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How To Be Successful

In most walks of life people want to be successful or have some degree of success.  Pretty much everyone has success in varying forms whether that is personally, professionally, privately or publically.  But what makes someone successful, more importantly what makes someone more successful in a specific field or discipline than someone else?

Presenting Pt 2 – Acronyms, Abbreviations and Terminology (maybe not that bad after all)

Acronyms, abbreviations and terminology – none of these are inventions of modern life; they’ve been around as long as the spoken word.  Why do we use them?  Well we use acronyms to help us remember terms, abbreviations for convenience so we don’t need to keep repeating a string of words and terminology is useful when talking about subjects in a specific field or discipline.  But how about using them in presentations?

Most books or training sessions tell you never to use terminology, always avoid jargon, cut out all acronyms and explain all abbreviations.  Often this is good sound advice and it is advice I would also give unless…

Be Your Own Superbrand – Leadership

We know that superbrands have three common traits – clarity of vision, consistency in what they do and finally leadership.  Take a moment now to consider what leadership is and to do this think of the following:

Which global organisation do you consider to be a leader?

Who did you think of?  Why them?  In what way(s) do they lead?  Ask others the same thing and see if they come out with the same things?

I would guess that with such a simply question you get many different answers.  There’s no surprise there, but did you argue with anyone?  Did anyone come up with an organisation in the same business area that was different from yours?  Can they both be leaders in the same field?

Be Your Own Superbrand – Consistency

Consistency is the most simply thing to do and be – simply be consistent.  How hard can it be?  Well actually it could be quite hard if not very hard.  Why?  Because we change our moods and states of mind almost every second.  Being consistent when there is an ever changing starting point can be tricky.

Be Your Own Superbrand – Clarity

The key to clarity of your own brand is a simple as the 3Cs – Clear values, Consistency and Clarity.  Master the 3Cs and you will achieve clarity in the brand that is you – people will know what you stand for and what it is you do.

Be Your Own Superbrand

The UK recently announced it’s Top 10 Superbrands:

1.       Microsoft

2.       Coca-Cole

3.       Google

4.       BBC

5.       BP

6.       British Airways

7.       Lego

8.       Guinness

9.       Mercedes-Benz

10.   Cadbury

I’m sure you are aware of all or at least most of these companies and of most or some of their products.  You probably even have or use some yourself.  But what is a superbrand, what makes a superbrand?  Perhaps more importantly, could you be a ‘superbrand’?

Can New Year Resolutions Teach Us Anything About Setting Goals?

I really wanted to avoid an article about New Year Resolutions, at this time of year they are everywhere.  I was going to avoid the subject but then I came across some interesting research on the subject of New Year Resolutions and characteristics of those that are successful.  This led me to wonder if these characteristics could be used in business or learning, as the characteristics are very simple I believe they can.

Values

We all have personal values and we think about them consciously or unconsciously.  They influence or actions, decisions, relationships, and they shape the way others see us.  Most people like to believe they have values that are clear and honourable and that they live and breathe those values.  But what are your personal values and what role do they play in business?

Motivation

In a lot of management training the subject of motivation comes up.  How to motivate employees, how to be motivated ourselves.  When the subject comes up there are always the same answers or suggestions from the group as to what motivates their employees and themselves.  The group may often come up with a list of items that motivate, a list of abstract things that managers can pick and choose from.  But what does motivate people?  Is it possible for managers to know what motivates their diverse team of individuals?  Well yes, it is.  There are 6 key points for all managers and leaders to remember.

The Secret to Good and Bad Decisions

Many organisations and leaders I work with struggle with decisions.  They struggle with knowing what decision is the right decision or to put it more accurately, they fear of making the wrong decision.  I’m sure this is not unheard of for yourself and you either have grappled with not knowing what decision to make or have worked in organisations where decisions are never made or take way too long to happen.  We seem to put a whole lot of emphasis on the decision itself and then brand the decision as good or bad.  Why?  It’s not the decision that is good or bad it’s what comes next.