Build your 'Why?'

A random conversation with a neighbour provided the source of this week’s business topic.

He asked what I did for a living.

When I told him about how I help people reinvent their lives or their businesses, or help them set up new businesses, my new friend, I’ll call him ‘Mr X’ to preserve anonymity, told me that he would love to open his own café one day. He seemed to be seeking some advice or input.

As the conversation continued, it became clear that this was a goal he had thought about for some time. He admitted that fear was the main thing holding him back. He didn’t want to lose what he had already worked so hard to achieve.

‘X’ is an experienced restaurant manager, currently running a successful and iconic Perth restaurant.

What may be weighing on his mind a little is that a friend of his had pursued his dream of opening a gourmet burger bar and turned that concept into one of Perth’s most successful burger restaurant chains.

Conclusion? If someone I know can do it, maybe I can too?

Another interesting thing about ‘X’ was that, even in the early days of his hospitality career, he had relished the idea of managing a restaurant just like the restaurant he was now running; in fact his dream had been to be the Manager of the very restaurant he is now running.

What does that tell you?

We attract what we focus on

Well, any of the motivational gurus will tell you about the Law of Attraction – you attract what you think about and focus on (good or bad!), as long as you back that up with action of course!

‘X’ had focused on his dream, to attain his ideal job, and with dedication and persistent application to his craft, he had fulfilled his desires. He had been the boss of this restaurant for two years now and didn’t want life to now become like ‘Groundhog Day’ (a movie starring Bill Murray, in which the lead character is trapped in a small town where he has to relive the exact same day, over and over).

So, I now knew that ‘X’ was a goal-oriented, hard worker who could commit to a dream and achieve it. Also from my conversations, I had gleaned that he is a good manager.

I suggested the following:

• If you’re going to start something like a café, but you don’t want life to become repetitive and dull, perhaps plan to progressively build a chain of cafés.

(That’s when he told me about his friend with the burger bar chain.)

I suggested that he start with the end in mind and set up really good systems that could be duplicated and that anyone could follow, so he could put them under management or franchise them.

•  If he didn’t want a chain, then at least think about an exit plan before he started. In other words, consider how long a project this would be; how much money did he want to make; when would he plan to get out, or ‘exit’ the business. We call it ‘starting with the end in mind’.

He agreed that a small café would probably not make enough profit to pay him as well as a manager and staff.

Buying Yourself a Job?

Key Point – The danger of moving from a well-paid manager’s job to the owner of a small business like this is that you may just be ‘buying yourself a job’ and possibly one that pays less than you earn now.

Without an exit plan, it could easily become a job that you’re stuck with, until you can find a buyer!

Now of course it’s not all about money! There are considerations like ‘loving what you do’ or ‘being creative’, ‘being your own boss’ or ‘working the hours that suit you’.

Here’s another tip though, because ‘X’ revealed that one of his motivations is that he no longer wants to work evenings – you have to be prepared to put in some extra effort to get a small business off the ground. This can often mean working longer hours than you were working in your old job!

• I then asked about his motivation for wanting his own business, which was largely to escape the mundane routine of his job.

I explained how we tend to move away from something with which we are discontented (a pain), or towards something we desire (a pleasure).

What can happen is that people often want to escape the job, so they start the business, but if they don’t have big enough goals to continue moving towards, they can slip back towards what they don’t want.

(A good example of that is the way people try to lose weight because they don’t want to be fat. As they lose some of the weight, they lose the motivation to continue because the goal has been partly achieved already. Without the motivation, they regain the weight).

Key Point – Be clear about why you want to start your business. What are you moving away from and what do you seek to gain, i.e. where do you want to be in a few years time?

• In case any readers think I was being negative, I wasn’t. I pointed out that he was clearly goal-oriented, clearly motivated, obviously he knew something about the type of business he was planning because he already had management experience in that field (that point alone put him way ahead of many ‘would be’ business owners) and he had a lot of contacts in that industry.

Focus on the Outcome You Want

The issues then involved how to design the business so as to increase the chances of success (thus not losing what he has already worked for, but exceeding what he currently has); and how to design the business so that he could end up not working evenings – i.e less hours, more money.

Key point – A crucial question that can determine success or failure is, ‘What would your niche be?’. What is it that will set your business apart from your competitors?

‘X’ had some ideas, but they must of course remain between him and me.

• Another key question to ponder – knowing that you have this dream, and that you are becoming dissatisfied with the present position and lifestyle, where will you be in a year’s time if you don’t take any action?

• ‘X’ has better odds than most people because of his experience. He is also willing to seek advice and has a network of people willing to help. He is an intelligent guy with much to ponder.

The Take aways from this talk-

Cons – Most small businesses struggle if the owners are short of capital or lack the necessary skills or knowledge; as a business owner you need to have a large diversity of skills encompassing many aspects of business management – even being exceptional in one area may not guarantee success if you fall short badly in others.

Pros - Business allows you to be creative; it has the potential for you to build a saleable asset as well as a cash flow generator; it offers many tax benefits unavailable to employees and managers; missing skills can be learned if you have the desire; business allows you to shape your own destiny.

You won't know if you don't try!

My View: Business ventures carry inherent risk, but as the old saying goes, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’.

Are you a risk-taker? What is Your Mission in Life?

Afterthought : Increase your chances of success – engage a coach with business and life experience.

Contact Tony today for a free strategy session - click here to arrange a chat about how we can help make you more successful

Until next time – Seize the day!

See also these other posts : ‘Why Go Into Business?’

‘Do You Love What You Do?’

‘Living a Meaningful Life’

‘Am I Happy?’

‘Are You Living A Life of Fulfillment?’

George Barr -From Breaking Point to Point Break

From ‘near death’ to ‘full of life’ – the following ‘Rave Review’ is an inspirational story in its own right that was sent in to Club Red’s office this week. I hope you find it as moving as I did.

It was written by a former Club Red employee, George Barr, who worked in both our Tourism and Cleaning Divisions, and who remains a close friend of Club Red CEO, Tony Inman.

Life coaching  -what is it?
This really happened to me but imagine this as being you.
You’re on a plane just taking off from Hong Kong international headed back to Australia.
Ahead is the beach and working with a mate you have known for a few years.
He owned a good business, a backpackers-that’s how I first met “Tony Inman”.
On my return from an extended overseas trip I was going to the backpackers hostel business that Tony owned at that time, ”Planet Inn” to live and do a little part time work.
I got there and started going the basic routine and eventually was driving great, enthusiastic people to the beach and generally getting immersed in the busines.
Tony was keeping a watchful eye on things, and I think that he soon picked up that I was not all on deck health wise as I had been helping out with another aspect of his enterprise, the cleaning contracting.
I helped out with this occasionally too, but my standards had slipped due to something I could not personally pin down.
I had to admit I was not up to speed, I couldn’t pin it down I just was not myself, and I knew it.
Standing in the backpackers one day, I went really cold and had symptoms of a heart attack.
One of our mates, being on hand, drove me straight to ICU and WOW… all the bells and whistles went off.
I lay on the gurney signing the paper for the Doctor to go ahead with extreme life saving measures like stoppping the heart, injections of adrenalin and god knows what else.

I knew I was as good as dead.

I had been down this road before at age 32 and recovered.
This time I did not feel confident at all, after all how can you when red lights are flashing and half a dozen people are looking really serious and you know it’s not a joke?
Basically it’s game over.
I actually surprised myself and everyone else I think, as I walked away with this as a memory and a need to recover.
This happened twice in the space of two weeks.
So enter Tony.
He sat me down and gave me a brief talk and ahead we went, with me still working but in a supervisory capacity. I had backpackers to do the muscle side and Tony gave me advice on how to keep it organised.
He was coaching me as we went along, feeding me the information and advice as required.

Tired and not wanting to be a burden, I actually wanted to crawl into a hole and just go away as I felt that was it, I had after all been technically gone(dead) twice in a month, and I had a new shiny machine implanted in the chest as a medal, my reward from God for not filling a seat in paradise.

But Tony kept me inspired, mainly due to his own diligence in heading up the numerous branches of his business.
What I learned took me forward further than I could have imagined at the time.
Initially, I was not skilled in the running of business or dealing with people in that certain way that you need when working at the coal face.
I became adept at handling difficulties and difficult people, an essential quality when working with the public or supervising staff.

George the Adventurer

When Tony sold this aspect of his enterprise, I went road tripping, reasonably well recovered on a road trip to Broome.
On arrival, I headed into a life of beach, sun and surf, money of course is not in never ending supply.
So I went looking for bar work, hopefully it would workout at the local pub called the “Famous Beer and Satay Hut”.
On my CV was mentioned that I had been an approved bar manager at Tony’s licensed backpackers.
Tony had of course endeavoured to make sure that this part of the business was covered and I had done the relevant courses and studied for it.
So there I was, trained and experienced under the watchful eye of Tony, two and a half thousand kilometers away, looking for bar work.
They actually required a bar manager and I just happened to be there at that time and place.
Now that’s is a combination.

The life skills that Tony employed and his coaching under the most extreme and difficult circumstances put me there at the right time and place.
I stayed at the job until my feet and surf board were in demand on another part of the continent, that’s the life I lead, and it is a life to wish for.
Some call it ‘living the dream!’

Uncle George with his nephew, Jeremy

In the last three months I have surfed more beaches than I could name, driven in excess of twenty thousand kilometers and have travelled across the Nullarbor twice in as many months.
I have great prospects and no doubt there’s a beach or point break waiting for me over the horizon.
Take the hint and get with Tony, his skills are solid and the life coaching? Well the facts of my story say it all.
If you’re at breaking point, look for your point break.
Go surf life and have Tony assist.

A short reply from me, Club Red CEO, Tony Inman:

George’s story is an inspiration to us all and I am proud to count him as a friend.

For me, business was always about the people, and always will be. It’s about helping your customers and nurturing your staff.

If you don’t look after your staff, and put time and effort into developing and training them, you won’t have a business.

I knew that the last thing George needed was to wallow and feel sorry for himself. I also knew that we had to keep a very close eye on not letting him overdo it. Fortunately, we got the balance right and he was able to pick himself up and find a new purpose for his new direction.

I consider myself very fortunate to have been in a position to help George through one of the most significant and challenging times in his life. The irony is that in helping other people, we learn more about ourselves.

This is one of the reasons that my mission today is now to help people with business and life coaching, and why I became ‘The Reinvention Specialist’.

So, thank you George, for your support and friendship.

One day soon, I will write a book that I’ve been promising people about my many stories of people like George. Until then, if you need any help with finding your personal ‘wave of success’, don’t hesitate to call me for a chat.

Seize the day!

Tony Inman

Kym Chomley, Former Partner Holmans Accounting Practice

I approached Tony about 6 months ago to provide me with business and life coaching as I was going through a major career transition at the time.

Tony has been excellent at keeping me on task and focussed on my goals throughout this process.

He is highly organised, solutions oriented and has been an excellent mentor.

While working together he has kept me looking at the bigger picture, actively reviews my progress and is able to use his considerable skills to assist in changing my paradigm concerning perceived obstacles. My personal growth during this time has been extensive and he continues to assist me with ongoing business issues.

I would recommend Tony’s coaching services to anyone who wants to grow either their business or themselves.

January 5, 2012
Top qualities: Great Results , Good Value

Kym Chomley

Former Accounting Partner, Holmans Accountants

For more information on how Tony Inman, “The Reinvention Specialist” and Club Red Coaching and Consulting could help you to transform your business, career and life, please contact Tony using the form provided,

or call (Intnl prefix +61 8 ) 9328 2203 for a no-obligation chat about your goals.

It’s a time of year when we think of family and friends, some close by and some who are absent and missed.

It also seems to be a time when people find it in their hearts to take a moment out of their busy lives to give other people something special, perhaps an unexpected gift, perhaps the gift of a smile.

Of course not everyone is so charitable. For years I worked as a retail manager, and I can tell you that for every jovial customer in December, there were usually far more who allowed the stress of last minute gift shopping to transform their demeanor into behaving in ways of which, in hindsight, I’m sure many would have been ashamed.

That’s why I think that this little video clip is a perfect reminder at Christmas of how the world should and could, really be.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Please remember to spare a thought for those less fortunate, the sick and the homeless.

Spare a thought too for those who are working at Christmas to make the world a better, safer place for those who aren’t – such as police, fire and rescue workers, doctors, nurses, support staff, retailers, hospitality workers, and of course Santa’s helpers, reindeers and angels.

• Have you ever looked at a house you’d love to own and wondered how on earth you could ever possibly own it?

• Have you ever looked at an exotic destination in a travel brochure and wondered how you could afford to go there?

If the answer to either of these is ‘YES’, then why not contact Club Red for a chat?

WHY?

Because we help people just like YOU to reinvent your business and/or your life so you have a winning hand.

We help you to play the games of business and life much better, so you can make your dreams become a reality.

We’d love to help you too…

If you don’t change what you’re doing, you’ll end up where you’re heading!

Bernie Kroczek - Owner Bernie Kroczek Real Estate

Tony Inman is a guy who has no limits.

I’m amazed at some of the things he does, like running in the City to Surf, still playing soccer at 50+, diving, travelling to exotic places and now business and personal coaching.

He is prepared to travel all over the country for training and to improve his knowledge and, most importantly his willingness to share is quite rare in the modern world.

Above all else Tony is a great guy with a genuine love of life and humanity.

Having initially met in a business relationship, I now count him as a genuine friend.

He is also a Man U supporter so that says something about his impeccable taste for fine things.

Bernie Kroczek – Proprietor of Bernie Kroczek Real Estate

Club Red recommends Hootsuite

You’ve already come to the realisation that social media is a vital tool for building your business, but how do you find the time?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at some point!

Well, don’t despair – help is at hand!

I was struggling to keep up with facebook, twitter, and linked in and wondering how on earth people manage to find time to write on all of these media.

The answer is – they don’t. They automate and link them using a social media linking service.

There are some simple ones and some complicated ones, free ones and those you to which you subscribe.

I recommend this free social media management tool at : Hootsuite

Give it a go and see how much time you save.

Qantas Dispute Shows the Importance of Win-Win Strategies

Qantas Planes Grounded by CEO

The recent shutdown of Australia’s iconic airline, where passengers were left stranded without warning, caused astonished reactions around the world at how industrial relations negotiations could go so wrong so quickly.

Business Coach and Mentor, Antony D Inman observed that the actions of Qantas CEO Alan Joyce will be a talking point for business schools and lecturers for many years to come and that Perth businesses could learn a great deal from this global story.

‘It was like a classic chess match where Mr Joyce’s strategy effectively forced the Australian Government to step in and expedite a solution’ said Mr Inman.

The dispute was actually about a variety of grievances, involving wages and work conditions between the Airline and three different unions: the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA).

In fairness to the pilots, their claim was not about pay, but about ensuring that only Qantas pilots would be allowed to fly Qantas planes, and the extent of their industrial action had been to not wear their caps and to make carefully and diplomatically worded announcements to passengers about the need to support Qantas pilots in light of their excellent safety record.

‘These were hardly the actions of militants!’ said Mr Inman.

Qantas are still statistically the safest airline in the world in terms of accidents or noteworthy incidents.

The other two unions, however had been ‘nibbling away at the toes of the airline giant’ by causing random work hold-ups that had caused costly delays in services.

Alan Joyce - Qantas CEO

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was worried though, that the Unions’ plans to continue being disruptive for months to come would effectively lead to the eventual demise of the company.

His response, however was a move that was described by the President of the Pilot’s Union (AIPA), Barry Jackson, as ‘holding the country to ransom’.

It was a move of which a world chess champion would have been proud. Alan Joyce sprung the decision to close down operations without warning, on an unsuspecting world.

This decision was announced a mere one day after the company’s shareholders had emphatically endorsed his authority at their A.G.M. with a significant and controversial pay rise. It also coincided with an event that itself traditionally ‘stops the nation’ – the world famous Melbourne Cup horse race.

If that wasn’t enough, Perth was also playing host to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), opened by visiting royalty, Her Majesty the Queen.

HRM Queen Elizabeth & PM Julia Gillard

‘Imagine the embarrassment to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, if she wasn’t seen to act immediately to resolve a dispute that would inconvenience and possibly strand some of the world’s top dignitaries’, said Business Coach Mr Inman.

Many business commentators are saying that the decision to ground all Qantas aircraft and leave passengers floundering, was a huge risk that could significantly damage the reputation of the Airline and its brand, possibly irrepairably.

Mr Inman explained that he and his partner were on a long weekend jaunt in Melbourne when the newsflash hit the world headlines and they were left uncertain as to whether they would be able to return home as planned.

‘We were delighted when the tribunal at Fair Work Australia used their powers to force all parties to cease the dispute, get the planes back in the air and return to sensible negotiations’ he continued.

Tony Inman concluded that although this was an extreme and what you might call ‘landmark’ case, all businesses should realise the need to ensure that the needs of both company management and staff are always as aligned as possible.

‘In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, where many small and medium sized businesses have found the going tough, we need to ensure that our staff are kept informed about external pressures and the strategies by which the management plan to address those threats. We also need to be ethical and transparent in our consideration of the staff’s needs, while explaining clearly the impact on commercial viability of meeting their desired wages and conditions.’

‘That way, if we can find a win-win outcome, we can all keep our company flag flying’ said Mr Inman.

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, transport and coaching, of which over 15 have been spent running his own businesses here in Perth.

Ends

Media release available as a PDF download.

Footnote

Jo and I returned to Perth on Qantas and their service was excellent as usual. I’m delighted to see them back in the air and I hope that compromise solutions can be found that will enable the airline to expand profitably into Asia, whilst maintaining as many Australian jobs as possible.

Inspiration - the Road to Success

It seems as if everywhere I turn these days there are coaches with a message – coaches in life, coaches in business, coaches in de-cluttering, coaches in sport, coaches in relationships, coaches in not eating chips at midnight, coaches in how to get out of bed and live your life!

Everywhere I go, people are saying it’s all about your attitude, it’s all about positive thinking, it’s easy – you just do this or that or the other!

Is it easy???!!

* If it’s all so easy then, why aren’t we all super successful, just because we want to be?

* Why aren’t we all top academics without the need to study?

* Why aren’t we all multi-gazillionaires who blow our fortunes one day and get it back the next with no effort required?

* Why aren’t we all athletes who can eat icecream at 1am and not gain a kilo, doing nothing but sitting on the couch?

* And why aren’t we in great relationships with people who love us, while we remain totally selfish?

Answer – The Universe doesn’t really reward us without some semblance of effort, but it is SIMPLE  – What?!!

It is simple to become successful at anything in life. Look at someone who’s done it and do what they did.

“Are you insane, Tony Inman?” you may shout!

“Absolutely,” I say, “Being sane was far too limiting!”

The reason I say it’s easy to do the simple things it takes to be successful, is because other people have done the things they had to do to succeed, and they did succeed, eventually, even if they had to overcome major setbacks that tested their resolve.

How do you eat an elephant?

“OK then”, said the smartarse, “How do you eat an elephant?”

“That’s easy” said the wise person, “One mouthful at a time!”

*****

Here’s the catch though and the reason why most people are not as successful as they coulda, woulda, shoulda been…

It’s easier not to become successful at anything in life.

Those of you who have read ‘The Secret’ or have heard of ‘The Law of Attraction’ would know that we attract what we think about.

It starts with a thought – “Wouldn’t it be great if I could do (whatever it is that you want to do)?” – we’ll call it X.

Then it becomes a decision – “I’m going to do X”

What’s next ? – Well, a big fat nothing if you don’t DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

(Otherwise you’d already be, do or have whatever X is to you)

So, here’s the thing – a famous coach, who was actually in the movie of ‘The Secret’, named Loral Langmeier, asked me this recently:

“So what must you do to be successful?”

Answer – “Whatever it takes!”

*****

There you have it, it’s SIMPLE – if you’re not WHO you want to BE, DOING what you want to DO, and HAVING the things in life that you want to HAVE, there’s a good reason.

Most of that reason is to do with what’s going on inside your own head.

That’s where a coach can really help the most.

The solution is really quite simple – if your dream of what you want, is big enough, and you REALLY want it (not just it would be quite nice if I could ‘X’), then the inspiration of that dream will motivate you to do whatever it takes.

The best part about it is WHO you become, in the process of DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES.

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words, so here is an awesome inspirational video that sums it up.

If you’d like to discuss it further, please contact me, or leave a message and we’ll organise a free chat about how Club Red can help you overcome any obstacles in your way, that may be preventing you living the life you deserve.

Until next time – seek inspiration and take action