I was looking through some old notes over the weekend and I came across some notes I took when I was in a meeting with my first ever business mentor. It’s been so long that I’d almost forgotten what a great help he’d been and how important the lessons I learnt were. So I figured its time for me to pass on this information. Like so many things it sounds so obvious when you read it but I am betting that not many of us remember all the key points in the game of business! So here they are, I can’t take full credit for them but I do try and live by them in business.

“Many set out to create a great business many fall off the wagon spending their time creating an inner monster. These are the ones that think they’re the best at everything and see other peoples excellence as a threat to their position!”

Chris Batten – Writer & Rainmaker

Steps along the Road to a great business:

Step One. Never, I mean never, forget the primary purpose of your business – To create customers! If you’re not truly passionate about what you do, do something else. This is no rehearsal!

Step Two. Your business must never be your master, you must quickly become its master and it your reward! Make sure that you are the puppeteer and not the puppet for your business!

Step Three. Almost from day one start to ease yourself out, step by step, until you can spend all your time working on your business and not in it!

Step Four. Always strive to surround yourself with extraordinary people, people that can do things better than you can, then you lead them!

Step Five. Only ask for the best and only recruit the best! Give your potential recruit a tough time on the first interview, make sure they know what you need and interview at least three times!

Step Six. Introduce performance related pay, demand performance and then pay for it. Let the people perform, don’t crowd them!

Step Seven. Concentrate on having the right mind-set, if your mind is in the right place your business will follow; if your mind is in the wrong place your business will still follow! 

Step Eight. Create your end goal first and then work backward to today, now start the journey by creating a powerful strategy!

Step Nine. Try different things for your marketing and then increase activity only in the areas that are working for you at that time.

Step Ten. Understand sales, understand customers and do it first for them. Plan each day, take each step toward the goal. Apply all the rules!

Quote of the week “Talent is a dreadfully cheap commodity, cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work and study.” Stephen King (1947 –) American writer, hard worker

Leadership Tip Of The Week Developing yourself as a leader is not easy changing bad leadership habits is a tough ask, I know from direct experience. It can be made that little bit easier by removing the five most common blocks to change:

1. Take Ownership. If you don’t think you can change you won’t, it’s that simple. You need to believe in your ability to change and take ownership before you start.

2. Be Patient. Lasting results will take time, it will take longer than you think, don’t give up and be patient.

3. Accept Difficulties. To make real changes takes real hard work. Br prepared to work hard at it and be prepared to be challenged.

4. Refuse to be distracted. There is always something more important waiting round the corner. You need to make your development the top priority and don’t be distracted.

5. Maintain. Once you’ve started to see the difference don’t think you’ve won. Change needs maintenance over long periods of time.

These are both big subjects and I am just giving you a taste, but if you’d like more I would be very happy to help you further. As always, any feedback is welcome enjoy your week.