A Simple Lesson from one of the Most Successful Business Women who ever lived
Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay cosmetics in 1963 with an investment of $5000. Today Mary Kay Inc. is a multibillion dollar cosmetics company with a sales force of 1.7 million in more than 30 markets around the world. The company’s explosive growth is largely down to its creative business model. Mary Kay is credited […]
Are you a Capitalist or a Gambler?
One of the basic principles of our economic system is that capital flows towards the most deserving hands, normally the opportunity for the best return for the lowest risk. So the entrepreneur, as business owner, acts as a magnet for capital attracting wealth to his business, whether from investors in exchange for a promise of […]
Carrot or Stick? Or is there a Better Way to Motivate your Team?
One of the most common challenges all business owners face is how to get the best out of their team. As Tom Peters once said: “Most employees are motivated, energetic, committed, enthusiastic and loyal….. except for the eight hours a day they work for you!” Seriously, have you ever considered what kind of relationship you […]
How to Save Money on your Payroll…
In a recent UK survey supervisors were asked to rank the importance of 10 motivators for their employees. The employees were then asked to rank the same 10 motivators in order of what was important to them. Here’s what the survey found:- It looks like there’s a big difference between what the employees think and […]
Ever felt Trapped in a Box? Management Styles
In my work with SMEs there’s one challenge that comes time and time again and it’s this: The business owner would like to grow the business But they are already working far too many hours So in order to grow, they need to employee more people But they can’t afford to do that because there […]
Business Lessons from an Unlikely Source
I’ve just got back from a trip to India with friends from my meditation group. We were staying at Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rikikesh and on the last day of our visit we were granted a private audience with the spiritual leader of the ashram, HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj (aka “Swamiji”). This was […]
Teamship – an inside look at Team GB’s preparations for London 2012
I was expecting Sir Clive to tell us about some of the psychological techniques he uses to get the very best out of his players. Maybe also a bit about the tactics used in rugby and what we business people can learn from them. What he actually said was nothing to do with sports psychology […]
Performance and Leadership – Don’t Panic Captain Mainwaring!
I don’t watch much TV these days, but last weekend I was staying with my parents when a repeat of Dad’s Army came on. My dad’s a big fan so we sat down and watched it together. (I guess I’m showing my age when I say I’m old enough to remember when Dad’s Army first […]