MJWARD UK LTD

Evening all! I have been debating what to do now for the last 15 minutes or so… It has been one of those lets browse through iTunes, Google crap and day dream about life moments. The truth is overworking and pushing your body / mind to extremes can be counter productive, and although progress on a few Tidy Design projects has been made this evening I should probably get an early night!

Most nights I push myself to do that one more task, achieve that one more goal or refuse to rest / unwind until my wife puts her foot down! However tonight the old saying ‘early to bed early to rise’ is ringing in my ear, the matchsticks are feeling the strain of heavy eyes lids, and for those reasons I will shut down and prepare myself for a new day tomorrow! In business long hours are important… but so is knowing when to rest!

In this blog post I would like to look at two things, your personal presentation (PP) and creative communication (CC). Two very important factors when it comes to a career in the world of marketing or setting up your own business.

Let’s face it, in today’s manic world job interviewers (or potential clients) make up their minds in just the first few minutes of meeting you… How you dress, sell yourself and behave in those first few minutes should make an instant and long lasting impression, this is often the difference between success and failure.

By putting yourself in the interviewer’s shiny boots you can kind of guess what they will be thinking, expecting and looking for… For example a scruffy, unprepared, uninterested candidate is waiting to meet you, what would be your initial reaction? Another potential employee is a bit quiet, not looking you in the eye, but has great academic grades… Could they be lacking in social skills, would this be difficult for staff or customers, maybe they just have something else on their mind?

What ever side you get out of bed in the morning you need to make a good first impression! Personal presentation is very important for careers, businesses and personal relationships… Think of your own company branding, are you dressing up your business, creating a unique identity, making comfortable sales etc… Remember, attention to detail has the power to make a good brand excellent!

Creative communication is another important tool; Sir Richard Branson has had some amazing campaigns to promote his brand Virgin. In his book he reflects back to the day he received a phone call telling him that the ‘London Eye,’ a 440ft Ferris wheel in the heart of London, at the time sponsored by arch rival British Airways, was late in being erected. “I thought screw it, let’s do it, and within three hours we had an airship flying over central London with a banner ‘BA can’t get it up.’ It generated us millions of dollars in free publicity. I had a lot of fun putting Virgin Atlantic on the map.”

This is not just creative but very cool if you ask me! Some brand gurus will say any publicity is good publicity, I am not sure if I agree with that… Good publicity is always better! However I can see where they’re coming from, one of the main purposes (goals in life) for any business leader has to be brand awareness, and in today’s overly populated world competition is everywhere! Creative communication to me is all about getting your brand or company identity out to the masses using non-traditional methods, such as Sir Richard Branson with his ‘BA can’t get it up’ media stunt.

As a business leader I feel it is your duty to ensure the company you create is promoting itself 24/7 and in the best possible way, if your mind is not on the task at hand “making sure more people know about your business next month than this month!” then why not think about ‘creative communication’, trying something new, doing something different… For examples of our website marketing packages please visit www.tidydesign.com, if however you would like to discuss a bespoke campaign, maybe brainstorm some creative communication ideas then feel free to email me direct on mike@mjward.co.uk

I was speaking to a friend of mine earlier this week that runs an electrical company in the South. We are both prime examples of the grass is greener! By this I mean he longs to sit behind a desk, and me on the other hand, I want to do some more physical work. We spoke about various things going on in both our lives; I then mentioned my recent conversion to the exercise bike, fitness and healthy living… Something I said whilst explaining the reasons behind it all has stuck in my mind. “I want to increase my shelf life”.

I went on to explain the hours / lifestyle I have become accustomed to over the last three or four years was not sustainable, maybe it could go on for another twenty years or so however something was going to give! So by becoming this fitter person, creating a healthier body and mind I am looking to extend my shelf life… With so much I want to do and achieve in life I concluded that I needed to change my lifestyle or run the risk of not reaching certain goals / target.

Being in business you should evaluate your lifestyle and daily routines on a regular basis, if you can not step back and assess the situation then something is wrong! It is easy to become over worked or a slave to your own company! Try thinking back to the beginning; ask yourself why you went into business in the first place? What did you set out to achieve? Who did you want to become?

So, another week is coming to an end, and you guessed it… A new week will be kicking off tomorrow at 6am! I have lots on my to-do-list for next week, however I say that every Sunday… I guess one way to look at it is a busy entrepreneur is an entrepreneur in business. I actually enjoy having so much to do it sounds impossible! I believe it is good to set big / bold targets, to continually push yourself to do and be better.

Since going into business I have found the busier I get the quicker time seems to go… It is one of life’s catch 22 scenarios, the more you have to do (or want to do) the less time you have to do it! For those who know me getting up early is no hardship, I am fortunate to of worked all my life, you could say my body is conditioned to get up, get dressed and go to work! Creating a disciplined body clock, being able to motivate yourself and work hard without instruction is vital for any self employed person.

One down side about being entrepreneurial is your mind often wonders from idea to idea, this can be counter productive if you start to neglect your main business (bread and butter). I tend to allocate the hours of 9 to 5 to Tidy Design (our core business) and work on other sites / projects before and after what you could call my day job. It has taken years for me to listen to my wife and ignore emails from clients over the weekend (unless important that is), stop giving out my mobile number (referring customers to our land line and office hours), and generally finding some more me time! However, on the other hand… I know some of the solid business relationships we have with our clients are kind of linked to that extra special service we give… So I would say it is a balance we all need to find between life and business. What works for one may not work for another.

Finally, you must create a successful environment for yourself! To make the most of your time you need everything in its right place… Searching through paperwork is not productive, not having a to-do-list could result in you scratching your head thinking “Umm, what should I do now?”… At the end of the day your time needs to make your company money, in some cases it needs to be billable, in others it will be all about planning, building and nurturing the growth of your company.

If you enjoyed reading this article then please post your thoughts or comments below. Remember to live to work and not work to live, by this I mean we all have a choice… I know work can take over your life if you let it, but we can all change how and when we work.

Over the last few days I have taken down our social networking website Business Networking Link and replaced it with a bespoke blog theme. This new website has been designed to better promote local networking events we aim to offer in Chichester, Portsmouth and Southampton, I hope you like it?

Over the next few weeks I will be meeting with David Tompkins to discuss costing, events, dates, marketing etc and hopefully we will be setting a date for our first event! This is all very exciting stuff as I believe it will create long lasting business relationships with others across the South.

 I also feel it will become a great marketing tool for Tidy Design, I mean every new company will need a website!

Last week I felt a bit run down after working some serious hours over a long space of time. After some early nights and a few sessions on the exercise bike it hit home that I needed to stop sitting behind my desk and get fit! My goal is now to completely stop drinking alcohol, exercise on a daily basis and become a much healthier individual. Over the years I have been guilty of putting my health to one side, drinking too much, not registering at a doctors or gym etc… Although I quit smoking back in 2005, I am not over weight and I eat very well (no ready meals, fizzy pop or big macs etc) I am guilty of sitting where I’m sitting now for 16+ hours a day and this can not be healthy!

One of the reasons I am trying to break this habit and change my daily routine is because my wife Rosie is carrying our first baby! I really don’t want to be the dad that works 24/7 or can’t chase a rugby ball for more than 20 minutes before he is out of breath! Although business is a big part of me, I am now starting a new chapter that requires me to change the way I think, work and live my life… We all need to be responsive to change.

I am not a big reader (mainly because I work such crazy hours and have no time!) however the books I have read about business, entrepreneurs, leadership, motivation and personal development all speak about healthy bodies resulting in healthier minds. I follow @lord_sugar for example on twitter; he is always out on his bike, keeping the body active and mind young! The same can be said about @richardbranson and @duncanbannatyne who are also very active and exceptionally successful entrepreneurs. In life and business it is good to learn from others, find out what works and what does not from others as this will save you time… Although setting up a new business is a 24/7 job, surely the day has to come when you can start re-investing time back into your health, giving the future you (and your family) an even stronger foundation to build on.

Over the weekend I went to London for a joint birthday party in Soho. Although I was mega tired after a very busy week at Tidy Design and fancied a weekend chilling out watching Xfactor and DVD’s etc… I am so glad I picked myself up and decided to go!

Being in business is difficult at the best of times, especially in today’s economic climate and with so much competition out there! I mean when you work long hours over a long period of time it becomes even more difficult to switch off and step away from the world of business! You can sometimes (like this weekend for me) need to force yourself to take time off, meet up with friends, turn off your phone and relax!

All in all the weekend was great! About 16 of us in total took over a vodka bar in Soho, London to celebrate two birthdays… It was interesting to listen to people I have not seen for years reflecting on the years gone by! I am a strong believer in making momentous days such as birthdays or New Year a time to set new goals and analyse recent events. Although London has such energy and it is a great place to establish a business or celebrate these special occasions, I did find myself longing for the mountains of Wales or sea air of Portsmouth… Although 24/7 in the fast lane can be necessary for businesses to grow, survive or develop… I also feel time away is as important to help regain sanity, asses your targets and better develop new ideas.

So to conclude… Although I am slightly pooped after a busy weekend away I am also feeling re-charged and re-united with some great friends that I should try and see more often! Being in business can be a sacrifice, it can be all consuming and it will transform your day to day life, test friendships and relationships… I guess the trick is to find a balance that is healthy for you and others. We all need to know our limits and do things for others, life after all is not only about business!

Earlier this week I went out for a few beers with the owner of Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester language colleges. Since our first meeting back in 2007 when he setup Portsmouth language college and purchased a website from an enthusiastic young web design company called Tidy Design, we have become great friends and often use our similar interests (business, investments and beer) as an excuse to meet up and put the world to right! One thing I love about my job is meeting similar minded people, I enjoy being around those who are motivated, hardworking and have a ‘do it’ attitude.

So, let’s get back to our conversation… We have talked lots in the past about JV’s (Joint Ventures) and this week part of a giant jigsaw puzzle seemed to fall into place! The colleges could offer a possible venue for networking meetings… And you will see from my website, blogs and general goals in life that education, helping start-up companies and business networking is important to me. At the pub we had one of those eureka moments; a way to promote the use / hire of conference rooms at the colleges, a way to communicate with similar minded people, and an opportunity to work together to make a difference.

Ok, I do not claim to be an expert in business or an investment guru; however what I lack in experience I feel I make up in enthusiasm, hard work and creative thinking… Last night I pencilled down several ideas about business networking in Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester. I asked myself what we could offer that other networking events do not. How could we ensure that people leave our networking events inspired? How could we help young business minds, start-up companies or business leaders? Apart from the obvious that is, building business relationships with other local companies, a chance to meet similar minded people, new connections and business opportunities…

Several months ago I purchased www.businessnetworkinglink.com with the intention of creating a twitter style, web based networking site for business owners. However, with other projects / business ideas being actively promoted, time has not been on my side to fully develop and market this particular idea. It is something that one day I may look at again, however I accept my time is better spent on other projects.

The plan is to now re-vamp this site (keeping it simple) and use it to assess if local businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups in Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester would be interested in a bespoke business networking event? Maybe a pure business mind seminar or presentation dedicated to web marketing, brand development and online business… One thing I am sure about is we have no shortage of ideas, and with the correct formula our business networking events will rock!

If you would be interested in business networking events in Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester then please post your comments below. I would like to hear what you think will work, what would you be happy to pay, and how often could you join us? I have lost track of the amount of ‘breakfast meetings’ at 6am I have been invited to! What time works best for you? And finally, apart from new business / contacts what else would you hope to take away from a business networking event?

This post looks at how certain individuals can use the power of persuasion and motivational methods to inspire and direct others to do or become better. In the world of business good leadership is vital for a happy and loyal work force. If the guy or girl at the top of the pyramid is not pulling his or her weight, if the direction they give is not certain, targets not set in stone, or if hesitation is detected by others, then the foundation of your business / brand could be at risk!

I guess MJWARD UK LTD is lucky being a smaller business, I mean I still meet and greet all our clients… If they have a question I will personally answer it, a complaint I will look into it, a testimonial, I will be one of the first to read it etc. Being small is not always a bad thing, sections of a company do not become distant or unknown, you see all the cheques that come in, and all the bills that go out!

However, leadership in a small organisation is as important as that of a larger one! The brand still depends on a solid, reliable and trustworthy image, clients may think twice about investing in sole traders if he / she are rushed off their feet! Likewise, if they are desperate for the work, you may be put off from buying! The objective for any great leaders is to find that balance, a happy place that complements the company. Strong leadership is so important for the success of any size business, the image you project to 50 staff, or to your reflection in the mirror each morning needs to be one of self-belief, confidence and coolness… If you do not believe in your own brand then it will be difficult for others to believe in you!

So what can you do each day to become a stronger business leader? Should you eat raw eggs, burn incense and do yoga before bed… Well, that isn’t for me! I would simply suggest spending whatever time is necessary to accomplish your daily to-do-list. If you have big dreams then you likely have big to-do-lists that take longer to implement than others! Remember, nothing great is achieved in life without hard work, and strong leaders should lead by example.

Hard work aside, remember to think creative! A good business leader will often think outside the box, finding solutions where others find dead ends! That said, it is also important to listen as ideas and feedback from others helps build mutual respect. Business leaders should suspend judgment while listening to others; you need to be able to accept new ways of doing things… Even the most experienced business leaders, entrepreneurs and academics need to listen and learn from time to time. Accepting this, learning from our mistakes and learning from others, it is all part of the process.

Finally, I would say a sense of humor is needed to become a strong business leader. I mean if you take yourself too seriously, if everything is about money or if you can’t laugh out loud between the hours of nine to five then why are you doing it? Having fun and enjoying what you do is great for business… It motivates staff in your office, it helps boost sales, it builds stronger relationships, and it is also healthy for you!

Our personal development area has been designed to offer more tips and tricks on how to unleash that inner business leader! If you have enjoyed reading this blog post then why not register today for the one off fee of 20 GBP and find out more about leadership, business management, self motivation and inner success.

Lets face it, if you are not re-investing in your own business then who will? When I say re-invest I don’t necessarily mean money. Think of your time as an investment, time after all is money… Are you investing as much time as you can into your company, working after hours or the occasional weekend? Re-investing is essential for growth, profits / energy should be put back in your business to help support its growth, remember to spend what you can afford!

So as a business owner what should you be re-investing in? Well, to me advertising is most important, this will after all help generate new business and increase brand awareness. Another great investment is people! If you can find a small group of people prepared to help grow your company then they will be worth there weight in gold! A great business is often formed by great people, those prepared to go that extra mile to guarantee the success of your brand, or make a customer feel that extra special.

Watching the pennies in business is very important, I mean if you impulse buy or live beyond your means then you are missing the bigger picture! Re-investing all available funds into your company should be top of your to-do-list, it should be as important as where will my next client /contract come from, or how do I pay my staff this month? Remember, if you don’t have money hanging around to invest, then invest your time / energy into some DIY marketing, sales, brain storming or brand development. The success of your business is in your own hands! Although this is very intense at times, it also makes you very lucky, unlike those working nine to five for others you have more control over your future, what direction your business or job will go etc. How cool is that!

I hope you enjoyed this small blog post about business and re-investing profits… If you have any feedback or thought you would like to add then please feel free to post these below.