Fire Problem Clients Fast

Unlike red wine problem clients, and staff for that matter, don’t get better with time. I have learnt from expensive experience it pays to fire fast and hire slow where staff are concerned.

After all, when you hesitate to fire problem staff, it sends a very bad message to the rest of them. That is, you will tolerate their “poor” behaviour, believe it or not, your “good staff” knew you should have fired them anyway and were most probably miffed by your idle response.

So firing problem staff sends a VERY POWERFUL message to the rest. In a sense you could even advocate firing someone every six months whether you needed to or not just to keep the rest of them on their toes!

It is called the “Sacrifice Principle”.

Anyway, back to why you shouldn’t keep crappy customers or clients… [...] Continue Reading…

This Principle Rules Mal Emery’s Life

Of my most recent Rants, three particular subjects have met with your interest and response more than others.

One was how to get more of the right stuff done. Two was the power of setting goals, and thirdly, of course, how I did myself some damage coming off my push bike recently.

While wanting to give you more of what you want, I have decided that having another accident and finishing up in Emergency, is not actually on my agenda, even though it did get your interest, quite honestly for all the right reasons and thank you for your kind words.

So I have decided to reveal to you a powerful principle I have lived my life by. It does take “brass balls”, and most people even when their life depends upon it, can’t do it, or won’t, even though it is incredibly simple.

You go figure, anyway here it is… [...] Continue Reading…

Mal Emery Nearly Killed!

I nearly didn’t make 2010…

I promise you there is a marketing message behind the fact that I nearly brought about my own demise over Christmas. Some would say that’s a good thing, others might not. I’ll prove to you that minutes, even seconds, not only mean a lot but they can actually save your life.

Here’s what happened…

Picture this… I am at the “Bike Entrepreneur” in Osborne Park, with the intention of buying a push bike for a friend. You see, my idea of being healthy and getting healthy is to ride my push bike 3 to 5 times a week along the coast in front of my house, usually ending up at a coffee shop as my form of reward.

Most often, it’s 13 to 15 kms in any one direction, and if the Fremantle Doctor (a big wind) comes up I have been known to “phone a friend” who summarily deposits my now dismantled bike in the back of their car and runs me home.

It does get worse…

[...] Continue Reading…

You suddenly cringe and realise what you’ve just done

Reinvent, Innovate or Die!

Be warned folks, reinventing your business is NOT an option … a change in our economy demands a change in your thinking so your business remains relevant to your customers.

The good news is, change doesn’t have to be painful … and it doesn’t require a major overhaul of your business either. If you’re broad minded, have a desire to increase your profits and you are open to new ideas … then you’ll want to read each word carefully … yes reinvention is that important.

First up you need to look at the people you hang with if you are to be a positive influence to your business and inspirational then you know that you have the hang out with people who are inspiring and a positive influence to you.

Don’t hang out with negative people! You know who I mean.

The sort of person that when [...] Continue Reading…

This is a sad story to be starting the year with

This is a sad story to be starting the year with but so many of us have many poor mindsets that are none supportive and we seriously need to do a mental garbage dump run to clear the crap and all these misguided thoughts and ideas.

In my last rant talked about “your thoughts and your focus being weak and scattered, and as a result your outcome will be all over the place too!

And judging by the feedback I have had it is worth a big mention again! The CLEARER the picture you have, the more SPECIFIC you are with both the vision you have and in the way you articulate your goals, the more exact will be your outcome. Did you spend the time needed to picture your future?

But let me get to the point of this Rant …

One of the authors I spend some time reading [...] Continue Reading…

The inference is that it would be foolish to…

We all have dreams but what defines a goal is simply that the dream now has a date attached.

The most common reason for business owners and their businesses to not reach their goals is NOT through a lack of desire but that they simply haven’t defined the goals clearly.

When setting any type of goals, Be SPECIFIC – if YOU don’t fill in the blanks, it will happen anyway; it just may not be the way you’d want!

I think what makes the whole concept of setting goals in the fashion we advocate so compelling to people, is that it requires you to FREE UP your
imagination, to have some serious FUN with it.

Most of the goal setting techniques I’ve heard about take a much more rigid view of how it’s done, for instance “make your goals achievable”. The inference is that it would be foolish to “wish” for something unless you [...] Continue Reading…

All care taken but we take no responsibility for any mistakes…

You can have a lot of fun and success when you tie into Holidays, Seasons and Celebrations.

Do be careful and plan well ahead.

Take the opportunity to look seriously at what other industries or businesses do around that holiday or seasonal event or celebration but don’t always assume that what they are doing is successful.

If nobody is doing anything it could be for one of two reasons;

• You’re first one to think of it… or
• it ain’t going to work for a reason you don’t know about yet.

Here is a handy list of national holidays, seasonal changes and celebrations that you should be giving some thought to when putting together your marketing calendar. And try to tie these events in to your marketing calendar.

It doesn’t have to be the big national celebrations, if there are local or regional events that are appropriate for you tie into – do so!

2010

Your Clients Birthday – [...] Continue Reading…