Over the past few weeks, we have released a pile of free stuff to help businesses. It seemed like a useful idea to put all of them together in the one blog post, in case you have missed anything.

Performance Appraisal Forms

This free pack contains 9 performance review forms, 2 probation review forms, self-evaluation forms, a record of conversation form and an employee warning form.

100 Exceptional Performance Appraisal Questions

If ever you have to do a performance review, you know that asking the right questions is the biggest battle. Here are 100 of them designed to cover pretty much every scenario.

Lessons from Leaders

This is the latest free product from Heart Harmony. A whole year’s worth of inspiration and reflection questions to help you challenge your thinking and grow your business. You get one Lesson from a Leader each week – each designed to make you think. Here is a sample …

This Week …

Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.

Arnold Glasgow

This is the ultimate series of questions against which to test every business decision:

• is this decision right for all concerned,
• is the way we want to do it the right way,
• is this the right time?

Could you do with a weekly dose of inspiration? The subscribe to Lessons from Leaders.

Until next time

Ingrid Cliff

We put your business into words

Heart Harmony – Brisbane  Copywriter

In retail, one of the rules is to periodically move stock around your store. People notice the change and suddenly see things that they overlooked before.

This rule can be applied to any business. Most businesses can benefit from moving things around and freshening up their look (while still keeping brand elements for consistency). Think about the girl on the Redhead matches – she has been periodically redesigned to keep her look in keeping with the times. The Coke logo has had the odd “tweak” and even Barbie has had more than one round of plastic surgery.

In the past fortnight, we have been undergoing a thorough branding review. Every one of our products has been re-edited, adjusted and polished to give a consistent look and feel. We also took the opportunity to add in even more value for each product.  And while we were at it, we launched a few new products into the market (with more to come).

So … what has had a facelift?

Instant HR Policies & Procedures

We have totally revamped our manual – basically shredding every page & re-writing from scratch to make it even more user-friendly.

We have added in new sections for Whistleblowers & Paid Parental Leave, and amended many of the sections to take into account legislative changes.  And … we added in a stack of new bonus articles!

Employee Performance Reviews: Tips, Templates & Tactics

Our Employee Performance Reviews has also had a makeover. Plus we added in transcripts of our MP3 training sessions, included some great bonus articles and added in 100 Performance Appraisal Questions.

Small Business Marketing Ideas

And then we launched our new product – Small Business Marketing Ideas – packed full of ways to grow your business offline, without spending a fortune.

But the makeovers were not just limited to our paid products. Here are three of our free products that all have had a freshen up in the past week.

Free on subscription to our newsletter

Free Performance Review Forms

Free performance appraisal questions

And over the next few weeks, there will even more surprises in store.

Now all of these changes didn’t cost the earth, although they did take dedicated time to make happen (and yes, they had been on my “To Do” list for about 2 years. The lesson for me was to physically book in time in my own diary. I needed to treat my business as if it was as important as my fabulous clients – and I needed to walk my talk. I needed to “Be my Brand”.

So – I hope you enjoy our new look!

exuberantly yours

Ingrid

We put your business into words

Heart Harmony – Brisbane Copywriter

Friday is the big day. We are making final adjustments to the code & testing everything.

What for?

On Friday morning we are launching the latest Heart Harmony e-book  “Small Business Marketing Ideas: How to Grow Your Business Offline in Minutes a Day Without Spending a Fortune“.

It is 154 A4 pages packed full of straight shooting content designed specifically for small and micro-businesses,  and we are pretty chuffed about how it has turned out!

So, I thought I would give you a sneak peak at a few things.

First, the cover designed by the lovely S’Roya Rose.

The cover of Small Business Marketing Ideas

And a couple of comments from previewers:

Small Business Marketing Ideas is one book that should be owned by absolutely anyone involved in a small business! In her latest book, Ingrid Cliff clearly details everything you need to consider when planning how to market your business, whether you have an online business, a ‘bricks and mortar’ business or a mixture of both. Although she covers every aspect you need to consider, she does so in a truly concise way, without all the extra ‘fluff’ that some other marketing books are filled with. It’s definitely an investment that anyone who’s serious about their small business should make.

Donna-Marie Coggins

www.Donna-MarieCoggins.com

Ingrid Cliff has turned the often confusing world of small business marketing into a useful checklist of simple concepts, thoroughly explored and explained without jargon or BS. Her commonsense approach goes beyond the obvious and offers real value if you want clarity on your marketing choices. I have a marketing degree and have worked with hundreds of talented business owners who need to be marketing savvy. If you want insights and ‘aha’ moments for your offline marketing, you couldn’t start in a better place!

Lisa Murray

Business Mentor, Revive Business Coaching

I am looking forward to sharing more about the book with you on Friday.

(Shhhhh! If you are on tonight’s free webinar http://businessbreakthroughmagic.com/ – you may be in for some early previews & surprises).

Ingrid Cliff

We put your business into words

Heart Harmony – Brisbane Copywriters

A few years back I came across this piece by Rev. David Ault. I love the questions he poses and each year ask myself these same questions.

Did I express love this year, real love?  The kind of love that doesn’t announce itself in flashy circumstances or structured conditions – but an authentic, quiet, internal love?  The kind of love that bubbles to the surface when I gaze at another with understanding, a love that places me in their shoes, granting freedom from judgment and deepening my compassion?  A philanthropic love that expresses because it simply feels compelled to, because it knows there is more than enough and everyone can benefit. If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my authentic loving.

Did I forgive this year, really forgive?  The kind of forgiveness that cracks open my heart, peeling away one more layer of righteous indignation, thus allowing my soul to breathe?  The kind of forgiveness that loosens my clinched fists held high at a situation so that I don’t enter into the next one with guarded mistrust?  The kind of forgiveness that comprehends there is a difference between understanding a behavioral choice and condoning it? If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my forgiving.

Did I stop this year, really stop?  The kind of stopping that can’t help but make me vulnerable by becoming more familiar with who I am without distraction, smoke screens, excuses or self-imposed numbing?  The kind of stopping that turns me, naked, towards my feelings, giving them permission to express?  No right or wrong – a stopping that simply lets me hear what I need to hear so that I can live more effectively?  If not, then I resolve to be and do better in allowing myself to stop.

Did I seek adventure this year, real adventure?  The kind of adventure that requires me to not only take a leap of faith off my cliff of familiarity but actually sends me back to get a running start?  The kind of adventure that shakes the dust off my capable but underused wings and gives them an opportunity to catch the gorgeous wind of change?  The kind of adventure that knows there is no outside safety net in this physical world, only an internal one?  The kind of adventure that shouts, “I choose to live fully!” If not, then I resolve to be and do better in seeking adventure.

Did I seek wellness this year, real wellness?  The kind of wellness that requires me to be fully conscious of what I put in my body – the kind of wellness that requires me to practice what I preach when it comes to self-love while understanding that the power to dissolve poor habits starts by simply choosing to change?  Wellness that says, “This is the only body you’ve got. Treat me with respect, praise me daily and honor me as the holy temple that I am?”  If not, then I resolve to be and do better in allowing wellness in my life.

Did I play this year, really play?  The kind of play that gives value to the heavenly activity of fun – knowing that fun is sacred, that play is the equivalent of work and that during play -renewal and relaxation usher in the newest ideas and the clearest choices for better manifestations?  Did I view play as a necessary life function and not a debatable luxury? If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my relationship to playing.

Did I set a goal and see it to completion this year, really complete it?  The kind of completion that lets the vibration of satisfaction and confidence in my abilities heal any opposing ideas of not being good enough?  Did I honor my life and its sacred purpose by utilizing my time with forward thinking and letting my mistakes be motivators not antagonists? Did I dissolve my insecurities and procrastination by understanding that my untapped genius has but one mode of expression and that is through idea, thought, word and action? If not, then I resolve to be and do better in setting and completing my goals.

Did I open myself up to learn this year, really learn? The kind of learning that entices me to enroll in being a student of life with thirst and enthusiasm? Did I set an intention for uncovering more of my potential, letting divine intellect eat from my plate and stepping deeper into the waters of wisdom?  Did I open a book, take a class, study a language, learn an instrument, write a poem, visit another culture?  Did I learn to surprise and thrill myself with the infinite capacity I have to master more than I thought I could?  If not, then I resolve to be and do better on my personal path of learning.

Did I clean up my relationships this year, really clean them up?  The kind of cleaning that requires me to break open the lock, pull back the curtain, throw open the window and start removing the dust of harsh words, grudges, false accusations and misguided choices that have layered my heart?  Did I make amends for the fearful ways that disheartened another, for neglecting to honor their point of view?  With careful examination, did I communicate my truth, understanding that sometimes all we may be able to do is agree to disagree and to do so without judgement or malice?  If not, then I resolve to be and do better on cleaning up my relationships.

Did I share my good this year, really share?  The kind of sharing that comes from the pure joy of seeing another succeed, not from what I think they can or will do for me in return?  Did I tithe back to where I was spiritually fed, transformed and inspired?  Did I practice random acts of kindness and give of my time, talent, and treasure realizing that my good is a part of a never-ending wellspring that cannot run dry – whose source is and always will be the infinite wellspring of the Divine?  Did I commit to walking the altruistic path, remembering that every step brings healing and enlightenment to the world?  If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my sharing.

Did I pray this year, really pray?  The kind of prayer that is spoken not to God but AS God – prayers that affirm rather than beseech, are pregnant with knowing rather than bloated with doubt?  Did I make my every day activities a prayer – realizing that every thought I think carries with it the responsibility of an effect on the world?  Did I remember how truly powerful my own prayer actually is and that by simply devoting myself to the practice of it, I become the change?   Did I remember that my prayer takes what I seek and introduces it to me, the seeker?  If not, then I resolve to be and do better with praying.

Did I do all these things because deep down inside I fully understand how precious I am and that these activities will help me to see that I am held in the light as a perfect idea?  Did I remember that I have been perfectly conceived and am always held in the perfect mind of God as perfect being?  Did I know that there is nothing that I can ever say, nothing I can ever do that will separate me from the love of God? If for any reason, I forgot my divinity this year, then I resolve to be and do better in my knowing of it, to fully understand and embody the truth that it is done unto me as I believe.  And I believe in the power of Good, for me, for you, for all.

(c) Rev. David Auld

May your New Year be safe, fun and full of love.

Ingrid Cliff

We put your business into words

Heart Harmony – Freelance Copywriter

It’s that time of year when focus starts to wander and bad jokes are almost mandatory. So in the interests of sharing groans at the office Christmas party, here’s a few of my favourite Christmas “Dad” jokes.

What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees?
“Horn”-aments!

What does Rudolph want for Christmas?
A pony sleigh station!

What’s a hairdressers’s favourite Christmas song?
‘Oh comb all ye faithful’

What do elves sing to Santa?
Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow!

Whats happens if you eat the Christmas decorations ?
You get tinsel-itus !

How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?
Deep pan, crisp and even!

One time Father Christmas lost his underpants.
That’s how he got the name Saint Knickerless!

What kind of motorcycle does Santy ride?
A “Holly” Davidson!

Where does Santa stay when he’s on holidays in January?
At a Ho-ho-tel

Where does Santa go to learn to slide down a chimney?

Chimnesium

Why does Santa wear pink underwear?

He did all his washing in the one load.

What did the dog get for Christmas?
A mobile bone!

What did the farmer get for Christmas?
A cow-culator!

*  Xmas is the time when people put up so many light bulbs outside you don’t know if they’re celebrating the birth of Jesus or the electricity company.

*  There has to be something wrong with Santa. Can you imagine any other bloke doing all that driving and still saying ho ho ho at the end?

*  Xmas is in my heart 12 months a year – and thanks to credit cards it is on my Mastercard statement 12 months a year also.

I would love to hear your bad Christmas jokes – drop them into the comments section and share the goodwill.

Ingrid Cliff

We put your business into words

Heart Harmony – Freelance Copywriter