Biz Info Guru

What do the 99% really know

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:38:55 +1100

What do the 99% really know:

Sick of the “occupy” movement
Read on

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Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:45:03 +1000

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Enjoy and all the best The Guru

The distinction between Intellect and Intelligence and does it really matter anyway?

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:21:55 +1000

Last Friday I had the opportunity to attend a workshop session / forum being run by the Australian Business Foundation and hosted by Deloitte.

The session was about the R+D Concessions Tax and innovation opportunities in general.

I attended as I had been invited by a colleague who sits on the Board of the Foundation. I figured that it would be a good place to find out about some of the things that might advantage some of our great Nesso clients. I found that and more.

I learnt about the current state of play with regard to R+D Tax Concessions and more importantly about the proposed rates etc. This will take effect from the 1st of July this year, provided it goes through the senate. I guess that means it will be retrospective.

There were people from major companies, small innovators and research and education areas. The Honorable Senator Kim Carr spoke as well.

All in all there was a serious amount of brainpower on show.

As someone who is not particularly tall, over the years I had concerns every time I entered a room because invariably the other people were Taller, Thinner Smarter which correspondingly meant that I was Shorter Fatter and Dumber, so I was confronted all day with a lot of very smart people and it would have been easy to becoming a shrinking violet.

I am pleased to say that during the day those feelings of inadequacy did not drive my conversations.

It did however present me with an opportunity to challenge the myths and presuppositions of elements of what I call the Intellectual community, that for anything to occur it has to happen in the bowels of a University or a Research Institute and that Industry is only the implementation team of the Academic’s inventions.

During the summary session there seemed to be an underpinning theory coming across that Innovation is largely coming out of research institutes and by extension universities. I personally take exception to that theory and also gleaned that many people consider the only R+D worthy of discussion is in the manufacturing and or environmental sector.

That is not to denounce those sectors for they do amazing things and we need to keep working to ensure that they continue to grow, challenge, innovate and refine. It is just that there is so much being done in areas other than those considered to be more sexy/ worthy.

I was at a meeting one day and the topic of innovation came up and someone mentioned that innovation does not have to be something earth shattering, it could be as simple as changing colours to be more relevant to an audience. The example this person used was of a manufacturer of tool boxes who had always made grey or blue boxes and when looking at potential markets realised that women in the DIY sector was growing. They capitalised on that by marketing a pink tool box. How many they sold is not the issue. The fact that they identified an opportunity for improvement and responded to that improvement opportunity by developing the product in PINK was and remains to me to be an innovation. Dare I say it that the manufacturer may be from a university/ intellect perspective (I really don’t know). I will assert however that that particular innovation did not come from a Research Institute’s lab. It came from acknowledging what someone needed and responding to that need.

Innovation could come from looking at process and just change by degrees. Again not a research lab.

How many great process innovations come from the production line because what is being done just does not make sense. It is likely that the person on the production line does not hail from one of our many exceptional learning institutes, although that is possible today in our borderless world where many migrants are university trained and unable to secure employment in their chosen field.

Back to Frida’s session, I met with one of the attendees as we left. Claire Smith who is an academic works at Flinders University in Adelaide and we spoke briefly about my distinction between Intellect and Intelligence. My email response to Claire follows.

Dear Claire, I must confess that at times I feel that academia gets too wrapped up in talk and little in action and frowns down upon those of us who do not share their level of intellect, hence my distinction between intelligence and intellect.

As someone who comes from a pretty pragmatic stand point I find all talk no action incredibly frustrating and then as I said as we walked towards the station, too often the intellects will do just that get trapped in talk without action. I do not fit the intellect category, however I do consider myself very intelligent, trained in the University of Hard Knocks. Therefore without the benefit of theory to test my ideas use mistakes as my testing / proving ground I tend to have a bigger go than most people I know. I certainly do make mistakes and I also know that I won’t die wondering.

I figure, rightly or wrongly that more people being prepared to make mistakes and / or fail over the years have led to sustainable and positive actions as opposed to having successive and ongoing long winded deliberations that eventually may produce a result, but at what missed opportunity and or cost in the meantime. I guess the advantage in the long deliberations is that there may be less mistakes and failures but then where would we be had Edison not been prepared to fail again and again? Would love to speak some more, Regards Ross

The conversation with Claire has got me seeing things more clearly from both sides now and can only hope that greater collaboration between, Academia and Industry, is the result.

Just maybe that capacity to see the other person’s point of view is something that we should all focus on more. I know that I intend to genuinely put into practice Stephen Covey’s 5th Habit, Seek First To Understand the BE understood. I know I will.

I would love your feedback.

Regards Ross Mitchell; ross@nesso.com.au

Is social media working for you?

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:33:32 +1000

You are busy right? So busy doing everything you can to do of grow your business. So how on earth or more the point why on earth would you spend time on social media. It is just another thing to waste your time, right. WRONG. It is a most important business marketing strategy. But only when it is done right

Inspiring Visionary Leaders

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:20:00 +1000

Inspiring Visionary Leaders:

There is some pretty cool stuff on leadership development Melbourne on this site

Gotta love leadership

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:48:55 +1000

I meet lots of people along the way in my role as a leadership expert.
Over the years I have rarely met someone in a leadership role who is successful and is what we call a reluctant leader

In order to be good at leadership and being an inspiration to others i feel it is essential to love being the leader.

How often have you felt inspired by someone who does not feel passionate about what they do. Including leading

I still remember watching Allan Border in the early 90s when he was known as Captain Grumpy

It looked as though he would rather be in the background and allowed to concentrate on himself. Instead he had to shoulder the responsibility of the entire team. He performed brilliantly while the team struggled
If you are a reluctant leader and your team is struggling look inside yourself and work out how to change. AB did And so did the Aussie results
Enjoy this pearl from the Guru

"A lack of planning on your part should not constitute an emergency on mine"

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:34:57 +1000

“A lack of planning on your part should not constitute an emergency on mine”

"The heart of your success is getting out of your comfort zone"

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:21:46 +1000

“The heart of your success is getting out of your comfort zone”

- Tom O’Toole. Beechworth bakery

John Maxwell leadership series

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:48:31 +1000

There are times in our lives when things are meant to happen. Today was one of those. I have just spent the morning with arguably one of the best thinkers

Leadership what is it

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:08:56 +1000

Hi gurus. Is leadership ability more or less important than management ability. Let me know what you think

Take Your Business to the Next Level with

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:37:21 +1000

Text 2 Customers SMS Marketing Platform

Text 2 Customers will enable your business to expand and advertise
in a way that will take it to the next level. Advertising is the key to success for any company. To get your business recognized, to increase your clientele, and to increase your sales and revenue, sign up for Text 2 Customers’ mobile marketing platform. Text 2 Customers has the best prices, especially when you consider all the great features available. With Text 2 Customers you get the following:

• A SMS marketing campaign set-up quickly for your company
• An easy-to-use online platform to create your text advertisements
• Write out text alerts months in advanced
• Send as many texts as you desire
• Send text messages at a scheduled time and date, instantly or in a set order
• Your own business webpage to direct customers to sign-up for text alerts
• Double opt-in system to gain loyal customers
• Manage multiple advertising campaigns for your business
• Free mobile SMS marketing report available upon email opt-in
• And more!

Use Text 2 Customers as an opportunity to advertise through mobile SMS marketing.

Text message marketing is modern, efficient, and easy! There is no way you won’t attract many new clients while maintaining your current ones. Your ads will be delivered instantly to a wide potential clientele. SMS marketing is better than any other marketing media because it allows more people to see what your company has to offer. The 97% rate of readability cannot be topped. Not to mention, SMS marketing is a simple way to make customers aware of your existing advertising from other media. All the pluses to using text messaging as a means to advertise will ultimately increase your revenue and business recognition.

Text 2 Customers SMS Marketing is the premier low cost text message marketing solution!

https://www.netsoftwaretools.com/text2c/users/main.php?ref=16

"Think IT INK IT!"

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:20:24 +1000

“Think IT
INK IT!”

- Anonymous

Just had lunch at cafe vanilli in Blackburn Melbourne really...

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:08:01 +1000

Just had lunch at cafe vanilli in Blackburn Melbourne really cool food and young couple own it Drop in and try the veggie soup

"there are 3 kinds of people in the world. Those who watch what happens, those who ask what happened..."

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:46:00 +1000

““there are 3 kinds of people in the world.
Those who watch what happens, those who ask what happened and those that make it happen.” who are you?”

- Anonymous

the 7 Deadly Sins of Networking

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:30:43 +1000

We all know how important that Networking is as a business growth strategy, but how often do you think about what you are going to make of it?

Do you think about what you are going to do, what you will say or what imp[act your actions will have on your results.

The 7 deadly sins of networking are:

Sin #1 Thou Shall Not be guilty of Selling on the First Date- you wouldn’t kiss without first holding hands

Sin #2 Thou Shall Not be guilty of being a Fly Marketer- Vomiting in Public is not good form especially on me

Sin #3 Thou Shall Not be guilty of having a mouthful of chicken, Mumbles was a character in Dick Tracy

Sin #4 Thou Shall Not be guilty of not having anything Good to say- If I want negativity I’ll watch the news thanks

Sin #5 Thou Shall Not be guilty of getting MY name wrong- YOU are not the most important person in the room

Sin #6 Thou Shall Not be guilty of Turning up to the Prom in a tracksuit- You wouldn’t go to the Prom in the wrong gear so why do it tonight.

Sin #7 Thou Shall Not be guilty of Being a Space Invader- It was a great video game in the 80s, just not tonight, you’re closer to 50 than 15.

Keep an eye out for our audio recording.

Possibly the smartest invention ever

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:53:00 +1000

I have found what I reckon is one of the smartest business tool inventions ever. It is called a Livescribe Pen. It will record the written, spoken and drawn word and can be used by students in lectures and tutes, however I think it is probably at its most useful when being uesed by business people to ensure that there is consistency in their business.

At the press of a button and with the strokes of a pen, history can be recorded. It can then be shared to whomever you choose.

the Guru works in leadership and has meetings with clients all the time. That used to mean recording all sorts of points in meetings and then needing to let my clients have all the information. Since using my Livescribe (I use the 4gb Echo) I get to have my clients listen to their sessions and therefor hearing some of the great points for a second time. They can listen at normal speed, slow don, speed up and rewind.

If you are a coach, a CEO, an accountant a Lawyer or for that matter anyone who holds meetings and would like to listen again, get a Livescribe pen and start to reap the benefits. I know I have.

Check it out and browse. and if you want to buy in Australia go here.

Got a friend who has got one and want to hear what they have to say? Get started and get the download

All the technical stuff for those who need more reason to get it.

If you have a Livescribe already why not let the Guru know what you think.

Go For No- Success is the destination NO is how you get there

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:27:27 +1000

Go For No- Success is the destination NO is how you get there

"If It is to be it is up to me"

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:08:14 +1000

“If It is to be it is up to me”

- I wish I knew who said this first, I just reckon it makes heaps of sense

Networking for an expert or a beginner

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 08:18:31 +1000

If you want the opportunity to learn how to better network and meet a bunch of new people there is an event at the Wheelers hill International on Jells Road Wheelers Hill on Tuesday the 21st of june at 6.30 pm. Cost is $21.75 including finger food. Drinks at Bar Prices. Go to monashnetworking.eventbrite.com for more details and to booking

We expect to have more than 60 people on board that night so if you want to grow your skills and your network BOOK.

Weekend Australian with great info share

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 07:23:00 +1000

Was reading the local Aussie National yesterday and found a couple of great articles worth a read. Call in to your local newsagent and read articles on leadership. Very worthwhile

WEEKEND BUSINESS

The Weekend Business section on Saturday contains a round up of the week’s business news. The front page is dedicated to the biggest business or personal finance story of the week, and the following pages commit to personal investment offering a practical guide with people-focused content.

The Weekend Australian reaches senior management across the country, providing a dedicated senior recruitment market within a quality editorial environment. This allows advertisers to access both passive and active job seekers.

Weekend Wealth, an extension of Wednesday’s Wealth is a dedicated page covering various topics across retirement and tax planning strategies, managed funds and investment opportunities. The section also includes a page on the Australian money market - Marketplace.

Weekend Business Editor: Clive Mathieson