I am a WarBirds addict. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than listening to the beat of a World War Two aircraft engine as it coughs in to life. I recently attended the Classicflyersnz airshow in Tauranga, New Zealand.
On of the static displays at the show was a partial build of a new Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk. Standing before this display I considered the careful planning and dedication that must go in to taking an aircraft plan to final execution - an airworthy World War Two aircraft. Looking at this partially completed aircraft made me realise that in the not to far distant future this aircraft will be flying above the skies of New Zealand. This does not happen by chance, it happens through careful, systematic and deliberate planning in order to achieve a desired outcome or goal - in this case a new aircraft . This principle can be applied to personal or business life. If you want to achieve anything in life careful and deliberate planning is the most important step in being able to achieve a desired outcome.
This week's blog provides a ten step MindManager Map for achieving this goal. I used our add-in MediaNoteTaker to provide a Podcast recording of this Blog.
Set only a few goals that you are serious about achieving; goals that will positively impact your life if you accomplish them, and goals that you are actually ready to work on.
1. Have a belief in your own ability to succeed
If you are doing something you do not believe in the chances are you will not be successful. If you try to be what others want you to be are doomed for failure. Your personal and business expectations must be your own! If you decide to build an aircraft or learn a new language, or be successful in your 2012 business goals or a new venture or enterprise make sure that this is what you really want. Be an authentic voice - this could be your competitive edge in the market. Remember business is about adding value, not only extracting value from your clients!
2. Benchmark against best practice
The Japanese have a method called KAIZEN - Continuous improvement.(see our next blog). It adopts best practice methods to ensure no distractions from achieving absolute clarity of purpose on achieving set goals. Nothing breeds failure more than rushing from point A to point B without a clear picture of that it is you want to achieve. Mu youngest son is studying to be a commercial pilot. As such he needs to study theory of flight , etc to get to know the theory behind the practice of flying. A pilot needs to know what each dial on his instrument panel means or he is doomed to failure. Do research in to people or businesses that have used tried and tested methods and processes to achieve success and then adopt and adapt these to help you succeed. Make sure you take TIME to read and study to remain abreast of new ways of helping you succeed in business. If you use MindManager make sure you adopt best practice methods for using it to develop your personal or business goals.
3. Set your aim on your target
A fighter pilot would never go in to a battle unprepared. He would know his opponent and his immediate environment. Take TIME to do a SWOT and PESTE analysis. Focus on your strengths and analyse opportunities. Make sure they are realistic and achievable and relate to the present political and economic realities. If government is cutting on spending in a certain sector that used to provide 40 % of your business reset your aim and seek new opportunities. Do not be satisfied with the status quo and the same old, same old way of doing things ! Be realistic in what you want to achieve and ensure that expectations placed on staff during trying economic times are realistic.
4. Build bullet- proof strategy & plans
A fighter pilot would have a metal backing on his seat to help protect him form enemy fire. A company rebuilding authentic fighters from original plans would be meticulous in planning to ensure a methodical and staged execution of build with constant review of progress. Take the time to THINK and PLAN! Review your business and marketing plans for the year. Spend time in planning and develop a master plan with what if scenarios. This will ensure the wings do not drop off your business is you suddenly need to change direction in mid flight half way through the year.
5. Learn from the best
A company building an authentic warplane from plans would rely on support from people with authentic expertise. They would also either employ staff with the skill-set they require to make things happen and would invest in current staff professional development. Make sure you have a professional development plan for your self and / or your staff in place that ties in to your personal or business plan Join local business groups,get a mentor, enrol in a business course and learn new business techniques and strategies. Stay abreast of social networking developments and techniques. I listen to TED talks and Meet the BOSS interviews at least once a week to provide new insights and provide inspiration. I also complete online courses relating to areas where I feel I lack knowledge and expertise. Where I do not have the expertise I use consultants and learn form them.
6 .Do not limit yourself
A pilot needs to be aware of his surroundings and uses his instruments to measure wind direction and speed. He then plans how much fuel he needs to get to his destination with a margin built in for safely. He ensures he is well rested for the trip and more likely than not plans for having time for leisure activities and family obligations. Life is more than work. Take time to re-evaluate your position, speed and direction and make decisions that add value to yourself, your employees, your business and your family life. As mentioned at the beginning of this blog article - Remember business is about adding value, not only extracting value from your clients! Your goal might not be to make seven digit numbers this year. It might be that you have reevaluated that family and life style is more important than a flash car and house linked to a big mortgage. Our goal is to travel more this year and meet business partners like ourselves to learn how to do things differently or better. This links to my own business plan. Whatever the goal, stick to it and plan accordingly.
7. Go all out; Work really hard
When a fighter pilot sets his aim on a target all of his attention is directed to achieving a positive result. He has a small window of opportunity to achieve the desired result. He needs to release his bombs at the precise moment to hit his target. When you work - WORK. Ask yourself the right questions. Are you being as efficient as possible with your time and how you utilise your staff? Is your concentration and effort going to yield the needed result in the time allocated for the task?
8. Focus your efforts
A plane is of no use without an engine. The engine also needs to be the correct size and have enough power output to perform at optimum levels. Develop a pattern of work and a business work ethic that ensures maximum
return on investment. Are you tapping in to specialist services, such
as payroll and tax businesses who can release more time for growing
your business? Minimize distractions such as email overload (some
companies have eliminated internal email use with a marked increase in
productivity) and make sure you remain focused on achieving your
weekly, monthly and annual targets and goals. Make sure your employees know the difference between being busy and being productive. Determine what distracts you from achieving your goal and eliminate these distractions.
9. Be adaptable.
A pilot needs to be adaptable to changes in weather and might need to divert course and fly around bad weather to ensure the safety of himself, his passengers and his crew. Remember that your business plan is a living document and do not lock it in a file or let it gather dust on a shelf. Consult it regularly and gauge the wind and weather using both your SWOT and PESTE analysis . In today's economic, political and technological environments you have to remain alert of minute changes that might cause your business to crash is not heeded in time .
10. Never give up.
A fighter pilot in a dog fight needs to never give up if he has an enemy on his tail. He needs to be acutely aware of his surroundings. Make sure you remain focused on your target but keep your eye on the rear view mirror.
No matter what storms you need to weather or bullets you need to dodge to remain flying and in the air adjust your business plan trim and fuel mixture to remain flying .
Work on adopting these 10 principles as part of your own work persona.
I’d love to hear how they work out for you.
Maps relating to this blog for free download and use.
Ten Steps for delivering results that will drive your business in 2012
I am a bit of a Gym Junkie and need my daily endorphin rush to clear the head and get myself ready for a good evenings sleep. I have been a member of a very large and well-known gym for about three and half years now. The gym is located in an Auckland suburb called New Lynn and occupies three levels. 
I quickly filled my water bottle and rushed over to the first cross trainer only to be greeted by a yellow and black OUT OF ORDER sign. Rushing to the next sign provided the same answer, and the next and the next and the next…. As I was about to leave in a state of heightened frustration for being deprived of my endorphin dose an exhausted fellow endorphin junkie stumbled off his cross trainer and I quickly annexed this territory for myself for the next 20 minutes. 
Plugging in my MP 3 player and flicking through the TV channels I was then greeted by fuzzy noise and a Poltergiest TV screen. No viewing or Mozart but incessant gyrating pop music for me for the next twenty minutes was the only option. Needless to say that at the end of my 60 minute cycle I jostled my way through narrow passages of people waiting for group gym sessions and then had to contend with a shower area in less than a clean state. Even more depressing was that on leaving the gym I felt the beginning of scratchiness in my throat. 
This morning I am typing my blog for the week with a box of tissues next to me feeling in a state of ill health…… courtesy of my favourite gym! So what is the moral of my Blog? My gym experience reflects external indicators of a company that is not in touch with its clients.
As the global economy worsens and potential markets and profits shrink, companies (such as my gym) should be intent on nurturing customer satisfaction and keeping their current customers satisfied rather than chasing potential new customers with no consideration of impact on present business performance.
Chasing after new customers could be false economy in that the advertising costs and potential gain in new customers is offset by the loss of present clients with no potential real growth. 
Social networking is a powerful tool and woe to the company who ignores it. The power of the Internet pen has brought down governments and customers are more and more intolerant of accepting poor service. Customer satisfaction leads to loyalty and product repurchase. This principle is universal and can be applied to any product or business. The customer coming through the physical or virtual shop door and returning again and again reflects the essence of business success. You have something that I want and I am willing to pay you for it. But it is more than want – it is what meaning a product or service adds to a customer’s life that counts. This does not only apply to the customer but to a business as well. 
My present gym experience is that the gym collective people = profits and not my needs as an individual customer are not being considered or met. Furthermore, my perception is that the marketing strategy seems to be company profit over customer need. Companies have customers. Customers are individuals and it is the individual need, not the group need that needs to be nurtured. Lose enough individuals and you lose the group. 
