heartharmony.com.au

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

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

• 21:10 Currently Browsing: www.where-what-how-why.com/?p=111 – No idea how this works! #

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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

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:

Word-of-mouth is more about farming than it is about hunting.

Building your business through word-of-mouth is about cultivating relationships with people who get to know you and trust you. People do business with people they have confidence in. One of the most important things I’ve learned in the past two decades is this: It’s not what you know, or who you know, it’s how well you know them that counts.

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

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

• You have new people to learn about and get to know their interests and preferences – this takes time and can’t be rushed (even if you want to!).
• They may or may not do things the same way you do them. If things must be done the same way you need to explain not only what to do but how they should be done.
• Some new employees will be tidier/messier than you are used to. This can cause tension unless you have an honest conversation about it.
• You need to explain the rules of the building and any particular quirks you have in relation to being interrupted while you are working.
• It takes a while for routine to be re-established. Generally you will not be as productive in the first few weeks while a new employee learns the ropes – factor that into your timetable for the first few weeks.

From their side

• The majority of new employees really want things to go smoothly – they want to do the right thing and do everything “right”.
• They are learning about you as much as you are learning about them – except they are out of their comfort zone. You may get some interesting stress reactions from them as they are learning.

Overall – you need to be open and honest in your communication with new employees. Don’t let things slide – deal with them now before the problems explode down the track.

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