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Hi <<First Name>>,
Welcome back - and thank you for joining me again.
As we move into 2020 I’m getting close to finalising my own goals for the year. Have you set yours yet?
There’s an article below on why you should - and if you need some help, why not sign up for my goal-setting workshop on 23 January?
I’d love to see you there. It promises to be a morning of discovery, inspiration and fun where we’ll do a number of exercises to help you identify your vision for 2020, including creating your 2020 vision board!
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In my newsletter this week:
- What are you aiming for?
- What my English teacher taught me
- Know your (hidden) strengths
- Thanks so much!
Please do read on....
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What are you aiming for?
I recently read a fable* about the author’s search for purpose.
And this quote resonated with me:
"You will never be able to hit a target that you cannot see”.
I’m always talking about the importance of setting goals.
I usually talk about how hard it is to go on a worthwhile journey if you don’t have a destination.
Having an invisible target is another way of putting it.
It’s something I feel strongly about.
Having a target or goal to aim at doesn’t just give you a direction to head in.
It also helps with motivation.
This is the time of year when most of us set our goals.
If you haven’t set yours yet, take a look at my forthcoming workshop:
Formulate your 20/20 Vision.
* The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robert Sharma
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What my English teacher taught me
When I came across the quote above it made me stop and think:
'Do I agree?’
I’ve never forgotten one of my English teachers.
Mr Watts could be scary, but he also inspired me.
He challenged us to:
- Think outside the box
- Debate the issues of the day
- Write poetry
- Listen to music and write what came to mind
- Explore the world creatively
I think I learned as much from that one teacher as from all the others put together.
I learned to use my imagination.
I learned that whilst knowledge is important, the real developments in our world come from someone using their imagination.
Imagination has triggered many of our world’s biggest advances, not just in art, but in science too.
As a small business owner, it’s your imagination that will inspire and motivate you to dream big, tackle tasks you thought were beyond you, and take your business further than you ever thought possible!
That’s why I’m introducing vision boards to this year’s goal-setting workshop.
Have you booked your place yet?
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Know your (hidden) strengths
Last week I coached a woman who was changing direction.
To help my client identify where she should focus, I asked her about her strengths.
She said she hadn’t got any!
Her definition of a strength was something she did better than anyone else - and she couldn’t think of anything.
So instead I asked her:
'Where are you stronger?”
This simple shift made it easier for her to start uncovering her strengths.
Then I asked her to describe what she did in her previous career.
She lit up as she described all the things she had done in her previous role.
And while she talked, I captured a whole list of strengths and skills that she had obviously displayed in that role.
They ranged from collating information to building rapport.
I also identified tasks she had done that didn’t light her up.
And we identified why these didn’t align with her values and purpose.
If you’re not sure of your strengths, why not look back at what you did before you started your business?
Identify what you enjoyed and did well.
And what you didn’t enjoy or struggled with.
Then make sure your business gives you scope to focus on the first list!
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Thanks so much!
Just before Christmas a friend posted on Facebook that she had received an unexpected bunch of flowers.
They were from a grateful client.
She was thrilled.
The flowers were lovely, but that’s not why she was so delighted.
She felt appreciated.
How often do we stop to show our appreciation?
It doesn’t need to take long or cost a lot.
A simple and heartfelt ‘thank you’ goes a long way.
An email of thanks will do the trick - and a handwritten note is even better.
As small business owners ourselves, let’s make 2020 the year when we acknowledge others.
Let’s take time to say ‘thank you’ to anyone else who delivers good service, or makes a difference to us and our business.
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Forthcoming Workshops
My first workshop of 2020 is:
Formulate your 20/20 vision - at the start of a new decade, get clear on your business goals - 23 January
Also scheduled is:
Show Up without Showing Off - how to promote yourself and your business more confidently - 4 February
Other workshops that may be held in 2020 are:
Business Housekeeping - getting and keeping your business in order
Finding your Ideal Client - how to identify your 'ideal client', and then track them down
Managing your Clients - master the art of fabulous customer service and minimise payment issues
Using Newsletters for Business – why do it, what to say and who to send it to
Linked In - how to get smarter on Linked In, so you have a credible presence there
Time Management - how to manage your time more effectively to achieve better business results
Business Blogging with Intent - what blogging is, why and how to do it, and where to place it
Know your worth – what to charge and how to negotiate your price with customers
and potentially...
Win that Award - how to write an award-winning entry for a business award
If you’re interested in any of these, please let me know.
Details of all my workshops can always be found on my website.
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“Amanda has the ability to get you to find the solution, to work through the issues rather than dictating or telling you.
This approach has been so refreshing, rewarding and enjoyable.
Amanda has a relaxed charm, a good listener but then insightful, getting to the heart of matters quickly.
Every session has been rewarding, with purpose and at a pace which doesn’t feel pressured or rushed.”
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