Sunday, 30 March 2008
Creative Photography
| Do you hate having your picture taken at a photographer's studio - always feeling the look is forced? One enterprising photographer in the US (MethodIzaz.com) has taken the good bits of paparazzi and put them into their business. Subjects provide him with their schedule for the day, and the photographer does his best paparazzi impersonation, quietly taking candid shots as you go through your day. You don't know when or where you will be photographed, and in many cases you don't even know you are being photographed. The results are natural, real and quite interesting. Wonder if any photographers in Australia will pick up the idea? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas |
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Awareness & Focus
| Sometimes it is important to focus on achieving your goals. Watch this video ... Sometimes focusing too hard on your goal means you miss the fun things in life. Are you too focused to miss the wonderfully rich things in life? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: goal setting, goals |
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Managing your appointments
 Many small businesses run on appointments - think of hairdressers, alternative therapists and vets. One of the ongoing struggles for these businesses is managing their dreaded appointment book. Their appointment book is in constant change with people canceling, rescheduling and just plain old not showing up for appointments. That's why I loved this blog post by Alternative Health Practice.com - it outlines some great strategies to help all businesses manage their appointments. Some of the tips include:
Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: time management |
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
How small is small business?
 I read an interesting post from A Modern Goddess Online blog - there are over 1.88 million private sector, non-agricultural small and micro businesses in Australia. (Small business is defined by the ABS as employing less than 20 people and micro business as less than 5 people.) In the USA this number is 25.8 million and 4 million in the UK. Of that number men make up 2/3 of the business owners and 1/3 women (although this is on the rise). Can you see any business niche potentials here for your business? A business niche is something where there is a sufficiently large group of people with common interests or goals, who are willing to invest money in particular goods or services. How does your business currently serve small business or micro businesses? What can you do to improve your level of service to this business niche? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas |
Monday, 24 March 2008
Email hoaxes
| Do you get those emails from workmates or colleagues warning you about the latest email virus that will wipe out your system, or how some site will donate money to charity if you click on their site, or companies that "track how many times this email is forwarded" and donate money to charity. The list is endless. How do you know which is truth or fiction? I always start with a belief that 98% of all of those sort of emails are false. I then go to a few websites that collate all of these false emails and check them out. Usually you will find your email word for word listed under the title hoax, urban myth or scam. My favourite site is www.hoax-slayer.com. My colleague Donna-Marie also referred me on to www.truthorfiction.com. Email junk-mail is just that ... junk. By forwarding it on, you perpetuate fear and reduce productivity for your team as they take the time to read and forward on your email. This makes a great topic to discuss with your employees - make sure everyone knows where to check out an email hoax before they flood your office in-box and computers with forwarded warnings. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: email hoaxes, employee handbook |
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Everyone's free to wear sunscreen
| On this Easter weekend I was reminded of some great advice given by columnist Mary Schmich in 1997. Her words were taken over by other people, attributed to other authors, filmed by Baz Lurhmann and made into a number of You Tube videos. ... But still they stand as solid truth. Here is the original version. Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97 Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine. Don't worry about the future.Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults.If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements. Stretch. Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone. Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's. Enjoy your body.Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Dance - even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room. Read the directions., even if you don't follow them. Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old.And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out. Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth. But trust me on the sunscreen. Labels: motivation |
Friday, 21 March 2008
Google Giving Back
 For many people homelessness is something they have never considered. In every city there are a significant number of men, women and children who are homeless - who sleep wherever they can. Being homeless is something that is often not a choice - but arises out of life circumstances. If you watch the movie "Conversations with God" you will see even Neale Donald Walsh spent time as a homeless person after a traffic accident robbed him of his chance to work. Some of the things we take for granted - like a telephone and mail become a real challenge for someone who is homeless. Google in San Francisco has taken the step of offering people who are homeless free lifetime phone numbers and free voicemail. They are partnering with San Francisco shelters and agencies to give the numbers to homeless people. This gives homeless people a permanent point of contact for little things like doctors, schools and potential employers. It also allows a point of contact for family members - to help people to stay connected with dignity. If the pilot is successful it will be rolled out to other communities. It is one way of a business giving back to the community - and sharing services with people in need to help them have a new beginning. This Easter, think about what you can do to give back to help others have a new start in life. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas |
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Lessons from Tupperware
 Party Plans are a proven way to generate sales - they were the precursor to all of the Web 2.0 high tech strategies of forming networks and communities, taking recommendations from friends and just having fun.I am always fascinated when someone takes a proven concept and applies it to something totally left field. In the USA, a group has taken the Tupperware party concept and applied it to Tasers. For those of you who don't know Tasers (or stun guns) are a weapon that shoots electro-shocks to subdue a person. They are generally used by police and the military, but in the USA you can obtain a Taser for about $300 with minimal checks. Some enterprising business people now hold Taser parties - where women meet to discuss self-defence, swap recipes for the latest dips and shoot Tasers at dummies. Tasers now come in a range of women friendly colours and prints specifically for this market. ... and business is booming! Whatever you think of Tasers and their use - the idea of taking something that generally has not been seen in a party plan situation and trialling its sale is a great one. There are loads of opportunities for enterprising businesses - from mobility equipment, through to electric drills. Are there any products in your business that you could trial using the party plan concept? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
My Day Off
 One of the problems with running a small business is the glowing temptation of the computer. It is so easy to pop over and do one more client email at all hours of night, or to "quickly" finish off a client file over the weekend. Recently I have begun to appreciate regular "days off". Taking time out to recharge my batteries, unwind the stress knots in my shoulders and reconnecting with friends. Regular time out helps me to be more focussed and present for my clients and the quality of my work improves as a direct result. Sometimes it can be hard to take a day off. That's why I appreciated the blog post at My Day Off - a list of fun things to do on your Monday off. Humour is a good thing that helps to remind you not to take life so seriously. ... Now just to remember to book in a weekly massage and all will be well. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas |
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Microsoft Small Business Summit
| Whatever your personal beliefs about Microsoft, they have put together a pretty amazing free small business summit this year. Topics covered include sales and marketing, productivity, security, financial management and small business start-ups. The idea is rather than go to a conference, you can tap into some great speakers over the course of the summit via your computer - where they will stream free online content March 24-27 12pm EDT. Using my trust Timezone Converter that means 2am March 25th. I am not at best at that time of the morning (funny that!), so I will be tapping into the replay starting at 6am each day. To check out the sessions go to www.sbsummit.com Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business summit |
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Using Flickr Photos for your business
 Many businesses need photos for everything from websites, blogs and their marketing material. There are stacks of brilliant on-line photo libraries out there, as well as some huge photo repositories.One of the best known is Flickr.com - where photographers both professional and amateur load their photos for the world to seee. But don't just leap in and use the images on Flickr. Many of the photos have rules set by the photographer regarding their use. Trying to work out what you can use and how can be tricky. That's why this blog post by Working Solo is useful. It explains all of the Flickr rules simply and easily. If you are looking for photos and are keen to try some free shots on Flickr, read the post by Working Solo first before you copy anything from the site. Then you shouldn't go wrong! Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: flickr, small business marketing ideas |
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Racist McDonald's Ads?
 I have spoken before about using your USP (unique selling proposition) when you advertise for new employees. McDonald's in Sweden have taken this to a whole new level. At first glance the ad seems very racist - in typical Mc Donald's colours it says "We don't hire Turks, Greeks, Poles, Indians, Ethiopians, Vietnamese, Chinese or Peruvians" As you read further down the add - in the little print at the bottom it reads: “Nor Swedes, South Koreans, or Norwegians. We hire individuals. We don’t care what your surname is. Because ambition and determination have nothing to do with your nationality. McDonald’s is one of the most integrated companies in Sweden, with as many as ninety-five nationalities working for us. Join us at mcdonalds.se" This is a fascinating ad - it is shocking and gets attention as well as delivers the message (eventually). The problem is that people's minds remember the first bit of data they hear associated with a company and ignore the later negation and positive twist. Those of you who have done my "Power of Gossip" session have experienced it first hand - so you know it takes a lot to undo negative gossip. I suspect McDonald's Sweden will find people will recall the list about who is not to be hired more than they will remember the later positive statements. So - while you want to use your USP in your advertising I would recommend taking the positive approach rather than the negative. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: vacancy advertising |
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Tweets for Today
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Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Unsupplied markets
| As I was looking through the Beauty Banquet blog posts the comment was made: "Considering the wonderful range of native flowering plants here in Australia it is a wonder that we don’t have a thriving perfume business" Now this got me thinking. We have bush flower essences, tea-tree oil is well known - but what about all of our other brilliant native flowering plants? Why aren't we using them not only in our perfumes, but also our other products. Sounds like a market looking to be filled by more than just the boutique perfumeries ... Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas |
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Are you Hunting or Farming for clients while Networking?
 Reading other people's blogs can give you some great insights. This post comes from a post at alternativehealthpractice.com They were talking about finding clients for practices through networking and quoted Ivan Misener, the founder and CEO of BNI, in a piece on Entrepreneur.com. He said:
The writer went on to suggest that the way to form deep relationships from your networking is to consider that you are farming for clients rather than hunting. It’s a great metaphor for the development of your professional referral base. Slowly gathering background and connections before you approach someone - is about choosing to farm relationships. Nurture them gradually. Plant them, water them, and watch them grow, but don’t harvest them until they’re ready. And whatever you do, don’t hunt them. That’s what everyone else is doing because they haven’t yet realized that you can only eat prey once, but you can harvest a garden forever. Makes you kind of think about your next networking meeting. How many people are hunters and how many farmers?If you have been guilty of hunting, take a breath and learn from the farmers. You will reap greater long term rewards. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: business to business networking |
Monday, 3 March 2008
Adjusting to new employees
| At the moment we have an extra 2 kids staying with us for an extended period. It reminded me of what it is like when a new employee joins your team. From your side
Of course a formal induction is essential. But no amount of induction will deal with the small things like a new employee not covering their food in the microwave or not washing up their coffee cups if that is what everyone else does. That takes straight talking conversation to deal with. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: employee inductions, new employees |