Lifetime Learning

Hello from Hamilton Island!

The three of us, Judy Reynolds, Steve Marsten and Tina Zawila, along with our peers from all over Australia and New Zealand, are currently on Hamilton Island, practicing what we preach and engaging in personal and professional development (lifetime learning) by attending the Nixon Advantage annual conference.

We believe that the difference between who we are today and who we are tomorrow, is the people we meet, the books we read and the actions we take. So we are here because we are determined to walk the talk, and we have met and heard from some amazing people over the last few days!

We heard from Andrew Sobel, author and leading authority on client relationships. Andrew used an analogy around The Beatles, which evoked emotion and amplified our learning. Andrew identified seven key lessons in innovation, collaboration and loyalty from the Fab Four.

1. Create Face Time - spend time with your team and your clients.
2. Use Humour to Connect - ease tensions and create emotional connections.
3. Evolve Your Songs - treat longstanding clients like new ones and bring the same energy and excitement to your 100th meeting as you did to your 1st.
4. Create a Role for Everyone - Integrate each person into the team and let them shine.
5. Blend Differences to Create Greatness - bring diverse professionals together, foster collaboration and encourage them to produce the best ideas.
6. Share the Credit - Create a one-for-all, all-for-one culture.
7. Have Conviction - communicate with belief, passion and conviction.

The power of the whole (the band) was greater than the sum of the individuals.

Take a look at Andrew's web page www.andewsobel.com

We can't wait to get back and share our learnings with our team, our clients and our community.

We look forward, to paying it forward.

Find your voice…make a difference…

Our very first post on this site outlined our aim – to empower you in business and life. To help you achieve success … whatever that means to you.

Recently I came across the December 2010 issue of a magazine called “Success. What Achievers Read”, and I couldn’t put it down – I started reading from cover to cover. One of the articles is an interview with Maria Shriver where she talks about her personal journey to find her “voice” as she puts it, “to become the solution, to make a difference”. Maria discusses the definition of success and how her definition has changed throughout her life. Click here for Maria Shriver's interview in Success Magazine

 

Reading this article, and many others in this magazine, challenged me to consider my personal definition of success, to find my voice, to define how I want to make a difference. Have you taken the time to think about this lately?

Here at Sothertons Gladstone, we are constantly challenging our clients (and team members) to do the same…to establish their definition of success, and to articulate, with clarity, their vision for their future. What does it look like, feel like, and how driven are you towards it?

We then determine where they are now, and how they are going to achieve their goals and aspirations. This usually involves breaking down goals and projects into small, manageable tasks and actions, which can be achieved in short time-frames to keep them on target.

When we can see our future clearly, and establish realistic and practical tasks and time-frames, all of a sudden, we feel empowered, energised and focussed.

Helping others through this process allows me to find my voice…to make a difference in peoples’ lives and businesses…and that aligns to my definition of success.

Have you found your voice?

So What's Your WHY?.....

I believe in life long learning… I know what I know – I know what I don’t know – and best of all… I also know that I don’t know what I don’t know (yes, go back and read that again!)… and this is why I live in this state of anticipation – nothing can be more exciting and energising than that. My eyes and my heart (all senses) are wide open to the amazing opportunities and possibilities that are out there for me and for others. My purpose in life is to make a difference to others – to encourage others to recognise their potential, and to be inspired to embrace it, to be the very best that they can be – in life and in business.

That said… I had the opportunity to spend some time with a vibrant group of people from all over Australia and New Zealand - all part of the 10X family – our business coaching division (www.10x.com.au) at our Super Club in Brisbane last week. During the two days, Paul Dunn spoke to us about the power of WHY and confirmed my belief in validity of Simon Sinek’s theory that people don’t buy what you do or how you do it but rather WHY you do what you do. I recommend a TED.com talk by Simon Sinek – “How great leaders inspire action”. Have a listen. Here is the Video:

Each of us, particularly if we are in business, should spend some time becoming clear on why it is we do what we do… what is the purpose beyond the purpose of our business? If our WHY is big enough we will stay on purpose and we will attract others who align with our WHY – to the point that what we are selling will become secondary to this emotional connection with people at a higher level. Imagine dealing only with clients or customers who get why it is you do what you do – what an amazing space to be in – the perfect space to become even more inspired to see and act on the possibilities and opportunities that are there for you to make a difference.

This is a passion of mine… can you tell??

By the way here is Paul Dunn in action on Youtube

Success- How do YOU define it?

Success for some is based on money and material possessions, for others everyday tasks bring success. So how do you define success?

• To be the best in your field
• To own your own business
• Run a profitable business
• Enjoy each day
• Be the best parent or partner you can be
• Have an expensive car
• Own your own home or
• Retirement

The aim of this blog is to empower you in business and life. It’s about making your life simpler by providing advice and solutions from reliable and creditable sources.

Business

It’s about taking your business and life to new levels through innovative coaching, consulting and training focusing on revenue, profit, cashflow, business value and well being.

Life

It’s about helping you reach your desired personal financial success through tax, superannuation, budgeting, insurance, retirement and investing.