Remarkability
challenging you to bring everything remarkable that you are to everything you do!
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Life/work balance is nonsense - life/work harmony is possible
I hear a lot of talk about life/work balance and I think most of it is nonsense.
The word balance for me implies equal. I prefer the word harmony, therefore life/work harmony.
My personal and business life are not equal or in balance and are never likely to be.
They are in harmony with one another, that is, they work together like a symphony, two sides of the same coin
Here are my 11 laws of life/work harmony. I trust they will help you live a more harmonious life.
1. The Law of Harmony
Opposites attract. There are always at least two sides to every story.
Possible Action/Results: Always think both / and, rather than either / or; accept the good with the bad; appreciate pleasure, gain from pain; focus on the positive, learn from the negative; and you will soon begin to find harmony in your life.
2. The Law of Possibility
The opportunities life offers us are endless. There are no limits, except those we place on ourselves. There is nothing we cannot achieve.
3. The Law of Personal Responsibility
No one else can make us feel or think glad, sad, bad or mad. How we feel and think are choices we make.
Possible Action/Results: We must own our feelings and thoughts and not get tangled in other people’s feelings and thoughts. We must let go of attachment to what other people feel and think. Soon we eliminate guilt and worry; two of life’s most useless and most debilitating emotions.
4. The Law of Attraction
Success is not something we attain, rather something we attract.
Possible Action/Results: Commit to life-long learning; focus on insight more than information and wisdom more than knowledge. The more we become who we are capable of becoming the more we attract success.
5. The Law of the Farm
You find fertile ground, plough it, seed it, and nurture it, and more often than not you reap a harvest. We get what we give. What goes around comes around. These are modern ways of describing an old adage; we reap what we sow.
Possible Action/Results: The message of this law is that we must focus on proven processes and detach from outcomes. If we are taking the right action, results take care of themselves.
6. The Law of Relationships
We gravitate to those we like, know and trust.
Possible Action/Results: Establish shared values with family, friends and work colleagues, and agree on how they will be lived; have shared goals and agree on the key strategies to achieve them; practice non-judgment; give genuine attention to others. Before you know it your relationships will be stronger and the great door of opportunity will open more often.
7. The Law of Service
Giving without attachment to getting back creates one of life’s great paradoxes; we get more back.
Possible Action/Results: Fully understand what others need and provide it; go the extra mile
By adding value to every transaction and interaction; co-create wow experiences at work, home and play. Before long others will be serving you in ways beyond your wildest expectations.
8. The Law of Confidence
Confidence is to maintain a positive inner and outer image and display them. The problem can be that confidence is often perceived as arrogance.
Possible Action/Results: Demonstrate openness to learning and not asserting your way is the only way while at the same time believe in yourself; believe in others; speak and communicate from your heart; and confidence will rarely get mistaken for arrogance.
9. The Law of Actual Communication
Not all talk is communication. We often talk just for the joy of it. To actually communicate is to agree on some course of action even if it is to agree to disagree.
Possible Action/Results: To communicate better speak with a specific goal in mind and listen simply to understand, and when speaking and listening ask for feedback to ensure message effectiveness. You will most likely find you will speak less and listen more. The result however is to eventually eliminate misunderstanding, one of the great negative stress causes in life.
10. The Law of Adaptability
I heard a great saying one time “better to adapt than be a sitting duck and get run over”
Possible Action/Results: Our willingness to adapt, be flexible, and go with the flow are keys to a negative stress free life. A key seems to be to realize it is not what happens to us that is important rather our response to what happens. Take responsibility for your responses to life and life will respond to you.
11. The Law of Synchronicity/Interconnectedness
Everything is connected in some way to everything else.
Possible Action/Results: Seek coincidence, follow your heart, “do what you love” says Steven Farber “in the service of people who love what you do”; and your life will soon change for the better.
Have a personal sustainability plan (thank you Adam Werbach for the idea from his book Strategies for Sustainability) i.e. do what you can personally for the good of people and our planet. Imagine if everyone did this. We would have universal harmony.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
The word balance for me implies equal. I prefer the word harmony, therefore life/work harmony.
My personal and business life are not equal or in balance and are never likely to be.
They are in harmony with one another, that is, they work together like a symphony, two sides of the same coin
Here are my 11 laws of life/work harmony. I trust they will help you live a more harmonious life.
1. The Law of Harmony
Opposites attract. There are always at least two sides to every story.
Possible Action/Results: Always think both / and, rather than either / or; accept the good with the bad; appreciate pleasure, gain from pain; focus on the positive, learn from the negative; and you will soon begin to find harmony in your life.
2. The Law of Possibility
The opportunities life offers us are endless. There are no limits, except those we place on ourselves. There is nothing we cannot achieve.
3. The Law of Personal Responsibility
No one else can make us feel or think glad, sad, bad or mad. How we feel and think are choices we make.
Possible Action/Results: We must own our feelings and thoughts and not get tangled in other people’s feelings and thoughts. We must let go of attachment to what other people feel and think. Soon we eliminate guilt and worry; two of life’s most useless and most debilitating emotions.
4. The Law of Attraction
Success is not something we attain, rather something we attract.
Possible Action/Results: Commit to life-long learning; focus on insight more than information and wisdom more than knowledge. The more we become who we are capable of becoming the more we attract success.
5. The Law of the Farm
You find fertile ground, plough it, seed it, and nurture it, and more often than not you reap a harvest. We get what we give. What goes around comes around. These are modern ways of describing an old adage; we reap what we sow.
Possible Action/Results: The message of this law is that we must focus on proven processes and detach from outcomes. If we are taking the right action, results take care of themselves.
6. The Law of Relationships
We gravitate to those we like, know and trust.
Possible Action/Results: Establish shared values with family, friends and work colleagues, and agree on how they will be lived; have shared goals and agree on the key strategies to achieve them; practice non-judgment; give genuine attention to others. Before you know it your relationships will be stronger and the great door of opportunity will open more often.
7. The Law of Service
Giving without attachment to getting back creates one of life’s great paradoxes; we get more back.
Possible Action/Results: Fully understand what others need and provide it; go the extra mile
By adding value to every transaction and interaction; co-create wow experiences at work, home and play. Before long others will be serving you in ways beyond your wildest expectations.
8. The Law of Confidence
Confidence is to maintain a positive inner and outer image and display them. The problem can be that confidence is often perceived as arrogance.
Possible Action/Results: Demonstrate openness to learning and not asserting your way is the only way while at the same time believe in yourself; believe in others; speak and communicate from your heart; and confidence will rarely get mistaken for arrogance.
9. The Law of Actual Communication
Not all talk is communication. We often talk just for the joy of it. To actually communicate is to agree on some course of action even if it is to agree to disagree.
Possible Action/Results: To communicate better speak with a specific goal in mind and listen simply to understand, and when speaking and listening ask for feedback to ensure message effectiveness. You will most likely find you will speak less and listen more. The result however is to eventually eliminate misunderstanding, one of the great negative stress causes in life.
10. The Law of Adaptability
I heard a great saying one time “better to adapt than be a sitting duck and get run over”
Possible Action/Results: Our willingness to adapt, be flexible, and go with the flow are keys to a negative stress free life. A key seems to be to realize it is not what happens to us that is important rather our response to what happens. Take responsibility for your responses to life and life will respond to you.
11. The Law of Synchronicity/Interconnectedness
Everything is connected in some way to everything else.
Possible Action/Results: Seek coincidence, follow your heart, “do what you love” says Steven Farber “in the service of people who love what you do”; and your life will soon change for the better.
Have a personal sustainability plan (thank you Adam Werbach for the idea from his book Strategies for Sustainability) i.e. do what you can personally for the good of people and our planet. Imagine if everyone did this. We would have universal harmony.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: Ian, self-leadership, sustainability
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Expect More From 2010
2010 will be my 19th year in business. I know it will be my best year yet because like every other year I have plans to execute that will change what's normal.
What are your plans?
If you feel, think, and do like you did in 2009 the most likely scenario is that 2010 will be a shocker (that's Aussie for bad).
To help you avoid this scenario I have prepared an exercise for you in the ebook Expect More From 2010.
My thanks to Gihan Perera of First Step for making this ebook happen for the 4th consecutive year. There are many great ideas from 43 different authors you might consider in this ebook, all designed to help you make 2010 your best year ever.
Please download the ebook here. My exercise is on page 8.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
What are your plans?
If you feel, think, and do like you did in 2009 the most likely scenario is that 2010 will be a shocker (that's Aussie for bad).
To help you avoid this scenario I have prepared an exercise for you in the ebook Expect More From 2010.
My thanks to Gihan Perera of First Step for making this ebook happen for the 4th consecutive year. There are many great ideas from 43 different authors you might consider in this ebook, all designed to help you make 2010 your best year ever.
Please download the ebook here. My exercise is on page 8.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: Ian, Innovation, making a difference, self-leadership
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
It seems a majority of politicians don't understand that we live in an age of collaboration
I watched an interview yesterday with Tony Abbott the newly elected leader of the major political party in Australia not in government. He said "our job is to oppose the government." He later in the interview tried to correct himself by saying "our job is to hold the government to account."
Mr. Abbott got elected after extraordinary scenes in his party where one minute they were supporting the governments climate change bill and then they weren't. These decisions and indecision followed 5 weeks of collaborating and the former leader Malcolm Turnbull telling the government our collaboration has been successful, lets pass the bill.
Australia now has egg on its face going into to the Copenhagen summit this weekend on climate change. Our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, unless there is yet another change of mind by Mr Abbott's party, will go to Copenhagen a follower instead of a leader.
Seems to me that Mr Abbott, like most old school politicians, hasn't yet realised we live in an age of collaboration. My hope is that he and everyone who thinks and acts like him will soon come to their senses or we vote these kind folk out and replace them with people who will do what needs to be done for the good of people and our planet.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Mr. Abbott got elected after extraordinary scenes in his party where one minute they were supporting the governments climate change bill and then they weren't. These decisions and indecision followed 5 weeks of collaborating and the former leader Malcolm Turnbull telling the government our collaboration has been successful, lets pass the bill.
Australia now has egg on its face going into to the Copenhagen summit this weekend on climate change. Our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, unless there is yet another change of mind by Mr Abbott's party, will go to Copenhagen a follower instead of a leader.
Seems to me that Mr Abbott, like most old school politicians, hasn't yet realised we live in an age of collaboration. My hope is that he and everyone who thinks and acts like him will soon come to their senses or we vote these kind folk out and replace them with people who will do what needs to be done for the good of people and our planet.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: collaboration, Ian, role model
Sunday, 29 November 2009
CSR Reporting Best Practice
Cindy Mehallow of Triple Pundit has put together some excellent insights about CSR reporting including some great work being done by FedEx and Gap.
Please read Cindy’s blog with the links here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Please read Cindy’s blog with the links here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: CSR, Ian, Innovation
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Please affirm the charter for compassion
On the 12th November The Charter for Compassion was offically launched. I encourage you to join me and thousands of people (hopefully millions) in affirming the charter and living its words. It’s just one page. Please read and affirm here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: compassion, Ian, self-leadership, service
Friday, 13 November 2009
Just showing up isn't enough
I came across the following at Persistence Unlimited.com
"80 percent of success is just showing up" —Woody Allen
"I often think about that quotation. It may sound easy to shrug off, but not if you look a little deeper. It doesn't just mean show up for job interviews or to work for an 80% increase in success. Showing up also means ... starting.
"For instance, did you show up at the gym today? Just showing up means you're 80% of the way to a good workout. The hard part of fighting yourself to get dressed in workout gear, dealing with traffic and the worry about pain you might experience is over. Now all that is left is to just do the workout. Pretty simple, huh? Even a child could do it.
"Same thing with opportunity. It's easier to make significant progress on a project if you simply show up to do it. Candidly, one of my hardest tasks of the day is 'showing up' for development Visual Studio. It seems simple enough ... just double click on an icon. But if I think too much about the seemingly 10,000 things I have to do once I launch it, I am much more likely to 'accidentally' launch my web browser or fiddle with e-mail.
"But once I'm in there, the work is typically easy and fun. Some days I can knock out more tasks than I planned. And I feel like a success at the end of the day.
"You can be or do whatever you want just by showing up. If you want to be an author, show up to write your manuscript every day, show up to writing classes, show up to phone calls to editors. Doesn't it make sense that someone who arrives at the door of opportunity has more success than someone just sitting at home?
"So increase your chances by 80%. Show Up!"
I have reflected on this a lot in the past few weeks where I have really been focusing on how I show up and my mantra has been to show up joyful. This has made an incredible difference to my life and work. I agree showing up is a key to being successful. I am firm however that the attitude we bring to our showing up is the real key.
How are you showing up?
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
"80 percent of success is just showing up" —Woody Allen
"I often think about that quotation. It may sound easy to shrug off, but not if you look a little deeper. It doesn't just mean show up for job interviews or to work for an 80% increase in success. Showing up also means ... starting.
"For instance, did you show up at the gym today? Just showing up means you're 80% of the way to a good workout. The hard part of fighting yourself to get dressed in workout gear, dealing with traffic and the worry about pain you might experience is over. Now all that is left is to just do the workout. Pretty simple, huh? Even a child could do it.
"Same thing with opportunity. It's easier to make significant progress on a project if you simply show up to do it. Candidly, one of my hardest tasks of the day is 'showing up' for development Visual Studio. It seems simple enough ... just double click on an icon. But if I think too much about the seemingly 10,000 things I have to do once I launch it, I am much more likely to 'accidentally' launch my web browser or fiddle with e-mail.
"But once I'm in there, the work is typically easy and fun. Some days I can knock out more tasks than I planned. And I feel like a success at the end of the day.
"You can be or do whatever you want just by showing up. If you want to be an author, show up to write your manuscript every day, show up to writing classes, show up to phone calls to editors. Doesn't it make sense that someone who arrives at the door of opportunity has more success than someone just sitting at home?
"So increase your chances by 80%. Show Up!"
I have reflected on this a lot in the past few weeks where I have really been focusing on how I show up and my mantra has been to show up joyful. This has made an incredible difference to my life and work. I agree showing up is a key to being successful. I am firm however that the attitude we bring to our showing up is the real key.
How are you showing up?
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: Ian, making a difference, self-leadership
Saturday, 7 November 2009
And the good news is
Good.is magazine is inspiring reading. Their good 100 is brilliant. I’ll bet you want to go and do something good as a result of reading about their best 100. And I hope you do.
My favourites are
Hilliary Clinton
Ideo and their social impact program
Bundanoon Australia
Bulldozing cities
Cash for grass
Women are the key to development
TED X
Cowpooling
Check out the full 100 here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
My favourites are
Hilliary Clinton
Ideo and their social impact program
Bundanoon Australia
Bulldozing cities
Cash for grass
Women are the key to development
TED X
Cowpooling
Check out the full 100 here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: Ian, Innovation, role model
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Where have all the people of character gone?
Heavy storm clouds stay hanging over business, religion, politics, sport and the media. Almost daily many so called icons are continuing to have their character questioned. These clouds always produce rain and wash away the stars like twigs in a river.
Like never before the world needs ordinary people of character to stand up and be counted because many of the people leading us don’t understand leadership, have sacrificed their characters in their quest for power, and in some cases their behaviour threatens our very lives.
Recently the father of a good friend passed on. He was a man of character and an inspiration to my friend. His passing caused me to reflect on my own father who passed 10 years ago.
Life my friends Father, my Dad never had his name up in lights too often but left a legacy to be proud of in his world nonetheless. I miss him. Dad was a man of character. We never always saw eye to eye. It was the words of the Mike and the Mechanics song ‘In the Living Years’ that urged me to settle my differences with Dad not long before he died.
“It’s too late when you die” the song says “to admit you don’t see eye to eye” Towards the end Dad came to hear me speak and said before I spoke “I probably won’t agree with everything the speaker says this morning but I am proud he is my son”
People of character lay it on the line like that.
People of character are unafraid to speak their minds.
People of character always tell the truth as they see it
People of character are trustworthy
People of character have integrity
People of character enjoy being popular but don’t seek popularity
People of character seek win / win but do not compromise their principles
People of character do what they believe is best for the common good regardless of the resistance they encounter
People of character praise in public and criticize in private
People of character put others first
People of character are givers not takers
People of character focus on building people’s self esteem and never engage in put downs or the blame and shame game
People of character are those we really look up to and admire
People of character are those we follow when it matters most.
Be a person of character. You are needed like never before.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Like never before the world needs ordinary people of character to stand up and be counted because many of the people leading us don’t understand leadership, have sacrificed their characters in their quest for power, and in some cases their behaviour threatens our very lives.
Recently the father of a good friend passed on. He was a man of character and an inspiration to my friend. His passing caused me to reflect on my own father who passed 10 years ago.
Life my friends Father, my Dad never had his name up in lights too often but left a legacy to be proud of in his world nonetheless. I miss him. Dad was a man of character. We never always saw eye to eye. It was the words of the Mike and the Mechanics song ‘In the Living Years’ that urged me to settle my differences with Dad not long before he died.
“It’s too late when you die” the song says “to admit you don’t see eye to eye” Towards the end Dad came to hear me speak and said before I spoke “I probably won’t agree with everything the speaker says this morning but I am proud he is my son”
People of character lay it on the line like that.
People of character are unafraid to speak their minds.
People of character always tell the truth as they see it
People of character are trustworthy
People of character have integrity
People of character enjoy being popular but don’t seek popularity
People of character seek win / win but do not compromise their principles
People of character do what they believe is best for the common good regardless of the resistance they encounter
People of character praise in public and criticize in private
People of character put others first
People of character are givers not takers
People of character focus on building people’s self esteem and never engage in put downs or the blame and shame game
People of character are those we really look up to and admire
People of character are those we follow when it matters most.
Be a person of character. You are needed like never before.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of people, our planet, and for profit.
Labels: Ian, making a difference, role model
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Daniel Pink’s TED talk about what really motivates us is a beauty.
Daniel is a builder of our new world and his three key insights in this talk; “autonomy, mastery, and purpose” are key for anyone wanting to make a difference.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: Ian, Motivation
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Please support President Obama
US President Barack Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize is an award for the future yet to be created.
Obama himself says he's "surprised, humbled" and doesn't yet deserve it -- but he's accepted the Prize as a call to action, "to confront the common challenges of the 21st century".
Please send President Obama an encouragement message through the Avaaz organisation here.
“Avaaz” means “Voice” in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Obama himself says he's "surprised, humbled" and doesn't yet deserve it -- but he's accepted the Prize as a call to action, "to confront the common challenges of the 21st century".
Please send President Obama an encouragement message through the Avaaz organisation here.
“Avaaz” means “Voice” in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: Ian, leadership, making a difference, self-leadership
Monday, 28 September 2009
Have Insight - Will Travel - introducing my upgraded mentoring services
I have recently upgraded my mentoring services and thought you would be interested.
We live in an age, largely due to the internet, where information is abundant and mostly cheap or free, yet time consuming and often energy sapping to access.
Insight on the other hand is scarce, mostly expensive, yet still time consuming and energy sapping to discover.
Are you an Insightpreneur™?
Insightpreneurs™ are experts at turning information into insight into inspiration into ideas into innovation, fast. Differencemakers are people who innovate for the good of people and our planet.
Real innovation means the implementation of ideas that change what is normal whether that be attitudes, emotions, thoughts, feelings, or actions; indeed true innovation usually requires changing all of these!
Changing what is normal is what sets the most successful individuals and organisations apart from the rest; think Roger Federer, Barak Obama, Annika Sörenstam, Mother Theresa, Tiger Woods; Apple, Cirque Du Soleil, Grameen Bank, Starbucks, Virgin; whether you admire these people and organisations or not.
We are in a new era that is characterised by cooperation that leads to collaboration that makes a difference. Competition has largely gone from everywhere except sport, politics, fundamentalist religion, some sectors of education, and in businesses that are just for profit.
The really exciting thing is that anybody can be an insightpreneur and a differencemaker.
Insight and ideas are part of a new currency. Innovation linked to doing good for people and our planet is where the fortunes of the future will be made. Innovation is also how the ever widening gap between the financial rich and the financial poor gets closed. The most successful organisations were once those who made something. Today the most successful organisations are those who provide insight and ideas and they can be an organisation of just one person!
What business are you in?
If you make stuff someone will soon make it cheaper and faster. Sure people will always make stuff. Is this your future however? Or will you become and insightpreneur and a differencemaker?
“As a mentor to me and my family members who lead and manage our businesses Ian Berry made a significant difference to our personal and business success, and was a catalyst for our 570% growth over 4 years.”
Peter Taylor, Chairman, Townsend Building Services
+61 419 438 021
What’s in it for you?
My Insightpreneur™ 1:1 Mentoring Programs cut to the chase and save you time, energy, and money by helping you discover your unique fast track to personal and organisational innovation.
I offer no turnkey or cookie cutter programs, rather a genuinely customised program just for you.
Depending on your unique situation and needs, expectations, and desires, I offer 3, 6, 9, or 12 month programs that comprise:
1) scheduled sessions for one hour on skype or telephone that are recorded with your permission and sent to you for ongoing use
2) as well as 1/2 day or 1 day sessions in person
3) plus unlimited telephone and email access to me during the course of your program and for six months following
4) plus 24/7 access to my life-long learning vault that contains numerous resources for you to tap into whenever you wish to.
Full details including try before you buy option are here.
or contact me on +61 8 7122 4663
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
We live in an age, largely due to the internet, where information is abundant and mostly cheap or free, yet time consuming and often energy sapping to access.
Insight on the other hand is scarce, mostly expensive, yet still time consuming and energy sapping to discover.
Are you an Insightpreneur™?
Insightpreneurs™ are experts at turning information into insight into inspiration into ideas into innovation, fast. Differencemakers are people who innovate for the good of people and our planet.
Real innovation means the implementation of ideas that change what is normal whether that be attitudes, emotions, thoughts, feelings, or actions; indeed true innovation usually requires changing all of these!
Changing what is normal is what sets the most successful individuals and organisations apart from the rest; think Roger Federer, Barak Obama, Annika Sörenstam, Mother Theresa, Tiger Woods; Apple, Cirque Du Soleil, Grameen Bank, Starbucks, Virgin; whether you admire these people and organisations or not.
We are in a new era that is characterised by cooperation that leads to collaboration that makes a difference. Competition has largely gone from everywhere except sport, politics, fundamentalist religion, some sectors of education, and in businesses that are just for profit.
The really exciting thing is that anybody can be an insightpreneur and a differencemaker.
Insight and ideas are part of a new currency. Innovation linked to doing good for people and our planet is where the fortunes of the future will be made. Innovation is also how the ever widening gap between the financial rich and the financial poor gets closed. The most successful organisations were once those who made something. Today the most successful organisations are those who provide insight and ideas and they can be an organisation of just one person!
What business are you in?
If you make stuff someone will soon make it cheaper and faster. Sure people will always make stuff. Is this your future however? Or will you become and insightpreneur and a differencemaker?
“As a mentor to me and my family members who lead and manage our businesses Ian Berry made a significant difference to our personal and business success, and was a catalyst for our 570% growth over 4 years.”
Peter Taylor, Chairman, Townsend Building Services
+61 419 438 021
What’s in it for you?
My Insightpreneur™ 1:1 Mentoring Programs cut to the chase and save you time, energy, and money by helping you discover your unique fast track to personal and organisational innovation.
I offer no turnkey or cookie cutter programs, rather a genuinely customised program just for you.
Depending on your unique situation and needs, expectations, and desires, I offer 3, 6, 9, or 12 month programs that comprise:
1) scheduled sessions for one hour on skype or telephone that are recorded with your permission and sent to you for ongoing use
2) as well as 1/2 day or 1 day sessions in person
3) plus unlimited telephone and email access to me during the course of your program and for six months following
4) plus 24/7 access to my life-long learning vault that contains numerous resources for you to tap into whenever you wish to.
Full details including try before you buy option are here.
or contact me on +61 8 7122 4663
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: Ian, Innovation, making a difference, mentoring
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Are the values on your wall lived in the hall?
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: CSR, Ian, Innovation, leadership, walk your talk
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Innovation must mean changing what’s normal
Innovation is the successful implementation of a idea. Why innovate? My simple answer is, to change what’s normal.
Right now in our world it is normal that:
*people die from preventable disease, under-nutrition and over-nutrition, every day
*not everyone has clean water
*at least 600 million people haven’t yet learned to read and write
*governments are slow to act and we all suffer as a result
*fundamentalism, both religious and otherwise, persists as a basic abuse of human rights
*climate change is killing our planet and us, and yet we still mainly sit our hands and allow our politicians to engage in petty, point scoring debates
*more than 2 billion people are expected to live on less than a dollar a day
*starving people don’t receive the food they so desperately need because of terrorism
*biodiversity loss is so great many of the world’s inhabitants are disappearing overnight
*economic instability and the lack of corporate accountability mean many people are suffering through no fault of their own
*electronic waste is a massive problem most people turn a blind eye to
*the social divide is getting bigger
*redefining growth has long been our agenda and yet we persist with old, worn out, and broken ways to develop
*peace is still a pipe-dream for half the world’s people
*democracy as we know it fails most people and yet we persist with the model
*opportunity for every person, a basic human right, is not possible for most the world’s people
The above are our world’s big challenges in my view. I find each of them unacceptable.
On perhaps a more personal level it is normal that:
*Most organisations provide mediocre service
*Lying, cheating, and bribery are accepted ways of doing business
*The majority of organisations have less than 50% of their employees fully engaged in their work
*Many so called great companies aren’t
*Fake leaders rule
*Most abuse comes from people in our families
*Most of what we really feel remains unsaid because we are afraid of what other people might think if we actually expressed how we feel
I could go on and on. Yet I won’t because I would get depressed. You might be already.
Who we are and what we do makes a difference, whoever we are and whatever we do.
I plead with you today to become more of who you are capable of becoming, and to do more to solve our problems and challenges, to change what is normal, because to do so is real innovation.
My 3 steps for innovation are detailed here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Please take up the Make a Difference Challenge before 090909
Right now in our world it is normal that:
*people die from preventable disease, under-nutrition and over-nutrition, every day
*not everyone has clean water
*at least 600 million people haven’t yet learned to read and write
*governments are slow to act and we all suffer as a result
*fundamentalism, both religious and otherwise, persists as a basic abuse of human rights
*climate change is killing our planet and us, and yet we still mainly sit our hands and allow our politicians to engage in petty, point scoring debates
*more than 2 billion people are expected to live on less than a dollar a day
*starving people don’t receive the food they so desperately need because of terrorism
*biodiversity loss is so great many of the world’s inhabitants are disappearing overnight
*economic instability and the lack of corporate accountability mean many people are suffering through no fault of their own
*electronic waste is a massive problem most people turn a blind eye to
*the social divide is getting bigger
*redefining growth has long been our agenda and yet we persist with old, worn out, and broken ways to develop
*peace is still a pipe-dream for half the world’s people
*democracy as we know it fails most people and yet we persist with the model
*opportunity for every person, a basic human right, is not possible for most the world’s people
The above are our world’s big challenges in my view. I find each of them unacceptable.
On perhaps a more personal level it is normal that:
*Most organisations provide mediocre service
*Lying, cheating, and bribery are accepted ways of doing business
*The majority of organisations have less than 50% of their employees fully engaged in their work
*Many so called great companies aren’t
*Fake leaders rule
*Most abuse comes from people in our families
*Most of what we really feel remains unsaid because we are afraid of what other people might think if we actually expressed how we feel
I could go on and on. Yet I won’t because I would get depressed. You might be already.
Who we are and what we do makes a difference, whoever we are and whatever we do.
I plead with you today to become more of who you are capable of becoming, and to do more to solve our problems and challenges, to change what is normal, because to do so is real innovation.
My 3 steps for innovation are detailed here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Please take up the Make a Difference Challenge before 090909
Labels: CSR, Ian, leadership, making a difference, vision
Monday, 22 June 2009
The CEO of the Future - Indra Nooyi
On 12th May 2009 PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Indra Nooyi addressed The Economic Club of Washington. Her topic was The CEO of the Future.
Mrs. Nooyi explores
“performance with purpose”
why companies of the future have to think of what they are for as well as what they do
why companies of the future have to be guided by their obligation to society
thinking long term
understanding the way public and private sectors are coming together
thinking global and acting local
adaptability
bringing “an abundant dose of emotional intelligence to the job”
It is a profound address. I highly recommend it to you. You can download Mrs. Nooyi’s full address here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Mrs. Nooyi explores
“performance with purpose”
why companies of the future have to think of what they are for as well as what they do
why companies of the future have to be guided by their obligation to society
thinking long term
understanding the way public and private sectors are coming together
thinking global and acting local
adaptability
bringing “an abundant dose of emotional intelligence to the job”
It is a profound address. I highly recommend it to you. You can download Mrs. Nooyi’s full address here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: CSR, Ian, leadership
Thursday, 30 April 2009
‘The Art of Non-Conformity’
One of the most interesting bloggers and builders of our new world is Chris Guillebeau.
Check out his ‘The Art of Non-Conformity’ site for many great and unconventional strategies for life, work and travel. If you have a special interest in conducting business from home and on the internet I also highly recommend you download Chris’ 279 days manifesto.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for busines
Check out his ‘The Art of Non-Conformity’ site for many great and unconventional strategies for life, work and travel. If you have a special interest in conducting business from home and on the internet I also highly recommend you download Chris’ 279 days manifesto.
Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for busines
Labels: Ian, leadership, self-leadership
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Hope from future leaders
The lost generation video on YouTube makes very compelling viewing.
I commend this 1 minute 44 seconds video to you. It renewed my trust that the future is in good hands. Watch it here
Be remarkable
Ian
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
I commend this 1 minute 44 seconds video to you. It renewed my trust that the future is in good hands. Watch it here
Be remarkable
Ian
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Which organisations are truly making a difference?
Find out where the business world is headed, check out Fast Company’s top 50 most innovative companies The slideshare link makes interesting viewing.
What struck me was the number of companies who appear to be geniunely embracing doing good.
Contrast this Fast Company's list with Forbes latest top 100 so called best corporate citizens list here.
You may, like me, find the comments below the list more interesting than the list.
Be remarkable
Ian
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
What struck me was the number of companies who appear to be geniunely embracing doing good.
Contrast this Fast Company's list with Forbes latest top 100 so called best corporate citizens list here.
You may, like me, find the comments below the list more interesting than the list.
Be remarkable
Ian
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business
Labels: Ian, role model
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Are you waiting or creating?
Everyday I meet people waiting: business waiting for government; government waiting for business; folk waiting for the economy to improve; people waiting to see whether President Obama can bring about change (he can’t on his own) People waiting ...
I also meet the “pessimistic optimists”, now that is a paradox.
The good news is I am also meeting people not waiting, rather they are getting on with with the job of building a new world.
Are you waiting or creating?
Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business
Founder The Difference Makers Community™
“I thought someone should do something. And then I realized I was someone.”
President John F. Kennedy
I also meet the “pessimistic optimists”, now that is a paradox.
The good news is I am also meeting people not waiting, rather they are getting on with with the job of building a new world.
Are you waiting or creating?
Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business
Founder The Difference Makers Community™
“I thought someone should do something. And then I realized I was someone.”
President John F. Kennedy
Labels: Ian, leadership, self-leadership
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Moving from 'Yes we can' to Now we are
As a speaker I watched President Barak Obama's inauguration speech in awe and with tears in my eyes. As a fellow human being I was struck by his use of the word we. I felt in my heart that this is the beginning of a ‘now we are’ time like never before in history.
I am trusting that the 20th January 2009 is the day we will look back on as the day we really began to
make poverty history
provide clean water for every human being
stop people dying from preventable disease
make peace with one another regardless of our religious or political beliefs
collaborate to tackle climate change
build sustainable businesses
allow every human being the opportunity to have a home, earn a livelihood, receive an education and health care
free the world from violence
I am pessimistically optimistic!
Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business
I am trusting that the 20th January 2009 is the day we will look back on as the day we really began to
make poverty history
provide clean water for every human being
stop people dying from preventable disease
make peace with one another regardless of our religious or political beliefs
collaborate to tackle climate change
build sustainable businesses
allow every human being the opportunity to have a home, earn a livelihood, receive an education and health care
free the world from violence
I am pessimistically optimistic!
Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business
Labels: Ian, leadership
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
New Years Resolutions often result in no change?
I have no resolutions for 2009 except a resolve to make changes in my life as soon as I become aware of the need to change. Lately as I have been working on some changes I have become aware I need to make, I have resurrected an exercise I used some time ago that had fallen of my radar.
You may find it valuable.
On the left side of a sheet of paper write the heading 'Everything I am I wish I wasn't' and make a list underneath. On the right hand side write the heading 'Everything I am that I'm glad I am' and make a list underneath. You may find as I have that the list on the right is often opposite to the list on the left.
I am carrying my list with me. I have already made some changes and when I have made all the changes I am aware I need to make, it will be time for a new list!
Happy New Year and may 2009 be your best year yet.
Ian
You may find it valuable.
On the left side of a sheet of paper write the heading 'Everything I am I wish I wasn't' and make a list underneath. On the right hand side write the heading 'Everything I am that I'm glad I am' and make a list underneath. You may find as I have that the list on the right is often opposite to the list on the left.
I am carrying my list with me. I have already made some changes and when I have made all the changes I am aware I need to make, it will be time for a new list!
Happy New Year and may 2009 be your best year yet.
Ian
Labels: Ian, self-leadership
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Expect More From 2009
This year is the 3rd time I have been a contributing author to an ebook organised by my good friend and internet marketing guru Gihan Perera. This years offering contains 40 articles by thought leaders on how to make the best of the year. You can download it here. Enjoy!
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership, learning
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Branson's a great example of a modern leader
I have read all of Sir Richard Branson’s books. I also regularly fly on his airlines and use his mobile phone services, so I am obviously a fan. His latest book ‘Business Stripped Bare’ is in my view his best yet. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Social Responsibility.
Branson writes “Several years ago, I realised that if Virgin really wanted to make a difference with some of the tougher issues facing humanity, we had to start pulling together everything we were doing.” The result was Virgin Unite. “Our fundamental belief is that doing good is great for business. It’s not about the ‘golden charitable cheque’ but, rather, it’s about making sure that we leverage everything we have across our businesses ... There is such a thing as enlightened self interest, and we should encourage it. It is possible to turn a profit while making the world a better place.”
May there be more Richard Branson’s leading our businesses. For more on Virgin Unite click here
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Branson writes “Several years ago, I realised that if Virgin really wanted to make a difference with some of the tougher issues facing humanity, we had to start pulling together everything we were doing.” The result was Virgin Unite. “Our fundamental belief is that doing good is great for business. It’s not about the ‘golden charitable cheque’ but, rather, it’s about making sure that we leverage everything we have across our businesses ... There is such a thing as enlightened self interest, and we should encourage it. It is possible to turn a profit while making the world a better place.”
May there be more Richard Branson’s leading our businesses. For more on Virgin Unite click here
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, role model
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
I left my wallet in a taxi and got it back!
I left my wallet in a taxi yesterday and got it back. What’s more there was nothing missing out of it. I paid the taxi driver and got out of the cab and retrieved my briefcase from the boot. Then I went to put the receipt in my wallet only to discover I don’t have my wallet. By now the taxi has gone and despite the best efforts of the hotel concierge to chase after it, all to no avail. One concierge guy was brilliant in how quickly he telephoned the taxi company and using the cab registration number on my receipt eventually got onto the driver who returned my wallet intact.
Perhaps I was lucky. Perhaps it is because of the overall honesty of the people in Singapore. Perhaps it was the speed of the concierge. The following things I know. I felt encouraged by the good of humanity, that honesty is the best policy, and that little things make a big difference.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Perhaps I was lucky. Perhaps it is because of the overall honesty of the people in Singapore. Perhaps it was the speed of the concierge. The following things I know. I felt encouraged by the good of humanity, that honesty is the best policy, and that little things make a big difference.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership
Monday, 3 November 2008
Thriving when most are simply trying to survive
The following was written recently by David McNally CPAE, a speaking colleague and a builder of our new world:
“I took up the challenge of discovering what it means to be a ‘thriver.’ Here are the results of a survey sent to over six hundred organizations asking them to identify the thrivers in their midst and to describe those people in terms of attitudes and behaviors. Here are the key themes that define how ‘thrivers’ think and act:
Survivors Focus On The Future As Uncertain
Thrivers Focus On The Future As Unlimited
1. Thrivers have a global perspective – The competition created by a global economy has become so rigorous that we are participating in what might be described as an Olympics of Business. Thrivers meet these demands by doing whatever it takes to be ready mentally, physically, and emotionally to compete at the highest level.
2. Thrivers take personal responsibility for their own careers and happiness – George Washington’s comment, “If the citizens of the United States should not be free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own,” summarizes the thriver’s philosophy of life. Rather than make excuses, thrivers make commitments.
3. Thrivers seek to maximize their contribution –Thrivers have a strong need to contribute, to feel that their work is important. Professionally, they are continually creating opportunities to add value, whilst simultaneously ensuring their work is rewarding and fulfilling.
4. Thrivers appreciate their uniqueness - Thrivers understand that while there is always someone who can do something better than they can, there is always something they can do better than anyone else. Rather than being satisfied just to meet standards, thrivers leverage their gifts, talents, skills and abilities to set the standards.
5. Thrivers work in harmony with others – A powerful lesson of the global economy is this: whereas technology is an incredible tool, people are still the artisans. Thrivers understand that to succeed in multi-cultural environments requires the ability to collaborate with a complex mixture of people whose differences deserve to be honored. Rather than wish for conformity, thrivers value diversity.
6. Thrivers know what matters - Thriving is not an appearance but an experience. With all of its absurdities and challenges thrivers have learned that life is the only game in town and they are determined to wholeheartedly participate. Thrivers flourish because they are continually learning, contributing, laughing and loving. Whilst the future may be uncertain, thrivers see the future as unlimited.”
There is no doubt in my mind that ‘thrivers’ are new world builders.
Find out more about David McNally here
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
“I took up the challenge of discovering what it means to be a ‘thriver.’ Here are the results of a survey sent to over six hundred organizations asking them to identify the thrivers in their midst and to describe those people in terms of attitudes and behaviors. Here are the key themes that define how ‘thrivers’ think and act:
Survivors Focus On The Future As Uncertain
Thrivers Focus On The Future As Unlimited
1. Thrivers have a global perspective – The competition created by a global economy has become so rigorous that we are participating in what might be described as an Olympics of Business. Thrivers meet these demands by doing whatever it takes to be ready mentally, physically, and emotionally to compete at the highest level.
2. Thrivers take personal responsibility for their own careers and happiness – George Washington’s comment, “If the citizens of the United States should not be free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own,” summarizes the thriver’s philosophy of life. Rather than make excuses, thrivers make commitments.
3. Thrivers seek to maximize their contribution –Thrivers have a strong need to contribute, to feel that their work is important. Professionally, they are continually creating opportunities to add value, whilst simultaneously ensuring their work is rewarding and fulfilling.
4. Thrivers appreciate their uniqueness - Thrivers understand that while there is always someone who can do something better than they can, there is always something they can do better than anyone else. Rather than being satisfied just to meet standards, thrivers leverage their gifts, talents, skills and abilities to set the standards.
5. Thrivers work in harmony with others – A powerful lesson of the global economy is this: whereas technology is an incredible tool, people are still the artisans. Thrivers understand that to succeed in multi-cultural environments requires the ability to collaborate with a complex mixture of people whose differences deserve to be honored. Rather than wish for conformity, thrivers value diversity.
6. Thrivers know what matters - Thriving is not an appearance but an experience. With all of its absurdities and challenges thrivers have learned that life is the only game in town and they are determined to wholeheartedly participate. Thrivers flourish because they are continually learning, contributing, laughing and loving. Whilst the future may be uncertain, thrivers see the future as unlimited.”
There is no doubt in my mind that ‘thrivers’ are new world builders.
Find out more about David McNally here
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership, self-leadership
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Be a 'go-giver'
Lindsay Adams and myself have bought and given away a lot of copies of the book ‘The Go-Giver’ by Bob Burg and John David Mann and published by Penguin 2007. The key lessons of the book
"The law of value: your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
The law of compensation: your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
The law of influence: your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interest first.
The law of authenticity: the most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
The law of receptivity: the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving."
These are all key laws that underpin the building of our new world.
Be remarkable.
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
"The law of value: your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
The law of compensation: your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
The law of influence: your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interest first.
The law of authenticity: the most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
The law of receptivity: the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving."
These are all key laws that underpin the building of our new world.
Be remarkable.
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model, self-leadership
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Authentic corporate social responsibility
Recently I was privileged to be a keynote speaker at a conference in Singapore organised by Singapore Human Resources Institute. I spoke about ‘Tomorrow Today a future for business - authentic corporate social responsibility’, which of late has been one of my most requested talks. To those in the audience interested in further reading I provided an ebook I have written on the subject that traces defining moments of the past 25 years and the five shifts we are making to build our new world:
a move from competition to collaboration
a move from self-interest to shared interest
a move from dominance to diligence
a move from greed to greater good
a move from reaction to responsibility
You can download the ebook here
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
a move from competition to collaboration
a move from self-interest to shared interest
a move from dominance to diligence
a move from greed to greater good
a move from reaction to responsibility
You can download the ebook here
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: CSR, Ian, leadership
Sunday, 5 October 2008
'The Lexus and The Olive Tree'; 'Hot, Flat, and Crowded'
My reading in the past week or so has been Thomas Friedman’s latest book ‘Hot, Flat, and Crowded’. It is exciting to see a writer of Friedman’s class join the Green Revolution. I also re-read his excellent book ‘The Lexus and The Olive Tree’, which is about globalization and how to make it work for the good of all. A lot of lessons here for the troubled folk on Wall Street.
Friedman is a builder of our new world. I highly recommend him to you. Visit his website here for more information.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Friedman is a builder of our new world. I highly recommend him to you. Visit his website here for more information.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership, learning
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Rule Makers, Takers, and Breakers
In an article for Harvard Business Review ‘Strategy as Revolution’ Volume 74, Issue 4, July-August 1996, page 69, Gary Hamel says each industry consists of three kinds of people; “Rule Makers (Industry leaders), Rule Takers (peasants who only keep what the Lord does not want), and Rule Breakers (revolutionaries who overturn the ‘curse of incrementalism’, rewrite industry rules, and overthrow industry boundaries).
Rule Breakers are the builders of our new world. Are you one of them?
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Rule Breakers are the builders of our new world. Are you one of them?
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, role model
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
7 characteristics of the best company’s
In one of the great books written about the successful present and future of business in my view, ‘Firms of Endearment’, authors Raj Sisodia, David B Wolfe, and Jag Sheth, put forward 7 characteristics that differeniate the best companies from the rest as follows:
“freely challenge industry dogma
create value by aligning stakeholder interests
are willing to break traditional tradeoffs
operate with a long-term perspective
favor organic growth to growing by mergers and acquistions
blend work with play
reject traditional marketing models”
How would you rate your organisation against these?
I highly recommend this book. In my view it surpasses the work by Jim Collins in his best selling book ‘Good to Great’
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
“freely challenge industry dogma
create value by aligning stakeholder interests
are willing to break traditional tradeoffs
operate with a long-term perspective
favor organic growth to growing by mergers and acquistions
blend work with play
reject traditional marketing models”
How would you rate your organisation against these?
I highly recommend this book. In my view it surpasses the work by Jim Collins in his best selling book ‘Good to Great’
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Sunday, 10 August 2008
True differentiation
My wife and I recently had dinner at a Richtree Market Restaurant in Toronto, Canada. If you are ever in Canada make a visit here a priority.
This is a truly remarkable place, a fresh food market and several restaurants all in the one place. You choose your food, have it cooked and enjoy your meal in very pleasant surroundings. Plus the service is exceptional.
What are you doing to truly differenitate your business from everyone else?
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
This is a truly remarkable place, a fresh food market and several restaurants all in the one place. You choose your food, have it cooked and enjoy your meal in very pleasant surroundings. Plus the service is exceptional.
What are you doing to truly differenitate your business from everyone else?
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Customer Service, Ian
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Test our all your ideas before discarding them
We bought a new kettle the other day. This story on the side of the box it came in intrigued me. “Kambrook was founded in 1972 by Frank Bannigan, an Australian inventor with an obsession for electrical appliances and a mission to bring the price of quality products within everyone’s reach. Frank converted his home garage into a workshop and named the company after the street he lived in.
Kambrook set out to provide customers with practical products that would enhance every day life. This philosophy quickly led to the invention of Kambrook’s first major product - the 4 way power board, which Frank developed out of pure frustration - he did not have enough power points to test his products.”
The 4 way power board is no longer remarkable. All sorts of versions exist with many having more than 4 points! Many of our ideas don’t see the light of day because we don’t see them as being remarkable, rather a means to an end. Don’t waste any of your ideas. At least test them out. You never know which ideas will turn out to be of high value to others and therefore provide a reward for their inventor.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Kambrook set out to provide customers with practical products that would enhance every day life. This philosophy quickly led to the invention of Kambrook’s first major product - the 4 way power board, which Frank developed out of pure frustration - he did not have enough power points to test his products.”
The 4 way power board is no longer remarkable. All sorts of versions exist with many having more than 4 points! Many of our ideas don’t see the light of day because we don’t see them as being remarkable, rather a means to an end. Don’t waste any of your ideas. At least test them out. You never know which ideas will turn out to be of high value to others and therefore provide a reward for their inventor.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, Innovation
Friday, 13 June 2008
Making the extraordinary the new normal
I take my hat off to Belinda a barista at Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop in Border's Bookshop Brisbane. Belinda stunned me recently by saying to me "Good morning Ian would you like your usual."
Most barista's take your name and write it on the cup so as not to confuse orders, not Belinda, she shows genuine care and joy at seeing her customers.
Belinda's behaviour should not be unusual, rather normal practice.
Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Saturday, 31 May 2008
Something old, something borrowed, what could be new
Recently Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hosted an ideas summit where a 1000 or so people gathered to share ideas and to present recommendations for what Australia must do by 2020.
Like most of these kind of events there was something old, something borrowed and very little new. What could be new is that the ideas become reality. Creating a vision is noble, however turning the vision into reality is what is heroic. The more leaders talk and fail to act, the more skeptical and cynical followers become.
This Prime Minister is doing a lot of talking. He is also taking some action. He seems to be acutely aware that innovation of the scale we need in the new world we are building requires levels of cooperation and collaboration never before seen in history. I am hopeful that Mr Rudd, who has a lot of knockers because of his rhetoric, can do what most leaders don't, that is, match the talk with the walk.
Be remarkable
Ian
Strategic advisor to difference makers
Insightpreneur™ - expert on the journey from information-insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, leadership
Saturday, 24 May 2008
"Everyone changes the world"
“Everyone changes the world.” said Steven Spielberg in a recent interview for the Weekend Australian with Helen Trinca. Spielberg also said
“Everybody makes a difference. Everybody’s existence is linked to the common stranger …That was the basis on which I wanted to make Schlinder’s List: that we all matter, that we all count, that we make contributions even if we spend our own life never realising that we matter.”
These are powerful words. When we take them to heart and take action in our own way, we are being remarkable.
Be remarkable
“Everybody makes a difference. Everybody’s existence is linked to the common stranger …That was the basis on which I wanted to make Schlinder’s List: that we all matter, that we all count, that we make contributions even if we spend our own life never realising that we matter.”
These are powerful words. When we take them to heart and take action in our own way, we are being remarkable.
Be remarkable
Ian
Strategic advisor to difference makers
Strategic advisor to difference makers
Insightpreneur™ - expert on the journey from information-insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, self-leadership
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Unleashing the passion that precedes productivity improvement
Australia’s Passion Provocateur Charles Kovess, one of our Directors (see opposite) has been doing some excellent 1 day seminars around Australia. There are three to go, Sydney 17th May, Brisbane 24th May, and Adelaide 14 June.
If you want to unleash the passion that precedes productivity improvement I highly recommend that you register here without delay. If you can’t attend in these cities contact Charles and make arrangements with him to conduct a seminar just for you.
Be remarkable
Ian
Strategic advisor to difference makers
Strategic advisor to difference makers
Insightpreneur™ - expert on the journey from information-insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, leadership, learning
Friday, 2 May 2008
Marshall Goldsmith's book highly recommended
I have just finished reading Marshall's brilliant book 'What Got You Here Won't Get You There' and highly recommend it to you as one of the best books on executive coaching I have ever read. Check out Marshall's blog here.
Be remarkable
Ian
Strategic advisor to difference makers
Labels: executive coaching, Ian, leadership
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Are your stories about the past or the present?
It has been said that “stories are the fabric of culture.” We all like to tell and hear stories. The rise in popularity of social networks such as Facebook highlights for me an observation that there is a deep longing in the world right now for new stories or at very least old stories told in new ways and with relevance for today and tomorrow.
In our work of inspiring and challenging organisations to be remarkable we note that the stories people tell when their organisation is less than remarkable are about the successes and failures of the past. We also notice that the moment transformation begins to happen stories about the present emerge.
A great check point to see if we are living on purpose both individually and organisationally is to ask ourselves are the stories we tell and listen to, old stories that relive the glories of the past or are they old yarns with new meaning, or better still completely new stories about the present?
Be remarkable
In our work of inspiring and challenging organisations to be remarkable we note that the stories people tell when their organisation is less than remarkable are about the successes and failures of the past. We also notice that the moment transformation begins to happen stories about the present emerge.
A great check point to see if we are living on purpose both individually and organisationally is to ask ourselves are the stories we tell and listen to, old stories that relive the glories of the past or are they old yarns with new meaning, or better still completely new stories about the present?
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - expert on the journey from information-insight-inspiration-ideas-innovationLabels: Ian, leadership, storytelling
Monday, 7 April 2008
The happiness factor - now a legitimate part of a success strategy
Around 15 years ago I made a comment to an audience that happy staff equals happy customers. Many people laughed. Today the happiness factor is no longer considered a joke, rather a legitimate component of a success strategy. Larry Page, one of the founders of Google, recently named by Fortune magazine as the best place to work in the US, is on record as saying that a central part of the company’s strategy is to ensure that its employees are happy.
There is even a new form of psychology called 'positive psychology'. The most famous exponent as far as I know is Dr Martin Seligman. There are a number of great questionnaires on his website to measure your happiness. I highly recommend them.
Even more I highly recommend that you make employee happiness a key component of your strategy. Who knows maybe one day your company will be rated as the best place to work!
Be remarkable
There is even a new form of psychology called 'positive psychology'. The most famous exponent as far as I know is Dr Martin Seligman. There are a number of great questionnaires on his website to measure your happiness. I highly recommend them.
Even more I highly recommend that you make employee happiness a key component of your strategy. Who knows maybe one day your company will be rated as the best place to work!
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, leadership
Monday, 24 March 2008
Strategy and tactics. Are you crystal clear on both?
David Burchell, a teacher in the school of humanities at the University of Western Sydney wrote a very interesting piece in the Weekend Australian 22, 23 March 2008 suggesting the Rudd government “has many ideas but no guiding thread and soon it will be to late to define one.”
Many organisations suffer from this, what I call being clear on tactics but unclear on strategy!
Strategy precedes tactics. We must bear execution in mind when we determine strategy however we easily muddy the waters if we try to determine strategy and tactics at the same time.
Strategy is the reference point from which we make all decisions about our future direction. It is the guiding light. Tactics are about the who, when, and how. We confuse them at our peril, and to have tactics with no clear strategy means we are going somewhere, however most likely not to the place we really want to go.
Strategy and tactics. Are you crystal clear on both?
Be remarkable
Many organisations suffer from this, what I call being clear on tactics but unclear on strategy!
Strategy precedes tactics. We must bear execution in mind when we determine strategy however we easily muddy the waters if we try to determine strategy and tactics at the same time.
Strategy is the reference point from which we make all decisions about our future direction. It is the guiding light. Tactics are about the who, when, and how. We confuse them at our peril, and to have tactics with no clear strategy means we are going somewhere, however most likely not to the place we really want to go.
Strategy and tactics. Are you crystal clear on both?
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - expert on the journey from information-insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, leadership, strategy
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Appraisals are dead; just not buried yet
I have been in the United Kingdom for the past two weeks and have been surprised at the amount of media concerning performance appraisals. The latest was in yesterdays Sunday Times with the sub headline reading “Managers need to be trained better in carrying out annual staff performance reviews …” The article went on to quote a recent survey by Investors in People which found that a third of employees think appraisals are a waste of time.
To leave a performance review for a year in the modern world is poor practice. Every 90 days is the norm for remarkable organisations where the key is the informal feedback exchange that occurs daily, meaning the formal review is about celebrating performance and agreeing on the performance plan for the next 90 days.
Human beings do not want to be appraised; they want to be appreciated. People also want to be held to account when performance is less than planned. To leave appreciation or being held to account for a year is an insult to humanity. It is not training that is required for managers in how to complete annual reviews that is needed rather a complete relearning about the essentials of effective leadership and management.
Find out more about best practice by downloading a free special report on people engagement here
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
To leave a performance review for a year in the modern world is poor practice. Every 90 days is the norm for remarkable organisations where the key is the informal feedback exchange that occurs daily, meaning the formal review is about celebrating performance and agreeing on the performance plan for the next 90 days.
Human beings do not want to be appraised; they want to be appreciated. People also want to be held to account when performance is less than planned. To leave appreciation or being held to account for a year is an insult to humanity. It is not training that is required for managers in how to complete annual reviews that is needed rather a complete relearning about the essentials of effective leadership and management.
Find out more about best practice by downloading a free special report on people engagement here
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, leadership
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Rest, Work, Play
I spent much of the last part of January resting and playing and reminded myself that I do my best work when I rest properly before work and play after work. I also reminded myself that too much work does indeed make us all dull.
How would you rate your ability and willingness to maintain harmony between rest, work, and play? We need to get this right for us if we are to be remarkable and therefore able to play our part in building our new world.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
How would you rate your ability and willingness to maintain harmony between rest, work, and play? We need to get this right for us if we are to be remarkable and therefore able to play our part in building our new world.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, self-leadership
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Powerful People Engagement Systems
Leading business thinker and writer Gary Hamel says “What ultimately constrains the performance of your organisation is not its business model, nor its operational model, but its management model.”
I couldn’t agree more. Such a model in my view has everything to do with how well we engage our employees, the primary deliverers of value to our other stakeholders.
Creating such models has been my main area of expertise for the past 20 years. Recently I wrote a special report on the subject with Remacue Chairman Lindsay Adams. You can download the free report here.
I encourage you to study the report and complete the performance pulse check at the end and fax to me should you wish to find out more about how myself and my colleagues can work with you to create a system just for you.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
I couldn’t agree more. Such a model in my view has everything to do with how well we engage our employees, the primary deliverers of value to our other stakeholders.
Creating such models has been my main area of expertise for the past 20 years. Recently I wrote a special report on the subject with Remacue Chairman Lindsay Adams. You can download the free report here.
I encourage you to study the report and complete the performance pulse check at the end and fax to me should you wish to find out more about how myself and my colleagues can work with you to create a system just for you.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, Performance
Friday, 28 December 2007
Are you providing a remarkable service experience to your customers day in and day out?
My wife and I went shopping several times in the past week as you do this time of year. Sadly none of people in the stores we bought goods from provided us with a remarkable service experience. Many stores missed out on our custom because they failed to provide us with any service at all! And so because we have vast choice we simply went somewhere else.
Yesterday we spent several hours in one large DIY store. We wanted particular products only this store could provide, hence the time we spent. We were told by one so called sales assistant, whom we had to plead with to give us any kind of real assistance, that we could list all our purchases on the computer prepare a quotation and simply take that to the checkout where others would pick our order and deliver it to our home. All for a fee of course which I have no issue paying. After some persuasion from me the assistant completed our order and printed the form.
When we arrived at the checkout we were told we would have to go back as the quotation form we had was on the wrong form. I protested saying that if this problem couldn’t be fixed on the spot our order of several hundred dollars wouldn’t be proceeding. Only then did we get the kind of service we demand, desire, and feel we deserve.
How remarkable is the service experience your people are providing your customers? How many people prepared to buy your product go somewhere else because your people don’t really get it?
Start 2008 off on the proactive foot by finding out what your customers demand, desire, and feel they deserve and then employ and teach people how to deliver such value in memorable ways. Doing so will mean more customers buying more from you and probably the best year you ever had.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Yesterday we spent several hours in one large DIY store. We wanted particular products only this store could provide, hence the time we spent. We were told by one so called sales assistant, whom we had to plead with to give us any kind of real assistance, that we could list all our purchases on the computer prepare a quotation and simply take that to the checkout where others would pick our order and deliver it to our home. All for a fee of course which I have no issue paying. After some persuasion from me the assistant completed our order and printed the form.
When we arrived at the checkout we were told we would have to go back as the quotation form we had was on the wrong form. I protested saying that if this problem couldn’t be fixed on the spot our order of several hundred dollars wouldn’t be proceeding. Only then did we get the kind of service we demand, desire, and feel we deserve.
How remarkable is the service experience your people are providing your customers? How many people prepared to buy your product go somewhere else because your people don’t really get it?
Start 2008 off on the proactive foot by finding out what your customers demand, desire, and feel they deserve and then employ and teach people how to deliver such value in memorable ways. Doing so will mean more customers buying more from you and probably the best year you ever had.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Expect More From 2008
I have great pleasure in offering you a free gift in the form of an e-book by 53 experts, Expect More from 2008. It includes contributions from Remacue Community Members Gihan Perera, Anne Riches, Steve Wells, Terry Power, Candy Tymson, Keith Abraham, Glenn Capelli, Robyn Henderson, David Price, and Catherine Palin-Brinkworth.
My contribution is on page 13.
My best to you and yours. I trust 2008 will be your best year yet.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
My contribution is on page 13.
My best to you and yours. I trust 2008 will be your best year yet.
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, self-leadership
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
A simple strategy is a key to being remarkable
The following is the executive summary of a special report I wrote recently about strategy
1) Know who all your stakeholders are and the value they demand, desire, and feel they deserve from you
2) Know how fully engaged all your stakeholders are with you
3) Get crystal clear on where you are going, why you’re going there, and what you stand for and be authentic
4) Don’t hire or keep employed anyone who is not congruent and aligned with where you are going, why you are going there, and what you stand for
5) Spend time in person with all your stakeholders on a regular basis
6) Turn strategic intuition and thinking into strategic insight
Only now can we really decide on strategy
7) Strategy can be articulated on one or two sheets of A4 paper
8) Individual performance possibility plans are critical to strategy getting
executed
9) Individual plans without a follow through systems is like gambling, you might win big, you most likely won’t
10) Putting people first is your best strategy for being remarkable in business
11) Have a process for making decisions and solving problems and be
transparent about their use
You can download the special report here
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
1) Know who all your stakeholders are and the value they demand, desire, and feel they deserve from you
2) Know how fully engaged all your stakeholders are with you
3) Get crystal clear on where you are going, why you’re going there, and what you stand for and be authentic
4) Don’t hire or keep employed anyone who is not congruent and aligned with where you are going, why you are going there, and what you stand for
5) Spend time in person with all your stakeholders on a regular basis
6) Turn strategic intuition and thinking into strategic insight
Only now can we really decide on strategy
7) Strategy can be articulated on one or two sheets of A4 paper
8) Individual performance possibility plans are critical to strategy getting
executed
9) Individual plans without a follow through systems is like gambling, you might win big, you most likely won’t
10) Putting people first is your best strategy for being remarkable in business
11) Have a process for making decisions and solving problems and be
transparent about their use
You can download the special report here
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - insight-inspiration-ideas-innovation
Labels: Ian, leadership
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
8 key factors for being an employer of choice
One of the most interesting and engaging people I have had the privilege to meet is Jonathan Austin founder of Best Companies and an expert in workplace engagement. Here are the eight key factors Best Companies research shows matter in becoming an employer of choice
“Leadership
How employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior managers, and the company’s values and principles
My Manager
How employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager
Personal Growth
What employees feel about training and their future prospects
Wellbeing
How employees feel about stress, pressure at work, and work life balance
My Team
Employees feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together
Giving Something Back
The extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society
My Company
The level of engagement employees have for their job and organisation
Fair Deal
How happy employees are with their pay and benefits”
Would you rate your organisation as remarkable in each of these areas?
Be remarkable
Ian
“Leadership
How employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior managers, and the company’s values and principles
My Manager
How employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager
Personal Growth
What employees feel about training and their future prospects
Wellbeing
How employees feel about stress, pressure at work, and work life balance
My Team
Employees feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together
Giving Something Back
The extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society
My Company
The level of engagement employees have for their job and organisation
Fair Deal
How happy employees are with their pay and benefits”
Would you rate your organisation as remarkable in each of these areas?
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Richard Branson - a legend in his own lifetime
One of the most savvy and inspiring business leaders of our time is Sir Richard Branson. Watch a great interview with him here. (type Richard Branson in the search box) After you enjoy Richard, check out some of the other ‘ted talks’ that may catch your eye. This website features many of the world's best, sharing brilliant ideas into how to be remarkable.
Be remarkable
Ian
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Sunday, 7 October 2007
Remarkable business leaders know the higher purpose of their business
The business news that dominated United Kingdom media in the three weeks I was there recently was the run on Northern Rock, Britain’s fifth largest mortgage lender. The crisis for Northern Rock began with their exposure to the US mortgage market. Their customers at one stage looked like withdrawing £12 billion or half the banks deposits. I do not know the full story behind all the drama but I do smell the stench of greed.
The leaders of remarkable businesses understand the fact that economic profit is not a reason for being in business rather a result of being good at business. To be remarkably successful in modern business therefore we must know our purpose beyond profit. My purpose is to inspire business leaders to achieve a five-fold bottom line so that the world is a better place. I get paid and make profits only if my mentoring, speaking, consulting, and writing, delivers the value my clients demand, desire, and feel they deserve.
What is the higher purpose of your business?
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - discovering and presenting insight people and planet profit from
The leaders of remarkable businesses understand the fact that economic profit is not a reason for being in business rather a result of being good at business. To be remarkably successful in modern business therefore we must know our purpose beyond profit. My purpose is to inspire business leaders to achieve a five-fold bottom line so that the world is a better place. I get paid and make profits only if my mentoring, speaking, consulting, and writing, delivers the value my clients demand, desire, and feel they deserve.
What is the higher purpose of your business?
Be remarkable
Ian
Insightpreneur™ - discovering and presenting insight people and planet profit from
Labels: Ian, leadership
Sunday, 16 September 2007
What is your business doing to be socially responsible?
I have been working in the United Kingdom for the past two weeks. While here one of my hero's Anita Roddick passed away. In honour of Anita's huge and positive impact on better business practice I went and drank a fair trade coffee at another iconic business Marks and Spencer. I reflected on the great strides business has made to be fairer and my own priviledge this year to work with another seller of fair trade coffee, the fine folk of Oxfam Trading in Australia. Community trade is one way of eliminating poverty. What is your business doing to be socially responsible?
Be remarkable
Ian
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Saturday, 1 September 2007
Consistency is a key to remarkability
My wife and I went out with friends last night to one of our favourite restaurants or at least it used to be one of our favourites! There is a new chef and based on last night we won't be going back. We were embarrassed as well because we had raved about this place to our friends. Consistency is a key to remarkability. Do you have systems in place that ensure consistency of what you offer and serve? If you don't I suggest you begin to develop and implement such systems straight away and therefore avoid losing customers who previously were your fans.
Be remarkable
Ian
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, leadership, service
Sunday, 19 August 2007
Beyond service – a sign of remarkability
When I work in Melbourne I stay at the Alto Hotel. It is designated as a four star however I give them a seven star rating because Ricardo and his team provide an experience beyond service. My wife and I first stayed at this hotel by chance and we were both pleasantly surprised by the little things that Lauren, one of the receptionists, did that made a big difference. Then due to circumstance we decided to eat in the restaurant where we were entertained by Francis Scanlon, waiter extraordinaire. Francis came to Australia from India three years ago and working at the Alto is one of three jobs he does to fulfill his dream of bringing his fiancée to Australia to live. Francis is a remarkable 26 year old. He makes dining out a memorable experience. I have no doubt that one day soon he will bring the love of his life to Australia and that he will fulfill his big dream of becoming a pilot.
Everyone time I go back to the Alto Hotel everyone who works there goes beyond serving me, rather they provide an experience that means I go back.
Are you providing an experience beyond service at your place? Doing so is a sign of remarkability.
Be remarkable
Ian
Everyone time I go back to the Alto Hotel everyone who works there goes beyond serving me, rather they provide an experience that means I go back.
Are you providing an experience beyond service at your place? Doing so is a sign of remarkability.
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, leadership, role model
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Never find roles for people, instead find people for roles
Regardless of our products or services we are all in the same business: the delivery of the value to all our stakeholders that they demand, desire, and feel they deserve. Our employees are our prime deliverers of value. Decide the roles you need to deliver the value you must to all your stakeholders. Then match people to the roles. Don’t be like the people in the picture.
If you have less than 80% of your employees fully engaged in their work, contact us, we have the expertise to help you meet your challenges.
Be remarkable
Ian
If you have less than 80% of your employees fully engaged in their work, contact us, we have the expertise to help you meet your challenges.
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, Performance
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Be Yourself
The Macquarie dictionary defines remarkable as "conspiciously extraordinary". Everyone of us is already remarkable because we are all a one-of-a-kind. Be yourself. Rejoice in the fact that only you can be you. Live each day bringing everything remarkable that you are to everything you do.
Be remarkable
Ian
Be remarkable
Ian
Labels: Ian, leadership
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