Who’s making you fat in business?
February 12th, 2010

Who’s keeping you Fat in Business?

“If you only ever sugar coat the truth, you’ll just make people fat between the ears”

Ouch! That one hurts. But it’s true. How often have we reflected on what someone has told us and just wished they didn’t beat around the bush? Ok, the initial pain of the truth hurts, but it is usually only short term and then we can move on and deal with it.

I’m not talking about nasty personal attacks or silly gossip that does no one any good. I’m talking about constructive feedback from people that want the best from you….and know what they are talking about!!

One of my mentors once said “Surround yourself with people that expect more of you than you do of yourself”. It was wonderful advice. You see, if you are in business, you are often the boss. You are use to being in charge, making decisions with authority…..and not being questioned.
But that’s not enough. You need to have people around you that do question you. That do keep you accountable to your word. That do expect you to treat yourself and others with respect. That believe in you enough to want the best for you. That don’t sugar coat the truth. They could be business associates, business coaches, mentor, accountants or a mastermind group.

Sugar coating the truth just slows you down. It slows the people around you down. It is better to know the truth of the situation, find a solution and deal with it, than to let a problem linger or not even be aware of it.

So how do you find these people? How do you find people that are honest (with tact) and believe in you enough to help you be your best you? Someone who sees the potential in you? Someone who knows you are an adult and capable of hearing the truth?
Be that person. Be that person, and others around you will respond the same.

Until next time, I wish you easier sales through better marketing.

Sharon Tieman
Aka Madame Marketing. www.madamemarketing.com

Filed under: Quick Business Tips — Sharon Tieman @ 12:04 pm
Finding Your MOJO
December 8th, 2009

I was having coffee with a group of business women this week when one of them said….

“All I want for Christmas is to get my MOJO back!”

She’d had a tough, challenging year, and she was tired.

I’ve heard that expression many times, but really never knew what it meant - but it did sound cool - I think that’s what I wanted too!

So, if you are like me and didn’t know what it meant either?

Your MOJO is that magical quality about you that people love.

That attracts others to you

Your beautiful energy that makes you fun to be with.

A little hard to do when you are running around getting ready for Christmas and running a business!!!
…but hey, what a great plan for the Christmas break.

It’s all about putting some “stress credit” back in the emotional bank account, so when life throws you a challenge you can shrug your shoulders and just deal with it.

So here’s some ideas I have found help:-

make a plan of what to do with emails, mail, orders etc. Try a V.A or notify your customers that you won’t be available. Then let it go.

Make a list of things that nuture you & recharge you, and start doing them. It can be as simple as a walk on the beach, a bubble bath or coffee with girlfriends.

Make a list of what you have achieved this year. Write it in your Dream Book or on a big colourful piece of paper. Use lots of colour, stickers and do it somewhere relaxing. Remind yourself we have just been through a global recession and what you have achieved!

Do something Christmassy. Go to carols, go looking at Christmas lights, put up a tree, buy a tray of Mangos or some prawns :)

write a list of what you are grateful for. There is no better way to recharge yourself and focus on what is important.

Watch a classic Christmas or holiday movie. My favourites for this time of year It’s a Wonderful Life, and Love Actually.

Buy a special Christmas decoration for your tree that signifies the year for you!

So I’ll get the latest best seller, I’m buying a carton of mango’s, a carton of cherries, and a beautiful leg ham from my award winning butcher, and I plan on finding my mojo with by spending time with family and friends.

Please share below your ideas on ‘getting your mojo back over the Christmas break.

You see….I’ve got a feeling about 2010. Click below to see what I mean:-
P.S. I like it loud.

Filed under: Inspirational Videos, Motivating Thoughts — Sharon Tieman @ 1:58 pm
The Comedian Mother…..
August 20th, 2009

This mother & grandmother is SO FUNNY. Need a bit of a break? it’s a good 5 minute belly laugh that will do you the world of good, and see the funny side of being a Mother. Her name is Mrs. Hughes.

Filed under: Inspirational Videos — Sharon Tieman @ 3:23 pm
Working with Husbands….Argghh!!!
August 7th, 2009

I get asked this question a lot. Usually by my friends who are not in business.

“How can you work with your husband. If I did that he’d drive me insane….or I’d kill him!”

That’s what they usually say. But the truth is, I like working with my husband, and I really didn’t know why, until I heard Mary Blackburn from Beyond Success who also works with her husband (for over 30 years) say this:-

If you really want to grow as a person and know yourself better, go and do a personally development course.(afterall isn’t that the true path to self fulfilment - knowing yourself?)

If you want to up the ante a little, the get into a relationship with an equal.(They have to be equal, because then they will challenge you and make you be the best you can be. Not walk all over you, or let you walk all over them!)

.And if that’s not enough, have children with them. (Boy, there’s no faster way to humility than having children!….plus you certainly learn your breaking points at every level.)

And if you want to speed it up even more, go into business with them. (Ah! I get it now. A problem shared is a problem halved. What doesn’t break us makes us stronger. You are most angry at the ones you love the most, etc etc)

What do you think? comment below:-

Filed under: Secret Womens Biz — Sharon Tieman @ 10:17 pm
Marketing is easier than SELLING!
July 20th, 2009

MARKETING IS EASIER THAN SELLING

While I write this to you this week it’s School Holidays here in New South Wales.

It reminds me how important leverage is in my life, and how getting really good at Marketing has given me more choices in my Lifestyle.

Yesterday I had a business meeting at home in my jeans while my kids played dress up, and the other watched a movie. Ok, it was a friend who is also a mother in business, but it didn’t take away from some serious strategies we discussed and planned while drinking warm pots of tea in a comfortable environment. Who says it has to be a formal boardroom!

Actually I even had my ugg boots on, but it was cold, and they are cute ones!

You see, I use to be exhausted with being good at Sales. Knowing where to find leads, knowing the “triggers” when they are interested to buy, how to “close” the deal! Always being “on” and “happy and healthy” to get the sale. It was constant treadmill. In an old job I had, the better I got, the higher the bar got. It didn’t get any easier to reach, it just meant more work!

I didn’t want to work harder to get more sales. I was exhausted as it was. How can I pull any more sales out of a day when I was exhausted and doing a full day as it was?

That’s when I decided to get good at Marketing. You see, Marketing gives you an easier sale. Let me explain:-

Good Marketing means the customers come to you ready to buy.

Your staff become customer focused order takers (this is a good thing)

Good Marketing is systemised. Spend $1 make $5. everytime.

Good Marketing is a formula. That is:- Who my customers are, where my leads are, what is it they want, how I reach them, how I get the sale.

Good Marketing gives you a Return on your Investment. It is not flag waiving and feel good “branding”. It puts money in your register.

Good Marketing is predictable. Imagine knowing roughly how much revenue you will have next week, next month?

Good Marketing can increase average dollar spend, close a sale, work on “sales triggers”, it can be a silent sales person.

So if you are thinking you need more sales. Brush up on your marketing skills. Learn all you can about marketing and develop a bullet proof formula that works for you and your business.

to comment on this SEE BELOW.

In fact if you want to purchase “Secret’s of Marketing Experts Exposed” this week, I’ll throw in a copy of my own book “If I’m So Successful How Come I Never Get To Be On Top”

SEE BELOW TO LEARN MORE

http://www.madamemarketing.com/shop/books

Sharon Tieman
Madame Marketing
Phone 1800 247 835
www.madamemarketing.com

Filed under: Marketing Tips, Quick Business Tips — Tags: — Sharon Tieman @ 3:52 pm
Want more self confidence?
May 8th, 2009

I estimate I’m probably spent close to $50,000 over the years on business coaches, high end coaching programmes, information and self development. These days, I still do courses, but it takes alot to impress me!

That’s why I have broken with tradition on my madame marketing site. Usually any special interviews I do, they get loaded onto my site, and my members get to download, enjoy and learn from them.

But like I said, I broke the tradition.

For the first time ever, I am sharing an interview I did with Noah St. John last week. Noah is from the Success Clinic in the United States and has written a book about how to get “rid of the head trash” that hold you back. We all have “head trash” and I want to help people overcome it. That is why when I heard Noah St.Johns strategies, I just had to share them.

Even Tiger Wood has “head trash”. Head trash is those negative thoughts that make us doubt ourselves and hold us back from being the best person we can be. Kind of like taking your foot off the brake in life.

The thing is, most “motivation” speakers will tell you stuff that can make you put your foot nice and hard on the accellerator. But if you still have one foot on the brake? Well it just doesn’t work.

I completed Noah’s course last year,

and I can truly say it was a breakthrough. That is why I have organised for ALL my list to enjoy the interview will Noah where he will give some great strategies on finding out what is holding you back and having more confidence in yourself.

enjoy with my compliments. Please leave your feedback on this blog afterwards, I’d love to hear what your thought?

click here to download the 40minute interview for free

Filed under: Motivating Thoughts, Secret Womens Biz — Tags: , — Sharon Tieman @ 1:31 pm
I’m no dumb blonde…but
April 15th, 2009
Virginia Graham. (co-author)

Virginia Graham. (co-author)

Now, I’m no dumb blonde, but I have to say reading the finance pages makes me glaze over and switch off a bit.

It wasn’t until the release of the Financial Literacy Foundation’s Women Understanding Money report that people realised how widespread this ‘switch off’ factor was and the damaging impact this could have on women’s
financial futures and independence.

The report revealed 52% of Australian women find dealing with money stressful and overwhelming and 25% of women have absolutely no savings for retirement.

And this is happening at a time when women are increasing their independence. For the first time since the end of World War I, there are more single women in Australia than married women.

Women have all the talents and capabilities to be good at investing. They are natural networkers, good listeners and have strong intuition. And women will read widely on topics they find interesting.

The problem has been that most women just didn’t find finance interesting.

I truly believe all women should read this book. Infact, I am going to buy a few copies for my close friends, because I feel this book will have such an impact on all of us, I want them along for the ride!

In “Flirting With Finance” Virginia Graham & Anneli Knight go through all the absolute “must knows” for women and finance and they deliver the information is such an easy to read, and fun way, it’s hard to put the book down.

Imagine a book on finance….hard to put down?

I recently met Virginia (pictured) at a women’s networking luncheon (you can’t half tell she use to be a model eh?) and I have secured a few copies off the first print run released just this week. Virginia was an absolute delight to meet, and in 30 minutes explained things to me, I just never understood.

This book is only a few copies of being a best seller, just in pre-orders alone. click out here to learn more.

Filed under: Motivating Thoughts, Secret Womens Biz — Tags: , , , — Sharon Tieman @ 3:14 pm
Definition of Insanity!
April 2nd, 2009
title="dog-friends"

insanity

They say the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting a different result”
Well one of the breakthroughs in business SANITY for me was realising:-

REVENUE is Vanity.

PROFIT is Sanity.

I’m embarrassed to say it took a while to get it. You see it’s far more exciting to focus on the revenue of your business. It’s BRAGABLE!

You can see the headlines now…..

A six figure income!
A seven figure income!
Doubled the turnover in 1 year.
Made $40,000 revenue in 6 weeks.

Sound’s impressive….doesn’t it. But where was the profit? It’s great having all of the above, and I’ve had businesses that have done ALL of the above, but what was the profit? How much money was actually made?

Without profit, it’s just Vanity. It’’s something to brag about. Hey, they’ll even put you on stage for that type of bragging, But please……don’t get hooked.

When you run your business on vanity,
it’s easy to get dazzled by “bright shiny objects”
and “magic solutions, that over promise & under deliver.

Realising that Profit is just as important as Revenue was a turning point for me.

And I’ll tell you it’s a whole heap more fun running a profitable growing business….believe me.

Focusing on Profit in all business transactions can mean:-

Focus on increasing profitable sales. Which ones are they?
Focus on increasing your number of targeted profitable new customers
Focus on increasing your gross margin of the goods or service you provide.
Focus on targeting marketing that gives you a return on your investment.
Focus on increasing your average sale price.
Focus on quote conversion on your profitable quotes.

All of these things can affect the profit of your business. If one of them doesn’t seem to be working for you, or if business is slow, look at what indicator you CAN INFLUENCE to improve your PROFIT now.

By doing something, however small ,every month to influence your profit, will give you a stronger foundation for your business . Growing a business to big revenue is alot more fun when it’s profitable.

Now that’s something BRAGABLE!

Filed under: Marketing Tips, Motivating Thoughts, Quick Business Tips — Sharon Tieman @ 3:08 pm
What hand are you holding?
March 30th, 2009

I often find the answer to life’s riddles and challenges can be found in…

Music
Movies
Books

These things can take on a whole new meaning when life is challenging you.

You see I got an iphone late last year (yes, I loooooveee it), and started to load up some of the classic’s I’ve always liked…..of course, “The Gambler”, by Kenny Roger’s was one of them.

I haven’t listened to that song for a long time, and at the moment it seemed to have particular meaning. Let me quote Kenny….

“The secret to surviving is knowing what to throw away, and knowing what to keep…

Because….

every hands a winner and every hands a loser”

I can really see the similarities between Poker and Business, can’t you?

In Poker, the thing that can get you through is your knowledge on how to play the game.

There is a different strategy for different circumstances.

Just like in business.

Your know they say the definition of stupidity, is doing the same thing and expecting a different result?

What would happen if you did that in poker?

There is one preditable thing about business….it will change. What changes have you made to deal with the hand you have?

You can still WIN with a dud hand. You can still LOSE with a good one.

You see we all have the same 3 main resources to get us through:-

1. Time

2. Money

3. Knowledge.

What resource do you need help with? Is it more TIME? Is it more MONEY? is it the KNOWLEDGE to make better choices?

If you can focus on:

Time:- focus on income producing activities at strategic times of your day.

Money:- Trim the fat, always be testing, measuring & watching what is coming & going.

Knowledge:- Often the answers are already within you. Take time to reflect, or ask your support network. Or (shamless plug coming - subscribe to Madame Marketing, to increase your knowledge on business and “how to play the game”)

So I’ll leave you with one final thought. What hand are you holding right now? How are you going to play it?

Filed under: Marketing Tips, Quick Business Tips — Sharon Tieman @ 3:04 pm
What a way to “start your day”
February 5th, 2009

What get’s you in a good mood?

Is it people? or is it music? For me it’s a combination of both…

check this out…..you could only be in a good mood, if this happened around you.

Filed under: Inspirational Videos — Sharon Tieman @ 8:14 am
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