Tales My Mother Told Me... Tale 10 "Chicken scratches for what it gets"

Rooster, Hen and Chicks

Welcome to tales my Mum told me...

Tale 10: "Chicken Scratches For What It Gets"

This tale took place when I was 12 years old. We were living in a refugee camp on one of the Indonesian islands called Galang after our departure from our homeland Vietnam. I guessed at the time everyone who lived in the camp were all hoping one day their names would be called out through the announcement  so that we could resettle in a  new country like Australia, USA or some other European country. We used to call these countries "The new home of opportunities and freedom". 

While we were in the camp my parents met this little old lady and she was a clairvoyant of some kind and she offered to do a reading on Dad.  This old lady had an old thick book with lots of illustrations just like the one shown here. This book was quite old, and even now, I have not seen anything like it. Mum and Dad called this reading process as "The open book reading". 

How this book worked was that the old lady recited some quotes and she asked Dad for his date of birth and what Dads intention was to find out from the reading. Then she closed the book, asked Dad to close his eyes, to focus and to be present so as to get the connection with the book. He then had to flick through the pages of the book and open it. So when Dad opened the book, it  landed on a double page with a scene of a rooster, a hen and the chicks scratching along the soil for food with a quote "Chicken scratches for what it gets"

So I asked mum "What was the meaning behind the rooster, the hen and the chicks?"

"Well in the illustration, the rooster is your Dad, I am the hen and those little chicks are you and your brothers & sisters” Mum said.

"And...?" I asked anxiously.

"Your dad will take care of us when we settle in Australia and he will provide for us with food and a home just like the rooster did, leading the way and searching for food to take care of its family. The key message from the reading was your dad is a survivor and a hard worker. You can put your dad in any place and he will find ways to earn a living and to support us. We are his main priority. Just like the rooster you can put it in deserted places and he'll use the scratching method to uncover "buried treasures" from the soil such as bugs and small food bits that other chickens may have missed" explained my mother.

So how do we apply this quote "Chicken scratches for what it gets" into your business?

Let's have a look at several examples:

Just say if you are a wholesaler of a giftware business and you rely on your sales agents. A good sales agent would regularly visit his or her clients and build the relationship no matter whether the economy is booming or not. Just like a chicken, it needs to do its fair amount of scratching in order to find food to save him and its family from hunger. So in your business, it won't be in good shape if you're not prepared to do the hard yards and generate leads and sales opportunities. You too must do a certain of amount scratching. The more you scratch…the more you get in return.

If the sales agents are not hungry for sales then they will miss the sales opportunity to an active sales agent who is prepared to do a great amount of scratching. This agent will reap the sales and establish a closer relationship with his clients.

The second example is as a business owner you need to maintain a positive mindset with persistence and determination.  Just like the chickens, they are focused, they persevere and are determined. They know that the only way for them to find food is by doing a certain amount of scratching and they won't give up until they find food bits in the soil and if they pay more attention they will find more food than those chickens that were not as determined and focused.

Last example is as a business owner, sometimes we can get too comfortable and complacent. Our business could go into auto pilot where we focus only "in" our business and not doing the strategy planning such as working "on" and "above" our business. 

A business needs to be nurtured and consistently fine tuned. Working "in" your business is a given, this is where you make your products, create new ranges, see clients and generate sales. However working "on" and "above" your business are the two important ingredients that lots of business owners are not doing enough of. Working "on" is where you plan to grow your business and working "above" your business will help you to take your business to the next level. Sometimes we spend too much time working "in" our business and working hard like a donkey that we totally forget the reason why we wanted our own business in the first place. This is how working "above" your business will help you tune into your desire and passion so you can be on track to achieve your dreams and desires.

So my question to you is "Are you doing enough scratching in your business?"

Tune in for next week Tale Eleven...  

"I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done" - Buddha

More Tales My Mother Told Me...

Volume 1:

Tale 1: "When You Help One, You Help Thousands"

Tale 2: "Your Mind is Powerful"

Tale 3: "The Importance of Self Understanding"

Tale 4: "Being Compassionate"

Tale 5: "Finding the Inner Calmer In You"

Tale 6: "The Magic Pen"

Tale 7: "Here comes the Fair- Weather Friend"

Tale 8: "Confidence & Competence"

Tale 9:"Being Present"

Tale10: "Chicken scratches for what it gets"

Tale 11:"I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done"
Tale 12: "Frog In The Well"

Volume 2:

Tale 1: Pulling Up the seedlings to help them grow
Tale 2: Grind an Iron Pestle into a Needle

Tale 3: Talking about army on paper.

Tale 4: Being Persistent

Tale 5: A Poet’s Writing Skills Decline

Magnolia Square Designer Market is on Now ! 3 - 5 May

Magnolia Square Designer market is on again at the Malvern Town Hall  Melbourne. The show starts from today till this Saturday 5 May.


Are you looking for a special present for Mother's Day?


Look no further, Magnolia Square is the perfect place for you to inspire and do your shopping for Mother's Day.

Where:

Malvern Town Hall

Corner Glenferie Road & High Street

Time:

Thursday 3 May 10AM-9PM

Friday 4 May 10AM- 5PM

Saturday 5 May 10AM-4PM

"Magnolia Square is a curated market place showcasing the creative talent of independent artists, designers and  makers from around Australia. As the originator of design  oriented pop up retail in Melbourne, Magnolia Square's concept is truly authentic, unique and continually evolving.

Managed by a small and passionate team who care very much about promoting creativity in every guise, each event is carefully curated to bring together a cohesive group of artists, designers and craft people at the top of their game. Often listened to a high end trade show, Magnolia Square  is three days experiential retail of its best"

Up Coming Shows

Melbourne St Kilda Town Hall

(Crn of St Kilda & Carlisle Street, St Kilda

September 14-16

Melbourne Malvern Town Hall

(Crn of Glenferrie Road & High Street, Malvern)

December 6-8

Image & Source:

www.magnoliasquare.com.au

Are You Cocooning in your business?

Are you cocooning in your business?

We recently had a meeting in one of our clients’ office and I have to tell you how fortunate he is now to have a team of smart people to focus and help him with his business. Mind you this decision did not come easily. He and his partner used to do everything themselves and were cocooned in their own little world, overworked and totally burnt out. 

Twelve months later and working alongside them, they have transformed their business and are living closer to their dreams and have built a Business LifeStyle that suited them and their family. The first challenging decision for them was to learn to let go. To free them of "The control freak" syndrome they had to accept that they truly needed good people to help them with their business in order for them to take the business to the next level.

Having a team rarely happens in small to medium size businesses and even rarer for solo business owners because they think they can’t afford to hire anyone to do a better job than they can. Or they think they simply can't afford to pay someone to help them with their business.

If you are in this situation we encourage you to think outside the square and change your mind set; the way you think and how you look at your business too. Many business owners like you are making a huge mistake in doing it alone. Let me tell you why.

Cocooning in your business can be a mistake which you may not even realise and it can cost you far more than you can imagine. Things like trying to do everything yourself, even some of the tasks you don't like doing or those tasks that you are not good at. The worst thing is you're trying to solve problems, when someone else already has the answers or knowledge for you.

So when was the last time you did a health check for your business?

Do you spend enough quality time doing what you love? 

Do you spend most of your time doing the tasks you don't like doing? 

Would you like to do more of the tasks you love that makes you happy?

What are those tasks in your business that you would love to outsource? 

Are you spending most of your time "In” your business rather than "On” and “Above” your business?

Be honest with your answers. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help is not a weakness… in fact it's a strength. You are ready to help yourself and your business.

When we say a team in your business it doesn't have to be always be a full time staff member. It could be casual, part time, contract staff or even a family member. Firstly you need to understand what help you require for your business and match the right person to do the job. Be creative, you'll be amazed how you will cross paths with the right people who could help you transform and grow your business. 

Smart business owners don't work alone. They have others to help them like a mentor or a business coach who can guide them and to hold them accountable. They also have built a great team of people to support them and their businesses.

Do you think Bill Gates & Richard Branson built their successful empires by working alone?

Every great business owner has smart team behind them. They are no different. What they have is a clear vision and built great systems in place to support their businesses and they have the ability to attract great people to work for them. Just like a magnet "like attracts like"

So are you cocooning in your business??

At ArtSHINE we can show you how to fix this and get yourself the right help for far less than you think. The great news is it will save you a huge amount of stress and give you free time to do more of what you love and spend more quality time with your family.

Would you like to learn your business model the ArtSHINE way?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1. Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

   

2. Send an e-mail to this ArtSHINE : info @ArtSHINE.com.au

3. Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching 

session:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArtShineDiscovery

Tips to Promote Your Art & Design Business Online... FREE! - Part 3 Self Publishing Ebooks

Two weeks ago we talked about how you can promote your art and design business online for FREE by being featured as a guest post in one of the complimentary blog sites that gives creditability to your art or design business. 

Today we are here to share with you how you can create eBooks to promote your art and design business online. 

An eBook is an electronic format which you can download onto your laptop, PC, MAC or IPad. Unlike a book, eBooks require no space; you can basically store hundreds of eBooks on your computer. However an eBook is very much the same as an ordinary book, where you can have numbers on pages, contents, images etc.  A free eBook doesn't have to be a long one. It can have only several pages and still do the job. It's about quality and not quantity. However, the content should be targeted to your ideal audience such as how to solve their problems, how you can help them and where they can find you to get help.

The good thing about creating an eBook is you can embed links for easy access to more information and websites that are related to the eBook. It can be interactive and contain images, audio, video and animation, which can support the point that you are trying to demonstrate. eBooks are searchable, you can easily search for any information in an eBook, instead of looking for page after page like you would do with an ordinary book.

eBooks have gained popularity online. So if your are an artist or a designer what a great way to showcase your knowledge and your expertise. Keep your focus on what you know and what you can do to help by publishing eBooks on topics of interest to your ideal audiences.

If you are planning to create your very first eBook, offer it for free. Offering a free eBook will attract great traffic to your site and a free eBook spreads like wildfire on the internet. Remember, your objective here is to create awareness and building a brand for your art and design business. Don't forget to include your business logo and contact information in the eBook so people can connect with you if they need your help.

If you are looking for ideas and inspiration to create your own eBook, you should visit this site Hubspot’s free eBooks. I highly recommend it. It's definitely worth a visit.

Tune in next week for Online Forums and how you can share your ideas and expertise to the online creative community.

Want to learn more about how to gain your online presence?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: send us an email to Onlinepresence@quantumcompass.com.au

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session on 8060 9321, or 0410 636 138.

FREE COACHING SESSION:

Click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArtShineDiscovery

Related posts:

Tips to Promote Your Art & Design Business Online... FREE!

• Part 1: Blog Posting 
• Part 2: Guest Posting on complimentary Blogs
• Part 3: Self Publishing Ebook 
• Part 4: Online Community
• Part 5: Article Submission
• Part 6: Joint Venture or collaborating with compliment businesses

Inspirational Quote of the Week

"If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step,  you know it's not your path.  Your own path you make with every step you take.  That's why it's your path." --Joseph Campbell

Tell My Mother Told Me...Tale 9 "Being Present"

Welcome to Tales My Mother Told Me...

Tale 9 : "Being Present"

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, 

concentrate the mind on the present moment".
                                                          - Buddha

This tale came about when I was at a dinner party and it was one of those great dinner parties where you have the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends that you haven't seen for a while.  However, there was one aspect of the party I was quite disappointed at. So I decided to tell mum about it.

"Mum, I have this friend that I find really annoying and others agree too. I have to say he is not a close friend as such but we do meet up from time to time" I said with frustration.

"So what was it that he did that you find annoying?" asked my mum.

"Well, last night I was at a dinner party and  I was chatting with him and he asked me a question and  as I was trying to respond to his question he totally ignored my response and turned his head and started to chat with the other person sitting next to him. It was quite embarrassing and annoying as at the same time the other people at the table also noticed what was going on. One of my friends looked at me and rolled his eyes and said "He does it all the time, when he is not interested in a conversation". The most annoying part was when he decided to resume our conversation he did not bother to apologise and totally ignored the whole thing. Why does he bother asking me if he wasn’t interested?" I asked Mum.

Mum smiled and said "Sometimes people live with an absent mind and they are not present even when they are there with you but their minds have drifted to another place. Many people live their whole lives lost in thoughts of the yesterday and the tomorrow, the true meaning is we should live in the present moment everyday, this is where everything happens. Yesterday was the past, tomorrow is only a promise, today is when you can do something about it in order to have a brighter future. So, take action and be present and live in the present moment".

So you ask, what does being present have to do with running your business?

In fact, it has everything to do with it. Being present means being fully conscious of what's going on around you so you are able to participate in the opportunities that are presented to you. If you are not being present in what you do, you are not focused or clear with what you are attempting to achieve.

Sometimes, we are not present because we're not in it. We keep thinking of the past, what we should have done and so forth... or dreaming about future, like dreamers do. We put ourselves to believe that tomorrow's the day when we'll shine, be richer, be healthier and in a great loving relationship. All these are only wishes, all these will only come true if we  take  accountability and take action today. Today is the key to change, not yesterday nor tomorrow.

Being present takes lots of focus and practice. To do this you need to be engaged in that moment at that point in time and also by  really listening to your surroundings. If you are engaged in a conversation with someone, you need to be focused and be present and listening to what they saying. This is particularly hard when you are not present, your mind will fall in a trend of thoughts about other things such as what to wear for a special dinner or all the tasks you have yet to finish.

Does this sound familiar to you?

Are the thoughts that are running through your mind distract you and create a distance from the present situation? I have to say, guilty as charged!  What I am now trying to do is to be more aware so that I can be more “present” in each and every moment. Remember being present will take sometime to master, however, if there is a will then there is always a way!

Below are some tips to help you in being present in your business:

• Be the observer and look outside of your world. Invest in business books and read them to stimulate your mind and get inspired with new ideas.
• Listen to business audios, chat with like minded business owners, join business network groups to exchange ideas and build connections.
• Open your mind to the universe, let your thoughts flow and be less judgmental and this is how you can find inspirational sparks and great ideas.
• Taking time out of your business will do wonders. It will give you a fresh perspective to life and business. People who adopt this are much more focused and present in their business.
• "Me time" and "Refresh" are the best ways to relax your mind and rejuvenate your soul. Take time out for the gym, participate in yoga and meditation sessions will also help you in being present. Do whatever you feel will calm your mind and relax your body. We are all different so find an activity that will relax you and help find the inner peace in you.
• Cleanse your mind to gain new ideas that allow you and your creative business to grow  and for you to be present and engaged in your business.
• If you are present, you are constantly focusing on your sales and marketing leads and       continually developing new products, services and innovation ideas to growth your business
• When you find your mind distracted and puts you in the future or the past mode, just refocus your awareness back to the present. Really experience how you feel and what's happening around you, without judgment. If we can treasure each moment, your life will be abundant, no matter what you have accomplished.

Being present and achieving results in your business is so rewarding, not just financially but for your soul as well 

So are you present in your business?

Tune in for next week tale Ten...  "Chicken Scratches for What it gets "

More Tales My Mother Told Me...

Volume 1:

Tale 1: "When You Help One, You Help Thousands"

Tale 2: "Your Mind is Powerful"

Tale 3: "The Importance of Self Understanding"

Tale 4: "Being Compassionate"

Tale 5: "Finding the Inner Calmer In You"

Tale 6: "The Magic Pen"

Tale 7: "Here comes the Fair- Weather Friend"

Tale 8: "Confidence & Competence"

Tale 9:"Being Present"

Tale10: "Chicken scratches for what it gets"

Tale 11:"I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done"
Tale 12: "Frog In The Well"

Volume 2:

Tale 1: Pulling Up the seedlings to help them grow
Tale 2: Grind an Iron Pestle into a Needle

Tale 3: Talking about army on paper.

Tale 4: Being Persistent

Tale 5: A Poet’s Writing Skills Decline

Willing to wait?- By Marie-nicole

Three and a half years ago we purchased two olive trees. They were only small and we knew at the time that they would not fruit for at least another 3 years. We shifted them around the garden trying to find the perfect spot for them to grow and strengthen, watered them diligently but not too much, repotted them when they started to grow too big for their pots. Then came our tree change, there was no way we were going to leave our precious olive trees behind. So we secured them onto a trailer and carted them along freeways, motorways & highways for the 4 hour drive. All the while mindful of the fact that without care we could loose the opportunity to reap the fruit from these trees that we have been caring for, awaiting the arrival of the day that they would finally bare fruit. When we got them to our new home, again we sought the perfect spot, a north facing wall protected from the strong winds... and again we waited. Just this month (15 months after our tree change) we were very excited to discover one of them had produced it’s first fruit!

I believe caring for a business or career is much like caring for these olive trees. Sometimes you need to shelter yourself from strong winds that could potentially knock you over, feed your business diligently but not too much, in order to build a solid foundation so that when the fruit does start to produce on your branches you can sustain the weight. But most of all you need to put in the planning and preparation that will enable such growth to take place, as well as have the willingness to wait, to eventually reap the rewards of all your tending, nurturing and foundation building.

When I first started this business I was adamant about making sure I had my financial record keeping structured in a way that prepared me for a time when I would be reliant on well structured record keeping. I was the same with marketing. Marketing is so much more than just promotions, so setting up a solid, consistent brand means that once you start to get more exposure your image as a business portrays a professional persona rather than one in need of branding. Then there’s pricing. Structuring pricing from the start in a way that allowed me to draw an income for my work as well inject funds back into the business, rather than waiting for a day that I could pay myself or invest in items necessary for my business to grow. I did not want to let these things just evolve.

Growing a business organically can mean you don’t see immediate results from the efforts you put in at first, but forming healthy business habits from the start will enable you to grow with confidence.

Putting into practice behaviours that you think you will need when you reach a certain point in your business before it happens, will mean once it does you will not be overwhelmed by the change. Preparing for growth can also present you with opportunities when you least expect them and you can attract work you may not have expected to attract. Planning and preparing for growth (not hoping) I believe is the key to reaching your goals and reaping rewards. Both a willingness to wait and creating a solid foundation are important to enable growth to take place.

www.bymarienicole.com

www.bymarienicole.etsy.com

www.bymarienicole.blogspot.com