Surviving the Upturn!

Transformation needs change, change needs focus. As I said before:

Logo: surviving the upturnDuring the conference “Surviving the Upturn” I asked the audience:

  • How many of you achieved all the change you wanted to in your business?
  • How many of you have changed the organisation in the last financial/fiscal year?
  • Do you think you will have a disappointing or progressive report this year to the business?

Tip 1: Brand; discussing the need for a strong strategy across brand and culture.

What is a brand; vision, mission, values and the need for a brand blue print.

Defining the company’s competitive advantage correctly is the most crucial part of any brand program, while external communications may raise expectations in the marketplace from brand perceptions; it the brand experience that clients have that will translate into customer satisfaction and therefore greater profitability.

A true brand program needs to be established to make sure that all employee’s, partners, teaming arrangements and agencies are engaged with the brand, the message can be then carried externally to clients, and prospects.

The brand needs to be brought to life through a variety of media channels to engage, explain and motivate employees, we need to measure the improvements and refine marketing plans based on this approach.

Communication is all about making connections, connecting people physiologically, engaging appropriate communications to the mind, culture, learning’s that provide long-term memory of representations.

Tip 2: Why organisation change fails

Leaders today must understand and apply the knowledge of behavioral psychology and the business lessons to manage organisational change successfully. In the past, efforts at organisational change which has focused on the structural aspects of organizations have systematically failed because they have neglected the reality that change doesn’t happen without each person changing their thinking, beliefs and behavior.

chart why organisational change fails/GSearle
Click to enlarge!

Tip 3: Why sustainability is so key to a business success and driving performance

Most organisations will tell you they know what good management and leadership looks like and will be able to identify people with skills and qualities they admire. They may also tell you they know that good management makes a real difference to organisational performance.

There is strong evidence to support this contention: historically, our greatest business leaders have driven economic prosperity and growth. The economy has been shaped and driven by the pioneers of business; driving change and making the most of new technologies and opportunities. Entrepreneurial spirit, drive and influence has been the key to this success

Equally, at a local or personal level, managers who stand out, for either good or bad reasons, for their impact on the lives of employees, influence of those who had the ability to engage and inspire, to help us learn and make sense of the business environment and to meet the right balance between challenge and support.

Managers who possess a high EI and TI helped shape not just current performance, but our own behaviours and practice.

There is no question that the performance of leaders and managers can have a truly significant impact on organisational performance, both in the immediate and longer term. Skills such as people management, strategy and planning, budgeting and risk management can transform the fortunes of an organisation. But evidence shows that in general – both in the public and private sector – company’s fall behind because of talent recruitment and an inability to apply strategy internally and engage employees at the highest level.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Life after the sharks

Geoff SearleFreedom After The Sharks has really changed my life. I have always believed that it is your right to speak truthfully in all matters that concern you and to speak from the heart.

It has been an overwhelming experience to receive emails and phone calls from people across all walks of life wanting to share their experiences, their story. Entrepreneurs, business people, students, children, and charitable causes have approached me for key note sessions, general advice, and inspiration leadership.

I have been overwhelmed with inquiries but will continue to expand and express the journey that each and every one of us deserves, within our heart-motivated purpose in life, because there is ‘life after the sharks.’

Every audience has a different dynamic, a different rhythm, and a different reaction. The audience wants, needs, and expects pertinent, real-life information to enhance and support their lives and importantly what they’re facing. I believe it was my destiny in life to push things to the limit. You only get one chance to make an impression. I gave Freedom After The Sharks every opportunity I had of the events that took place for what I believed to be right and true.

In life you survive. You move on but with a purpose. A great philosopher and friend in the US once told me that you are in this world by divine right and you have the right to reach your highest potential through your own uniqueness. I know so many people who are only in bliss when they are miserable. They blame their parents, their spouse, their family, the system, their employers, their friends.

You know what’s amazing — and I’ve said this for years  — you have the capacity to love and be loved with an open heart. You can do whatever you have to do to get past your problem, you can do it. The question is how much do you want the dream or the purpose.

It’s your quiet inner drive and tenacious disciplined focus that will set yourself apart from those who seemingly fall by the way side. This may sound a little strange but when I’m asked about the key to my success, it has always been that guttural ignorant persistence. You do more, you give a little more of yourself in everything you do until it becomes a natural part of your lifestyle, it is also important to be a mentor to those who need help, encouragement and share.

If there is any question I can answer for you please leave me a note.

Available in print September 2014

Geoff SearleMy book “Freedom after the sharks” will be available in print coming September, 2014. The cover is still in preparation. As soon as this is done I will update the blog.

I am very excited about the great reviews that the book has received so far. Here are two examples:

“Discover the secret to succeeding in your business life, 11 Mar 2014
By Stevie Kay

The read of Geoffrey’s experiences is one that we see in SME businesses whether we admit to it or not, the book describes how irrespective of what background or circumstance you can succeed, the question whether you admit to or not is how much do you want to succeed. Life, career and setting up your own business takes courage, guts, drive and determination, a great read for those people in any walk of life considering change or transformation in their life, it delivers the tools, what to do and what not to do, but importantly has a good read to take you on the journey with an inspired ending, highly energized read for the serious entrepreneur.”

“A deeply inspiring read, 2 Mar 2014
By Otto 

With a new author, one never knows what to expect. This is probably one of the most deeply moving books I think I have ever had the pleasure of reading and I have been completely blown away by the incredibly inspiring story contained within. Only half an hour into the story, one begins to connect with the main character Geoffrey in such a way that one is almost moved to tears, knowing all the while that it is a true story. I wanted to scoop the little boy up and take him away from the sorrow that was his childhood after he gets battered again and again. Then there is a beautiful shift and the sad story turns into one of great resolution. I became deeply touched by Geoffrey’s determination to make something of his life and his perseverance throughout the many challenges he faced. As the plot unfolds, a great tale of forgiveness and the strength and freedom that comes from that forgiveness is a great message for us all to take away with us. I don’t usually write reviews for my books but I felt compelled to do so as never before has a book made me want to get up and make the most of my life as Freedom from the Sharks. This is a great read of how the hardships this little boy faced created a role model to inspire us all. A truly great read.”

Check here for more reviews and how to get the print version of my book. And, if you have questions drop me a line in the comment box.

A balanced business

DNA of a business modelThe pursuit of business success often comes at the cost of our personal life. We do not say no to another international trip. We put in the late-night hours to get a proposal just right. And we often throw ourselves into our work to avoid getting close to people or of coping when they disappoint us.

Could it all be different? Can you build a balanced business that leaves room for a personal life? And what if, in this business, you get to work with people who are interested in achieving the same kind of balance?

This thought became my new business philosophy: sharing, encouraging others – and ultimately trust. My mission statement is based on this thinking, philosophy, and discovery.

I started writing my mission statement by exploring my perceptions of various words. For example, I thought that confidence meant having or showing certainty; surety meant having complete trust in someone or something; respect required genuine actions based on loyalty. I considered whether people too often jumped to conclusions, analyzing a person or a situation too quickly and shallowly. Soon I was ready to clearly formulate my thoughts.

Are you ready to write your mission statement? How do you balance your business with your personal life?

Are you investment-ready?

Geoff SearleThe first step in raising capital is to draft a capital plan for the growth of your business. The company then uses this plan to identify its funding requirements in terms of the amount, the timing, the structure as well as the most appropriate capital mix for business growth. The plan also should look into alternatives to raising external capital.

By defining a company’s business goals and strategies, you find all the costs involved in the company’s business growth plans, including working capital requirements as well as the impact of budget over-runs and product development delays. Then you must take a long and hard look at the feasibility of your plan.

The capital plan and the business plan compliment each other. They both identify issues and risks. You must decide what resources your company requires to grow, when those resources are needed, how to get them — whether they can be sourced from within the business – as well as what the goals are and the value of the equity in the business after the introduction of new capital.

Attracting equity investment is not an easy process. Businesses need to be well-prepared and investment-ready to maximize the potential for success. A failure to be investment-ready is the most common barrier to accessing equity investment. Second chances are rare, so it is important to become investment-ready before establishing relationships with potential investors, regardless of a company’s stage of development or capital needs. Investors can be found among friends, family, venture capitalists, financial institutions and business angels, but wherever the capital is found, they need to know you are investment-ready.

When investors put their money into a company, they invest in the capability of that specific company and its people.

I made a list of issues that a business must address as it works to become investment-ready:

  • Management capacity and systems
  • A suitable business structure 
  • A realistic business valuation
  • Management commitment
  • A business model
  • An investment structure, terms sheet, and exit plan
  • A business and/or commercialization plan
  • An investment proposal (information memorandum) and pitch
  • Management capacity and systems

If you have any question for me please post them in the comment box.

Good luck advancing your business!

Great news: I am joining Matador.

book cover Geoff SearleLast week, I signed a contract with Matador for the release of “Freedom after the Sharks” in hardcover format. This will be in addition to Amazon and SmashWords.

There are already two reviews up on Amazon so check there to see what others say about my book.

If you are an entrepreneur and you have start-up questions, please contact me!

QUEST

I believe that companies must define their brand in a way that moves both employees and clients, and to communicate that effectively. In order to do that, it is critical to have a deep understanding of the role sales, marketing, and communications strategy play within a company’s overall business.

Note that while a consultant always asks for information from the client in order to diagnose problems and find solutions, the quest is to find the information that really matters. This is how the concept “QUEST” was born.

  • Qualities
  • Understanding
  • Expertise
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Time

If you think strategically about the most significant underlying factors that affect business performance, it is clear that employee motivation impacts customer behavior, and customer behavior needs to be positive in the relationship to secure new contracts, vertical sale opportunities and business referrals, so maintaining and increasing the motivation of the client companies we work with is valuable.

Q is for Qualities.

When managers are asked what qualities they most want their team members to bring to a given project, they may generate a list that includes responsibility, integrity, initiative, creativity, task orientation, persistence, clarity, co-operation, etc. These qualities exist in every company, and this is where potential skills arise.

  • Which qualities would you like to see more of in yourself?
  • Which would others on your team like to see more of, or less of?

Learning to use and express any specific quality or attribute is one kind of learning goal.

U is for Understanding.

Understanding requires more than just information; it requires a comprehension of all the components of a particular subject or system and the relationships among these components. You can have a great deal of information about a job or task without really understanding it. You may be able to state the mission of the company or of a given project, but do you really understand the mission sufficiently to be truly effective?

You should ask yourself: Given your current performance goals what, if understood better, would make success easier or more likely? Such goals might be stated in terms of, for example, “Expand my understanding of ….” (my co-workers, my boss, the customers, the competition, market dynamics, systems and processes, finance, obstacles, and so on).

E is for Expertise.

Expertise is what you call know-how or skill. It can be technical or emotional. Ask yourself what skills you have or could develop that would let you attain a higher level of performance. What skills are you learning that you could apply to your present role or project? Which of these skills could you learn from experience on the job, and which need some book or classroom learning?

Skills you could choose to develop might include computer literacy skills, negotiating skills, communication skills, accounting skills, technical skills, management or leadership skills, or you could choose to master a given body of knowledge. Once you develop these skills, they are available for you in a variety of future tasks.

S is for Strategic Thinking.

Strategic thinking can be viewed as a quality, a skill, or an understanding. But it is a distinct kind of thinking. It is the ability to step back from the trees and see the forest, to see past short-term goals and view long-range goals. It is a critical skill not just for a few managers and leaders, but for everyone in the organization. You need to ask yourself:

  • How strategically am I thinking?
  • Do I have a strategic perspective, or merely a tactical view?
  • How clear are my priorities in the company?
  • Are my current activities in line with my long-term goals?
  • Am I thinking independently enough?
  • Is my work life balanced and in harmony with the rest of my life?
  • Is my definition of work self-driven?
  • Do I see tasks in relation to other projects being completed?
  • Do I see what has to be done in line with the overall mission of the team and company?
  • Do I think strategically about my life?

Strategic thinking is about more than setting goals and targets in your work and in your life; it is about developing the ability to think strategically when you need to.

T is for Time.

All work is done in time and related to time, and understanding this relationship is critical to successful work. The best strategies and the best experts have failed because of an inability to come to terms with this fact.

  • Do you complete your work on time?
  • How aware are you of the time required to complete the tasks on your to-do-list?
  • Are you feeling constantly pressured by time?
  • Are you constantly behind on time lines?
  • Do you procrastinate?

You may want to consider setting a learning goal around the relationship between time, task and priorities.

The whole idea of QUEST is to provide leadership through dialogue and discussion, to ask questions and to promote discussion and creative thinking around those questions, and thus to help leaders broaden their horizons and persuade others within the mission to do the same.

Book Cover Reveal

I am excited to show you the cover of my book “Freedom after the sharks.” It will come out very soon. Check back here for details!

Freedom After The Sharks 2014 cover 6-9

Tribute to Annette & George Searle

Annette and George SearleMy book “Freedom after the Sharks” is coming out soon. The editing process is done and the final cover will be revealed within a few weeks. None of this would have been possible if it had not been for two wonderful people: Annette & George Searle, my grandparents.

I believe that my main drive for writing ‘Freedom After The Sharks’ was born out of my wish to share life’s learning experiences and lessons. The book describes the life of a young boy who despite the various challenges he faced, survived and found success and happiness based on truth.

My grandmother reminded me often as a child that “I have the ability to achieve my dream,  but the question is how much do I want the dream?

I think her counsel applies neatly to writing. One must write with passion, determination and drive. An author keeps refining their work and expect that it will be very hard work. Effective prose and a readable, engaging writing style and personal voice will not happen magically without concerted and disciplined effort.

I look forward to hear what you think about my book. The cover will be revealed soon so stay tuned!