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Perth Businesses can Learn from Apple’s Example

September 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Steve Jobs of Apple

Steve Jobs - Apple Chairman

The following post was filed as a media release from the Club Red International Coaching Institute this week:
19th September, 2011
Perth Businesses can Learn from Apple’s Example


While business leaders around the world were shocked at the news that IT giant, Apple’s CEO and acknowledged ‘ideas man’, Steve Jobs had stepped down from his role recently, the situation provided a valuable lesson.
Perth business coach, Tony Inman, said that local business owners would do well to follow Apple’s example by being prepared for the possible loss of their greatest asset – themselves.
“It makes absolute sense to train a member of your team as your Deputy, even if only to cover you if you’re sick” said Mr Inman.

 

“We’ve seen that Steve Jobs has spent some years now grooming his replacement, and local businesses should be doing the same,” he said.
“In order to be truly successful, business owners must start with the end-game in mind.”
“Business owners and managers who don’t trust their people enough to train them for that extra responsibility actually only succeed in making their own job harder.¨

 

“But we coach them on the importance of effective delegation and succession planning.¨
“Let’s be honest here – a lot of bosses are afraid of delegating to someone who might do a better job than they do.¨
Mr Inman said there was no better feeling than taking a holiday, knowing that your staff were making your business make you money, and enjoying doing so, while you were away.
He called on all businesses to consider their own succession planning in light of the Apple situation.
He said delegation and evolution of responsibility provided businesses with many benefits including:

 

  • A more empowered and valued team
  • Higher staff morale and retention rates
  • Freedom for the boss to work on the business more, instead of in it
  • The flexibility to re-invent the business if it is threatened with a crisis, even that of losing its boss

 

Steve Jobs' next challenge will be a fight against cancerMr Inman noted that Apple had groomed Steve Jobs’ replacement, Tim Cook, knowing that their ailing CEO was battling cancer, so the business could carry on, not only as usual, but also able to deal with even more technological advances.
“So many business owners never even consider this aspect of their long term future, but it can be so important.¨
“Every successful business, no matter how large or small should have a succession plan.¨
Club Red coaches business owners to be more effective, so that they can lead more fulfilling, less stressed and ultimately happier lives. Information is available from http://www.clubred.com.au

 

Tony Inman - CEO

Tony Inman - CEO

Tony Inman has 32 years of management experience, mostly in retail, tourism and coaching, of which over 15 have been spent running his own businesses here in Perth.

He is also a business mentor at Curtin University’s Entrepreneurship Unit.

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Business Success Tips

Did You Find Yourself at Work again this Father’s Day?

September 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The following post was filed as a media release from the Club Red International Coaching Institute this week:

Grandpa Tony & Hayden

Grandpa Tony & Hayden

3rd September, 2011

Did You Find Yourself at Work again this Father’s Day?

If you are one of those workaholic businessmen who always seems to be working when the rest of the family are celebrating a public holiday or family occasion, then you might want to consider the potential toll on your loved ones.

The hectic nature of our business world today is driving many business owners and executives in search of promotion, to spend extra hours on duty and neglecting the key relationships in their lives.
Perth business and life coach, Tony Inman said that he had experienced first hand the damaging effects of focussing excessively on the needs of both a job and a business.

“I made the same mistake in two marriages, despite having the best of intentions,” said Mr Inman.

“Sometimes in life, we repeat destructive patterns without really noticing, until it’s too late.¨

“The first time around, I was in a demanding job, trying really hard to climb up the promotion ladder, to the point where my children were asleep when I left for work in the morning, and sometimes asleep again when I got home. I hated it but I thought our family needed more money.”

Mr Inman explained that he had inadvertently repeated the mistake with his second wife, when they started in business for themselves, because of the need to drive through the establishment and survival period.

“We now coach business owners and executives to create balance between their work life and their home life, so that they can enjoy the benefits of smarter, rather than harder work practices.”

If you really did have to work this Father’s Day, then you might consider the following suggestions:

  • Next time, does your business really need to open all day or could you reduce the opening hours?
  • Are there staff members who might be willing to work a half shift each?
  • Perhaps you need to review your staff training needs, so they can manage without you
  • Improve your forward planning so that you don’t miss the next family occasion

 

Great Grandparents Bill & Vera

Tony's parents Bill & Vera

We have been hearing these statements from respected self-help authors and TV chat show hosts like Oprah and Dr Phil McGraw for years, yet not everyone acts on the advice.
Mr Inman was happy to say that he had managed to build great relationships with his children and gets on well with both his ex-wives, though he hopes that others can learn from his experiences.
“Fortunately, many large companies have also woken up to the need to look after their staff and allow more flexibility with expectations around working hours, technology allowing workers to work from home and the importance of regular breaks to keep staff refreshed.”

 

Tony's kids - Craig & Kim

Tony's kids - Craig & Kim

Mr Inman concluded, “Whether you’re a father or a son, remember your family on this day, along with all of those key occasions in life. You’ll be glad you did.”
Club Red coaches business owners to be more effective, so that they can lead more fulfilling, less stressed and ultimately happier lives.

 

Information is available from www.clubred.com.au or by calling 9328 2203.
Tony Inman has 32 years of management experience, mostly in retail, tourism and coaching, of which over 15 have been spent running his own businesses here in Perth.

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Business Success Tips Tagged With: , ,

How You can use an Event like the City to Surf as a Catalyst for Change

August 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Tony Inman & Jo Small at the Perth City to Surf 2011

Tony Inman & Jo Small at the Perth City to Surf 2011

The following post was filed as a Club Red International Coaching Institute media release this week:

29th August 2011

How You can use an Event like the City to Surf as a Catalyst for Change
People who sustain the motivation to complete the City to Surf, often find they can use this new strength of mind to accomplish other goals.

 

Local business and life coach, Tony Inman, who is a specialist in change management and motivation techniques, said that he often advises his clients to draw on the experience of challenges like this as a source of personal empowerment.
“I myself have used this very event about seven times now to remind myself of my ability to commit to a personal goal,” said Mr Inman.
“A lot of people set New Year’s Resolutions or begin diet plans, but never stick to anything,” he said.
“But we coach them in how to see themselves crossing the finish line in their mind’s eye and how that would feel, long before the race actually even begins.”
“Making a real commitment to the person in your mirror and sticking to it, is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life,” he added.
Mr Inman said that he and his partner, Joanne had also used the race as an opportunity to create quiet time for chats, while walking or jogging around Perth’s lakes, parks and around the Swan River bridges.

 

Some of the lessons we can learn from completing the City to Surf are:

  • Exercise is crucial for our well-being –anyone can get off the couch and “find thirty minutes” a day
  • Achieving one goal empowers you to succeed with others
  • Helping local charities, like the Activ Foundation, for the disabled, is good for your soul
  • Running a business can be like running with fifteen thousand other excited people – lots of fun!

 

Mr Inman said that he had also used the race as an inspiration to give his body a break from alcohol for a month because he could tie the two goals together.
He added that although a twelve kilometre course was not everyone’s cup of tea, there are plenty of other community events that could be used as a similar motivational tool.
Club Red coaches business owners to be more effective, so that they can lead more fulfilling, less stressed and ultimately happier lives. Information is available from www.clubred.com.au or by calling 0419 860 382.
Tony Inman has 32 years of management experience, mostly in retail, tourism and coaching, of which over 15 have been spent running his own businesses here in Perth.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Life Success Tips Tagged With: , ,

Do You Love What You Do?

August 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Is it just an off day?

Is it just an off day?

Now of course we can all have an occasional off day in the office (or whatever your version of an office may be), but if the answer to this question is a definite ‘No’ or a half-hearted ‘Sometimes?’, then you really have to consider whether you are doing the right job or running the right business.

It’s not an admission of failure to accept that this may be the case, rather it’s an alarm bell from your subconscious mind.

One of my clients told me that she had been feeling out of sorts with her business for some time, but it was only when she finally left the business and sold out to her partners, that she realised she had actually feeling been feeling there was an incongruency between her values and theirs.

If you are feeling out of your depth, burnt out or suffering from stress, it may just be that you have taken on too much and need a break, or it could be that you need a complete change.

Sometimes we can be so busy trying to do a good job that we get bogged down in the daily grind and don’t even stop long enough to stand back and ask ourselves this question.

As I said before, there is a difference between an ‘off day’ and an ‘off choice of career direction’. Only you can truly know what it is that will be right for you. Success can often cover up the cracks, whereas struggle or downturns will really test your resolve.

do-what-you-loveI used to keep a sign on my office wall that paraphrased a quote from a marathon runner – I changed the word ‘race’ to ‘business’:

‘There will be days when you don’t know if you can run a business, but there will be a lifetime knowing that you did.’

I only had to look at that notice to remind myself that setbacks and hurdles just came with the territory and that I still loved what I did.

There are also some very simple techniques you can use to snap yourself out of a bad mood or an unwelcome state. You can always change the way you choose to react to setbacks, just by changing the way you think about the situation.

Here’s an idea to help spot the difference…  

Make an appointment with yourself and free up an hour to be quietly by yourself without interruptions. Turn the phone off. If you can’t do an hour, do half an hour.

Take a pen and paper and write down all the reasons why you love what you’re doing. If you can’t think of any, there’s a clue.

My view – if you no longer love what you do, this will eventually take a toll on your happiness.

If this is the case, then it’s time to think about what else you could be doing that fits in with your life’s purpose.

Don’t tolerate being ‘stuck in a rut’. Life is too short to waste it being unhappy!

As Coach Tony Robbins likes to say, ‘Until next time, live your life with passion!’

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Life Success Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Business and Life Balance

July 31, 2011 By 1 Comment


stress

Time for a break?

One of the key things to remember when you are in business for yourself is to enjoy what you do.


Another, equally important thing is to develop the ability to switch off from your business and remember to enjoy your life outside of your work.

That might seem like an obvious statement, but it’s so easy to become fixated on the daily process of making your business as successful as you can, that you forget the need to look after the most important asset that your business will ever have – YOU!

Often when we start up a new business, we do have to make personal sacrifices and put in extra hours just to get it off the ground and make it work. A lot of people fail to make that transition from employee to business owner when they realise that they may initially work far harder than they used to in their job.

Those who do survive that shock though can then often fall victim to the opposite end of the scale, where they become so used to working really hard that they forget to take time out to recharge their personal batteries.

They often think that nobody else can do the job as well as them so they refuse to delegate effectively or allocate enough time to train staff adequately so that they can escape. Does that sound like anyone you know?

The results of putting in to much work and not enough play can be just as catastrophic in the long term as failing to put in enough effort.


Recharging your batteries

Recharging your batteries

Stress,’ burn out’ or relationship breakdowns are many of the possible undesirable outcomes.


These situations are frequent scenarios that we, as business coaches, come across every day. In fact, one of the rewarding aspects of helping business owners can be to show them that it is possible to ‘have a life’ as well as a business.

The good news is that the past does not have to equal the future – you can change.

If you can’t remember the last time you went away for a weekend or spent a day doing something nice with family or friends, then do yourself a favour. Make an appointment with yourself.

Block out some ‘you’ time. Put it in the diary. Plan for it. Write out an action plan for your staff, or if you are a one-man band, prepare an “I’m not here, but I’ll get back to you” message and do it.

Your business will actually benefit from having its most important asset ‘refreshed’.

As Nike like to say, ‘Just Do It!’

tony-in-egypt

Tony in Egypt


Tony’s Viewpoint: ‘The most important asset in your business, and the one that should be regularly refreshed, is YOU!’

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Business Success Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Criticism or Feedback?

June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment


Selfridges Department Store - Is The Customer Always Right?
Selfridges – Is The Customer Always Right?

‘The customer is always right’, espoused the legendary retail pioneer, Henry Gordon Selfridge who founded the Selfridges Department Store in 1809 in London.

Of course anyone who has worked in retail can tell you that this is not always the case! They are often misinformed, confused etc!

Nevertheless, the spirit of this phrase is the key to the philosophy behind it, that success comes from satisfying the needs of the customer, without whom you do not have a business!

Selfridge was a pretty smart bloke and he went on to devise his ‘Five Rights’ philosophy of marketing effectiveness.

This applies not just to retailing, but to just about every business, whether you sell products or provide services.

successSelfridge said it was all about these ‘rights’ :

1. Getting the ‘right’ goods…(written for retail products but also applies to services)

2. To the ‘right place’...(where they can gain access & how they are displayed)

3. At the ‘right’ time...(when the customer is ready to buy – think about what is current & topical – eg fads)

4. At the ‘right price’…(too expensive = shop elsewhere; too cheap = no confidence)

5. In the ‘right’ quantity.(ideally enough to satisfy demand – too little = dissatisfied customers; too many = money tied up in dead stock)

I would add a sixth ‘right’ – the ‘right’ quality

Now you might think that you already knew all of the answers to these questions when you started in business – well congratulations…

… but when was the last time you got feedback on this?

You may think that you know it all but customer surveys and staff surveys can certainly give you some great feedback on well you are really tracking in terms of satisfying your customers.

The big question is : Is your business ‘market driven’? (In other words are you trying to dictate to the market and give your customers what you think they want and need, or are you listening to them and giving them what they say they want and need?)

change is the only constant

‘The only constant is change’

Heraclitus –Greek philosopher

‘Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one’.

Voltaire – French philosopher

So, whatever systems you use to gain feedback, whether it’s marketing surveys, customer service feedback forms or something else, remember that as society is constantly changing and progressing, so too must your business.

 

Tony Inman

Tony Inman - Club Red


Tony’s Viewpoint:

When I began my tourism business in 1996, very few of my guests had a mobile phone and most used the pay phone. Most businesses did not yet have a website.

If guests wanted to send a message to relatives back home, they would write a letter by hand and fax it. By 2010, almost all of them had a mobile phone and most of them had a laptop, a notebook or an I-pad or equivalent.

The lesson here is that in business, the expectations of your customers will change and you need to change with them.

My philosophy is that, ‘In business, if you are not moving forwards, you are slipping backwards’.


Remember to keep an open mind and not get upset when you start asking questions – you may not like all of the answers that you get.

Not all criticism comes from idiots

Not all criticism comes from idiots!

Make a decision to adopt the viewpoint that…

‘Criticism is the feedback we need so we can improve and grow’.
criticism is the feedback you need

criticism is the feedback you need in order to grow

Bear in mind that everyone filters their opinions based on their outlook on the world, so it is valid for them.

It is then up to you to assess whether it is valid for you in the context of helping you or hindering you from achieving your goals.

As an example, most customers would love it if you were to reduce your prices because that’s better for them!

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should, but if everyone is telling you that your competitors are much cheaper, then you’d have to take some notice!

If you need any help, don’t hesitate to call or drop me a line.

Until next time, make good things happen!

Filed Under: Red Hot Business Success Tips Tagged With: , ,

Sometimes Business Just Gets On Top Of Me…

May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Stress is not good for you

Stress is not good for you!

The other day I was chatting to a friend in a pub after we had both attended an event and he began to tell me about his business.

He was clearly proud of his work, his staff team and the standards that he achieves for his customers every week.

The more my friend spoke however, the more he began to divulge about the reality of his world.

As he shared the details of his daily challenges, I found that we had a lot in common.

He revealed that his drive to succeed in conquering adversities had taken its toll on his marriage, just as mine did a decade ago.

Despite this setback, he had managed to maintain his commitment to build a sound relationship with his son and he was naturally as proud as punch of this solid bond.

An imminent holiday with his family was finally on the horizon but he admitted that it had been long overdue. His business ‘beast’ seemed to rule his life rather than him controlling it, so a day off was a very rare event. His weekends usually involved catching up on invoicing, record-keeping or quoting because he was too busy for all that during the week.

every business needs systems

Every business needs good systems!


When I asked him about systems, he laughed and said that he was the system.

Most of the jobs needed his involvement, because he was the face of his business.

Is any of this familiar to you?

Do you ever have problems delegating work?

Does your business need your presence so badly that you barely dare to take a day off, let alone a holiday?

Establishing a successful business can often demand a huge commitment in the early days. When you are a good salesman, a good promoter and good ‘with the tools’ at the sharp end, it can be a daunting prospect to consider that for your business to truly grow and prosper, you need to step back and work on the business, rather than in it.

In many cases, you may need to learn new and different skills as your business grows. This may warrant further training to develop you to a new and higher level than the one with which you have previously been comfortable.

Of course, the concept of change can be scary, so there can be a tendency to continue on in your comfort zone, even when it is apparently no longer ‘comfortable’.

A stressful world

A stressful world



Here is a definition of stress – “Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from the outside world.”

Signs of stress can include: tension, irritability, inability to concentrate, feeling excessively tired and having trouble sleeping.

Physical symptoms may include: dry mouth, a pounding heart, difficulting breathing, stomach upset, frequent urination, sweating palms and tight muscles, especially in the back or neck (which may cause pain and trembling).

None of this sounds very appealing, does it?


This provokes the blindingly obvious conclusion that if any of this is happening in your world, you are very unlikely to be performing at your best.

I have known many business owners to describe these kinds of symptoms and anxieties. I have felt them myself in earlier days.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! – You can get your life back and you can take back control of your business and your life, often with a few simple adjustments that will empower you.

Coaching for success and happiness is not rocket science, but it can help you shoot for the stars once again!

Tony Inman

Tony Inman - CEO & Coach


Tony’s Viewpoint: You’ve probably heard that old saying that ‘Sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees’.

That’s where an investment in some coaching support can bring about amazing results, life-changing results.

If you feel as if your business controls you, rather than you controlling it, or you just know that it ought to be easier than it is now, that days off and holidays should be the norm, instead of some unattainable goal, then it’s my duty to say to you “Give me a call – maybe I can help”.

An initial chat about your situation will cost you nothing, so feel free to contact me. You have nothing to lose and just maybe you’ll regain the life you wanted to have!

Click here for a free report on the merits of coaching or drop me a line, using the contact form on this site and I’ll get back to you soon.

Until then, keep the faith. If you’re still in business, you’re doing better than a lot of people out there, so keep up the good work!

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Business Success Tips, Success Tips Tagged With: , ,

Living A Meaningful Life

May 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment


happy-family-cartoon

A Happy Family

Question: So who determines whether or not you are living a meaningful life?


Answer: You do of course and, I guess, your family.

Question: So what is a meaningful life?

Answer: Whatever you want it to be!

Questions: Well what if my life is not going quite the way I wanted it to? What if I don’t have the job I want or my business is not going as well as it should? What if I don’t earn what I think I should? What if my marriage or my relationship isn’t working out or has just broken up? What if I never get to go on the vacations I want? What if I don’t like where I live? What if I don’t have the friendships I want? What if I just feel miserable?

Answer: Wow – tough questions, but really, the first step is to define which of these areas are working for you and which ones either aren’t working, or could be improved.

Ok so here are a couple of  questions for you – have you made time for yourself? Have you made time to step back, think about your life and figure out what is your life’s purpose?

One of the gurus of Life Coaching, Tony Robbins, said the following in his ‘Get The Edge’ programme:

tony-robbins

Tony Robbins



“Nothing in life has any meaning except the meaning we give it. If you don’t like the way you feel, choose to create a new meaning.”


Sometimes we can be so busy dealing with all of the everyday ‘stuff’ in life that we don’t stop long enough to examine our actual situation, to take stock of where we are at in relation to the dreams we started out with. We can feel unfulfilled or even unhappy without really knowing why.

Years ago I heard a coach called John Higgs talking about the difference between people who have an internal locus of control and those who have an external locus of control.

Those with an external locus of control believe that ‘things just happen’ to them, or to use that famous bumper sticker slogan – ‘shit happens’.

They believe also that there is nothing they can really do to change their life. It just is the way it is.

Those with an internal locus of control believe that life is what they choose to make of it, that they can set goals, make decisions and take action to effect change, to make their life what they want it to be.

Cynics might argue that no-one can control everything that happens to them. What if you have an accident and find yourself injured for example?

That’s true – we can’t control everything that happens, but to you use that as an excuse to do nothing is a cop out.

What you can control is the way you choose to react to what happens to you – the bad along with the good.

Tony Robbins went on to say that sometimes the Universe wants us to fail in our attempts to reach a goal, because it will teach us another lesson and perhaps make us stronger in the process, thus perhaps availing us of new opportunities.

He reminded us that, “The real purpose of a goal is what it makes of us in the pursuing of it – the person we become”.

Last weekend I had a three hour drive each way to attend a friend’s wedding in Margaret River. I took the opportunity during the drives to re-listen to two old tapes that are as valid as they were when I bought them a decade ago.

Motivational speaker, Jim Rohn said that when he found himself at a point in his life where he realised he was unhappy at his lack of achievement and regarded himself his a failure, he began a quest for knowledge so he could change it. The conclusion he reached in his speech from 17 years ago, was that the opportunities are there for all of us in our western world if we would only apply ourselves and read the free books we need to, study the people who have achieved the things we seek to achieve and most importantly, to learn from our mistakes and other peoples’ mistakes.

jim-rohn

Jim Rohn


In short, Jim Rohn said, “If life is not blowing you in the direction you want, then learn to set a better sail’.



The other tape was of Doctor Wayne Dwer, a celebrated author and motivational speaker, entitled ‘When I believe it, I’ll see it’.

He spoke also about the opportunities with which we are so blessed. He introduced his family to the audience right at the start of his speech and explained that they are the most important thing in the world to him, they are his inspiration and his source of motivation.

wayne-dyer

Dr Wayne Dyer



Dr Wayne Dyer stated: ‘The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.’


So, if you want a life of meaning, make some time to sit alone and think. Reflect on where you are now and where you would like to be in the future. Which things are truly important to you?

Write it all down – the good and the bad. You may be surprised at what comes out!

Only when you realise where you want to head can you work out a course to get there.

Good luck. You can do it. If you’d like some help, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Life Success Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

Why Go Into Business?

April 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Business means success? Freedom?

Business = Success? Freedom?

Why would you start a business?

If you already have one, why did you start in business?

Does being in business have the same meaning for you now as you thought it would when you started?

Would it surprise you to learn that around 95% of businesses fail within the first two to five years?

Ouch – those are scary stats, aren’t they?


Well, part of the reason for that high ‘drop out’ rate is that a lot of people who go into business think that it will solve a lot of their problems in life or that it will give them something that they don’t have now.

Surveys reveal that many people think business = ‘success in life’, or that business = ‘freedom’.

If you succeed, that could well be true.

So, why is that not the case for so many people?

Let me say straight away, that my intention is not to part you off going into business!

In fact, my role as a coach is to help people succeed in business!

Iconic Aussie actor, Paul Hogan said, “You have nothing to lose by ‘going for it’.”

Well in business, that may not always be the case – if you go about it the wrong way, you could lose everything!

One of the joys of my business life has been the excitement and satisfaction of launching new businesses, of turning a concept into a working reality. I’ve set up businesses in tourism, retail, transport, direct sales, service industries and now coaching others to succeed.

I can tell you from personal experience that in business, just as it was when I worked for ‘the faceless corporation’, there will be ‘good days’ and there will be ‘bad days’.

On one of the occasions when I ran the Perth ‘City to Surf’ a few years ago, my training partner, a Canadian girl named Sophie gave me a quote from a marathon-runner. I paraphrased it, as it applied equally to business I thought, and I stuck it on my office wall as a reminder…


Cooking BBQ for backpackers

Tony feeding tourists

“There will be days when you will wonder if you can run a business…

there will be a lifetime knowing that you did.”

Tony Inman – Club Red Business Coach


So the thing that will keep you going when you strike a rough patch, or perhaps a business downturn, is maintaining a positive attitude. The key to keeping up your spirits is to have a clear understanding of why you are doing what you are doing.

It is important to know what you want out of your business and where you are heading.

Without a clear direction, you could be like a ship that leaves port without a destination in mind. It could drift endlessly on the choppy seas and risk running aground, leaving you in peril.

We have a maxim that, in business, you should ‘start with the end in mind.’

You should at least have a rough idea of how long you intend to run this business; when or if you may sell it; how much money will it, or must it, make  for you to warrant going through the stresses and strains.

I remember a time in my early days in business where I was working about 100 hours per week for about $50 per week! Had I not kept my vision for success in mind, I would have easily been one of those statistics, but my motivation overcame any thoughts of quitting.

You could be cruising instead of drifting

You could be cruising instead of drifting

Need some help?

That’s just one of the things that a business coach can help you with.

If you’d like more information you can sign up for free updates leaving your name and email in the box, top right of this page.

If you’d like a free leaflet on ‘Coaching for success’, just contact us, using the web contact form.

Or, if you have been considering talking to a life coach, contact Club Red and Tony will get back to you for a no obligation chat about how we might be able to help you.

Until next time, remember to focus on those rewards that all of that hard work will bring.

Filed Under: Blog, Red Hot Business Success Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Am I happy?

April 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
average-or-memorable

Are you on the right track?

When was the last time you asked yourself that question?


Perhaps it was a friend or family member who asked you?


Were you honest with the answer and did you have to think about it first?


It’s actually a very hard-hitting question to ask a person, because with all of the pressures exerted on us by our fast-paced, consumerist society, we often doubt ourselves.

We may be “happy, on the whole”, but there are all of those ‘little things’ that affect us every day, like whether we were held up in traffic, just had an argument with someone, have just caught a cold, were dumped on by the boss today – the list is endless!


One of the things that can really influence your answer in a positive way is, “Do you have purpose in your life?”

“Of course!” you say… “I’ve got bills to pay, children to raise, a job to do” etc.

Well, they are indeed valid pieces of your life’s jigsaw, but they constitute ‘what you do’.

The bigger question is ‘Why?’

The archaic, stereotypical answers in our ‘Western society’ used to be that a man’s mission was to secure the best job he could, so he could bring home as much money as possible, to support his family. The ‘good lady’s mission’ was to raise the children and support her man.

Obviously that framework has been turned on its head by many of us.

The glue that used to hold together that jigsaw for many people was religion. For a fair chunk of the world’s population, it still is.


What is the Meaning of Life?

What is the Meaning of Life?


You may have seen the satirical movie by the Monty Python team, ‘The Meaning of Life’, which uses humour to address the question that mankind has struggled to answer unequivocally since time began.

No matter if you haven’t seen it – the point is that the movie asks the big question.

One of the interesting things is the use of the tombstone on the poster.

If we can accept that we are all going to die one day, yet we are stuggling to define our life’s pupose, then here is a suggestion for you…

Imagine you are able to attend your own funeral, as a quiet observer from the back of the room.

How would you be remembered by your loved ones?

What would they say about you and your achievements?

Who would mourn your passing and why?

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience”

Eleanour Roosevelt

In business we say ‘Start with the end in mind’ as we coach people about the importance of ‘exit strategy’.


tony-in-egypt

“If, in our personal life, we consider the most personal fundamental we can, we must ask ourself, ‘What is my life’s purpose?’.


My theory for your consideration is that if you have an answer and you are living that mission, inner happiness will be inexorably linked.”

Tony Inman – Club Red Life Coach


So here’s my summary for this web post – a little exercise for you to do…

Don’t dismiss this as depressing or morbid – think about that eulogy at your funeral and ask yourself the following:

  • Who, or what kind of person, do I want to BE?
  • What things do I really want to DO in my lifetime?
  • What would I like to HAVE in my life? (Whether material or spiritual)

If you can do that, you’ll be amazed at the difference you can achieve in your life.

Need some help?

That’s just one of the things that a life coach can help you with.

If you’d like more information you can sign up for free updates leaving your name and email in the box, top right of this page.

If you’d like a free leaflet on ‘Coaching for success’, just contact us, using the web contact form.

Or, if you have been considering talking to a life coach, contact Club Red and Tony will get back to you for a no obligation chat about how we might be able to help you.

Until next time, ‘Be Happy!’ (Or as Monty Python would say, “Always look on the bright side of life!”)


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