Choose your destiny! - By Marie-nicole

The dictionary meaning of the word ‘destiny’ implies that there is a lack of control over the outcome of your future. Although we do not have full control over everything that takes place around us, we can surely do our best to steer our life in our chosen direction.

In the lead up to a new year, the desire to reflect on and assess life is common. New years resolutions are made and decisions to change one’s situation often set in motion. I am not terribly big on setting new years resolutions myself as I find I assess enough of my life the entire way through a year, especially since as a micro business owner I have in the past fallen into the trap of doing what comes my way even if it is not what I truly wished to be spending my time doing. Which is why I now think it is essential to stop reflect and assess regularly on what you are spending your time, money and energy on. If you don’t like how your life has turned out or the direction your business is heading then it is up to you to make changes and realign yourself with where you would like to be heading. These changes do not need to be huge, but they do need to be significant to your desired outcome.

The one thing I do like to do at the beginning of a new year is set myself one major goal for that year, giving my year a focal point. Usually it is something that I have had hovering in the back of my mind or written in my journal many times over, and when I see that a year ahead may be well suited to realising that dream, I bring it to the forefront and make it my goal for that year.

In order to set realistic achievable goals for yourself I think it is important to take the time to get to know yourself and what it is you really want to be doing with your life; right now, in the near future and the distant future. Keep in mind that goals may change over time. Just because 10 years ago I wanted to travel the world while photographing for a living does not mean that I still want that now as my situation has changed, now having children and a different set of priorities. I still have a great desire to travel and a passion for photography, but the priority of providing my children with a sense of belonging, the security of a home and a lifestyle where as a family we grow our own food and live sustainably, means that lengthy trips overseas are not as feasible as they were 10 years back. That is not to say that I should abolish that dream, but rather understand what the essence of that dream was about. I think it may be about the sense of adventure and discovery which is something that can also be experienced closer to home, in shorter trips.

This realisation came to light when my husband and I went to Chicago and New York City a couple of years ago. We did a lot of our discovering on foot and when we got back to Australia I decided to
treat my day trips to the inner city areas of Sydney the same way. I park further away from my desired destination then walk the last partof my trip which enables me to really take in the smaller details of an areas culture while discovering shops, cafés, street art and beautiful little gardens that I would have missed had I driven right up to the curbside of my desired destination. In the last couple of years we’ve also taken a few more road trips and treated them in much the same wayas our US trip. Adjusting your dreams to your current situation shouldnot mean loosing the essence of what you are about.
 

Apart from knowing yourself when setting your goals in order to choose your own destiny, I think it is equally important to understand how the people around you are affecting you and your ability to realise your dreams (or your family’s dreams). Some, no matter how close to you they are, may simply be a negative influence because they themselves do not believe that they have a say in their own destiny. They may be the type of person that blames everyone but themselves for their misfortunes. I am not saying that you should cut ties with these people entirely, but I think it is extremely important to engage with people that lift you up and encourage or inspire your personal or creative growth and development. When times seem tough you will draw from the energy theyprovide you. At other times you can be their source of positive energy when they need it. Having this kind of support will be invaluable toyou staying positive about the possibilities that life can offer you if you are open to the opportunities that are out there just waiting for you to embrace them.

So I would like to encourage you to steer your life in the direction you would like it to head... there is no use spending unnecessary energy on blaming others for what you have not achieved or what you do not have... choose to make it happen, realise your dreams, dream up new ones and live the best life that you can live!

Image: by marie-nicole
Dream catcher: www.teawithagypsy.esty.com

Tips for Shinning Start for the New Year 2012

The New Year is all about being feeling refreshed, reconnected and renewed. 

The New Year presents you with the great opportunity to take a good look at where you are right now and where you want to be at the end of 2012.  The best way to get started first is to review your goals or set new goals within a parameter.

So don't waste this New Year spirit. Take advantage of a fresh start and just like a fire work celebration it gives you the boost of extra energy that can assist you begin the New Year strong and also to hold on the momentum toward the tasks and goals you want to achieve this year.

We all have goals and dreams to achieve, whether you want to get organised, build a new system for your business, de-clutter your studio or home, or even to lose a few pounds from over indulging yourself during the holiday season. 

To assist you achieving your goals and aiming for a fabulous 2012, we would like to share with you the following tips.

Each of these tips are useful and they can make a big impact to the way you feel and operate your business lifestyle throughout this year.

So before we start sharing, we want you to understand this statement:

"Less is more, focus on and real purpose"

Here are the 3 tips:

1.     Less is More in 2012.

Learn to let go and get rid of things. Don’t be a hoarder. The less stuff you have means you can get things organised easier and quicker. If you start to adopt this routine, fewer things also means less clutter which will give you more time to plan and everything has a place and is more organised. Your thinking will be clear and calmer and you can focus on your business and personal tasks much better too. 

Do this exercise:

List 30 things you would like to de clutter in your business and personal. Your goal is to trash them with 30 days. You can start with a slow pace and de clutter one or two tasks, as long as you are committed to execute those 30 tasks in 30 days. When you think about it, you only need to do one task per day so it’s not hard to do at all.

2.    "The urgent  vs The important things"

People who are good at time leveraging usually do more of what matters and less of what doesn’t. Therefore you need to learn the difference between the Urgent things verses the Important things.

Urgent things demand your time but can usually wait, even when they seem like emergencies.

Important things move you in the direction of your dreams and goals.

A clear focus on the difference between the urgent and the important will be critical to your future success in this, or any other business. And a clear understanding of the activities you undertake that are important rather than urgent will see you succeed sooner. We all have 24 hours a day no more and no less. The difference for you is how are you going to leverage or use the time?

So focus on the importance things  and you'll never see the urgent things again.

Do this exercise:

Create a To Do list daily for the next 30 days. Review the list and take off tasks or things that don’t add value or purpose to your goals. If you are still unsure then ask yourself this question:

If I ‘m doing this task will it bring me close to my dream or will it  take away from my dream?

So keep focused on doing the tasks that matter.

3." Delegation & Motivation"

 If you are overworked and try to do everything in your business, now is the right time to plan out how you can delegate some of the work to your team or out source to people who can help you with your day to day operation so that you can start working on your business instead of working just in your business.

Learn to delegate tasks to people who can do the job for on your behalf. You’ll be surprised that by delegating you can reach your goals faster.

For example for home what can your children do for themselves  from this year onward? Take turn to take out the trash? Do the house work? 

By delegating or set tasks for them to do you are teaching them useful life skills  and as the same time you are freeing some time for you do do something else.

What about your business partner or spouse? review what you both doing right now and share the work load. The new  year is the best time to  re negotiate your tasks around business or personal with your partner(s).

Outsource some of your business. Can you afford to pay someone to do the book keeping, or marketing, get a cleaner to do the house keeping etc?

I know it sounds quite a lot of work and at the begin of the process it will take a lot ofyou time to get helpers, but later on down the track you’ll be rewarded with more time for the important things in your life like spending more quality time with your family.

So by following these tips you will see a change for  the better in your business lifestyle. You will be free from clutter, a more organise space for you to work and a clear head when you are working on your business.

So, take advantage of the New Year Spirit – and start implementing these tips now.

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What is your customer's "Catch"?

Customer's Catch is a term we use in OPIC Sales and OPIC Quirk workshops. It is a concept to help our clients better understands their ideal customers "buying motives" or "Catches" and the real purpose as to why they would buy your product or service in the first place and not your competitors. 

We use these 8 Catches to identify why customers wants to buy from you.

First of all, do you understand the following?

• Do you know why your customer makes the purchases that they make?
• Do you know what factors influence your customer purchases?
• Do you know what changing factors in our society will affect your customers’ decision to buy from you?

You can implement the 8 Catches into your marketing strategy. These catches will help you to communicate to your ideal customers and channel them back to your business to make purchases or to use your services.

If you use one of these catches effectively, you will talk to them directly as you know what is important to their wants & needs and why they should buy from you and not your competitors.

Before we look at each one, firstly you need to understand your business, product or service and the real purpose as to why you want the type of customers to buy or use your service.

Here are the 8 Catches:

1. Worry Free - a "Peace Of Mind" catch. This catch often used by insurance companies, as you know when you buy insurance for your home or vehicle you are buying for peace of mind in case any accidents may occur. So when you use this catch, you are selling a no worry or a peace of mind product. For example most mums will buy a cot for her child if the cot uses no toxic paint so it does not harm the child and this would give her peace of mind because the baby is safe from harm.
2. Easy & convenient-  this catch is particularly useful if you have a product that is so easy to use or it could be that you are located in a very central area that your customer can get there with ease. For example a local corner store will use this catch to promote his location as convenient.
3. Value for money (VfM)- is about obtaining the maximum benefit with the resources available. Decisions about VfM are a daily reality in all our lives. We are constantly choosing which items or services to buy, and judging the right balance for us between quality and cost. This catch is a great match for your clients who are looking for value products & services.
4. Status-exerting influence by reason of prestige. This catch is used when you target the customer who appreciates and loves luxury products or supreme services. If you are selling high end products this catch will get their attention. It's based on Status, quality and not on price.
5. Time Save-If you are pitching to an audience this catch is perfect as time means a lot to them as they are constantly busy or time poor. Classic examples are online sales. You can buy in the comfort of your own home and you don't even need to leave.
6. Money Save- This is a good catch as everyone wants to save money if they can help it. You may have seen an ad where it tells you to buy because it's now reduced to a low price, so you will save money if you buy now.
7. Environmentally Conscious- are terms used to refer to minimal or no harm on the environment. Businesses sometimes use these terms to promote goods and services by making environmental marketing claims and with Eco-labels. If you are a green environmental friendly business here is your chance to promote your product to your customer who has the same belief like you do.
8. Brand Loyalty-The extent of the faithfulness of a customer to a particular brand, expressed through their repeat purchases, irrespective of the marketing pressure generated by the competing brands. This is catch you want to use as if you could build a Brand that your customers become loyal to. You know when have them for life. You don't have to worry about competition as in your customers’ eyes you are it.  No one else will take your place.

So the next time you would like to write an ad or to promote your products or services make sure you use some of these catches to attract your ideal customers.  These catches are to help you to keep your ideal customer in mind so whatever you do you will create the product with your customer in mind.

To get a better understanding on how other businesses use these catches, the next time you go grocery shopping, pick up  a product and turn to the product info section and you will see how they use their customers to entice their ideal customer to purchase their product.

Design: Made:Trade From 21-24 July 2011

 

Design:Made:Trade

Design:Made:Trade will be held from 21-24 July at the Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens of Melbourne.  This Designer trade show is part of the State of Design Festival in Melbourne. The festival will commence from 20 July and end on the 31 July 2011.

The festival was first established in 2004 and the purpose of the show is to showcase Australian and International design culture. The event is open only to Trade visitors on the Thursday and Friday so that leading and emerging designers can network with manufacturers, retailers and export buyers. 

Over the weekend the event will be open to the public to view the exhibitions and participate in interactive making events and activities designed for children and their families of all ages. 

If you happened to be in Melbourne during the 21-24 July, this event will definitely worth a visit.

Please leave us a comment if you've been to the show... we'd love to know what you think. 

When:

Trade & Industry Thursday 21 – Friday 22, July 

Public Saturday 23 – Sunday 24, July Time: 10am – 5pm 

Cost: 

Trade & Industry: Free upon pre-registration 

Public: $10 

Bookings:

PURCHASE TICKETS 

Location:
Royal Exhibition Building
9 Nicholson St, Carlton 

To register for a pass or read more view the State of Design webpage

 Source & images from State of Design 


http://www.stateofdesign.com.au/Business-And-Trade/Design-Made-Trade

What is your business' legal structure? Which One Would Be The Right One For You?

Your business is a legal structure, therefore it is important that you understand the business structure that you select for your business. The most common types of business structures available in Australia include:

1.   Sole Proprietor or Sole Trader

2.   Partnerships

3.   Companies

4.   Trusts

Your choice of most appropriate legal form of organisation for your business will depend upon factors like:

·    The size of the business

·    The number of people involved

·    The type of business

·    The cost and difficulty of establishment

·    Taxation considerations-maximum economic rewards

·    Financial considerations, both present and future

·    Superannuation considerations

·    Management control and independence

·    Acceptability of government interference

·    The need for additional skills

·    Exposure to risk / liability of individuals

·    Your own personal preference

Next week we will  discuss about Sole Proprietor or Sole Trader. So stay tuned for next Friday.