OF CAPPUCINO & CONTACT LENSES

If you have kept up with me here in my blog journey, you know this already: I have a very short attention span with things that are constant.

I know that this can easily be confused with inconsistency especially in blogosphere where brand building is not just an option, but THE mantra. I love to see things from a different angle. I have changed the look and feel of this blog countless times, because I am looking for something I am yet to find.

I get tired of status-quo, at home, at work, with my food, my look ...everything. I even get tired of seeing myself in the mirror; looking the same way, everyday. Being on leave (or off duty this past week) gave me lots of time to re think, re focus, realize my potential in every way I could think of. I even got contact lenses:-). Hazel ones; that gave me a new reason to stare at myself in the mirror, I am told that can be classified as vanity, but I am a woman, it is expected under the feminine dynamics pie chart.Oh..and i drank cappucino, even if I swear by Mocha.

Well, I think my blog will remain as is...for now :-) ( little tongue out.)

This past Saturday, I went for Aly Khan Satchu's “Mindspeak” (here) at Westgate, (and forgot to wear my contacts!!) where Graham Gilmour, CEO The Business Phone,(website here) was speaker.

I try to take a break at least once every six months to re-charge, I hate feeing counter productive, usually it gives me great satisfaction to put my heart into my work, I love giving 120% to whatever I do, and feel extremely wasted when I don’t do that. So Saturday morning, I woke up and was looking forward to the monthly event: It was in many ways a turn around for me

The 30 min session by Graham Gilmour almost got me shooting off my seat into a corner office over looking the Himalayas.....ok, that's over stating it, but it was a chance to look at what we make out of life:

We are all in the business of selling, ourselves, products, service…if you make money, then you are selling something:

Here's a few pointers that I'd like to share which I picked out from Grhams presentation:

Third party story:
Use the third person to sell. “When I sold this Prada bag to Caroline Mutoko, she ordered for 5 more in different designs"(example is pure fiction) but I hope you get me drift.

Never Pre Judge a contact:
Graham once sold (owned the company actually) luxury boats in Australia and almost missed a 17% commission on 2 luxury boats when a young "ginger haired" boy walked in to enquire on the super boats.His employees were out having a beer, he stayed on to listen to this "kid" Ginger bought two boats; he had just won the lottery.

Recognize an opportunity when you see one.
Always look for opportunities where everyone sees gloom:I met Graham afterwards and asked this: When entrepreneurs are starting off, should they do what they love to do or, like him find an opportunity? Graham looked for opportunities and put his all in it. He sold houses, ran a hotel that was bankrupt, and now sells the Business Phone.(www.businessphone.com)

Debt is good. (Personal debt)
Gets us into trouble, but it makes you wake up in the morning with a target in mind.

Set targets
Know what you want, a great home, great car, great family: then work backwards from there.

Do your research well:
For Instance, now that Fiber is landing in Kenya, look out for what business models made it big when fiber optic hit other continents. Countless Oportunities.

You don’t get a second chance at first impressions:
This is self explanatory. A friend came in this afternoon off to meet a potential new employer; I asked her if she was going home to change. First Impressions happens once. Take advantage of it. This is from how you dress to how to make your pitch.

Surround yourself with successful people:
You are who you hang out with & the more you communicate with people, the more opportunities you find. Period.

Ultimate confidence:
Faith, Courage & enthusiasm. These are three things you must carry with you every single day. Someone has to like you to listen to you, to buy from you, to work with you. Believe in yourself, you will either sell, or starve. You make that choice.

This may seem a writing targeted to entrepreneurs, which I am not currently, but made me re think the amount of energy we give whatever it is we work for, or work at. It made a lot of sense for me that morning, as it does now, and it will for a long time. We are who we want to be, it’s up to us to chart that way forward, whether employed or an employee, put your best foot forward, it is the first step to success.