Before you explode, check your default settings

People are going to do things that piss you off. 

Friends, family, suppliers and clients have their own agenda and despite your best efforts to control the world around you things are going to happen that make your blood pressure rise. While you have virtually zero control of what happens to you, you do have the power to choose your response.

I'm a sensible, analytical person and in theory I've known for a long time that I have the power to choose my reaction to a situation. The problem is that this knowledge was purely academic. It really clicked into place in my overstressed brain when I took some time over December 2013 to step back from my frantic rat race lifestyle to recharge.

Sitting in a hammock, sipping coffee I read Austrian Psychologist and Neuroscientist Viktor Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning". Frankl's main message in the book is that between stimulus (what happens to us) and response (how we choose to react) we have the power to choose. What gives his message weight? He is a survivor of the Holocaust who spent a large chunk of his life in Nazi death camps. If this man could do it, despite his circumstances - what is our excuse?

Doing things the way we've always done them is easy. Effortless. Just slip into that groove that you've carved out by repeating the same behaviour over and over. Breaking old habits and doing the things you know you should be doing to move forward is not easy. Sometimes we don't even understand our true drivers or motivators. Why do we do what we do? Romans 7:15 sums this dilemma up well:

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."

Slipping into old patterns is easy. Getting out of them...hmmm...not so much.

The first step on the road to change is being realistic about where you are right now, and how you got there - be it your personal or professional life. Don't get stuck in excessive introspection though. The "looking in" part is only effective its coupled with "looking out". What circumstances do you find yourself in, and how can you make an impact for the benefit of others in those circumstances?

Essentially its about relationships. About making a difference where you are. About being the best you that you can be. Be brutally honest with yourself about what needs to change in your mindset today and start consciously exercising your power to choose.

Go and make a difference this week!

Take that red bull by the horns in 2014!

We've hit the first official South African working week with a bang. Well in my case it was the shrieking of my phone alarm. Getting up at 6am is a shock to the system when you're been chilling under the covers till 8am for 3 weeks solid. 

Now before you "hard working", "seize the day", "early bird catches the worm" types judge me for being a lazy bum - hear me out. When you run your own business, taking time off from it is essential to its sustainability. 

I've been running my business for while and my mindset has definitely shifted since the early days. In the past, when I heard the words "I can't take time off, my business needs me." I used to think"Wow. That's dedication and discipline. 
Now I think, "Damn. That's a surefire recipe for burnout." How do I know? Because I've pushed myself to the brink of burnout (and beyond) too many times. 

I'm not saying don't be passionate. I'm also not saying you shouldn't push the boundaries and challenge yourself. I'm saying make sure that you are replenishing what you are giving out. You can only expend a certain amount of energy before you run out completely and come to a grinding halt. 

I recently started reading Steven Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Not as a cry for help/ my life is a mess new years resolution though. If you take a look at the crowd size in gyms (which will steadily start thinning out between now and March) you'll quickly deduce - making a glib new years resolution is bullshit. It doesn't last. You need to really "count the cost before you build the tower." There's a big difference between making a resolution and setting a goal. If you haven't read 7 Habits yet I suggest you get a copy. It's a gem. I've started putting the concepts into practice and they've already yielded some very satisfying results in my personal life and my business. Here's a link to the book summary

One of the concepts that is helping me get a bit more balance as an entrepreneur is breaking my life up into all the different roles I have personally (Believer, Individual, Wife, Mother, Friend, Writer etc) and professionally (Strategy Manager, Sales Manager, Social Media Manager, Editor etc). After identifying the roles, step 2 is setting goals for each role (long, medium and short term) and planning your week according to those goals.

If you read any management books, attended seminars or trawled the internet you'll have come across the concept of "SMART" goal setting.

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound

Don't push yourself to burnout this year. Set goals. Find the balance. Work hard. Work smart. Keep focus on what is important across your personal life and your business. Chug back the occasional Redbull if you need to, but make sure you're generating most of your energy from getting enough rest, relaxation and a balanced diet.

Now go out there and rock your week!

Be careful who you stand on when you're climbing your way to the top

When it comes to life (and business) relationships rule. Sure, what you know plays a role - but who you know and how you treat them can either bring you success or innumerable headaches.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm not sure my success would not taste as sweet if I had a trail of dead bodies in my wake. There's ambition and then, there's ruthlessness. Make sure you know which of those you are displaying.

One of the problems is that people guard their feelings/ thoughts like the crown jewels.
If we were able to clearly express our views without either party getting easily offended perhaps there would be less unnecessary bloodshed in business. We need to develop thicker skins!

Unfortunately things go unsaid far too often. We even lie to ourselves. Maybe we're not doing it intentionally but by default. We're so busy rushing around trying to pioneer new ventures, keep cashflow healthy, meet deadlines - that there is very little time for reflection. Take the time to sit quietly, to turn down the volume of your entrepreneur brain and just take stock of where you are. Ask yourself - "Where in my life or my business am I conning myself? What am I feeling? How am I acting toward or communicating with others?"

The relationships you develop in business can be your most valuable resource. By all means, shake the boat, but do it for the right reasons. Don't just piss people off left right and centre because you don't know how to communicate clearly. 

So my question is - where do you draw the line? Is it possible to be tactful, but still communicate the truth openly and get positive results? Let me know what your thoughts are.

Vision and Success

Success starts with vision. Only when you know where you're heading can you chart a course to reach your destination.

How many of us can truly say we know exactly where we're going? Not many. And it shows. We get stuck in the unconscious incompetence phase and through ignorance (sometimes willful) we stay there. If you don't acknowledge your vulnerability, and you project a "I've got all it all together" image to the world - you are sabotaging your progress. 

Life is messy. Now matter how hard we "fake it till we make it" we are not perfect, and the sooner we get real with ourselves about where we stand, the sooner we can do something about getting from where we are to where we want to be. 

What do you want your life to look like in 3 months, 6 months, 12 months... 2 years time? 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that many entrepreneurs operate on autopilot - without thinking about where the plane is headed. We deal with the challenges of the moment...Which warning lights are flashing? Is there enough fuel? Is an engine on fire? Watch out for that mountain! I understand that you need to be aware of present challenges but if all your energy is focused on the now, without maintaining a clear sense of your final destination, you may be headed for a crash landing. 

If planning 2 years ahead scares you, start smaller. Think 12 months. What does success look like to you at the end of that time period? Imagine yourself there. What does it sound like, taste like, smell like? What emotional state are you in? Looking back, what have you achieved to get to that point?

Now go and write it down. It should look something like this (disclaimer - this just a fictional example - not my personal "destination")

It's the first of October 2014, and I am walking in the beach at Fishoek. The waves are splashing over my toes. The water is freezing. A feel free and content. I'm in Cape Town to facilitate and film the Hookup Dinners, which happen on the 1st Thursday of the month. The dinners are wildly successful and I get at least 5 qualified leads for business at each event.

So there you have! Go set some goals Tiger! 

Kiss Kansas Goodbye - The Branson Centre Advanced Course

Wow. 

I'm still trying to process what has happened over the last 3 months. In April I embarked on an adventure called "The Branson Centre Advanced Course". Having attended the Foundation course in October 2012, I thought I had an idea of what to expect. 

I started my business partly out of necessity. There was a little too much month left at the end of my money. I also had a dream, but wasn't entirely sure how to go about executing it effectively. One of the facilitators that made a huge impact on my way of thinking over the last 3 months, John Ballam, reminded us of something called "Unconscious Incompetence". At that stage of your business development journey you don't know what you don't know.

Your business doesn't operate in a vacuum. As an entrepreneur, your business is an extension of you. Your values, personality and aspirations are woven into the fabric of your company. If you want a better business, you need to work on yourself first. 

The Foundations course (which you can get more details on by viewing past posts) opened up the curtains to reveal my unconscious incompetence. The Advanced course set the curtain on fire and left nothing but a smouldering heap of ash - and a stark view of me, wide eyed and painfully, consciously aware of my incompetence.  It was a serious shock to my system.

This is not a comfortable place to be. But comfort is for children. If you want to be an entrepreneur, welcome being uncomfortable - because that's the point that motivates change. 


Here's how the cycle works:

Over my next series of posts, I'm going to attempt to explain what happened during the Advanced course from a business perspective. Slightly more difficult to explain (but for you, I'll try!) is how the last 3 months have impacted me personally. 

As a taste of what you're in for - I'd like to leave you with a quote from the Matrix's shady character, Sypher - "Buckle up Dorothy, because Kansas is going bye bye".

CTV: Refreshed and Reloaded

 In a world where first impressions count, we have one chance to make an impact.  CTV hit the proverbial refresh button this month and will soon reveal its ‘reloaded’ look-and-feel across the board – both on and offline.

We’re excited about the changes. As a vibrant, dynamic, up-to-date team widely recognized as one of South Africa’s premier providers of customised training videos, we wanted to embrace a new look for our brand that communicates this. 

CTV: producing quality, cutting-edge customized training videos for your industry

The changes have been incremental though, as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Managing Director Denise Sherman, had this to say:

“Entrepreneurship is a journey of growth, both personally and professionally. Over the last year, particularly as a result of our journey with the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, we have really grown. Who we are, where we are now as a business and where we want to be is a lot clearer. We want our new brand to relect on the outside the transformation that’s already going full steam ahead on the inside.

Rebranding can be a daunting task. We’ve wanted to do it for a few months already, but one of the main mental hurdles we’ve had to get over is “Who do we approach to do the rebrand for us?”. Finding the right person to walk your rebrand road with you is more of a process than picking up a yellow pages and finding a designer. Your “brand architect” needs to have a similar flavour to that of your company. Their vision, values and approach should be in sync with yours.

We have been fortunate enough to engage exactly the right person – Paul Taliadoros from Downtown Design. Paul is one of my fellow Branson Centre Entrepreneurs, and completely sold me when he presented his business to the class. He has a fresh, slightly cheeky, “out-of-the-box” approach – which resonates with us. In short – exciting stuff ahead. Watch this space."

A better business starts with a better you

The Branson Centre regularly blows my mind. Whether its the people in my class, the passionate staff or the knowledgeable course facilitators - every interaction I've had has filled my brain almost to bursting point. If you like being comfortable, living a safe and predictable life - stay away from the Branson Centre.

I started with the Centre in October 2012, and its been an adventure so far. I've met people that inspire and challenge me on a daily basis. It's not comfortable at all. But that's fine by me. Comfortable does not yield results. Comfortable does not shake the planet. Comfortable does not bring about change and challenge.

I've had challenge in bucket loads since starting the Foundations of Entrepreneurship course. So much challenge that sometimes I wish I could press the pause button while my body catches up to where my brain is. One of the things that I so appreciate about being in this environment is the infectious positive attitude of my fellow Entrepreneurs. It's a hard road when you're running your own business, but its also very satisfying. Interacting with people who are taking risks, following their dreams and persisting despite problems inspires me.

So where am I in my journey at the moment? I'm in the third week of a 12 week advanced course. I've been manically busy since completing the foundations course, and my business has gone through a radical transformation. Our turnover has increased dramatically, and we've gone from a team of 2 to a team of 5 (and possibly employing our 6th person by the end month). I've made some great connections, gained clients and entered into joint ventures with some of my fellow tenacious and driven Branson Centre Entrepreneurs. My favorite venture that we're involved with at the moment is The Hookup Dinner (see https://www.facebook.com/TheHookupDinner ) If you're in Johannesburg, South Africa you should definitely check it out.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the connections I make, and the knowledge I gain during the Advanced Course will affect my life and my business.

So there you have it, the scene is set - let's jump straight in to what's happened so far

Session: 1 Personal Effectiveness, Thursday Class
Presenter: Deshun Deysel

I couldn't help but be inspired by this session. Deshun is a prime example of what can be achieved when you set goals and exercise persistence. In her case the exercise part is quite literal. Deshun is an avid mountaineer, most notably - the first black South African woman to climb the mighty Everest. Running a business is (or should be) about more than making money. Primarily it's about living your passion and achieving the goals you've set. Ou have to really know what you want and what it's going to cost or take to get what you want.

Some of the things that stood out from Deshun's presentation for me:

Personal growth is the catalyst for business growth. If you want a sustainable business that makes an impact, you have to start with you. A better you results in a better business.

You need to be deliberate about your development. Start by assessing where you are, and determine where you want to be. Then track your progress. Monitor your growth and development an a monthly basis.

You need competence in the boring stuff (accounting, legal compliance etc.) - challenge yourself!
Your business may be started on you your passion but you need to fill in the gaps

Deshun's session was focused on personal development, using a model she's developed called the Peak Performance Toolkit. It details 5 areas of effectiveness for personal success

1. Aspiration - vision, mission, values, purpose, (clear direction) live in your flow
2. Self mastery - locus of control/ area of control, resilience, accountability, motivation
3. Competence - talent, skills, knowledge and experience
4. Environment - policies and procedures, culture, systems, diversity (its up to you create the environment in your company. How does your presence add to or draw from it?
5. Opportunity - Luck, (opportunist is not negative, recognizing and taking advantage of opportunity), preparation, success and failure.

We're all developing in each of these areas. Some areas are more developed than others.To be truly effective, there needs to be a balance.

During the session we completed an assessment, and charted where we were in each of the areas. That part was relatively easy. Gauging we were. What I (and many people in my class) struggled with was setting goals in each of those areas in the short term (0-5 years), medium term (6 - 15 years) and long term (15 years plus).

We'll be doing the same assessment again in the second and third months of the course, and tracking our progress. My two big areas that I'd like to make progress in are Aspiration and Competence.

Watch this space!