanding exhibitors were able to evaluate the needs and/ or wants of the visitor and recommend an acceptable solution.

Deal
Finally, the exhibitor does the deal. For some this will be getting your contact details to follow up after the show. For others it will be a commitment to an agreed action. Some will actually sell their product or service.

It's important that exhibitors and visitors think about the outcomes they are looking for before attending a show.

Exhibitors should develop a success plan that includes measure that will enable them to judge the success of their investment at the show.

#8 Wire

2007-07-18T21:35:00.000+12:00

New Zealand's early pioneers used number 8 fencing wire for their paddocks and also used it for a variety of other uses like gate latches, hooks, fixing cars and a variety of other uses.

New Zealanders today also embrace the number 8 wire mentality by being innovative and inventive. Coming up with new ideas using the tools at hand.

I love to embrace this mentality and making use and making do with what we have.

Love over gold

2007-07-17T22:20:00.000+12:00

It's interesting how songs have new meanings at different times.

I really love this Dire Straits album, but never really got into the song of the same name, until I actually thought about which I would choose ... Love ... or ... Gold ... ?

Like Mark Knopfler, I would choose Love over Gold.

I don't hear of too many people who found love through their pursuit of wealth, although I do know people who have found wealth in their pursuit of love.

Smart or dumb?

2007-07-15T20:05:00.000+12:00

Some time ago I worked out there are 2 types of people that I know.

The dumbest people I know think they know everything.

The smartest people I know realise how little they know.

Which are you?

As John Wooden, a basketball coach said:

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts"

Return on investment

2007-07-12T21:41:00.000+12:00

Working in the financial services industry, it's easy to calculate a return on investment.

Sometimes it's harder to measure the return on investment in other areas of my life.

Having spent a small fortune on our kitten, his "love" does seem stronger and somehow more rewarding. Although I'll never see a monetary return on my "investment" in his care, already the return on the "investment" feels extremely profitable.

The experience also taught me to appreciate what I have, rather than waiting until it is lost.

Who needs insurance?

2007-07-08T15:25:00.000+12:00

When the vet told me that I was looking at a bill between $600 and $1,200 for our $65 kitten I had to consider my options.

Smudge had survived a dog attack with a punctured lung, punctured diaphragm and broken ribs. Being a confident little guy, he probably didn't appreciate the danger he was in.

Even though we hadn't owned him for long he was a lovable member of the family and the thought of putting him down wasn't pleasant - I'd probably have to spend thousands paying for my family to have grief therapy, and then when that didn't work, it would be thousands more at the drug & alcohol rehabilitation centres (just kidding)!

So we got him fixed up.

With hindsight, I wondered whether we should have considered pet insurance. I'm in the insurance business, so you would think it would be top of mind - but it wasn't. Insurance is rarely bought - it's normally 'sold'.

The pet shop that sold me the kitten didn't mention insurance & the vet hadn't previously mentioned insurance when Smudge had vaccinations or got neutered.

With the advances in veterinary care, animals have a greater chance of survival - often at great cost though, so insurance for pets should at least be recommended.

I know I should've bought it - but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Goal + Plan = Success

2007-07-03T21:56:00.000+12:00

According to Brian Tracy we need to be goal (not wish) orientated.
The plan to achieve your goals is:

Decide exactly what you want.
Write it down & make it measurable.
Set a dead-line.
Make a list of everything you could do to achieve goals.
Organise the list.
Take action on your goal ASAP.
Do something everyday on your major goal.

3 activities for sales people

2007-07-02T21:16:00.000+12:00

Brian Tracy told the audience that sales professionals should be doing 3 things at all times:

Prospecting
Presenting
Closing

He said that we must be very good at these 3 activities to be successful.

He called the above diagram the "Iron Triangle of Selling"

Goal setting

2007-07-01T21:39:00.000+12:00

Brian Tracy had some excellent thoughts on goal setting, including the importance of clarity.

A goal must be able to be measured & it must have some action.

Brian suggested that a child should be able to tell whether a goal has been achieved.