Cherry Leaf: strategy

Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts

"I pledge a commitment to My Success, My Family's Success and to the Successful Survival of the company I represent.
Success is not an option for me but something I insist!
Success is not something others can give to me, that the government or the economy can provide me.
Success is not determined by luck, chance, race, creed, color or religion but hard work, creativity, follow through and persistence.
I refuse to not have My Success. I refuse to quit prior to My Success and I will do everything ethical in claiming my right to My Success.

My Success is My Duty, My Obligation and My Responsibility."
- Grant Cardone

I first came across Grant Cardone at the start of my entrepreneurial journey. Sales has always been a natural skill of mine or more so persuasion. From a young age I knew how to create leverage and how to play on peoples emotions. Then couple that with a logical case behind it and there was not many I could not break, given enough time.

So naturally my first taste of the business world came in the form of sales; retail, technology, telephone - most low-end sales roles - I then came to a realization which would motivate me for a long time to come. Why am I selling products ranging from 29.99 - 2999.99 and yet I am only making 5.25 p/hr? I barely make 30.00 a day but I have made this company about 10x that amount.

This is where it all changed, my desire for success had always been there, now it was time to hit the ground running and to not stop. I accepted I would fall over sometimes but I would get back up just as quick as I fell and get back on the track. I wanted freedom and to create a better life for everyone around me.
I began to learn to sell. Myself, my products. I come from a musical background so I was the front man for bands and learnt to manage a team of people, I was taught about public perception, promotion, marketing, brand image, social media marketing. I then moved onto creating a company that could cater to the services of artists & bands (management, photography & design, promotion) It taught me a lot about how to deal with people and how to grow teams and who you can and can't trust.

The main lesson I learnt from 5 years of experience in that industry was this;

You can rely on nobody, but yourself.

I came out of university and jumped back on the entrepreneurial horse. I knew I could talk to people and I knew I had the passion and determination to not quit until I was a success. This is where I came across this quote by Grant Cardone.

Success Is Your Duty, Obligation & Responsibility.

Now, at the time I had no idea of the man's credentials, I didn't even know how much of a big player he was in the marketplace. Just from them simple words I respected the man and they resonated with me in such a way that I didn't even click on to his site/profile to look into him (I normally did at that point, any reason to procrastinate).
I went and bought myself an A4 hardback lined notepad and vowed I wouldn't look up from the pages until I had written every idea I could think of, planned and at a stage where I could start to execute it.

I wake up at 5:30am every morning, I go to the gym, I eat and shower to start working on something at 7:00am, sometimes I would get so excited and be so motivated that I would find myself working at 6:30am - No matter what it is! start the day off productively

Some ideas were bad, in fact some of them were down right terrible. But I filled up that book and it gave me a place to start, it trained me to think differently and view the world in a different way. As I wrote notes that turned into pages and pages turned into full sections, the self realization that you are worth so much more than you are raised to believe was such a strong motivation.

You need to commit to your success. Let is engulf you in its burning desire to be the best, You must hunt it down like an animal. There are people in the world that can happily live their lives working a 9-5, drinking and watching football on the weekends, rinse and repeat process for the next 50 years.

Then there are the people that realize there is more to life and they know they should make a change and start living for today, but still live day to day, 9-5, rinse and repeat.

Then there are the ones who don't take no for an answer, who will not allow someone to tell them how much their time is worth. Who will catch the ball and run for the touchline without ever looking behind them.

If you want it, GO & GET IT!

- Alex Grey

There is only so much planning you can do before you need to just ‘Go For It'

Perfection is just an opinion, not shared by most.

We never know what is around the corner, yesterdays dreams could be today's nightmare. One of the best ways to learn is to submerse yourself completely. You will adapt in real time and remember, until an idea is on paper and a dated goal, it is just a dream in your head. Make it a reality!

Do not raise your voice, improve your argument.

Have your words hold weight so you are not required to speak in volume.

When you raise your voice you are implicitly saying that you cannot make a better argument. If you cannot make a reasoned argument, then you cannot make a convincing point. Never be afraid to admit when you are wrong, it shows strength. If the topic catches you off guard, politely request for some time to gather relevant information so you are able to state your case more effectively.

Gossip is a practice preached by those who have nothing interesting to say about themselves, so must bring down those around them.

He can criticize, He who has a heart to help. - Abraham Lincoln

A person of success never gossips. The easiest way to determine whether you are about to gossip is too ask yourself this; Would you say what you are about to, if that person was in the room. You can openly discuss your opinions and thoughts in a respective manner but he-said, she-said is not good, you are better than that! Next time gossiping starts, politely excuse yourself from the conversation.

The only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.

If you dedicate today to being better than you were yesterday, you will wake up tomorrow with more than you could have ever dreamed of.

Why Imitate, if you can create? Create reality in your own image. If you are not happy with something, only you have the ability to change it. Take yourself out of the competition. We are all on our own unique paths.

I believe we are in the age of the entrepreneur, for a simple reason. We have to be, it is a part of us now. There is not the same amount of money in the world - I am sure we are all wondering where that money has all gone, but that's a conversation for another time - However, the main reason I say this is because of how we view ourselves.

To have such an outlet where we are able to speak our minds and share our views at the touch of a button and connect with other like minded people to drive us towards our goals. We know we can do more, in fact we want to do more.

Corporate ladders and working for a company where you feel you are not valued or you feel like you are not making an impact, has reached a point where we will not take it anymore. You are better than that, far better. Taking our own initiative and creating business' that serves a worth while cause and to make something in our lives we can be proud of. Everyone wants to be significant and why shouldn't you be?

With resources and like-minded people all within reach to get started on your goals, the only thing standing in your way? Nothing.

We must do what drives us all, helping others. No mater what you do, when you selflessly help another human being you instantly feel better about yourself.

Money is always important, anyone that tells you otherwise. Run. We all need money, when the bills comes through, its not going to be your dreams that pay it. The goal here is too not let money control you. That money can be made in other ways, by other means, where your money works for you and not the other way around. While then giving you the free time to do what you enjoy, you are your own boss. If you can train yourself and become a person of success & significance you will feel a way about yourself you have not felt in a long time.

So many of us go through the motions and never question the reality in which we live in - Wake up, go to school/work, commute home, eat food, watch TV, sleep, rinse & repeat. With allowance of minor variation of drinking / spending time with family / recreational activities on the weekend just to continue the same cycle come Monday. Yet we will sit here and question why it is that we do not feel motivated? why we aren't happy with our lives?

Because your goals are not aligned, you are stagnating. Live your life to the fullest, there are no excuses to not be. Take the road less traveled and meet the people who were brave enough to take the same road. Put meaning into your life, however that relates to you, its is not all about us. We can live successful lives by helping others. That does not mean the first places your mind jumps too 'Charities, volunteer work etc.' which are good places to start however you need to find what drives you. As an entrepreneur, creating a product or company around the ideal that you are helping your customer and bringing value to their lives, that is helping people.

Fear is inevitable and if you are not afraid of the goals you have set and about achieving them, then you have not set them high enough. Your goals are there to push you beyond your comfort zone, this is where we come into our own. This is one of the best ways I have heard on dealing with your fears;

Fear missing the opportunity, more than fearing failure.

The pain of hard work is temporary, the pain of regret is forever. Do not let your own fears stop you from just going for it. If you are reading these words now: JUST GO FOR IT. What have you got to lose? You can make a the decision right now to change your life and head full force toward success. Failure is in not trying, not in not succeeding. If you fail while pursuing what you believe is a great idea for a worthy ideal, its not a failure. You simply learn and apply it to the next step, see failures as lessons and you will never go wrong.

Become an active member in groups; Masterminds Facebook, Twitter lists. Hold yourself accountable for participating and become a valuable resource in your community. Surrounding yourself with people that have the same aspirations to achieve more with their lives, provide value to their others lives as well as their own, then you will see a change in your own life and personality.

Life can get tough, and it can be so easy to get caught up in things that don't take the time to look after yourself. Losing motivation is crippling, and it can take time to get it back. One thing is for sure, if you stay unmotivated to get on and do what is needed of you then it could lead to a downward spiral, affecting your life in all areas.

The simplest thing to remember is that success lies in the mind. You reflect in your physical being, that which is of your mental being. If you continually feed your mind with negative thoughts and information, your physical self will reflect that. If you want success in life, you need to regain control of your mind and see the change you want in your minds eye for it to manifest in real life.

If you are at the end of your tether, stressed, out of creativity or simply searching for self improvement, meditation allows you to stay calm and in control of your mind.

Benefits of Meditation

1. Health - Because meditation promotes calmness and stress management, you are far less likely to be at risk of heart disease. Blood pressure levels drop, and your immune system is boosted. This is because your endocrine system has time to re-balance itself without distorted energies (like stress) getting in the way. It is anti-inflammatory which helps with arthritis, asthma and most skin conditions as researched by Emory University in the US. McGill University in Canada showed that meditation clinically improves the symptoms of the skin condition psoriasis. Stress constitutes 40% of work related illness, and meditation can act as an 'off switch' for this.

2. Mental - A study by University of California in Los Angeles showed MRI evidence of increased gyrification (brain matter folding) in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain associated with overall cognitive intelligence. Meditation leads to intelligence, it helps with concentration levels and the ability to take in new information.
Anxiety, depression and stress can all be fought with meditation, and this practice is even encouraged in clinics which seek to help those with these struggles.

How Meditation increases Motivation

Calming the mind, observing the thoughts: When meditating, you learn to observe your thoughts and remove the negative ones. It is very refreshing. This discipline allows you to have access to a natural untapped store of energy; imagine how more productive you can be whilst there aren't negative thoughts and mind blocks getting in the way!

Control the intent of your thoughts: If your lack of motivation stems from depression or anxiety then meditation will help change your thought patterns. Often these conditions come from the repetition of thoughts, words, deeds and your mindset. Observing and taking notice of these thought patterns are the first step. Once you have realised them and consciously taken notice that your mind has that thought, attempt to just cut it off. Stop the thought in its tracks. It is possible. This is why in meditation we place our concentration on our breath, this process can replace thoughts!

You are what you think: 90% of the thoughts you had yesterday will make up the thoughts you have today. This is powerful stuff! Once meditation has rooted up the dysfunctional thought processes you can begin to fill your mind with positive thinking. What you think today will affect how you think tomorrow. Don't you want tomorrow to be a good day?

Emotion and Spirituality: Meditation can reconnect you to higher levels of emotion. Being present and aware in the present moment through meditation can spark a new found appreciation for the beauty and gift of life which is powerful enough to inspire you to take advantage of the day.

Regardless of your religion, daily practice or world view, we all have an element of spirituality in our lives, whether you choose to pay attention to it or not. Spirituality can be defined in many ways, one being that it is a process of self transformation in accordance to practices and ideals. It is those who take control of themselves in life who succeed; have you ever met a self made millionaire who's thoughts run amok? Without clear goals and a clear mind it is easy to let too many factors get in the way of what you really want out of life.

For anyone that has watched the Netflix original series House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey & Robyn Wright, You will have grown attached to a particular character throughout the two series. Perhaps you were drawn to Doug's loyalty or maybe Peter's struggles and his redemption. My one focus point throughout both series was the man himself, Frank Underwood.

Your Right Hand

Doug Stamper is Frank's right hand man. He is loyal, quick on his feet and has aligned his goals with his superior. Even though there is the obvious boss / employee relationship between the pair, they work together as equals. You have to trust your right hand in any situation, for you to get your job done and drive 100% towards your own success, having complete trust in their abilities will give you the chance to excel in your own areas.

Giving 2nd chances... and even a 3rd in Doug's case, is something all successful people have to learn. We are all human and we will sometimes make mistakes. But to show compassion and empathy when the time is right, will show such a strong character to your subordinate that their loyalty will only grow and your relationship is stronger than ever.

A partner you are completely honest with.

There are many reasons as to why I love the series, however Kevin and Robyn's chemistry on screen was perfect and how their characters were written, truly a lesson to be learnt. You need someone you can 100%, unequivocally trust, the whole 9 yards. As success driven people we can sometimes lose our ways with relationships, either implementing analytically thinking or not finding the time in the day. You both need to understand each others goals and work towards succeeding together. Even through the hard times, if you can remain honest and open you will be able to move past situations and become stronger as a unit than you ever could as a singularity

Ruthless Determination

Never give up. A simple mantra we hear nearly every day and it should always be the first words on our lips as we face adversity. You don't stop until you have won, even when the cards are not in your hand and the chips are stacked against you, keep moving forward and find another route your goal. Frank faced many challenges as he climbed his way up the political ladders from hometown tragedy's too annoying reporters. But through it all he never once broke his stride, He did not throw a tantrum (except when Mrs Underwood almost demands him to have one)

He assessed his position and acted with full force in another direction , always finding a way to come out on top. Always remaining humble in the public eye, not showing all his cards at once and especially not letting them see the aces up his sleeve.

Social Media Is A Powerful Tool

With 140 characters Frank changed party leaders, brought in his own to set up his future take over. Having Zoe working at the Herald, Slugline & freelancer, Frank had his means to get his words out and sway public opinion. HE kept his hands clean of it all and through the means of someone else the world listened. Social Media is a powerful tool, the ability to share information at the click of a button, the power of a photo - 'Mutual admiration society' can bring people together and set you off on a new path you never even imagined. Utilize the tools we have, we want to get our voices heard? have something worth listening too and then find the right mouth peace to speak over the crowd. You may not end up as president, but I can guarantee you will feel more of a dominant player in your industry.

*Knock, Knock*

Social media has progressed from its infancy stage, with most companies realizing that to truly engage with their audience effectively, they need to have a social media strategy.

According to an eMarketer report, Worldwide Social Network Users: 2013 Forecast and Comparative Estimates" that nearly one in four people are using social networks with a predicted 13% rise in 2014. Social Media is an effective way to drive traffic to your business, if done correctly, equally it can hinder your progress and put of your customers if done incorrectly. We hear stories everyday of horrific blunders on companies social media profiles, make sure you are not one of them!

Here are a few tips you can implement right now and change the way you look at your companies social media;

Social Media: Brands Voice

Your social accounts are an extension of your brand, customers no longer pick up the phone or write a strongly worded letter to your head office. Their first port of call is your social media profiles, they are both the bulletin board and your customer feedback sheet.

People engage with a brand that has personality. You need to personify your brand on social media, give yourself a clear voice that your customers can get behind. People are bombarded with offers and products in their face for quite a large portion of the day, they pick up their phones to be entertained, so entertain them. Don't be a faceless company that keeps talking about their "AMAZING DEALS!!!"

What & When?

Timing is everything, if your audience isn't online then you wont get your maximum engagement. Content is the all important factor, your content needs to be relevant, engaging and where applicable it needs to give your customers a call to action. There are many ways to measure when your audience is online and what content they engage with.
Remember people love pictures and videos! tweets and Facebook posts have been reported to receive 70% more engagement when a picture or video is attached.
It is time to expand, with a content strategy plan and the right tools you will be able to spread your message across a variety of platforms to maximize your reaches potential; Instagram, Tumblr, Google+, Pintrest.

Keep It Relevant

We understand this may seem like an obvious one, however with the amount of non-followers to this rule, we feel we should talk about this. Lets get one thing straight, your audience are following your social media profile for a few reasons; They have bought your product/service before, have a desire for your product/service or find your profiles to be engaging & entertaining. Don't ruin that by posting irrelevant 'hot-topic' stories just to try to draw an audience.
Be engaging - people like to know that there are real people behind the curtains. Post exciting photos, funny stories and make your customer feel like they are a part of your company. With consistent content you audience will feel they know you as a personality, that is how you win their loyalty.

Think Before You Post

There have been some quite humorous cases of companies not thinking before they post something, however keeping on top of this can save you a few embarrassments while showing your sensitivity to a situation.
For example if a major event happens, make sure to go and check your schedule and edit any upcoming posts that may conflict with the event. There is nothing worse for a brand than appearing insensitive to a current event, this is where relevancy also comes in. Give your condolences where relevant, but try to stay out of unrelated topics. When unsure of what to say, silence is the best policy.

DiGiorno clearly tried to riff on a Twitter trending topic without taking the extra 30 seconds to research what that trending topic was about: domestic violence. Needless to say, this tweet did not go over well and the brand was forced to apologize.Ref

Honesty

Finally, honesty is the best policy. Privacy is slowly decreasing is this online world of ours and sometimes a digital mistake can be blown out of proportion. If you make a mistake, act human. Apologies and be sincere, if you try to palm off the mistake as 'hacked' or another excuse, there will always be someone there to call you on it. Act with integrity and people will respect your brand.

Your company is nothing without branding. The brand is the image, the first sight and thought a person has when they come across your business and it is your job to make sure their reaction is exactly how you want it. A brand image can be the difference between a businesses' success and failure so it is important to get it right!

Every venture, business or project requires good consistent planning. You need to decide how you want your brand to reflect to your audiences, and come up with a way to maintain that image throughout the businesses' life. It is a seal of approval, a brand image can represent exactly the reasons why customers come to you rather than someone else.

Branding and positioning go hand in hand. You want your brand image to show exactly why your company is different from other competitors. Without a good reputation any business can fail so make sure your organisation stands out in the best way possible and keep track of what works and what doesn't!

A good brand image for your business online also requires the creation and optimisation of relevant, shareable content. A range of mediums should be used for providing content, everyone is different and everyone consumes media in different ways. Websites, blogs, articles, podcasts and videos are but a handful of mediums that can be used. The more ways you can provide consumption of media for your users the more options you will have to expand the reach of content beyond the constraints of your website and social media pages.

Success Is Your Duty, Obligation & Responsibility.

4 Quick Points To Motivate You Today

There is only so much planning you can do before you need to just ‘Go For It'

Do not raise your voice, improve your argument.

Gossip is a practice preached by those who have nothing interesting to say about themselves, so must bring down those around them.

The only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.

Motivational Morning: A Quick Few Words To Improve Your Days