I thought I'd add my thoughts to the state of the country after the past few days of riots and unrest, where I think some of the cause may have been and what can be done to improve things for the future, one disclaimer I'll add is that I'm not an expert on the implications of what would or wouldn't happen or why it couldn't happen, I'm sure there are many factors that would effect it.
After listening to some of the kids speaking about why they were rioting, it was obvious that there was no defining cause to it, I heard some say it was because they wanted more opportunities, one said she was getting her taxes back (I'm sure she was too young to be paying them), some because it was too good an opportunity to miss and get stuff for free! and others because it was a laugh..however I'm sure the laugh will be on them as they are rounded up and punished for these crimes.
I think the irony was lost on them that the damage they have caused will come back on them not least I hope through Karma but through the fact that insurances will go up, it will come out of our council tax, there are now even less jobs to go round and it puts the country in an even more stressed state than it already was, there is the cost of paying the emergency services for the overtime and then the clean up cost too. Then there is the cost of businesses no longer being in business meaning they will no longer be contributing to the economy or jobs and I'm sure I've missed other costs too. This is all before we even start to look at the emotional costs too. I would be interested to see film of them being interviewed in the future about whether they regret their actions, I'm sure some won't.
I also heard of one girl being asked why they'd smashed up the shops of business owners and her answer was to show the rich that they can do anything that they want! This obviously shows a complete lack of education to think that just because you may be a business owner that you are rich, with over 200,000 start up businesses each year it generally takes time to build a business and may not be profitable for some years and many people run businesses as a life style choice but a lot of businesses just don't make it. when I was running my electrical business from the hours I put in to what I earned, I was well below minimum wage and I did long hours.
So here's the thing, for some years now I've had a goal of creating an academy where kids will go to learn new skills or life skills, I believe this is a major downfall of schools today that other skills are taught over history, RE, languages etc. We really should be teaching personal development and life values in schools along with work ethics, finance and economics. I once heard that programmes like X Factor had taught kids that if they wanted something NOW then they could have it, without working hard for it, I'd originally dismissed that thinking but now think there may have been some truth to it, however when they found they couldn't have 'fame and fortune' so fast became despondent. I also think that school holidays should be cut in order to fit in extra lessons, this will have the added effect of keeping kids from being 'bored' in the holidays, the parents can continue to work and the kids would be more geared up ready for working life from doing longer hours!
Back to the finance and economics thought, if this had been taught in schools from, at least when I was in school then perhaps we'd not be in the state the country or the world is in now as we'd have hopefully learned that the way we'd been spending and on credit was doomed to fail, I don't think we can blame greedy financial types for the economic situation but our lack of education on the subject (self education or in school), it would be interesting to see a test made up for basic financial education and then see the score of the population, I think it may be a poor result! (I include myself in this, however have learned the hard way from experience)
I think we are very lucky to be living here as it's one of the best countries in the world for the life we do get to live and choices that we have that many in the world don't have! we should be grateful for that.
So my final thing to say is, I'm not naive enough to think this is the only factor that needs to change or be improved in our country, or that it could happen over night but change is coming hopefully for the better and I hope this silliness has now ended for good.
To your success
Paul
PS I'd like to add that I think our emergency services did a fantastic job, as well as all those that went out for riotcleanup. It was good to see that side of humanity in a horrible time.
PPS also a well done to the policewoman who won £500 on Absolute radio and then gave it to the lady who'd worked in her fathers business for 15 years and now has no job and kids to support.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
To go to business events or not to go...?
I went back to networking today (4Networking Ware) for the first time in about 2 months (I needed a bit of a break after networking pretty much constantly over the last 6 years) It was great to see people I'd not seen for a while and new faces too! I had 3 great 121 appointments. The 1st with Martin Lumsden from the Cream Room which is a recording studio in Ware and they do everything from recording bands to radio ads and podcasts.I also had a 121 with Tony Slater from FullCircle TV which is pretty cool because I've been thinking of doing podcasts and videos for a while now and I manage to have this 121 with them and albeit a short 10 minutes I got to find out a bit about them and if I'd like to do business with them.
This is the great thing about business networking that many people over look and just use it to sell their products and services, it's not just about that but who can you meet that you can start a relationship with as a supplier that you can trust, this is far more powerful than just picking someone out from a Google search. My 3rd and final 121 was with the Mr Richard Earl from Positive Solutions and that was great to catch up with a friend I've not seen for a while too. It just proves that while yes we want to get business from networking it's not the only thing we get from it and nor should it be.
After 4N Ware my driver :-) Rob Glover from Best of Hertford took me over to the Harlow business exhibition and ended up doing a bit more networking, which wasn't the intention but bumped into lot's of people I'd not seen for a while and one who wants me to call him next week to do a quote for him for energy! I also saw a couple of other networking old flames that and we've now set up meetings to catch up but with also the possibility of working together on a couple of projects. all in all it's been a pretty productive day and that was all before lunch. I wasn't sure whether to go to either of those events a couple of days ago but it just goes to show you never know what could happen if you just get out there!
To your success
Paul
This is the great thing about business networking that many people over look and just use it to sell their products and services, it's not just about that but who can you meet that you can start a relationship with as a supplier that you can trust, this is far more powerful than just picking someone out from a Google search. My 3rd and final 121 was with the Mr Richard Earl from Positive Solutions and that was great to catch up with a friend I've not seen for a while too. It just proves that while yes we want to get business from networking it's not the only thing we get from it and nor should it be.
After 4N Ware my driver :-) Rob Glover from Best of Hertford took me over to the Harlow business exhibition and ended up doing a bit more networking, which wasn't the intention but bumped into lot's of people I'd not seen for a while and one who wants me to call him next week to do a quote for him for energy! I also saw a couple of other networking old flames that and we've now set up meetings to catch up but with also the possibility of working together on a couple of projects. all in all it's been a pretty productive day and that was all before lunch. I wasn't sure whether to go to either of those events a couple of days ago but it just goes to show you never know what could happen if you just get out there!
To your success
Paul
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Would you attend a business seminar on a Sunday?
Whether you run an MLM or traditional business I'm sure you'll find this post useful.
In my Utility Warehouse business I often attend seminars, trainings and meetings they are fantastic and for the most part free. Sometimes they are on a Sunday and people have asked me before why do I go to seminars on a Sunday, almost as if it's some sort of crime. To me, to be honest a Sunday is like any other day especially when it's about business and these days it's nothing like it used to be when shops and shopping centres everywhere were deserted and closed.
To answer the question though, one it's because that's the day they run on and two because what if I pick up one tip that will massively grow my UW business, or my team that are there pick up a tip or hear from someone that inspires them to then go and build a massive business. It would be worth it, also I'm always telling my team to go to events, now if I didn't go it would not look very good. Of course it's also a chance to catch up with friends and it's fun too!
I was at one such seminar this Sunday, The 100% Success Seminar in Kettering run by Mark Adams, It's just over a 3 hour round trip and was worth the journey. I learnt some great tips that I want to share with you, that you will be able to use in your MLM or traditional business.
Listen in 3D
Listen to your prospects for their Desires, Dreams and Discontent you can then match your offering to them and show them how it will work for them.
Make yourself indispensable
Ensure that your prospects need YOU. Make yourself absolutely necessary, essential so that your customers can't do without you, that it would potentially harm their business not to do business with you. This goes back to my last post on giving massive value.
Have no emotion attached to a YES
It's great when we convert a prospect into a customer or client we tend to get a great feeling about it, this means that when we get rejected from a prospect we feel the opposite, It sounds cold but not having an emotion on the yes means we'll have none on the no, the fear of rejection is what stops many entrepreneurs from going on to build a great business. A YES is just one of those that says YES and a No well that's just one of those that says no!
Incidentally the more no's we get just take us nearer to the next yes.
Take Action
Action weighs ounces but regret weighs tons.
Enough said about this really we've all not done something and then regretted it. Here's another relevant quote;
Do today what others won't do so tomorrow you can do what others can't do - Randy Gage
Perhaps he was talking about attending seminars or trainings on a Sunday.
There were lots more great tips and inspiring speakers at the event but I'm going to leave it there otherwise it'll be a long blog post. I hope you found this entry useful.
To your success
Paul
What's Utility Warehouse you ask find out here. blatant AD over
In my Utility Warehouse business I often attend seminars, trainings and meetings they are fantastic and for the most part free. Sometimes they are on a Sunday and people have asked me before why do I go to seminars on a Sunday, almost as if it's some sort of crime. To me, to be honest a Sunday is like any other day especially when it's about business and these days it's nothing like it used to be when shops and shopping centres everywhere were deserted and closed.
To answer the question though, one it's because that's the day they run on and two because what if I pick up one tip that will massively grow my UW business, or my team that are there pick up a tip or hear from someone that inspires them to then go and build a massive business. It would be worth it, also I'm always telling my team to go to events, now if I didn't go it would not look very good. Of course it's also a chance to catch up with friends and it's fun too!
I was at one such seminar this Sunday, The 100% Success Seminar in Kettering run by Mark Adams, It's just over a 3 hour round trip and was worth the journey. I learnt some great tips that I want to share with you, that you will be able to use in your MLM or traditional business.
Listen in 3D
Listen to your prospects for their Desires, Dreams and Discontent you can then match your offering to them and show them how it will work for them.
Make yourself indispensable
Ensure that your prospects need YOU. Make yourself absolutely necessary, essential so that your customers can't do without you, that it would potentially harm their business not to do business with you. This goes back to my last post on giving massive value.
Have no emotion attached to a YES
It's great when we convert a prospect into a customer or client we tend to get a great feeling about it, this means that when we get rejected from a prospect we feel the opposite, It sounds cold but not having an emotion on the yes means we'll have none on the no, the fear of rejection is what stops many entrepreneurs from going on to build a great business. A YES is just one of those that says YES and a No well that's just one of those that says no!
Incidentally the more no's we get just take us nearer to the next yes.
Take Action
Action weighs ounces but regret weighs tons.
Enough said about this really we've all not done something and then regretted it. Here's another relevant quote;
Do today what others won't do so tomorrow you can do what others can't do - Randy Gage
Perhaps he was talking about attending seminars or trainings on a Sunday.
There were lots more great tips and inspiring speakers at the event but I'm going to leave it there otherwise it'll be a long blog post. I hope you found this entry useful.
To your success
Paul
What's Utility Warehouse you ask find out here. blatant AD over
Friday, 14 January 2011
Do You Use The Value Equation In Your Businesses Marketing Strategy?
"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value" -Albert Einstein
This quote is one of my favourites and has been for a while, I think it applies in business and in life. ever since I started business in 2005 my goal has been to give value to customers and to people I employed.
Within most businesses the goal always seems to be to just deliver the main service, the standard that is expected and I've always believed that to be wrong, it should be to give great value to give great customer service so that they go WOW that was a brilliant service, I'm sure there are no stats on how many businesses give this kind of service but I'd expect it's less than 1% which is a shame. Going forward into 2011 and beyond I believe it shouldn't just be 'value' it should be massive value where the customer would be willing to pay double or even more than what you have charged!
Of course the more the customer buys the more value they should get, I find it funny that the supermarkets call their bottom cheap range 'value' when in reality it's anything but value as with the food it's usually made from the offcuts or parts that should really be waste or with clothing that is made from thin material and lasts for a fraction of the time that a higher priced article of clothing would last.
Giving massive value of course doesn't mean that you should compromise on your profit margin, it just means thinking about what will make them go wow what a brilliant service. There are many low cost or even free ways you can add to your service or product to give massive value.
The aim of this post is to get you thinking, how can you give your customers or clients massive value so that they don't suffer from buyer satisfaction but buyer elation? Meaning they will use your services again but also tell others which gets you more business which means your cost of customer / client acquisition is lower meaning your profits are raised. This sort of thinking gives us a massive advantage on our competitors who just think it's okay to deliver satisfaction.
So the value equation is Massive Value = Customer Elation = More business / acquisition costs = increased profits.
I hope you found this post valuable. :-)
To your success
Paul
Here is a great site about customer service you may want to have a look at WOW awards
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Christmas Credit Card Debt
Unbelievable two million people in UK have decided to pay their mortgage or rent on a credit card for January, according to the stats from a government survey that's up a massive 50% on last year.
This all means that when it comes to pay it off next month they'll need double! Now I'm sure some people will be able to cover it but I expect a lot won't which means they'll been paying silly interest charges on the money they owe. If they are lucky and manage to avoid eviction or repossession they may just be able to pay it off in time for next Christmas and start the whole process again!
This all means that when it comes to pay it off next month they'll need double! Now I'm sure some people will be able to cover it but I expect a lot won't which means they'll been paying silly interest charges on the money they owe. If they are lucky and manage to avoid eviction or repossession they may just be able to pay it off in time for next Christmas and start the whole process again!
All it would take to really ruin the plans for some of these people is one big bill to come along such as the car breaking down and needing a new one or a boiler breaking at home and for want of a better word they are 'stuffed'. In hindsight it would be better to be frugal over the course of a year saving the money for Christmas and then using that, you've then made a bit of interest too, at the end of the day everyone should be able to save that bit extra and if not then how have they got credit cards! Okay that's the financial companies fault and a different blog post.
If you are in debt or know someone who is then I know a great guy who can help I call him Dr Phil (Dockerill) from Debt Dr
Until the next post
Paul
Saturday, 1 January 2011
The Paul Jennings Blog
Welcome to my first post of the Paul Jennings Blog.
I've got a feeling (one of my favourite songs) 2011 is going to be a fantastic year, in fact I know it is. I've been laying the plans for it over the last few days, I have a long list of things I want to achieve this year things I want to have be and do!
So the question is what do you want to Have, Be or Do in 2011 that you have complete control over, that would make it you best year ever? did you spend more time planning what you was going to do on 31st December 2010 than you did on your 2011.
If you haven't got a list of things I'd suggest you write down at least 5 things that would help you achieve this and commit to doing them.
Here are some ideas:
I've got a feeling (one of my favourite songs) 2011 is going to be a fantastic year, in fact I know it is. I've been laying the plans for it over the last few days, I have a long list of things I want to achieve this year things I want to have be and do!
So the question is what do you want to Have, Be or Do in 2011 that you have complete control over, that would make it you best year ever? did you spend more time planning what you was going to do on 31st December 2010 than you did on your 2011.
If you haven't got a list of things I'd suggest you write down at least 5 things that would help you achieve this and commit to doing them.
Here are some ideas:
- Holiday somewhere you've wanted to go but never been
- Start a business
- Take up a new Hobby
- Take up a new sport
- Learn some new skills.
This is not about making a new years resolution. It's about making a new life resolution.
Have a brilliant 2011
Paul
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