when great minds get together, beautiful things happen…
Gotta love when creative minds get together! Today I met up with one classy dame who not only knows her stuff but who is also very open about sharing. Whilst I didn’t know her that well, I suspect we are going to get to know each other a whole lot better!
If the seed of an idea we were drawn to today germinates, watch out world, here we come.
Why not go for ‘world domination’ I say. OK, maybe not, but get a band of merry folk together and let their creative juices flow, all idea-hell could break loose… excellent. Bring it on!
Stay tuned…
The Webjet “Judith Horsnell” Memorial Lunch…
Fr Bob Maquire at the annual Judith Horsnell memorial lunch
Sunday (yesterday) I had the good fortune to be asked to attend and MC the 3rd Annual “Judith Horsnell Mothers Day” lunch. It all started like this…
B2B Fair Business Breakfast, 7am start (blimey!)…
I mean seriously! As if my brain possibly functions at that early time, not to mention my body…
I can’t be the only one who thinks such an early start is a little ridiculous. Yes, it is another way to squeeze more stuff into your already very full day but is it really necessary? I mean really necessary?
Nonetheless…what’s brought this on you may well ask? Tomorrow morning I’ve been invited to attend the B2B Fair Business Breakfast at The Edge in Federation Square. I could have said no, but you know, just sometimes that may not be the smart response to give. So by saying yes, I am now attending this event as part of the Victorian Fair Trade Festival.
I’m going to learn about why other progressive organisations choose to be a Fair Trade workplace. No doubt I will walk away with nuggets of worth. I am after all becoming increasingly interested in true “Social Enterprises”, one’s that are commercial viable like “Seven Women” (hence why I’m on the Management Committee).
No doubt all will be revealed, starting at 7am. And once I’m up, I’m sure all will be forgiven too. Wish me good health!
Some Days Are So In FLOW!
What a Day!
Sometimes you just need to recognise and give praise that you managed to pull off all you needed to. This is my account of one such day…
It all started this morning when I had:
An entrepreneurial mothers lot!
All in good time, all in good time. Grateful!
There’s a Wallet on the Footpath, What To Do?
When walking down Collins St Melbourne today, I came across a wallet lying spreadeagle on the footpath.
What would you do?
This is what I did…
1. picked it up
2. trawled through it in the hope of finding the identity of the owner
3. tried to make a few calls but no luck
4. did a White Pages search, based on Drivers License, and found the home number
5. left message on answering machine
6. “my name is Denise Hall and I have your wallet” was the message left
7. 2 hours later, my phone rings
8. 4 hours later, the wallet is collected
9. a bottle of champagne in turn was delivered, as a token of appreciation (which I was happy with too 
What has intrigued me most though is the reaction of others to the above… without exception, the response was “that was very good of you”.
Really?
Isn’t this what you should do?
What is “good” about it?
Isn’t this the Right thing to do?
What would you have done?
Sure, it wasn’t the Easiest thing to do, but without doubt, it was the Right thing to do.
Time to enjoy a few bubbles now…
The Tale of 2 Cafes
Once upon a time, a small cafe #1 had the neighbourhood to itself.
It opens and shuts as it pleased.
It takes long breaks for the owners overseas jaunts.
It has attitude.
It is rather pricey.
Perfectly fine.
Until, along came Cafe #2.
It opened and has almost never closed.
It has not had a break.
It has attitude.
It is reasonably priced.
Opened next door.
Should the two be able to live in harmony? Of course.
But Cafe #1 has got grumpy.
Instead of delighting and servicing their own clientele into it, Cafe #1 is attacking Cafe #2 and thinking that will work. Really?
A recipe for disaster!
What would you do?
What Is It With The Word “Just”?
Based on a Networking Event last night and another this morning, why is that many Women Business Owners think so small? What is it with the word “just”?
“Just thought I’d start ______ and see how it goes.”
“Just trying ________ for the moment, you never know”
“Just me running ________ at present and hope to one day make it bigger”
Yes, they’ve all heard of “Start With The End In Mind” but quite honestly, does it really apply to them? Yet? But how?
Here’s the thing… do what Seth Godin suggests and DO it anyway, “Start the Journey Before you see the End”.
The Sellability Score report enables you to do “just” that. Think of it as a Business Plan in Reverse.
Interested?
Motherhood or Business Ownership
After two meetings today and another phone call last Friday, the prospect of the motherhood and business ownership combination is causing some angst.
The main issue seems to be for those women business owners who are currently in business and are either planning to have a family soon or have just had their first.
They want to be able to have the combination work but just can’t seem to see how. The thought of having someone else brought in not look after their business is too much to bear. And, the thought of trying to run it full time as well as being the mother they want to be is just not fathomable.
So… what to do?
Sell it of course. That seems to be the answer. Then reality sets in. Has the business been set up as a asset, to run independently of the owner? Not in any of these 3 cases. So then what?
In the planning stage, this scenario can be sorted. It’s usually time and money that’s the prohibiting factor. When baby is already here, the mother wants the stress removed.
If only I had a chance to talk to them in the very early planning stages, to get all the planets aligned before embarking on the beautiful journey of motherhood.
If you find yourself pondering similar thoughts, please talk to me…
Know When to Duck!
Today, at the REIV Business Brokers lunch, a very experienced and learned colleague shared what was once shared with him, when he first started out as a Business Broker… “know when to duck!”
This is the same chap who told me why buyers buy businesses… “What they buy is the Profit. Why they buy is the Potential”.
Both of these are pearls of wisdom. I’m fortunate enough to have such a mentor, in my camp, looking out for me. We all need such support, regardless of how long we’ve been doing whatever we do.
Who’s looking out for you, in a business context?
Don’t You Love It When the Heads of Agreement is Signed, but…
But, that’s only the start of the next stage of the process… there’s so much more to be revealed to actually get the deal over the line.
The next part of Due Diligence.
What does that mean exactly?
It is verification of all that you’ve told the buyer about your business, as the business owner. If you’ve told any porkies during the sale process, now is the time they will probably come out. Best not to do so…
It can be a time of nervous energy but one to go through nonetheless. Keep it as clean as possible and the stress levels will be as reduced as they can be.
