In tight times it's important to focus on your core business... BUT your ability to innovate and create new revenue streams is another strategic option that may allow you to thrive in the future. Mark L Jones
Upcoming Events
How's your attitude?
Wow, four months of the year now gone and the countries leading ecconomists are still advocating negative messages about the future. I think they all have the dooms day blues or is that they may have had to endure a realistic salary cut, (for many long over due) and now they wish to make sure that everyone else is miserable as well. Maybe I should not be so cynical.
My reality though suggests that with careful planning, interest rates at there lowest point in decades, an ever increasing talent pool of skilled workers and the government committed to ecconomic stimulus, there has never been a better opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to change, revitalise and set new paths for success. Basically it comes down to attitude. Right now we can all make decisions built upon an attitude of either listening to the pessimists, or to be more proactive in seizing the moment and making the most of every opportunity and effort required to ride out this storm, build a solid foundation for the future and thrive in better times. The choice is yours.... again, hows your attitude?
Following are a few tips that may assist you in becoming a leader in your sector rather than another statistic!
- Review and adapt your business plan to be more action orienated
- If you haven't got an actionable business plan seek an appropriate advisor and get started now!
- Integrate a series of marketing and growth strategies as the core component of your actionable business plan.
- Now is the time to market agressively while many are cutting back with budgets.
- Manage the cash flow in the business aggressively and cut non essential expenditure (A key survival strategy)
- Ensure that you keep on top of debt collection... and keep the cash moving in your business.
- Engage all staff in the decision making processes as you move forward, "people support what they themselves create".... give them some ownership
- Keep in touch with your existing customers (communicate, communicate communicate), now is the time to strengthen your relationships and build stronger loyalty
- Seek ways to incentivise (value add) without incurring more expense
- TRAIN, train and train, this is a great time to build competence and capacity within the business. Build a great foundation to secure the viability and sustainabilty of your business in the future.
A huge thank you!
Jeanette and I wish to extend a big thnks to our team of facilitators and volunteers who assisted with the charity Bikes4Tykes event conducted to suppport the AIMS Conference at the Hyatt Coolum. As a team you did an outstanding job and made a significant contribution to the lives of the 81 disadvantaged children who recieved push bikes on the day. Feed back from ALL participants and the event Sponsors - Zurich Financial Services was overwhelmingly positive. The story in the Sunshine Coast Daily reinforced the positive outcomes and provided great acknowledgement to all concerned. Once more many thanks to Zurich, the team at Hyatt Coolum and Get Biking of Caloundra for the support with the Bikes and the ongoing servicing for the kids.
We look forward to delivering many more of these exciting team building workshops in the future. If any businesses out there wish to grow the corporate / community / social responsibility profile please contact us at TRAC for an obligation FREE discussion of this and numerous other community spirited events we have in out portfolio. Contact mark or Jeanette on admin@tracc.com.au for futher information.
Professional Development Opportunity
Just a quick reminder to provide information about the upcoming annual Advanced Facilitation Training program for 2009 to be conducted on QLD’s Sunshine Coast. As a result of last year’s program we have been commissioned to deliver two in-house programs in June, one for the Australian Air Force and the second for a QLD Government Agency. With the need to have internationally acclaimed facilitator Mr. Scott Winter from America here as part of our core team of presenters we have decided to once more offer a public workshop.
To be conducted over two and a half days (Sunday to Tuesday 14th -16th June 2009) at the Worldmark Resort Golden Beach on the Sunshine Coast this professional Development event is not to be missed by ALL business owners and managers who are required to regularly…
· Conduct and lead strategic meetings
· Facilitate workshops and forums
· Provide training and business development interventions
· Lead Work teams
· Work in a supervisory or managerial capacity
· Be responsible for organisational change or team performance
· Deal with conflict situations
This program is again endorsed by the Australian Institute of Professional Facilitators (AIPF) the national peak industry group who support facilitators and professional trainers. Upon completion delegates will become eligible (Cost factored into the workshop investment) for Associate Membership to the AIPF. Benefits of AIPF membership can be found at http://www.aipf.com.au/Membership-Benefits-pg8622.html
Further information about the program is provided in the attached PDF document and workshop enrolments can be completed securely online by following the link at http://www.tracc.com.au/events.php?a=view&tEvent_id=27
PS: As a special offer – Enrol three delegates from your organisation into the program and your fourth attends FREE.
We look forward to spending an outstanding two and a half days of world class professional development with you in June. For more information contact Mark Jones at mark@tracc.com.au or on telephone 07 5439 7999.
Mark Jones - FAIPF. CEDP
Rapping up!
Just to reinforce our opening message Carp Deim! - Seize the moment! As a small business we now find ourselves busier than ever. We practice what we preach and view opportunities for diversification and expansion of our business as a fundemental competence. Yes, it takes time, energy, passion and more importantly controlled risks. We would like to challenge everyone to reflect on their attitude, don't get caught up in the hysteria and negativity... be more entrepreneurial in your thinking and 2009 could well become the foundations for a period of great abundance. Don't forget the saying that "Positivity breeds positivity"... It's up to you!
We wish you all well and a prosperous end to this financial year, and look forward to the seeing many of you at the Facilitative Leadership program in June.
Yours for the future,
Mark & Jeanette Jones
