Archive for the ‘Business Planning’ Category
When did you last really talk with your business partner about the direction of your small business and what YOU BOTH want from it?
- Want some help to establish clear business goals with your business partner?
- Is there more potential in the business but it’s just not running as smoothly as it could be?
- Want to retire or take a back seat but need to be sure that your partner is ready to take up the reins, or are you biting at the bit to take over the reins but they just don’t know how to let go?
Working with a business partner should give you a sounding board to talk through ideas, share concerns and work through the tough times together. But does it always work out that way for you?
Having a business partner brings its own challenges, even more so if you are a family run business or have set up with a friend. I often find that communication may not be as open as it could be for risk of upsetting the other party.
Avoiding sitting down and talking about the direction of the business and what each of you want from it, means you have less control over the direction of your business. Instead of working in harmony with your partner(s), there could be friction and pulling in different directions, causing personal rifts, frustration and procrastination in decision making.
Business is tough enough as it is so you really want to be pulling in the same direction – where there is least resistance and where inspiration flows! Working towards joint goals brings any potential issues into the open so they can be resolved. You need to know what your business partner wants and how that is in line with, or different to, what you want.
Not taking the time to really talk about the future with business partners is pretty common as you are so focused on running the day to day business and keeping your head above water. Taking time out to discuss the future of your business and your part within it, seems a luxury for which you just don’t have the time!
Trust me – you need to find the time. That’s where I can help. Help you work through your joint business vision and set time bound goals to ensure you are going in the same direction. That’s why I am tailoring my successful Vision Formula Workshop to specifically help business partners get their year in gear – or as it has been fondly renamed by delegates, get your ‘ar.. in gear!’
To encourage two of you to come along and work through joint vision goals, the second delegate comes free. The delegate fee is £87 – so that’s only £43.50 each! I will take a maximum of 8 delegates on the workshop so we have time to talk through specific issues and set clear goals that work for you. That means I only have spaces for 4 sets of business of partners – and one place is already booked. So email me NOW!
The 3 hour workshop is on Tuesday 12 February 9.30-12.30 at The Hand and Sceptre, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells.
You will leave the 3 hour workshop with:
- A core 3 year business vision that clarifies what you both want from your business
- A reality check on where you are now
- Key measurable goals by which to track progress
- An action plan to get you started
Places are limited to 8 delegates – that’s just 4 sets of business partners for just £87 for you both. So email me now or ring me on 01732 851858 to book your place.
Santa’s Secrets to Small Business Success in 2013!
I couldn’t let 2012 end without wishing you all a very merry Christmas!
The festive season is a wonderful time to look back over the year and celebrate your successes. It’s also the best time to begin thinking about the things you want to achieve in 2013 and to start putting plans in place to make sure you are on track to accomplish these.
Try using my S-Model to get you thinking about what you can do differently to achieve your goals and gain the quality of life you want:
Step out of your business and make the time to really consider where your business is and where you want it to go in the next year.
Set goals so you can measure your progress and know when you get there. Plan what needs to be done to reach these goals. Whether it’s increasing your marketing, improving your delegation or even reviewing the products or services you offer, be specific about what needs to be done.
Stop doing activities that are not giving you the return you are seeking and are not aligned to your goals. That’s why measurements are so critical to the success of your business – you will know where best to invest your time, money and effort!
Sustain your efforts where you are getting the outcomes you are seeking. If it is working do more of it!
Start taking action! Don’t procrastinate! Prioritise what needs to be done and get started. Taking the first step will result in a natural high from the release of endorphins in your brain and make you happier, spurring you on to take more action!
Step Up! Once you’ve started, remember to make time to regularly review your progress and realign your plans, making sure that you get the support you need to step up your business and stimulate personal and business growth.
Denise Molloy works with owner managers to build a profitable and sustainable business that provides the quality of life you want. To regularly receive Denise’s tips, sign up here.
Part 3: Want more time to get more ideal clients? Make it happen!
In Part 1 of my latest blog series, I asked you to think about where you are and what else you want. Part 2 offered tips to get you started. In my last blog of the series I want to help you make it happen!
So here are my final 3 Tuesday Tips to help you gain more time and get more clients.
Live by your values and build on your strengths to gain the work life harmony you want. Get the balance that is right for you and that is congruent with your values. If fun, growth, security and love for your family are all values you live by, make sure you don’t set goals that contravene them. Be aware of your strengths and play to them, you will be happier in what you do and you will be make it happen.
Surround yourself with a strong team who complement your strengths. Delegate or outsource tasks that you don’t enjoy or for which you don’t want to acquire skills – others will do a better job of it than you and it will work out to be more cost effective in terms of time, and being able to sleep at night!
Don’t dilly dally! Speed of implementation will get results faster and inspire confidence to take the further action that’s needed to step up your business! In my first blog I promised that if you take time to plan you will get better results, but results only come if you have the courage and confidence and commitment to implement that plan!
Denise Molloy works with owner managers to build a profitable and sustainable business that provides the quality of life you want. To regularly receive Denise’s tips, sign up here.
Blog: Small Business Owners – not enough hours in the day?
Always near the top of the list of obstacles to success for small business owners is not having enough hours in the day. This leads to procrastination – you don’t know what to do first and start feeling overwhelmed as you get stuck!
Take a moment to think about why you went into business in the first place. Do you recall looking forward to having more control over your time so you could spend quality time with the family at the weekend, or go away for a few days with friends?
If you have attended my Vision Formula Workshop you know that we work on how your business fits in with what is important in your life; where your business is now and where you want it to be.
Once you have that plan in place you just need to get on and do it! Work through these steps to get back control of your day and give yourself space to think about what’s important, so you can get it done!
Step 1 Plan your time by thinking through the outcome you are seeking. Refer to your business vision and aspirations. Be clear it is time well spent and is taking you towards your goals. I like to work out a monthly, weekly then daily plan.
Step 2 Prioritise what needs to be done. Consider the benefits of doing a task and the consequences of not. Then decide if they are essential and the timescales required.
Step 3 Record the tasks to be done in a way that suits the way you like to work. If you are kinaesthetic you probably prefer a paper and pen method. I know I much prefer to sit down with my diary and work out what I need to do when. If you enjoy techie stuff and playing on your ipad or smart phone – use that!
Step 4 Have a good look at each of the tasks and think hard if they really need to be done .What would happen if you ignored a particular task? What are the benefits of doing it? Cross out anything that isn’t essential and for which you cannot see a benefit – STOP doing it!
Step 5 Identify what you have to do but would rather not! For items that need to be done but you don’t enjoy and regularly put off, look around and see who else could do them. There will be someone who actually enjoys doing it, can do it faster and dare I say, even better! It might be your accounts – invoicing, chasing outstanding invoices – or marketing. If you can delegate – do so! You may say ‘but I can’t afford to’. Before you do, make some enquiries; you could be pleasantly surprised as specialists take fewer hours to do the job plus it takes the stress away from you. It will give you more time to do what you do best and enjoy – another reason you set up a business!
Step 6 For the essential items you have to undertake, keep them on your list and touch them every day. By making progress every day, if only for 10 minutes, it will get done. Make the task an appointment in your diary rather than a task – you wouldn’t miss an appointment with a customer; treat this the same. To avoid procrastination make it the first appointment of the day to get it out of the way.
Step 7 Make a plan for the weekend that includes your leisurely pursuits then you won’t have time to work! Write a list of all the things you want to do but have put off as you haven’t had time. You are now making time so put them in your calendar and enjoy!
DON’T MISS OUT! For those that need that extra bit of help and support to stay on track, keep an eye out for my Birthday Bonus – coming soon.
Denise Molloy specialises in working with owner managers to build a sustainable and profitable business that suits their lifestyle.
Blog: It’s July and time to ask ‘Am I happy with what I’ve achieved so far in 2012?’
It’s July already! 2012 seems to be racing by so I thought now would be a good time to revisit the blogs I posted in January about goal setting for the year.
If you’ve met some of your goals already, fantastic, this post will help you keep on track. If not, it’s time to sit down and refocus on achieving what you want in 2012.
Where to start? Steven Covey advocates starting with the end in mind but I want to turn that on its head and start with:
What have you achieved in 2012 so far?
- What successes have you had? They don’t have to be huge. Success as measured in terms of what you wanted to happen.
- Who helped contribute to your success? Keep them around and make sure they know they are valued!
- How well did you manage to play to your strengths, to do what you do best and retain inspiration for your business?
What are your goals for the next 6 months?
- How did you make your successes happen? If you want a repeat of the success, what can you do again this year to make it happen again?
- What didn’t happen that you tried to achieve? What do you need to do differently to make it a reality this year?
- What didn’t you make time to even try last year that you really want to go for this year? How are you going to make time for it now? How much of a priority is it?
Just by writing down your considered responses, it will start your creative juices flowing as to how to get on track – but remember five very important steps when writing your goals.
Write your goals in the positive
For example, ‘stop procrastinating over sales calls’ becomes, ‘make x number of sales calls per day’. The power of the written word cannot be overstated, and writing them in the positive gives your subconscious something to act upon. It needs to know what to do to move forward – not what not to do.
Write your goals in the present
Visualise yourself fulfilling your goals just as athletes see themselves winning their race and standing on the podium. It builds your confidence that you are already doing it – it’s a done deal!
Make goals you can track
You will need to know how far you have travelled, and if you need to take a detour to reach your chosen destination. Remember if you want a different result, you will need to do something differently so make sure you monitor your progress to maintain control.
Step out of your comfort zone and step into your stretch zone.
Whilst making sure your goals are achievable, make sure you are maximising your potential to stimulate personal and business growth.
Review your written goals regularly and share them with those who will encourage and support your efforts. It will help you keep on track and make them happen.
Small business owners -Plan for success in 2012
Happy New Year!
My last blog suggested you look at next year’s goals for your small business when you had an hour or so to spare over Christmas. I have to say – I took a full break over the holidays and had a great time with family doing very little work. I hope you were able to do the same!
2012 is here NOW so where to start? Steven Covey advocates starting with the end in mind but I want to turn that on its head today and start with:
What did you achieve in 2011?
- What successes did you have? They don’t have to be huge. Success as measured in terms of what you wanted to happen.
- Who helped contribute to your success? Keep them around and make sure they know they are valued!
- How well did you manage to play to your strengths, to do what you do best and retain inspiration for your business?
What do you want to happen this year?
- How did you make your successes happen? If you want a repeat of the success, what can you do again this year to make it happen again?
- What didn’t happen that you tried to achieve? What do you need to do differently to make it a reality this year?
- What didn’t you make time to even try last year that you really want to go for this year? How are you going to make time for it now? How much of a priority is it?
Just by writing down your considered responses, it will start your creative juices flowing as to how to get on track.
If you would like a booster to help you get started, come to my 3 hour workshops in Tonbridge and Maidstone to Get Your Year in Gear.
You will leave with:
- A core 3 year business vision that clarifies what you want from your business
- Key measureable goals by which to monitor progress towards making your vision a reality
- A personal needs analysis and development plan to achieve personal and business growth
Click here to find out more and book. Places are limited to 12 for each workshop so that you get individual attention from me and Kathy de Koningh of Skills South East.
If you would like to get in touch with me to discuss the support I can offer you, please do ring me on 01732 851858 or email.
Meantime here’s to you taking action to make 2012 as successful as you want it to be!
Denise Molloy is a business and performance coach who works with owner managers to take their business to the next stage.
Register to receive her blogs direct so you don’t miss out.
Goal setting for small business owners to build a sustainable and profitable business.
7 Simple Steps to Get Your Year in Gear!
The New Year is approaching and you may be thinking of New Year’s resolutions. Stop now! Instead, start thinking about where you are now and where you want to be – then set measurable and achievable goals to get you on track and keep you on track.
Plan – then take action to make it happen
Don’t you find that during the year you can get so caught up working in the business that you lose your way and end up on a rough track or road that is harder to travel?
Written goals provide you clarity of direction that set you and your business up for success – it’s your commitment to take action to make things happen. By taking time out to plan your route you are giving yourself the power of choice about your journey. Some call it a business plan, a business vision. Call it what you like as it is your route to success. It is a series of goals to get you where you want to be.
Make more time!
You may know where you want to go but without taking time out to make a written plan or map of how to get there, you are losing valuable time, a commodity that all business owners just want more of!
So when you have the odd hour over Christmas, don’t think new year resolutions – think positive measurable goals and take time to get your thoughts on paper so you are back to work with the focus you need to get the results you want.
Follow these 7 steps in writing down your goals to help you make more time, get you on track and keep you on track for business growth.
- Think about what you really want from your business?
Be clear on the lifestyle you want to have so that your business fits into your life rather than your life fitting around your business. Make sure you are working to your own measures of success and not what others expect from you.
- Live by your values and work to your strengths to gain the work life harmony you want
Get the balance that is right for you and that is congruent with your values. If fun, growth, security and love for your family are all values you live by, make sure you don’t set goals that contravene them. Be aware of your strengths and play to them, you will be happier in what you do and you will be setting yourself up for success.
- Write your goals in the positive
For example, ‘stop procrastinating over sales calls’ becomes, ‘ make x number of sales calls per day’. The power of the written word cannot be overstated, and writing them in the positive gives your subconscious something to act upon. It needs to know what to do to move forward – not what not to do.
- Write your goals in the present –
Visualise yourself fulfilling your goals just as athletes see themselves winning their race and standing on the podium. It builds your confidence that you are already doing it – it’s a done deal!
- Make goals you can track
You will need to know how far you have travelled, and if you need to take a detour to reach your chosen destination. Remember if you want a different result, you will need to do something differently so make sure you monitor your progress to maintain control.
- Step out of your comfort zone and step into your stretch zone.
Whilst making sure your goals are achievable, make sure you are maximising your potential to stimulate personal and business growth.
- Review your written goals regularly
Share them with those who will encourage and support your efforts. It will help you keep on track and make them happen.
If you want to give your business a kick start come along to one of my January workshops to Get Your Year in Gear. Click here to find out more.
Denise Molloy works with small business owners to get them on track and stay on track for personal and business growth to live the lifestyle they choose.
Working from home
I’m a member of the Women In Business, West Kent Group and I was recently asked to present on ‘Working from home’. It was a great evening where we shared challenges and ideas with a stark realisation of the common issues home workers face. Jade Pluck, the group’s social media guru, wrote a post and she has agreed that I can guest her on my blog. I hope the ideas help you to work more effectively from home.
We had one of our members Denise Molloy speak to us re Working from Home, this is a subject which plays an important part to most of our members, and what a fantastic session it was. I think we all got one or two things off our chest about the trials we face when working from home and you know what they say “a problem shared is a problem halved” and I think was the case.
So what did I take away from the session; well the most important thing when you are working by yourself is to have a Board of Directors, these could be people such as:
- People who you can talk to and who are supportive of your business and you
- Having someone you are accountable to therefore achieving the goals you have put in place
- Partner with people/associates who have the strengths you don’t
We also discussed what our “driver” is, now most of us have set up our business as we are passionate about it which is great and you can really tell the enthusiasm when we talk about what we do, but we all need to think what we want to get out of it, is it a better work life balance or to earn a bigger income to help support your family – whatever it is really stay focused to make sure you get their (don’t forget your Board of Directors if you get stuck).
When it comes to self-management make sure you
- Play to your strengths
- Structure your day
- Maximise your time (doing what is most important at this point in time)
- Manage your activity
- Balance your energy
So how can you make sure you are using your time effectively, quite simply look at this A – E model below:
A – Tasks that must get done, allocate time for them
B – Be good to do
C – Could do if nothing better
D – Delegate
E – Eliminate
In conclusion I think we all took away something that was beneficial to us, for me it’s what I am going to eliminate from my to do list.
Emma Cox took away from the session:
- Surround yourself with supportive people
- Have a buddy
- Know your inspiration for working
- Check your passion – do you enjoy what you do? If not, do something else.
- Recognise your drivers and arrange your business around them.
What did you take away from it?
One last tip,Denise suggested a great book: Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
If you would like to speak to Denise then please do get in contact with her here.
Written by Jade Pluck of Virtually Anywhere
Denise is running two morning workshops in January to help
‘Get Your Year into Gear’
Thurs 12 January in Tonbridge and Wednesday 18 January in Maidstone.
Full details to follow soon but each date will be restricted to 12 people so if you want to be the first to know make sure you sign up for her newsletter here.
Buddy Up and Take Action to Achieve Your Business Goals
In my group coaching programmes, I suggest ‘buddying up’ with another group member to whom you hold yourself accountable to take the actions needed to move you and your business forward.
For my group members, it’s like having a second coach who will chivvy them on between our forums and prevent procrastination. They each have a coaching journal to record their actions as by writing down and talking through actions, it helps create a mindset to make it happen.
So find yourself a buddy to add to your board of directors who will help you achieve your goals. Choose someone who complements your experience and skills so there is mutual support and keep in regular contact.
Consider half hour calls and alternate weekly who is going to take action and record it in your ‘coaching journal’. The following questions may help formalise it a tad just to make sure it doesn’t become a social chat – you can do that on another call!
Before you agree your action points, make sure they are congruent with your strengths and values. If they are not, review them or ditch them. You want to set yourself up for success so only set yourself actions that are achievable.
1. What actions have you agreed to take this week?
2. Are they recorded in your coaching journal?
3. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 high, how committed are you to taking action?
4. If less than 9, consider the benefits of taking the action, then the consequences of doing nothing.
5. If you still score any action at less than 9, really think what will motivate you to Step Up and take action. If you are not motivated, consider if you should put your efforts into areas which you are ready to Step Up and grow your business.
6. When will you take each of these actions? Be date and time specific.
7. What may get in your way that may prevent you taking these actions?
8. What can you do to overcome any barrier to make sure it happens?
Denise Molloy is a business and personal performance coach – find out more here!
Blog: Do more of what you do best to grow your business
DO MORE OF WHAT YOU DO BEST AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS TO ACHIEVE TOP PERFORMANCE
It was great fun appearing on Kent’s Business Bunker radio last week where I was given the opportunity to talk about my passion – discovering and working to your strengths (my segment starts about half way through the show!).
Do you know your leading strengths and do you use them?
The show stimulated a lot interest and curiosity. So I wanted to take the opportunity in this post to feed the interest by recommending the Strengthsfinder 2.0 book by Tom Rath. Rath explains the Gallup research that underpins the profiling, after which you are given a pin number to take the profile online. It will generate a report that details your top 5 leading strengths and recommends actions you can take to best utilise your unique strengths. The book also tells you about the other strengths measured in the profile that you may also recognise in yourself and others.
It was my experience working within the Gallup Organization that inspired me to become a coach and to focus my energies or moving people away from fixating and worrying about what they can’t do and towards focusing on what they do best and managing their limitations.
Discover the power of combining your strengths with that of others
I always include strengths and personality profiling in my coaching programmes as a solid building block from which you and your business can grow, and to help you identify what you are looking for in others to complement your strengths and move you towards your business vision and goals . In particular my group coaching programme kicks off with a 1-2-1 to discover your strengths and how you can best focus your energies to your business vision and planning.
If you want to find out more, please get in touch or even better, come and meet me at the Launch and Briefing evening for the Step Up! Forums in Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday 28 September 6-8pm. Please RSVP on my linkedIn Event.
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Denise Molloy has made a name for herself as the woman who provides bespoke coaching and mentoring for small business owners to achieve top performance. Check out how Denise can help you Step Up Your Business