What Does 2008 Hold?

In short, I've no idea!

But I do know that there is great potential for all of us ... potential to succeed, potential to make mistakes, potential to learn from those mistakes, potential to improve, potential to do something we've never done before.

This year for me holds much in store as I start full-time in my own business having taken redundancy from my job last August. With so much still to do, so many unanswered questions, so many doubts and fears it would be easy to be overwhelmed by what 2008 holds in store.

BUT, there is also great excitement as I look forward. Amongst all the new, uncertain, unfamiliar paths that I will walk this year I know that in many ways, I hold the keys to my success. I don't believe in fate; I don't believe in just believing strongly enough and something will happen. I don't believe in karma. But I do believe that I can make 2008 an exciting and exhilarating year.

I wish you all success, happiness and a very happy new year.

Stuart

Are We Really in a New World?

I see lots of notices and receive many communications telling me that we are 'entering a new world'; 'a new world is upon us'; 'the old has gone, the new has come' etc. But when I woke up here in the UK this morning it was the same sun shining through my window and I'm pretty sure it was my same wife and children who were in the house!

I think that sometime amongst all our terminology and push to be contemporary we miss a basic truth ... we are dealing with the same people (okay, a few more join each day, just as a few leave) who have the same concerns as yesterday (possibly more) and who are looking for the same as they were yesterday ... to be treated in a way that says to them, "YOU MATTER".

So the technology may change, the pace of life may increase, stress may increase, the feeling of a need to escape from the race may intensify, but this underlying need remains the same. As we serve our customers, what are we doing that is adding to their lives?

It's a sobering thought that we may not be doing very much, because we are giving them the wrong message before they get chance to ask the question.

So, are we in a new world, or just a new way of seeing what has always been?

Until the next time ...

Change or Common Sense?

I don't know about you but I never cease to be amazed that no matter how often we ignore common-sense for the latest ideas, tools and strategies, we always seem to come back to the same starting point ... 'We are human beings who like to be respected for our views, intellectual faculties and the ability to make adult decisions.'

I've received some really great materials recently form a range of different disciplines ... marketing, education, sales etc, and do you know the latest ground-breaking, stellar secrets they're all telling me? 'Human beings like to be treated with respect and as human beings.'

I'll say that again, 'Human beings like to be treated with respect and as human beings.'

AMAZING! How simple is that?

So, I take heart that my convictions for ethical business are seen as important by others. It's not what we sell, or to whom ... but probably more to do with how we sell it.

Put yourself in your customers' shoes and ask yourself, "Would I buy this product from you and if so, why?" If you honestly can't answer both of those questions then perhaps we need to revisit the drawing board and re-think our approach. Until next time ...