Boston Clarke

Sheds and Boardrooms

2012-01-31T07:47:00.000-08:00

Had a meeting last week with Haroon at Finisher Creative . I explained that one thing I did was to take 2 blokes in a shed and make them into a business . He asked how do I do that and this is the answer to that question.

The quick answer is goals and removal of limiting beliefs with a bit of visualisation thrown in.

Some people will say at this point you need a business plan, you do ; but first you need a goal or goals . You need to know what the business will look and feel like in 12 months time. You also need to know what is limiting you.

We can’t sell to big companies, we don’t have enough staff, we don’t know how to sell to people and so on . All these things can be overcome with more confidence , some training and use of virtual pa’s and so on .

If the goal is real enough , the pursuit of it relentless, some reality check thrown in as well then most things can be achieved.

All these tips and hints as well as many coaching techniques are available from me via www.bostonclarke.co.uk or talk to me 07876 173 444

2011 , 2012

2012-01-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

How was 2011 ? Great , could be better or best forgotten ?

So why does it matter, 2012 is upon us all new and shiny ready for action.

A famous man once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” (Albert Einstein or Benjamin Franklin depending on who you believe ).

My thoughts for 2012 are if 2011 was great , why ? What can you do to repeat the feat ? What new resources do you need to ensure the same result ?

If improvement is needed , what are you going to do ? To misquote Sarah Millican - don’t wait for a light at the end of the tunnel , go and switch the bloody thing on yourself !

Have a great and prosperous New Year !

Paul Clarke

PS if you want to change your level of success give me a ring

07876173444

Direction or even New Direction

2011-12-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

New Direction are apparently a beat combo of some sort . The New Direction I'm talking about is also known as a vision , even a mission or even starting with the end in sight .

Coming across a lot of people in business who have an idea or even two ideas , which are really great ideas that will work , they set up a business which falters because there is no end game. These businesses need direction , a plan ; and more , there always more they need to know how to execute it .

They are not alone . Are you on Linkedin - I am , link up with me by all means . Not that I'm sure what that achieves. So here am I going on about an end in sight and I don't know what use Linkedin is ? What to do ? Seek help - I know should have done years ago. Will let you know how it goes and the outcomes .

I'm on twitter too - @bostonc - got a vague inkling how that works .

thanks for reading the latest meandering

Paul

07876173444

Success and Failure?

2011-11-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

13 reasons why your business could fail !

I found this when I searching google for growing a business. If I was thinking of starting a business and did the same search, I would give up and crawl back under my stone and never come out.

How about 13 reasons why your business could succeed? Well maybe not 13, but you get the idea. I’m sure what the author does for a living unless he’s a doom monger by trade.

People in business need to be careful, make sure that their idea is a good one, get paid, not overtrade and so on.

or How to succeed !!!!!!!!!

So here’s my bash at what you may need to grow a business , or make a business grow .

1 Sell some service or product
2 Keep selling it
3 Sell to a new market and sell more to existing customers or market place
4 Get good people around you to support you , ask for help even pay for good business support – motivation , focus
5 Make sure you get paid on time every time – set your own time , not 30 days or even worse 90 days
6 Avoid getting ripped off
7 Make sure you know what the end game is – Vision , inspiration

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Winston Churchill

Thanks

Paul 07876173444

Mastermind Groups

2011-11-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Mastermind Groups

This idea comes from Napoleon Hill – “Think and Grow Rich “. The idea is that gathering together a group of people with something in common, that are supportive, full of ideas and will hold you to account.

There is plenty of evidence that having a great support network around you , makes life easier , makes success easier even.

I have been in one for six months or so and I have found it very useful and I think that most of the members would agree, they keep coming back !

The costs of doing this are low, very low indeed about £10 a month. It isn’t a replacement for expert help in your business but runs alongside , especially for those decisions that are tricky on your own .

If you want to know more – ask 07876173444

Paul

Motivation and Slimming

2011-11-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Motivation and Slimming

There are a lot of motivation aids and techniques ;speakers , videos , books and even coaches .If you need to get something done which may be a bit tricky – give up smoking , lose weight , make sales calls,

write those letters ,change – you need motivation .

At this point I want to take you back to recent history, the late 70’s, when I played rugby union, badly, for Boston Rugby Club 3rds or 4 ths. Boston for those of you who don’t know is very flat, very flat. The only places for hill starts are bridges and if, as in my case the traffic is moving there are no hill starts on a driving test. This makes it a great place for walking and cycling, but does mean that there is no shelter from any wind .Back to the rugby; it is 2.30pm Saturday afternoon in the changing rooms which are unheated. The 3rds are just about ready , ralglex sprayed on , grease applied on top of it , Vaseline applied to eyebrows and ears , last fag almost done .The opposition in the adjacent changing room however are getting motivated , chanting and stamping their feet .

We exchange smiles, knowing how cold it is going to be. The opposition are really well motivated until the cold, the mud and our tackles take their toll .The motivation drains away. We win (it’s my tale, I am allowed to win).
This really is my take on motivation, the stamping has its place, but real motivation has to come from within. So to me listen to some fine speakers, watch Tony Robbins by all means, but the motivation has to come from within. My coaching does two things, find the motivation within, the reason why and then keep that level up, not allow it to slacken.

Slimming
Recent news is that commercial slimming schemes are more effective than NHS schemes -http://to.ly/boet . This is the headline.

However in more depth – Slimming World / Weight Watchers was offered against Sports Centre vouchers, schemes with nurses and so on. The motivation was obviously higher in the commercial schemes because of the group support; it is easier with good people to support you – this made not trying less of an option.

This is a roundabout way of saying that motivation comes from within and it is easier if you have great supportive people around you and you have a why working for you. To discuss this and other issues phone me on 07876173444.

Sales

2011-10-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Good evening or good morning ,

I am currently in the market for some marketing collateral I think the term is . There are a lot of people out there , knowledgeable , pleasant people who are not the best at selling .

By that I mean they talk really well , find out what I want , demonstrate what they can do to meet my needs and then ......... tumble weed rolls across screen (sort of)

In a sale both sides need to know their position , especially the purchaser . I'm no different . If I go to a supermarket I get asked for money . At some point in the sales process a seller has to ask for money .

If you want to find out more

Ask me !

Thanks

Paul 07876173444 pc@bostonclarke.co.uk

Leadership and Management Grants

2011-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie this time - The Leadership and Management grants are coming to an end , but the good news is that the turnround is quick at the moment .

If you are interested in increasing your management and or leadership skills and would like 50% towards the costs , phone me now , no not next week - now - take positive action , action to change

07876173444

Thanks Paul

RWC 2011

2011-10-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15246354.stm

Apparently according to that well known World Cup winner Jeremy Guscott, Martin Johnson isn't up to the job . My answer to that Jezza , is you go and tell him , and can I watch .

Easy being a critic isn't it - easy to watch from the side and say don't do that ;or even better you shouldn't have done that.

Rant over

Attitudes and Tevez

2011-09-29T01:46:00.001-07:00

Attitudes

Tevez . Rioters . Attitudes .
Where do they come from ? Our background , upbringing , supporters (people around us ) contribute to our beliefs which give us our attitude in a given situation . Results come from this .

These results can be self fulfilling – Henry Ford and all that . How can we get the results we want ?

We can change our supporters from maybe ; it’ll never work to a far more supportive role .

We can take much more belief from small successes and scale them up so that these small results become part of our background ; bigger results will follow .

What to do with Tevez – get rid !

A new way

2011-09-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

I invite you to take a different perspective, yours,
and to be the very best that you already are.

Imagine,if you simply could not fail:

What would you do? - You would do anything!

Where would you go? - You would go anywhere!
Who would you be?

You would be free, at last to be you.

You have enough, You are enough, Just as you are !

Be successful, just by being yourself

Leadership

2011-08-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Effective leadership is putting first things first.

Stephen Covey

The difference between leadership and management , is not just the size of the cheque at the end of the month or the size of the car in the car park.

Within any business there is a process that creates income and usually this is broken down into parts and is managed; production,sales,marketing,distribution and so the list goes on .

The aim of the various managers in these areas is make sure that their area goes as quicker and smoothly as possible . So does a leader become a super manager in the way that some directors seem to do , well not in my opinion .

A leader should be able to set out the way forward , an aim , a goal for the business , department ; but should also do more than that , be able to ask the question is this the right thing we are doing , could we do this differently ?

My leadership program sets out ways to do this and ways th check which is the best way forward and how to communicate this in the best way possible .

All this and it is possible to get £1000 grant towards the cost .

Hope to talk to you soon .

Paul www.bostonclarke.co.uk

07876173444

Lees of The Myth

2011-07-31T03:40:00.001-07:00

Leadership: Less of the myth, more of the reality

Amongst the numerous theories, models, books and articles about leadership that every executive is currently being bombarded with, what does any aspiring leader really need to know? What are the real "golden nuggets" of good leadership that will truly make a difference to individuals, their teams and their organisations?

Ashridge Consulting sponsored an international three year research study that used an innovative "fly on the wall" research method. A research team lived alongside eight leaders - and the people around them - in a range of organisations across Europe, for periods of up to two years. Its findings explode many of the myths that surround modern management thinking about what makes leaders successful.

It was observed that leadership changes are like personal transitions - an upside down time of great uncertainty and anxiety. Just as changing relationships or switching jobs is stressful for an individual, so the change of leader triggers anxiety for both the leaders and people around him/her. The findings demonstrate that new leaders are most successful when they stop thinking they can shape the future as they would like and face life as it is. Instead of trying to live up to some idealised picture of what leaders are, they make best use of what's in front of them. They become ordinary heroes!

Exploding many modern management myths, the report demonstrates that:

• Everything does not depend on the first 100 days
• Charismatic leaders can be dangerous
• Team building happens more through straight conversations in the moment than through "awaydays"
• Changing the people who work with you can be a way of avoiding the real problems

Good leaders have to face paradoxes such as getting close enough to connect with people, but staying detached enough to make tough decisions. They need to reach conclusions and take action while holding an open mind about how the new business and organisation will differ from past experience. They also need to remain true to aspirations for the future while confronting the realities of the past and present.

The research also highlighted the fact that leaders must look to their own needs if they are to survive and be effective. They need help and support plus "time out" to reflect. They also need to push back against crazy expectations and absurd timescales. For example, they will not perform miracles within the famous "first 100 days" and unrealistic expectations should be renegotiated. Business environment, organisational culture, and group dynamics matter much more than individual qualities. The clever leaders find ways to work with what they inherit, not fight it.

Valued leadership does not come from extraordinary people but from ordinary folk who remember what they know, recover their wits amidst the pressure of transitions and deal with what is immediate and present. It consists of doing ordinary things like connecting with people, valuing them, protecting people from pressures from above and around. Ordinary people can do it

Quick Guide to Goals

2011-07-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Goals – quick guide to setting them

I keep returning to goals on this blog mainly because they are important. To achieve a goal or a vision you must plan how to make it happen. You cannot 'do' a goal or a vision. Instead you must do the things that enable it - usually several things, in several steps.

In other words, break the big goal done into smaller goals. Hence I wish to increase my sales by 50 %. If this requires more appointments, how many more, how are they to be made by whom and so on?

A goal without a plan remains just a goal - many people have visions, intentions, ideas, dreams which never happen, because they are not planned. Dreams are what you have when you’re asleep (almost Winston Churchill).

The goal must have a - what is it, how, when, where (possibly) and possibly most importantly –why? What does achieving this goal mean? What does it mean to you? And so on.

Once your big goals have been set they need to be ordered and then divided into smaller goals. Then the tricky stuff, the goals need a plan or plans to make them happen.

First Step – are there realistic? If so have all the opportunities been explored, they have right – what’s the first step? What new resources do you need?
Then – you just need to get on with it.

Thanks

Paul

0787617344

www.bostonclarke.co.uk

2011-06-29T02:05:00.000-07:00

SALES and JIMMY CLIFF

I deal with a lot of clients and have dealt with sales teams who said that the client /customer was going to buy; money was in the bank and so on. Of course it wasn’t, the time between opening and closing was too long. The client was allowed to dictate the timescale and possibly money was not discussed.

As a sales person you need to know when the client wants your product, if they can pay for it, do they sign the cheques and what the competition is- among some of the issues. What we really want is a yes , or a no ; not a maybe – cue Jimmy http://bit.ly/gp7dXa.

Another big issue is rejection .Sales people get it all the time. I remember when I had just started , TV was in black and white , Adam was a lad and so on ; visited a big local prospect with my boss, had a great chat . However at the end of the chat the prospect said the only reason I would buy for you is if your competitor burnt down.

Everyone gets rejection , the only answer is to move on and remember ; Sometimes rejection now may not be rejection forever , the time may not be right .

Paul

07876173444

www.bostonclarke.co.uk

Leeds Business Networking - Leadership Development

2011-06-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie – On Friday 17th I will be speaking at Leeds Business Networking about Leadership Programs and how to get them 50% funded.For anyone who is unable to attend some of the benefits are :-

More sales

Customer Service Improvement

Better Communication inside and outside of the company

Redefined vision

New managers contributing quicker

Better motivation for managers and staff

Lower staff turnover

Retention of key personnel

Higher Confidence

Desired Outcomes

For those who can attend see you there

Paul

African Achievers

2011-06-02T01:58:00.001-07:00

Africa Achievers Awards 2011

Last Friday night I had the pleasure to attend the Africa Achievers Awards 2011 in Bradford. It was a great event not least because it was very positive and hopeful about some very difficult topics, including jiggers, to find out what they are try this - http://bit.ly/avWfnW .

It was eye opening to find out what people in Africa and elsewhere are doing about things in the vast continent of 52 countries and that this was happening in Bradford with the Lady Mayor, first Muslim female Lord Mayor, representatives from the Zambian and Zimbabwean embassies.

Lots more information at www.nileafrica.org and www.africanachievers.org .

Paul

Funding and other great stuff

2011-05-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

Special Offers – and 50% Funding !

Sales support – My spring offers continue – 7 sessions for the price of 5. I offer sales development , training , mentoring and coaching. This will enable you to convert more meetings into cash.
Suitable for anyone who wants to sell more face to face .

Leadership Development - The Leadership & Management Advisory Service has funds available for 50-50 matched funding. This is what Boston Clarke’s Leadership Development Programme’s are all about.
• It is Leadership Development, based on coaching techniques, rather than just pure, un-structured coaching.
• It isn’t about me telling you how to do it. It’s about raising your awareness to allow you to operate more effectively.
• The programme is highly “outcomes focussed”. In the first & second sessions the client develops, validates and documents the desired outcomes for the programme and the coach essentially commits to helping him deliver these objectives by the end of the programme.
• Structured programme of 1-to-1 sessionst
• The reality is that we all can benefit from coaching. It’s not just for someone else! It gives you the development time you never give yourself.

It will help you run your business more smoothly and with less stress. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, now you owe it to yourself to make your life easier.
The time commitment is a session of 2 to 3 hours every 2 to 3 weeks and a couple of hours “home-work” in between. It is actually time that you cannot afford not to spend!
There’s never a “convenient” time to start, but the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see the benefits. And one of the “lessons” of the programme is that “Procrastination is the enemy of performance”.
Unlike less structured forms of coaching and off-site courses, it creates sustained and lasting change in people’s behaviour. This is because it takes place in the workplace and is totally focussed on addressing the business and business-life issues of the candidate.

If you are interested in these – phone me on 07876173444

Paul

Roses , Twitter and Gurus

2011-05-19T05:16:00.001-07:00

Coaching, Consultancy, Advising, Mentoring – does it matter? Or a Rose by any other name?

When I’m networking I feel the need to describe myself as a coach , maybe even a performance coach , or even a sales and performance coach ; but does it matter what I call myself? I’m not sure. If someone needs help with their business do they care what the person is calling themselves (apart from possibly guru)? I guess I need a networking guru to tell me what to do or maybe not. Perhaps I should take my own advice and talk about benefits.

Isn’t Twitter wonderful? It is slowly doing to twitter what gay did to gay and happy. In other words Twitter is now beginning to mean conversing in 140 symbols – not mindless chat, although …… Anyway I mention it because one of my #salestips was retweeted in the good ole USA, amazing or am I just old because I still find live TV from India/USA etc quite amazing on occasions.

I have just been going through the painful process of finding space in my sheds to swing a cat (haven’t got a cat so don’t worry, got a dog though). Tricky to give stuff away, in fact I can’t give it away.

Enough twitter – my spring offers are still on – let me know if you are interested.

Paul 07876173444

Know what to do , but not doing it?

2011-04-27T03:01:00.000-07:00

Know what to do! But not doing it!!

Some people suffer with this problem. The symptom is lack of motivation or procrastination, which are very similar in results - nothing.

What is happening? Important tasks are put off and or replaced with filing, ordering your cds, making coffee and so on.

So what’s the answer? Two causes may be at the root of the problem. Fear and or no really clear objective.

Fear of failure, fear of success are difficult to overcome but not impossible. I feel the key to all of this is to have a clear major objective. I want to earn more money is OK, but I want to earn £75k in the next 12 months because I want to go to Rome and Paris is much better for example.

The clearer and more personal the objective is, the more likely it is to motivate. Then it must be broken down into monthly, daily tasks or it becomes far too intimidating.
Use a priority matrix to order tasks and use friends for encouragement to help with the motivation.

Failing all that employ a coach .A client of mine did just that, and we worked to clear up the objectives into hard cash and build up confidence. In 4 sessions she had gained enough confidence and clients to be really flying and be able to ignore all the doubters that seemed to surround her.

To benefit from Spring special offers phone me to book a first taster session with me- 07876173444

Cheers Paul

pc@bostonclarke.co.uk

Goals

2011-04-18T05:29:00.000-07:00

A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.
Groucho Marx

Get those goals right , set them properly using whichever acronym you want , SMART,SECURE,GROW or whatever and find you motivation will grow . Will it survive your first blow , or your second or third ? Maybe if you’re strong you will get through this on your own , but the most successful people have had support from their family and friends .

It is no problem or sign of weakness to ask for help but surely a sign of strength . Networking , mastermind groups , and so on all help. That Goal should be stretching not impossible but hard . (Unlike the current Arsenal manager – second is good enough !)

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. ~ Confucius

Special Offers for April – not sure what coaching is all about – try a short session for free , that’s nothing !

Networking and learning

2011-03-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

First the plug –

I am presenting - “Strawberries, Fish and the Power of Four” at Shay Networking in Halifax Thursday 7th April 2011 8.30am - 10.30am . There will be some participation involved and hopefully attendees will learn something.
I have done lots of networking lately. The amount of people who do not follow up is surprising. Mark at Simply Networking always says that it is about making relationships and he’s right. To give someone work or leads you need to know them and trust them.

What have I learnt lately ? Well apart from Arsenal’s ability to bottle it at any given opportunity , I have learnt that we should all dwell on the positive and if we need help ask for it . It’s not a weakness to seek help , it’s a strength .

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. ~ Confucius

Thanks and finally , my 13 year old daughter is doing a mile swim for Marie Curie and has a page http://www.justgiving.com/Annie-Clarke13 if you’re feeling generous .

Paul
0787617344

Change

2011-03-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Truth About Change

So here's the situation: Millions of people are afraid to go after what they want because it would force them to stretch their comfort zones. To put themselves at ease and avoid taking the risk, they fool themselves into believing everything will all work out 'someday.' And the reason so many people believe it will all work out in the future is because of another seductive trap.

They may be afraid to go for it right now, but this 'someday' they talk about is completely free of fear and worry. In other words, they've convinced themselves that a time will come when they won't be afraid to go after their goals. Have you done this? Have you convinced yourself that the right feeling will hit you and you'll live the life you've always wanted to live? Chances are good that you have, and that's why I have to kill the myth with the truth...

You will always, always, always feel out of your comfort zone when it comes to changing and improving your life, and that 'special' time when everything falls into place will never come.
Successful people aren't lucky enough to be free of fear and worry; they move forward in spite of it. And this brings us to the main message I want you to take away from this blog.

What's The Answer?

The time to do the things you've always wanted to do is right here, right now. This isn't a practice run where you'll get to rewind the clock when you're ready to go for it. This is the real thing.

Paul Clarke

07876173444

What do People Buy?

2011-03-16T00:52:00.001-07:00

One of the stock answers to this is – People Buy People – well let me tell they don’t. Firstly it’s illegal, and second people just don’t. So I hear you say, what do they buy? People buy the benefit, what’s in it for me – wiifm. Much cleverer people than me will tell you why some people buy Skoda’s and some buy SEAT and so on, but the fact is people buy benefits.
Features remain, benefits change. For example how many uses (benefits) has rope got or nylon and so on. The key is to find out what benefits if any your prospect or customer sees in your product or service and then you know what they are going to buy.
I will be presenting more nuggets next month at Halifax Town, details will follow.

www.bostonclarke.co.uk
@bostonc on twitter as well as Facebook and LinkedIn

Thanks Paul

The Right State

2011-03-03T03:57:00.001-08:00

The Right State

Not a right state. One way to this amongst many is to know what you are trying to achieve and know what that means, looks like, feels like and even sounds like.
If for example you are trying to make appointments on the phone, know what that process is, what success is and how it is going to be achieved. Hopefully this means that in a difficult situation, you can approach it knowing what the positive outcome is, and how you are going to achieve it.
Equally networking, same principle – what do you want to achieve, how are you going to achieve it and what does success look like.

To help you get success in these and other sales situations give me a ring – 07876173444

Paul

SAS and sales

2011-02-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

Quick thought for a Sunday evening when Arsenal let again lose a vital match due to cock ups , I have finally stopped kicking the cat .

What has the SAS got to do with sales , apart from Who Dares Wins , Rodney ? Well a while ago I came across an acronym - SOS and was reminded of it today by the way I felt when Arsenal yet again cocked it up . I was in no state to talk to a client or a prospect . State being the first S in SOS and possibly the most important .

So why the SAS - not another acronym , no not that . The SAS when behind enemy lines attempt to leave no trace of their presence so they can't be tracked and part of this is a bag in which every possible trace , and I mean every possible trace , is put . It is known as a sh"* bag , for obvious reasons . The reason that this is important is that when in a sales situation you should put your negativity , your irrelevant thoughts and anything else that will lose you’re the sale in a virtual sh*$ bag and throw it away , a long way away .

Thanks have a great week

Paul

A Simple Invitation

2011-02-23T01:58:00.000-08:00

I invite you to take a different perspective, yours, and to be the very best that you already are.
Imagine if you simply could not fail:
What would you do?
You would do anything.
Where would you go?
You would go anywhere
Who would you be?
You would be free, at last to be you.

You have enough , You are enough , Just as you are !

Be successful,just by being yourself.

Old School New School

2011-02-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

Lots of stuff about at the moment about Social Media. Lots of Gurus – (As Francis Wheen says, 'guru' is a useful word for people who can't spell 'charlatan'.) The fact remains that Twitter and so on are still part of the marketing mix for some people. The message still remains, that, as I see it marketing is still getting the right message, in front of the right people, at the right time. Mind you if social media is something you are interested in and want to find out how it should work, I can aim you, at a company who do know how it works.
There is frenzy about twitter and so at the moment. I think it is because of the film canister or the telex machine moment. Older more mature people remember telex machine s, even before fax, and 35mm film. My daughters’ dinner money used to be carried into school in a film canister, not any more. The King of hair, or the queen of hissy fits, Elton John is bemoaning downloads and the lack of albums covers.

In short, some things remain, but most things change all the time.

Paul

PS – check out http://www.leedsbusinessnetworking.co.uk/

Customer Service

2011-01-21T02:03:00.000-08:00

Very interesting topic brought to everyone’s notice this week by Mary Portas on C4 .The discussions on the radio were revealing ,some saying that they quite liked not being noticed and didn’t want to be followed in shops by attentive staff. Others in the discussion said that the pay back on the training investment wasn’t worth it and customers get what they deserve.
The heroine, Mary, of course is all in favour of better customer service and so am I. So why do we get such bad service in some shops and businesses? Is it lack of training, possibly, but I am more inclined to say that the permission to give bad service comes from the top. I should say at this point in the ramble that I am looking at people acknowledging me and being pleasant and helpful; not looking for the silver service offered by Michel Roux. That is quite a different level and definitely needs serious training.
This very morning (rant warning) I was snubbed in a local supermarket by the store manager himself, who was more interested in the display than my question. So there you have it – bad service comes from the top!
Well that’s my view and the view of my coaching. Get the top right and the rest follows
Rant over

Paul
07876173444

Happy New Year

2011-01-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

Goals and doing more with less.

Happy New Year, a little late but there you are. It is today the 12th of January, which means we are half way to the end of most people New Year’s resolutions. Have you even set goals for your business this year?

You Have? How are they going well I hope? If the goals are important and let’s hope they were, they are worth hanging on to. If not it’s not too late in fact it’s never too late to think about the future and where you want to be.

Goals are useful for working out how well things are going and also vital to coaches like me (you knew it was coming) to help up performance, or to more with less.

So if 2010 was good for you, do you know how to repeat it in 2011 (call a May election according to some rumours)? If not why not?

If 2010 wasn’t too cracking, what are you, yes you, going to change in 2011?
Need Help – 0787617344

Paul

PS speaking at LBN on Friday - http://www.leedsbusinessnetworking.co.uk/ for details

Merry Christmas

2010-12-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

It’s been a funny year with business confidence going up and down like a fiddler’s elbow finishing at all time low or with encouraging signs dependent on who you believe (Grant Thornton , BDO or Nottingham University ). It is at this time of the year that people reflect on the year gone and the year to come.

24th January 2011 is the date apparently when most New Year resolutions are broken or forgotten, so what’s the answer? Two obvious answers – employ a coach to help make them happen or set resolutions that you really want to achieve. No point saying you will give up smoking, if you’ve no intention of doing so; equally achieving goals is not cosmic ordering. (Of course I would like everyone to use a coach and preferably me.)

Nothing is ever achieved without input or action. Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without hard work and lots of effort along with, most importantly to my mind, an idea of the purpose or vision. Sometimes in the heat of the action the vision is lost in the effort in getting to Friday, focus is always required and going back to goals.

Thanks for reading so far – of course if you want to know more phone me - 0787617344 or email me pc@bostonclarke.co.uk .

I hope you have a great Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.

Paul

Customer Service and Cold Calls

2010-12-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

Cold Calls

Some days I get a lot of cold calls, most of which are badly done, which makes then more annoying than normal. The last one was from a SEO company I think. This is a service which I do not use for a variety of reasons which I carefully explained to the caller.
His objection handling technique was to quote, sarcastically, a variety of stats to prove I was wrong. I may have been wrong but as a prospect that is my choice and even my prerogative. The customer or prospect is always right until proved otherwise, a sure fire way to lose most customers is to insult them.
So I thought I would outline my thoughts on cold calling –

1 Don’t lie
2 Come to the point; introduce yourself and your company as soon as possible
3 Never deny that it is a sales call
4 Make sure you know why you are making the call – appointment, info gathering etc
5 Know what your first statement is going to be
6 Keep going, if all is not going well, may be review your content
7 If the call is successful, keep going
8 If the call is successful, confirm details and deliver
9 Be yourself

Customer Service
Talking to a trainer this week – she that customer service was all about attitude. Absolutely correct. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and look at how your service is?

Thanks for reading this

Have a good Christmas

Paul

Confidence

2010-11-24T02:10:00.001-08:00

Self Confidence

I have met some coaches in the last few weeks at various networking meetings. We compared notes and found that one of the common themes amongst our clients was confidence or lack of it in some situations.
I should mention at this point that total confidence in all situations with no self awareness is a recipe for disaster, no one wants a boss who is always right. Of course that could be better than a boss who is never right.
Quick steps to better confidence
• Rational Analysis
• Visualisation
• Physical
• Self Efficacy

Rational Analysis
Basically – you can do it. What is the logical reason for your lack of confidence in a certain area? Reframe that and say what’s stopping me!

Visualisation
Technique used by David Beckham and Johnny Wilkinson. Imagine what success looks like and then how to get there. It will reinforce the idea that its possible and also that the idea that a setback is just that, not failure.

Physical
Hold your head up! This is about countering the physical effects of low confidence. To counter these, hold your head up, dress well, walk strongly – in short appear confident on the outside.

Self Efficacy
If he, or she can do it so can I. In short if someone else is doing what you want to do and doing it well, what’s stopping you? A technique used a lot by pyramid schemes such as Herballife to great effect.

As ever I would be only too delighted to run through these ideas with you.

Cheers Paul

07876173444

Limiting Belief?

2010-10-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Limiting Belief?
I’ve been to a few networking meetings over the last week or so. In the discussions after these meetings a recurring theme has been, it was better in the good old days.
We all might take issue and say was it really better in the good old days, but what concerns me is that is this opinion a limiting belief. A limiting belief is a belief that limits someone’s actions so that they underachieve.
Experience or background lead to beliefs which then become attitudes and feelings which are reinforced by results after the actions which happen after the attitudes. The reinforcement makes the belief more important until it becomes a SFP – a self fulfilling prophecy. Common limiting beliefs are we will never sell to companies in Leeds, we’re not big enough, it will never work and so on. They limit or stop performance. The good news is that these can be overcome and performance maximised.
So is going back to the good old days a limiting belief - yes it can be if it is used as a reason to believe that it will never work. Plus if you can’t change it, why worry move on and work with the hand you’ve got.
Thanks for reading – if you need to remove barriers to your success 0787617344

Paul

More Sales Stuff

2010-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

More Sales Tips

Sell Benefits – not features, if you don’t know what the benefits of your products or services are ask your existing customers.

If you are not getting hold of a prospect don’t give it keep trying. Try different times of day.

Keep up an even amount of prospecting, diary in a set amount each week , and do it.

Keep a sense of perspective, not every call works but the next one might.

Be cheerful , lighten your prospects load , be yourself .

Good Luck

Paul

New Season Part 2 and selling in hard times

2010-09-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

Selling at the moment for some people is a bit tricky to say the least.To be successful the seller has to get back to basics . Never mind social media and twittering .Get your message in front of the right people at the right time and then sell. Find out the benefits of your product and sell it . The process might take longer than normal , but be persistent and carry on.

Good Luck !

By the way , the real news , Boston are currently second in the Bet Square North . They are newly promoted and doing fantastic .

Cheers Paul 07876173444

pc@bostonclarke.co.uk

New Start New Season

2010-08-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Its a new start only because I have just got back from Cornwall after my holiday , and the new season is obvious with Boston United top of the Blue Square Bet Northern Division with 9 points from 3 games ,as well as 11 goals . In the last game against Redditch they scored 9 goals away from home,a record.

Today is a great day - my elder daughter passed her GCSE's with flying colours and loads of A's . I also managed to win the Simply Networking World Cup Competition . This must make me one of the only Englishmen to win against serious opposition at the World Cup.

So its back to the day job , coaching and helping business leaders achieve more with less effort .Obviously if you want to find out how contact me (07876173444) .

I will leave you with a thought from the BBC website . A professor said the GCSE results were good because state schools .... tend to enter pupils for subjects in which they are likely to get good grades.. Really I thought the best option was to do stuff you were likely to be bad at , but what do I know. Next time you need an opinion try - thebleedingobvious etc etc .

Cheers

Paul

Coaching?

2010-08-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

The coaching I deliver is a form of personal development aimed at and designed for business people.It delivers improved productivity and profitability by defining the vision , increasing the focus and removing the barriers to success.

The results are quick , cost effective and lasting because the client takes the action and direction not me .

Social Networking ? has selling , cold calling really come to an end ? Please let me know if it has .

Finally football season is soon upon us - Come on You Yellows

Cheers Paul

More Marx

2010-06-30T04:29:00.000-07:00

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

Groucho Marx

This is the second blog featuring Groucho. The quote could be shortened to Carpe Diem or Take Action or Just Do it. These latter quotes are great shorthand but there is more to it than that. Everyone has a choice. We can wake and think, what a great day this is going to be or we can think asda (another sodding day at).

We have a choice - positivity or negativity, or as it was put to me this week; you know the what, now work out the how! We all need help with the how and maybe to start with the what. But once the what is established (and it’s possible) the how must be possible with the right help, determination, enthusiasm and perhaps a touch of good fortune.

I believe that successful business people are self confident, self aware and know the process that makes them money. So what is self confidence, what does it really mean? At least two feelings add up to self confidence ; self esteem and knowledge that your tasks or tasks can be done and have be done by you or someone similar , sometimes called self efficacy.

Self efficacy is why when the big goal or vision is set up or the what established,we quickly break it down into smaller goals. This means that progress is easier to track and confidence can be built from small successes instead of waiting for the big one .This part allows big things to be achieved by knocking off little challenges and helps us to persist , so becoming more confident.Self esteem is our view of ourselves, that we are approved of, our actions are respected. More than that we know we can deliver, we can take action to make what we say we can do, happens.

Self-confidence can be built with affirmations and positive thinking, but to keep it going you need positivity. A big goal and from that lots of small goals. The vision must be right, it must keep you uplifted, keep you going, you must believe. England have won two World Cups this century and in both cases they believed. Martin Johnson was not going to lose that final (2003) at any cost. Wilkinson got the headlines but it was Johnson’s on field belief that won that competition. He took the choice to believe that each victory led to the ultimate victory.

If you want to action to find the right help, to determine the what, the how or all of it so that you can begin to achieve your vision,please contact me 07876173444.

Cheers Paul

Gigs , Bradford and SBR's

2010-06-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Mentioned in a previous blog Bradford Nowhere, well its now here on the 5th of July details at http://www.bradfordnowhere.com . No doubt will be hosted by the wonderful Mr. John Hotowka. Also with less notice Gary Blonder is speaking at a Grid BBQ details at http://bit.ly/bqe1Gi

Lastly a bit of a plug SBR’s – Strategic Business Reviews . Business Link Yorkshire have a funding opportunity which allows companies to access a SBR which will focus on sales and marketing . The opportunity is framed such that there will be a chance to get a review and some support to implement a plan ; and its free 100% funded .

Anyone interested in this should give me a ring - 07876173444 - in the first instance

Thanks

Paul

Success

2010-06-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

To Plan or Not

In one of the seemingly endless World Cup warm up programmes Jens Lehmann was an object or ridicule because he had a list in his socks about the Argentinean penalty takers. This seemed to be a really bad thing to do for some obscure reason.

Not quite sure what was worse, having the ambition to win a game or using every legal method available to win a game and ultimately the whole competition.

In his maiden gig Gary Blonder talked entertainingly about having one controlling idea, which is a great way to get focus. In reality what would be better; amateurish failure which appears to be England’s fate again (SWP / Heskey? ) , or winning three World Cups and three European Championships .

It’s great being English but wouldn’t real success be great as well. Real Success needs a vision, focus and lots and lots of motivation .If you want to get a vision and hold – let me know.

Paul

Groucho Marx and Communication

2010-06-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I tried to top everybody, but I don't anymore. I realized it was killing conversation. When you're always trying for a topper you aren't really listening. It ruins communication.

Groucho Marx

Does anyone recognise this ? I do . It does kill conversation if you are constantly trying to top the story . It means you are not really listening at all. That's maybe OK in the pub or golf club (I do get some high class readers) but with a prospect , it could the end of the sale.

Look out for more tips - may involve Groucho may not

I must confess, I was born at a very early age.
Groucho Marx

Grants and Aims , Objectives

2010-06-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon all ,

There are some grants available at the moment and the message is get them while they're hot . They might not be here for long . If you want to know more give me a ring - 07876173444.

Are you in mid year low resolution limbo? It is the time to redefine those aims , objectives or goals . (without goals you can't score) Were those resolutions made in January urgent , compelling and vital to your business ? Have they been achieved ? If so fantastic ! Do you need to achieve even more ?

Not been achieved , what stopped you ? What would you have done differently given the chance ? What would difference to your business would the goals made ?

If you want to achieve more ,review your aims or find your true business vision ; we need to have a chat .

look forward to helping your get more

Paul

YBNA - don't mention the election

2010-05-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

This week I am doing the focus spot at YBNA , Wednesday morning 7.30am at the Kestrel on Wetherby Road , Harrogate . www.ybna.co.uk . I mention this so you know if to attend or not based on the speaker .

Also doing a Business Link workshop in Bradford and a Enterpreneur Network meeting at Huddersfield University .

Have a great week and I didn't mention it

Paul

YBNA

2010-05-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

just a quick one to say I am speaking at YBNA in the morning - www.ybna.co.uk . Come along and see what I have to say .

Give me a ring if you want to attend any of the meetings

End of the season

2010-05-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

End of the road for Boston United this season and the Pilgrims are going up to Blue Square North . Heady Heights indeed - not quite the Football League and Gazza but it is a move in the right direction after a few years going in the wrong direction.

http://www.bufc.co.uk/article/3228557/Heroic-United-secure-promotion

End of Season - almost

2010-04-25T03:18:00.000-07:00

Firstly - Bradford Now Here on Tuesday night - great venue , great event. If you get a chance next time - July sometime - go just for the venue , its brill. Mirrors and a chandilier the size of a Zeppelin , and its free . All that plus Clive Gott , who is always great value and for free can't beat it. Clive made the point about taking action but in the right direction which he and I would call vision .The right direction is achieved by the setting of goals , which of course brings me onto the end of the season almost .
Glossing over Arsenal , who fall into the overpaid lightwieghts category , and mentioning Boston United (Boston Clarke - a connection) who fell at almost the last hurdle failing to score at Marine yesterday but there is still the play offs . There is a connection there between the supporters and the club , the players which I feel is now missing in the case of the big clubs . Boston have been tremendous since Christmas and I hope that they get through the playoffs and in the Blue Square.

So give John Hotowka's event a go next time and look out for great success from BUFC.

Thanks

Paul

General Election

2010-04-06T02:37:00.000-07:00

General Election
It‘s here at last. The General Election a chance to elect new leaders of our country to lead us successfully into the newish decade or more old tosh generated by a load of out of touch degenerates who you wouldn’t let do your shopping .
Depends on your attitude really – attitudes can be really important and can drive us on to achieve great things or leave us slumped in a chair bemoaning our fate. They will be a lot of “when I was a young man/woman it was a lot better than now “. It might have been, but one of the certainties in life is that, unless your name is Who, you can’t go back.
People who dwell in the past create limiting beliefs which stop them moving forward .I can break the cycle of belief – attitude – behaviour and create better results.
So the Election then – load of old tosh or a great opportunity to use our democratic rights – you choose.

Quotes - "Squeaky Bum Time"

2010-03-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

For those of us who twitter - bostonc in case you were wondering - we all must have at least one co twitterer who posts quotes from other people .

Do you find quotes useful or not ? Does it depend on the moment ?I find the tips that I receive about pcs and marketing useful at times , does the same happen for you about quotes ?

I like this one -

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind. William James

Mind you I also like - Better to be a mug than smug . Ian Dury

I would be interested in your views.

Paul

2 gigs plus

2010-03-04T00:13:00.000-08:00

2 gigs next week . I am doing a spot at YBNA next Wednesday morning - www.ybna.co.uk . I am also doing a talk to business students at St.John Fisher school in Dewsbury .
YBNA is a networking group that has many benefits , good supportive people ,business being done and its cheap . What more do you want ?

Plus don’t forget the 25th of March – see last post – still seats available

New Workshop

2010-02-09T04:16:00.000-08:00

Brand New Workshop

What does it do ? - Increases sales and opportunities

Whose it For ? MD's and Directors

When is it ? Thursday March 25th 9.30 – 4.00

Where ? National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), National Early Years Enterprise Centre, Longbow Close, Huddersfield, HD2 1GQ

How Much ? - £225 plus vat

Want to know more – email me at pc@bostonclarke.co.uk / 07876173444

More Goals - or maybe less

2010-02-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

Goals Part Two

As I thought last time,it didn't last (Arsenal on top)– this time as ever in football not enough goals . Goals – they are the stuff of quote websites , you know the sort of thing “without goals you can't score”.... “Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement” and so on and on and on . Its as if to set a goal is all you need to do .As many people find (and teams) wanting to achieve is not enough . The goal has to be realistic and achievable as before . As a company and as a team you need to have a working and repeatable process to achieve - really successful people are self aware , self confident and understand their process.

The goal should as before broken into small ones which make you jump out of bed with enthusiasm ,because you know its within your reach .I'm never going to be a jockey or even less likely a singer .

OK so you have a big goal – winning the premiership – broken down into smaller goals “we take every game as it comes ,John”.Or more seriously your business goal is become the premier supplier of printed plastic media in the North of England but first you wish to be pre-eminent in Wakefield .So how does that translate into action and how does that work from day to day ?

1 You must have an emotional tie into it . The benefit of achieving it must be so wow that it drives you on . Many people are driven by misfortune , or I'll show them – there is evidence that some highly successful people are driven that way . That might work for you (it doesn't for me) but find that emotional tie in and you will drive forward .

2This emotion should provide focus

3 The long term aim should not be lost in the day to day necessary stuff of breaking bigger into smaller shorter term goals .

Next time I will spell out the goal setting process in more detail – if this blog or any other or any other info I have posted , contact me and will can have a chat about the possible way forward for you – pc@bostonclarke.co.uk / 07876173444

Thanks and there is always next season – maybe not for Mr.Wenger

Paul

Goals and being top of the premiership

2010-01-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Goals

As Arsenal sit atop the Premiership (21/01/10),I included the date as this could change (are all football followers pessimists ?)my thoughts turn to the importance of goals .

Goals are important , without them you can’t score . They add focus and achieving them gives you a reason to celebrate (shirt over your head might not suit your business).

They are loads of models for goal setting but the important point is that the goal should be stretching but possible , measurable and relevant . Even more important than all that stuff is that your goals should make you bounce out of bed ready to go do them , the reason to store that bogof champers in the back of the fridge .

Great big goals are terrific but are far more likely to be achieved when split into smaller clearly defined ones, every journey starts with a single step.

By the setting of these sharply defined goals you can raise your self esteem , confidence as you realise the possibilities that your business future becomes .

Developing this further; getting the goal , vision , objective right and communicating it well to your staff , family , supporters will retain support and staff enabling your business to stride forward confidently into the future .

If you want to explore this and other aspects of coaching try me on 07876173444 or pc@bostonclarke.co.uk.

Paul

Two Things

2010-01-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year – again

Two things today

Kirklees Council in their wisdom decided that Castle Hall School in Mirfield was to close under the brighter futures scheme . The Office for School Adjudicator ruled against this , which is great news for Mirfield and north Kirklees .

The big thing here is that the schools in Mirfield , the parents , the students , the governors said NO to Kirklees and were vindicated . This is a great decision for common sense against council stupidity .

I attended some council meetings on this issue and found the council members to be arrogant and smug at best .

So there were lots of smiles in Mirfield last night and today .

And to finish I met someone today at a networking event called Paul Clarke – which is truly strange and the first time ever .

OK thanks for reading – nothing deep and meaningful – so the quote from Ian Dury “I’d rather be a mug than smug”

Paul Clarke

Coaching Reduces Panic - FACT

2010-01-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year !

Coaching Reduces Panic - Fact!

Over the past years I've been involved with a large range of enterprises and I'm delighted to be able to say that the coaching I've provided has made a difference, a huge difference in many instances. The proof of this comes in many ways, from testimonials through to repeat business and recommendations from satisfied clients to others who then use our services.

There's also another altogether more dramatic piece of evidence that coaching works and it's this: When initially involved with new clients I frequently receive a relatively large volume of "panic emails" about all sorts of issues, occasionally at the earliest of times, 3:00am not being untypical. The reason behind this, of course, is that SMEs don't have massive problem-solving resources at their disposal and they soon run out of the ability to cope with a variety of problems that are impacting adversely on their operations. More importantly, if not quickly resolved these problems can and do bring SMEs to their knees which is why "panic-calls" are often viewed as absolutely necessary.

Studying my own experiences as a business coach over the last few years I was able to track the way in which instances of the nature described above peaked within the first few days or weeks of my coaching involvement and then rapidly reduced before disappearing altogether. It's happened again very recently with a new client who was literally ringing me at 3:00am during the embryonic stage of our working relationship. She's now so busy actually running her business thanks to the coaching she's received that she is unable to meet with me again for two months. She's therefore an extremely happy and satisfied client.

If you are experiencing panic attacks within your business about where to go next or what to do next – then Boston Clarke's coaching programs will help . Our coaching approach is results oriented, practical, innovative and exciting. It also eliminates panic!

Cheers Paul

Merry Christmas and a survey

2009-12-20T04:23:00.000-08:00

Have a great Christmas and a brill New Year !

Please do my survey at the URL as below

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2nxkw9kg3h6i8zr/start

Thanks a lot

Paul

Happy Christmas

2009-12-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

The Network Yorkshire Lunch and Learn went well - thanks to all who attended . I hope that the content was useful .

We have reached that time of the year where logic is replaced by Christmas and I wonder how we managed without flashing lights outside our houses and hundreds of mince pies .

I hope everyone has a a good break and a peaceful one if they get the chance and very prosperous New Year .

Next week I am going to Nicky's gig at the Galpharm - it should be great.

New Gig and new card for Christmas

2009-11-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

My next gig is at Bradford City Football Club on the 7th of December at 10.45 am as part of the Network Yorkshire Lunch and Learn . I will giving out a few tips on how to hit the New Year running .

Seeing as I have mentioned the New Year - you may as well have a preview of new card - for a limited time only .

Cheers - hope to see you at BCFC

Paul

Human Behaviour

2009-11-10T11:24:00.000-08:00

Human Beings with Common Sense?

Keep coming across examples of seemingly human beings losing all sense of perspective and becoming swallowed up whole by management speak (MS or BS ?).

My favourite comes from a senior employed member of the executive of a local Council who was heard to say that they would undertake a consultation with two and three year olds about ways of increasing achievement in schools. Yes that's right two and three year old children.

This reminds briefly of a visit to an infant school by the local fire brigade who talked about fire alarms and escapes and other vital information and then asked for questions and a little girl on the front row said - “ I've got new shoes .They've got velcro on them .”

Love to see the results of that consultation.

Thanks until next time

Paul

Quick Quote

2009-10-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

Didn't put the quick quote in

From the message board in Shine Harehills (great place by the way )

If you think professionals are expensive think about the cost of amateurs

Paul

SFP

2009-10-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Two things to blog about this time – self fulfilling prophecy and a quick quote.

Thanks for taking the time to read this – it might just trigger something for you . Radio 4 ran a program about entrepreneurs and one of the themes was how the various people reacted to setback or tragedy ; one of them was interviewed and said the key is to surround yourself with positive people .These gave the will to keep going when things were bad.

Background (people around you , circumstances ) leads to Beliefs giving you Attitudes & Feelings displayed in Behaviour ending in a set of Results

The Results reinforcing your beliefs and becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.

Part of my coaching sessions is to break this conditioning and therefore create more sucess.

Paul Clarke

Another Chance to see

2009-10-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Good afternoon – its Friday . Two gigs next week – one in Dewsbury – below

and one at Network Yorkshire on Friday morning at the Old Brick Works in Drightlington – 8-10

All welcome £10 on the door

Have a great weekend – Annie (aged 11 ) is going to Wembley ,so I'll be going to ASDA then .

Paul

My next gig

2009-10-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am doing a presentation the Better Business Breakfast at Hannah's Tea Rooms, Manna Food Hall, The Mill, Bradford Road, Batley, WF17 5LZ on Thursday 22nd October- at the NEW price of £5 per person!

It starts at 7.30am and will finish around 9.00 am .The presentation is called "Worms not Strawberries (sales and marketing for small businesses)".

Please email info@batleyanddewsbury.co.uk or telephone Viv Edmonds on 01924 324660/1 to book your place.

Remember – they might forget what you say but they will not forget how you made them feel.

Cheers Paul Clarke

07876 173444

Networking Stuff

2009-09-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

Networking and First Impressions Count

Just a few thoughts on how to potentially lose a client or a useful contact before you had a chance. Jaimie Dobson on his blog talked about notices which show distrust of customers – only 1 child at once and so on; I want to just think about the face to face things which I think some people may get wrong.

Business Cards and what's on them

Everyone knows that its possible to get business cards very cheaply if not free but what does this tell me about you as a business be you a supplier or a contact to recommend . I feel it tells me that even the investment of around £70 is too much to spend to get that right impression . Am I going to recommend someone who can't spend that little bit to tell me good things about their business.

Lastly – domain names – very cheap – £100 a year or there abouts – can be paid monthly ,mine is. What would you think if my email address was Paulclarke4545@hotmail.com or worse dinkypoos@gmail.com – not a lot .

If a business is worth doing - invest and get it looking right.

Have a great time networking

Paul Clarke pc@bostonclarke.co.uk

on signs – Dave Spikey on “Something for the Weekend “ sign at Bolton Hospital –

Alsations Operating Inside

ACRONYMS

2009-09-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

The worlds of sales , marketing and personal development love acronyms ;TLA , FLA and the 4 P's and the 5 D's and so on . I use them ,combining sales and coaching is acronym heaven .

So I thought I would share a few -

SOS – State of mind – Objective – Strategy ; a handy list aiming to help with any sales call

SMART – target setting – specific,measurable,achievable,realistic and timed .This one is well known and has many variations .

GROW – another goal setting acronym – Goal, reality,opportunity and way forward - some of my coaching activity is built around this

ASK – Activity ,skills , knowledge – describes the attributes for account management

NME – no more excuses – used to move people along and also to remove reasons not to act - work with managers especially sales managers usually invloves this

TFN

Paul

2009-09-07T00:46:00.000-07:00

More Thoughts on Coaching

The CIPD defines coaching as ‘developing a person’s skills and knowledge so that their job performance improves, hopefully leading to the achievement of organisational objectives. It targets high performance and improvement at work, although it may also have an impact on an individual’s private life.

Who is it for?

helping competent technical experts develop better interpersonal or managerial skills
developing an individual’s potential and providing career support
developing a more strategic perspective after a promotion to a more senior role
handling conflict situations so that they are resolved effectively

Coaching usually involves some or all of the following factors

It is essentially a non-directive form of development
It focuses on improving performance and developing individuals’ skills
Personal issues may be discussed but the emphasis is on performance at work
Coaching activities have both organisational and individual goals
It assumes that the individual is psychologically well and does not require a clinical intervention
It provides people with feedback on both their strengths and their weaknesses
It is a skilled activity which should be delivered by trained people

‘A study featured in Public Personnel Management Journal reports that managers who underwent a managerial training programme showed an average increase in productivity of 22.4%. However, a second group was also provided with coaching and their productivity increased by 88%. '

Paul Clarke

2009-09-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Who needs coaching ? Most people -well I would say that wouldn't I , but apparently Tiger woods uses coaching -

http://www.thetimes.co.za/Careers/Article.aspx?id=1035340

Have a look and see what you think

Paul

Back From Hols

2009-08-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Just slowly getting back into it after returning from Tenerife (hence the flower pic) where it was redders . Highlights to come open sales and leadership training days , with possible funding from LSC . More much more to follow.

Myers Briggs and Leadership

2009-07-31T04:12:00.001-07:00

I have been Myers Briggsed . This a familiar questionnaire which adds to understanding of how we make decisions and perceive the world .The original developers of this questionnaire were Katharine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Myers. They began creating the test in WW2,in the belief that a knowledge of personality preferences would help women entering the workplace for the first time find the sort of jobs where they would be "most comfortable and effective".

The MBTI analyses decision making ,personality types and world perceptions .For my clients I feel it give more insight into their fit into teams and how they may lead those teams. I was given a code that shows my personality type and my dominant types . One of the most interesting insights was my predicted behaviour under stress .(I am not going to discussing that here but explains some actions in the past .)

I do use questionnaires to give an insight to behaviour of the individual and the fit into the culture in their company as well as how the individual views themselves and how they are viewed(360 feedback).

I am very grateful to Sarah-Jane at Total HR for giving me this great addition to my coaching toolbox and am sure that it will give even better results for my clients .I look forward to these results.

I am going to take a bit of a break - but I will be back .

First Post - benefits

2009-07-29T05:53:00.001-07:00

Benefits - I love strawberries but if I ever go fishing I take worms because fish like worms .

So what are the benefits of Boston Clarke .

Boston Clarke exists to help business people perform better through performance coaching and leadership development.Boston Clarke offers focus , vision , motivation , inspiration and sales insight .

How? By coaching , use of interactive diagnostics and models.

What do Boston Clarke's interventions achieve?

Enabling you to make better decisions, hit targets, improve communication and motivate your suppliers, customers and staff.
This generates more success, as well as offering a clear vision of how to stay competitive and profitable in these challenging times.

Focus is about finding the right direction and staying there; vision is where the business wants to go ; inspiration is finding and communicating that vision - motivation comes when all of these work together.

If you need to know more - contact me info@bostonclarke.co.uk / 07876 173 444