Blog Entries:
23/07/10
28/06/10
28/05/10
19/04/10
01/04/10
24/02/10
25/01/10
05/01/10
02/12/09
23/11/09
21/10/09
11/10/09
28/09/09
31/08/09
13/07/09
29/06/09
07/06/09
18/05/09
Editors Note 23/07/10
Cooks tour
The family that partakes in holiday activities together ... can get very sore feet.
What an amazing week I have just had. I can’t think of anything better than spending time with my kids and partner on holiday. This time it was in wonderful Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Yes, I’ve been here a lot and watched the ongoing development of this burgeoning tourist paradise. They have been the recipient of much of the tourist dollar since the coup in Fiji, and what a difference it is making to their economy.
We were fortunate enough to stay in the Pacific Resort’s relatively new property Te Manava, a beautiful unit of two pods, supported with a pool and located right on the beach. It can’t get much better than this.
In deciding among the four of us as to what the holiday expectations were, I have learnt that with a full-grown family, it is wise to do this before choosing the destination. Sam’s was all about getting a tan, Edward’s was warmth (remember they are both studying in Dunedin), a tan and activities, the dreaded word for non-activists like Sam and myself. Tony was easy either way, but wanted to be able to meet the needs of the boy, given on previous holidays we were well aware of the consequences of too little to do. This holiday, it was not to be the case.
We arrived late Saturday night, to a wonderful 28 degrees. Yes, it was midnight as we ambled towards our home for the next seven days. As we unlocked our impressive gate, we all knew instantly that we had made the right choice. First day, we were on the pool loungers – thankfully it was sunny! Two days of rain followed with the second night turning on a violent electrical storm. The rain stopped and we were into the real holiday, given it’s never quite the same when it’s wet.
Three days into it and it was time for our first activity. Edward had been eyeing the island walks in a quest to reach the highest peak. We decided on a gentler traverse across the island. Four hours later, we emerged from possibly one of the most difficult walks I have ever done, reaching 430m at its peak. I was determined, no matter how many stops we had, to complete the walk. Not that I had a lot of choice; the terrain was made a lot more challenging with the recent downpour, copious tree roots, steep inclines and numerous river crossings. Thank God I had decent shoes.
It was a wonderful sense of achievement to complete this walk, along with a mental note to increase my cardio exercise when home, with the added memory of a stiffness that I have not experienced for a while. This is only really abating now as I sit in the Rarotonga Koru Club.
A drawn-out bus ride back to the car, courtesy of the roundtrip buses that run around the island, we were then starving so went in search of the best fish and chips on the island. Yes, we had done our homework.
We arrived at the Flying Boat, an extension of the local game-fishing club. It delivered all, and more, with its great location and quirky concept; the product is served from an old fishing vessel that has been beached. Excellent fish and chips!
The next activity we booked was an authentic island night. Not normally keen on this sort of thing, I agreed, wanting to keep a great momentum going. Once again, we did our homework and concurred that the Local Highlanders night seemed to be the preference.
Rather than take the company bus, we arrived in our rental, enabling a stop at the highly recommended Jim’s bar, which has the best Pina Coladas on the island, and served in a jam jar to boot. Edward fell in love with the ambience. Right on the beach, it was an eclectic mixture of 70s paraphernalia run by a very personable Englishman. Exactly the sort of place he would choose if organising a holiday for himself and his friends!
Drink over, we shot up the next road to the main event. A few cliché introductions, the mandatory tourist stuff, and we were invited to enter the boarding-school-like dining room. Food is always a challenge for me, with my principles, and unfortunately it doesn’t get any better on the island. Regardless of the broods of roaming chickens and the huge number of tethered pigs we saw, this meat is still flown in from New Zealand, and yes it is from factory-farmed environments. Even the eggs are still a product of our inhumane practices. I did, however, find plenty to experience on the extensive buffet. The pork, they assured me, was local; killed for the umu. That was doubtful but I did try it.
After the meal, the show began. Our host was relentless with his inclusive format; he was in search of an occasion to celebrate. Sam proffered herself with a birthday seven days away. She became a focus of the host’s attention, the piece de resistance being her selection of the loudest whaka for which she got to dance with the recipient, and Edward just happened to video a hapless Sam doing her very best to emulate the Cook Islands’ dance, much to the amusement of us all. I hate to think where footage like this ends up – YouTube, Facebook – I doubt it, if Sam ever gets hold of the camera! Night over, we carefully transcended the climb in our rental and arrived at our bure, rapt that we had made the effort.
The break has been a potpourri of wonderful firsts. I have reconnected with the kids, managed to stay on top of my work, helped by wireless internet and the fact that I get up two hours earlier than the kids. I have even approached the local chamber of commerce and the local women’s BPW, as I would love to get involved with some of the businesses here and be part of their growth. I just see so much opportunity. Thankfully they agreed to meet at our favourite island café, so the kids hardly noticed my departure for a well-invested hour as they devoured their beers and wood-fired pizzas. I have had another business idea, much to the frustration of Tony, who I am sure is getting ready to retire. Let’s just see how this one plays out.
Most of all I have had an exceptional break with the people that I love the most. I love this island so I will be back and if I can add to the fabric in any way, I will be here with a purpose. Best of all, I still fit my jeans after seven days of great food and way too much alcohol.
Enjoy the mag, with the knowledge that we are steaming towards summer, which presents itself loudly in our space as we fill up with fabulous summer frocks loaded and waiting to be released into our stores. And, like me, I hope that all of you have had a break with your nearest and dearest.
Cook Islands 13 July 2010
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Editor's Note 28/06/10
Mediocrity – I hate it. Too many businesses are happy to trade this way, and too many of us are happy to do business with mediocre operations. By not addressing mediocrity, we let it breed. Maybe it is so hard to confront because there’s so much of it out there and once we get started we’ll be in confrontational mode continually.
I do confront it though, and most often hear: “Oh, we’re sorry, but you are the first person to make this observation. Here, have a voucher to use on your return.” What return? I didn’t raise the issue to get a discount. I thought you might like to address your weaknesses in the interests of making your business better.
This was the scenario when I ate out in a new restaurant last month. They had actively insisted that I try their venue, and so much of what they did was beyond great, especially the food and the ambience. However, attempts to get ongoing service were a non-event. It was bad enough trying to get my wine glass refilled, let alone getting someone interested in bringing the bill at the end of the night.
When I gave them feedback, assuming they would want to know this, the response was exactly as outlined above: “You’re the first to say this. Others have been raving about our team. But here, have a $100 voucher for your return.”
Sadly, I will not be using this … but more sadly, I know the staff did not single me out to deliver poor service, which raises the question of how many others are experiencing this and electing not to eat there again, rather than trying to do anything about it.
Last week, I found that even in cosmopolitan Wellington, mediocrity is alive and well.
The mediocrity began in Auckland before boarding my flight. I decided to have a quick Koru Club breakfast, although the food in the Auckland Koru Club is not as good as it is in Wellington and Christchurch. Starving, I half filled a small bowl with Bircher muesli. Bad mistake. Horse chaff would have tasted better. Where is the consistency, Air New Zealand?
Lunch wasn’t much better. At the invitation of a colleague, I went to a café that was full of noise and had terrible food, but no one seemed to mind. They apparently have a monopoly in this area so they don’t need to try too hard. No one could have enjoyed their food, but I’m sure they will all return. Thank God for the Burger King cheeseburger I had earlier, not expecting the lunch invite. They get a 10/10 compared to this crap!
Later, I spoke to a group of customers at our Coastlands store and enjoyed a catch up with my team. Day over, I headed back to my hotel. The weather was awful – the sort that only Wellington can dish up. It was a marathon simply getting from the car to the hotel, barged by the horizontal rain, but I made it and retired to my room and found a wonderful surprise. I had been upgraded; the news enhanced by a note and some treats from management. Suddenly hungry again, I decided to order room service and watch the first show of Dancing on Ice, the English version. Not knowing how long I would be awake, I simply ordered soup and a great glass of Pinot. Even the bartender said it would be quick, given my order … nothing too hard here.
Half an hour later I’m still waiting. It’s 10 o’clock and I’m shattered, I ring to see what has happened, get a brief apology for the apparent oversight, and am told the food is on its way.
When it’s finally delivered, I imagine the waiter is surprised not to get a tip, even though it’s hardly his fault the kitchen can’t get it together.
One great experience, the room upgrade, has been negated by the other – the meal service. Yep, that’s all I will remember, given we are only as good as our last performance.
Why am I constantly underwhelmed by the retail and service industry? How hard is it to be great? Why are so many happy to accept mediocrity? It’s time we addressed this. Confront, please, don’t avoid, and make it better for the next customer. Try it – it gets easier.
Speaking of delivering more than the customer expects, do enjoy this mag. It’s been upsized and includes our Who’s Who 2010 magazine, which showcases successful women CEOs. They have some great tips on how to move up the corporate ladder, definitely making this issue a keeper.
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Annah's Blog 28/05/10
I will start worrying when they stop talking about me; when no one gives a damn and I receive no bouquets and no brickbats. Neither has any effect on how I act anyway. I will never understand why so many people base their lives and decisions on what others think.
How is it that so many women need the sanction of others whether it is a partner, friend or sibling, simply to purchase a new dress, or a new pair of shoes? How do they ever manage to get dressed in the morning without someone there to approve of their choices?
Why are we unable to directly confront the issue and find a solution when we are unhappy about something? In the interests of keeping the peace, we avoid, we harbour, we deliberate, and we fervently discuss the wrongdoing with 50 people, but never the source. Instead, we remain the firmest of friends with the perpetrator because we are terrified they might decide they do not like us. For many women it is more important to be Miss Popular than to deal with the issue at hand.
I will never make myself the subject of an ongoing assessment process. I have never asked my partner how I look as I change one handbag’s contents for another. The mirror can give me all the information I need.
Many people, when meeting me, feel the need to preface the conversation by passing on other’s impressions of me. Whether these are great or not so great, I simply don't care, because I don't need to.
I am well aware of the sort of person I am, as we all should be. I do not need the media to evaluate me, but I do need to monitor myself constantly, to ensure that everything I perform, and everyone I encounter, is treated with dignity and integrity.
I interact with so many people who create challenges for themselves by putting popularity before performance. In business, there is no room for this. Business is business, never personal. It needs black and white responses that deal with the action rather than the personality.
Given the opportunity, it’s amazing how quickly people will embrace this style of management, and how quickly it will achieve the desired result. A retail assistant who cannot achieve a desired level of turnover in our stores will have to make some choices: is she a fit for the brand? Can she connect with the customer to establish the relationship that enables the sale?
If not, then we both need the opportunity to look at other options. There is nothing personal in this approach; it is simply a reality of business.
Each store needs to trade at a minimum level to be a sustainable unit. If the existing manager can't achieve this, then it is prudent business to make a change.
Yet this approach is practised so infrequently. People in business let their teams slip into mediocrity, avoiding the issue and despairing as to our business results, when in fact the control is within reach, it is simply developing the pluck to engage and amend behaviours.
I have been named among the worst dressed by Metro magazine – for a red streak in my hair that had been out for three years when I earned the auspicious title – and slammed by Stacy Gregg for my NZ fashion shows. All very personal stuff, if you see it that way. The most personal attack had to be by my own local paper the Waikato Times, with their front-page review of the first issue of Her, newly under my stewardship. The list goes on.
So how do I cope with this? I simply believe in myself. It is not for others to judge me. When you don't need or look for others’ assessments, you get so much power back. Try it.
Focus on your own life, your dreams and visions, trust yourself to make good decisions, and you usually will. Remember you won't always get it right, but as long as you approach things with dignity and integrity, you will be just fine.
And remember, start worrying when they stop talking about you.
Enjoy this issue of
Her. As always the team and I have loved bringing it to you and love to get your feedback. I look forward to catching up with some of you at our Bloom conference in Auckland on June 23-24.
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Annah's Blog 19/04/10
Having it all – and loving it
Many people think my life has been about lucky breaks and a great start. Not so. My parents split up when I was nine years old and I lived mainly with my dad. It was a very unsupervised life. I never wanted for material things but from the age of 15, I held part-time jobs while completing my School Certificate and University Entrance at a very average decile high school in Hastings.
My life has been shaped by the choices I’ve made and the opportunities I’ve taken. When I started my clothing company in 1992 (this month we are 18 years of age, a significant milestone in any business), I had a one-year-old baby, Edward, and his sister, Sam, 14 months older. These were challenging times as I drove my vision and passion alongside caring for my two greatest achievements.
But you can have it all and achieve great outcomes to boot. The investment in my children was all about values and creating a positive environment in which to nurture them, not about having to devote every minute of my working day to them.
Last year, Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Stretton Clothing Company Limited turned 18, and I celebrated 50 years of life as my son commenced his university education. The years in between have been stormy at times, on the home and business fronts, but I’ve never faltered in my love for my children and my business – which perhaps indicates the success I’ve enjoyed in both arenas.
So many people ask me to name one thing that has been key in enabling me to achieve and take on so much. There are two keys. The first is discipline. I have a huge amount of routine in my life, and I am extremely good at prioritising. I only attend to the tasks that need to be done in a day. This brings greater efficiency and much less stress to my operation, no matter how unpalatable the task appears.
The second vital ingredient is passion. I absolutely love what I do, even after 18 years. I head into work each day loving the environment, the people and the product with which I work. With that level of passion, it’s almost impossible to be mediocre; a lesson that’s lost on many businesses.
The combination of passion and discipline that I bring to work each day, has ensured my success, and my ability to thrive even in the recessionary trading conditions that we have encountered.
You cannot and will not be able to achieve without loving and trusting yourself first. To generate success in family and business, you must believe in yourself and you must live and portray success every day. So, trust that you can have it all and start living your life today.
The theme of this magazine is appropriate to all mums and businesswomen in the 21st century. Sure, you have to be a superwoman to achieve and measure up to what the day throws at you, but this stuff is instinctive, and we can cope. In fact, we can do better than that – we can thrive by taking multitasking to a new level, enabling us to effect our dreams and passions, while still enjoying a great partnership and family.
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Annah's Blog 01/04/10
It’s time for women to start thinking in a more black and white way!
I have had one hell of a month, dealing with the hidden agendas of women that come at you from the most obscure directions.
Women continue to undermine each other and themselves in the commercial/corporate environment by simply just being bitches.
We are the masters of avoidance but, in practising this, we are not averse to letting all but the source know exactly how we feel!
The hidden agenda has to be the biggest bane of my life; women who sit in front of you discussing one issue, with absolute knowledge of their total lack of intent to act on any of it. When will they learn that business is just business, it is never personal!
And then there’s the workplace termination. Why is it that so many women fail to see the importance of departing with dignity, and turn their final weeks into such a negative experience? Where does their foresight go? To trash and burn all their previous connections, all their achievements and the hard work that they have done, while they drive forward with excitement to their next goal, just seems so pointless. Many of my retail employees depart their posts with their worst sales weeks ever; telling anyone that will listen of their new position. So, what a surprise it is to have a departure with a record sales week, and a fabulous attitude to boot and one worthy reference earned as well.
It seriously is time for women to adapt a much more black and white perspective in their business model, whether an employer or employee. There is no room for feminine emotion in the business environment. It simply wastes too much time and is extremely counter productive as well as being incredibly bad for your health.
Now is the time to learn the true art of communication, tackle issues at the source, have a clear agenda of what you want to achieve and clearly communicate this. If you think you’re worth more money, and seek a pay rise, work with the right person to achieve this, think about what you can add to your existing role, and sell yourself to your employer. For a company to pay you more, you need to bring more to the role, pay increases are not something that happen each year as a divine employee right. You need to earn them. Remember, until a job’s worth more than the money, it will never pay more; meaning that a great attitude goes a long way in a business. Consider the position of your employer, unless they do something differently, or create a new opportunity, their company revenue take is unlikely to change; therefore the converse should work for the employee.
Clairvoyance will never be my strong suit, so why is it that so many interact with me as if it is? In doing so, we truly determine our own destiny in both the workplace and our outside environment. Therefore, don’t look to others to second guess exactly what this is. Take control of your own pathway and practise communicating in a very black and white way and you’ll surprise yourself with the results.
I’d love to get your feedback on my editorial ... so please drop me an email.
Enjoy the magazine this month.
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Annah's Blog 24/02/10
Our commitment to our greatest achievements is taking away from our ability to thrive!
Why do so many women lack confidence?
They undervalue, they underplay their abilities and generally approach life from the back foot yet they are continually afraid of failure. Their dreams are manageable and bite sized – nothing too big or ambitious. Women have simply fallen out of love with themselves. They need continual assurance in a way that no man ever would. They have forgotten how to push boundaries. They simply prefer to keep the peace and play it safe. Women lack the confidence to give things a go; they simply let others go before them.
Women have stopped believing that they can have it all – a great partnership, well-rounded kids and a life pursuing their dreams. Why is it that so many get to the end of their life and still wonder what it was all really about?
So what do we put this down to … the ‘Mum’ guilt? No way!
I am often asked how I have achieved so much and still managed to effect my role as a mum without the guilt that so many of my peers feel. Easy! For me it was never about the quantity of time that I spent with the children; it was the quality. How can you raise settled, balanced and motivated kids if you're not that yourself? Your kids will be a replica of who you are. They can only take from the environment in which they are nurtured.
Rather than elect to be simply a caregiver – hire one. There are plenty of people that are in the business of running around after kids; your role is a much more extensive one. You are there to set them up for a life of success and independence and to do this you need to have achieved this at some level yourself. Your development adds to your kids’ lives ... fact!
Just as you do, kids learn from the school of hard knocks, so give things a go. Extend yourself; it will only benefit your greatest achievements. Just as you will, they will develop an ability to cope with the challenges that life throws at them, and isn't this one of the greatest gifts you can give them along with your love?
Teach them how to communicate from an early age. Enable them to have opinions and grow their passion for life. All of this comes from your own ongoing self development and love of who you are! Never simply be an extension of your children; you deserve more.
And finally, women need to stop apologising! The other day I sent a text to one of my team. Mistakenly, I had the wrong number (must remember to keep my glasses at the ready) but the person who I’d texted decided to respond even though they didn't know me and here’s the response: ‘Sorry I missed your call. Who is this sorry?’ What the hell are they sorry for? I mistakenly texted them.
So many women take this back foot approach to life. You do not have to be continually sorry (try tabulating how many times you say this in a day; it will surprise you). You are not the reason something hasn't worked out and even if you are, apologising doesn't fix it; finding a solution does!
Back-foot thinking, simply degrades you; you are worth so much more. So stop apologising and get on with finding solutions to assist you in achieving the outcomes you need in a day. You are the master of your own destiny and if you truly want something to occur, it will!
Why do so many women feel the need to justify their actions? Less is more. Self belief will stop this justification and you will not need to seek others approval. I am constantly amazed at how many women, when purchasing a new frock, need the opinion of so many. We damn well know when we step out of that changing room to evaluate ourselves in the big shop mirror whether we look fantastic. This is all part of that self confidence that so many of us lack and simply need to find again.
You get one chance at life and you need to start living it from the day you are able to control your own destiny. Partners and children are wonderful additions to your life but they are no reason to stop driving your dreams. If you're not in love with yourself, you will make choices that compromise you; a partnership that isn't a great fit or decisions for your kids that result in consequences that are not that palatable. Being confident and loving yourself is the ultimate gift to you and the people closest to you.
You get one go at life; live it to the fullest. Place a high value on yourself and never let anyone undermine you. This is your life; fall in love with it, embrace it and remember you can have it all!
Enjoy our March issue and don't forget to send in your feedback; I love to hear from you.
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Annah's Blog 25/01/10
Happy Valentine's Day!
Yes, we are all back at work and screaming through another year. The three weeks or so that we had off in January are simply a distant memory and all the promises we made as to how we were going to balance our hectic lives are a blur. Or are they? No, not for me. This year is the year of real change, the year of slowing it down, focusing on the core business and the year of the family. Yep, a very real investment in the ones that I love and the ones that love me.
February is definitely the month to start this investment, the month of love ..., which leads me to the topic of indifference, a discussion that I had with one of my closest friends at the beach over the summer break.
It started with dogs. Yes, a conversation around the suitability of one’s lifestyle to own a dog, and the many people that own them that perhaps shouldn't. Well, they shouldn't in my eyes, given that I believe that for the ownership of any animal, you need to be prepared to totally embrace their personalities and bask in the love that they will bring into your lives.
Indifference, we decided, is the one element that categorises dog ownership. I, for one, get anxious if I am unable to get home around 5pm to feed my two canine babies. While we were at the beach on holiday, the routine of the daily walk at 5am (moved to 6am given the break) continued rain or shine. When we go away, the suitability of an in-house carer becomes an all-consuming focus given that it will never be an option to place them in kennels. Our lives have, as I’m sure with many animal lovers, a huge handbrake on them given that I am not indifferent to the care of the two dogs I love! I know life would be so much easier if I was indifferent to their care.
Indifference doesn't mean that these owners care less for their animals. It has inadvertently given them a position of strength that I don't have. This strength can be incredibly useful when brought into a business environment. To practise a level of indifference will enable good business decisions. To be too passionate towards the concept can enable a blindness that results in a bad decision.
Of course, to be too indifferent is no way to run a business. Therefore, the key to good indifference is moderation – just enough to enable a detachment that provides a power and not too much that a passiveness creeps in.
Therefore, it will be using the right level of indifference that will enable me to affect my goal of balance and family this year.
Our magazine this month has a focus on the pre-loved market and business that is thriving by trading in the stuff that nobody wants. These businesses have prospered in the recessive environment, as they are not only fashionable, given the sustainable focus that so many are driving towards, but they also enable monetary savings. This is very necessary in the year we have just had and a huge win-win for these operators. With the event of Trade Me, these people have endured healthy competition. Read how the smart operators have made this new age of technology and sustainability work for them.
February is also the month that our new collections come into store and I’m sure many of you are hanging out for a new frock. Let us be the one to meet that need!
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Annah's Blog 05/01/10
The year 2010: I am so much older and feel so much younger. I remember looking at 50 and thinking it was the end of life, not the beginning. Maybe it’s the birch juice I have been drinking.
As 2009 drew to a close, I remember sitting outside with my partner enjoying a well-deserved glass of Rosé, my new favourite tipple; that is, when I’m not on my self-enforced, alcohol-free days (a suggestion from Jacquie Dale, my dietician who seriously can’t believe that alcohol-free days are difficult… what planet is she on?).
I considered the end of the year that we were all racing frantically towards, and I wondered why? There was simply so much to be enjoyed at that time of the year, rather than being exhausted by it. Sure, the thought of the two weeks off that our closure brings was fantastic, but following that, I had a diary that was filling up by the day with so many amazing opportunities. I love my life! The lesson I learnt was to simply treat December as any other month in business as it was just another part of the year, and perhaps reduce the stress levels associated with it, put it into perspective and embrace the silly season for all it had to offer.
So, 2010 is the year to think about globalisation, how to take the product and services that you offer and pitch them to a global stage, as it is the one way that I believe we will close the ever-increasing gap between Australia and New Zealand.
In early December, I judged the Wellington Her Business Network Awards and what a great lineup of entries; one of the best that I have seen in the many business awards that I have judged.
The businesses that won were all global, or at least had a concept that was capable of being taken to a global stage. Not only were they innovative concepts, but the prospect of globalising their products had in fact strengthened their business model – a huge advantage to their business operations.
Therefore, 2010 is the year to up-skill yourselves and increase productivity. Given you have survived the recession and the frost of the business world, you have obviously done things correctly, so now is the time to do it even better.
Therefore, this is the theme of the magazine – to become a big fish in 2010. Sure, not everyone has the goal of global domination in their business plan. But you should have, however, the goal of up-skilling so that you can drive your business to the next level. Static operations very quickly become mediocre so, whether global or not, at least aspire to be a leader in your field.
Make 2010 the year that the market notices your operation and starts talking about you. Look for ways to actively promote what you offer. Assess the people you employ; they need to be great. Find a mentor; you are not the lone ranger. And, most of all, fall back in love with what you do. If you can’t, get out and give someone else a go.
Well, another year is over, we are all a year older and looking forward to 2010.
Happy New Year... Enjoy a glass of Veuve Clicquot as I intend to do!
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Annah's Blog 02/12/09
Does anyone know how to say thank you anymore?
I've been intending to put some words around this bug bear topic of mine for a while, as it seems the more that I give gratuitously the more that people forget to say thank you and given the pending Christmas season and the expected gift giving that attaches to it, there's possibly never been a better time to tackle this topic.
I get several requests a day for help, generated by others in business, which will often result in a full mentor session, or a simple phone call to talk the instigator through their challenge. The sad fact is that 80 percent of the people that I talk to do not follow up with a quick email of thanks. In many instances I will not hear from them until their next challenge arises. It's a sad fact that we do not value what we get for nothing, yet my conundrum remains, in that there are so many deserving cases that proffer their souls in a bid to get help. So, to penalise them, given the actions of those that have gone before, simply seems unfair, and so the cycle continues. Many have suggested that I attach a charge to the information that I impart, which is difficult in that so many simply would not have the revenue to pay, and therefore would not seek the help.
The wonderful thing regarding mentoring is the limitless pool of competent business people that are out there that may or may not accept your approach. Generally this help is free and often it is the one thing that seriously does get you considering how you can drive your business to the next level.
Another of my thankless tasks is in the field of public speaking. Yes, there are many who pay well to have me share my business and life knowledge with their teams but there are also many philanthropic presentations that assist with fundraising goals. Ironically it is always the paying ones that follow up with a thank you email and feedback from their delegates. It is a rare day indeed when the unpaid ones correspond after my session. Sure there is always a ‘thanks’ at the time, but a follow up email is all the more powerful.
While we are on the subject of emails, it is okay to say no. Yes all you high profile people that get continual requests to take part in an assortment of events, if for some reason you don't want to, or can't do this event, for god's sake email back and let the requestor know! Silence is no answer and a no is perfectly okay. The worst action is to leave them hanging, never knowing whether they can move on and ask another, fearful of a duplication they can't afford or don't really need.
And a message for all those that are in employment: an employer deserves a thank you as well, just as you are encouraged and motivated by feedback and to employ someone does not create an ongoing expectation of giving. With the Christmas party looming, and this is not a divine right, think about how you can reciprocate, rather than just receive and remember that they have ensured your job was safe during this difficult recessive trading time.
My final word on thank you is also attached to Christmas and the dreaded presents. Presents are never measured by value spent. I see so many worry about the amount spent on a gift being a measure of the receiver’s worth to the giver. Innovative and creative gifts are by far the best. What about simply thanking them with a card for the part they have played in your life over the year and spending some time with them at an event they enjoy.
So my message to you all, make thank you a big part of your life and business, it's not about the gifts, it's all about the follow up and for me it's simply thank you.
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Annah's Blog 23/11/09
December is finally here and, for me, it’s almost like the movie 50 First Dates – I know that I have been here so many times before, nearly 50 to be exact, and suddenly I am back here again.
The whole thought of Christmas is a conundrum to me. Some years I can’t think of anything worse as work races towards our closedown. This is the three weeks that we shut the doors of our head office in Morrinsville so that we all can take a well-deserved break with the ones closest to us.
While this forced closedown does get rid of the ever-increasing holiday days that our team accrue throughout the year, it also comes at one of our busiest times, given the growing export orders that we have been fortunate enough to secure. Not to mention that the rag trade requires the first drop of winter clothing into our retail stores from 1 February and this is only two weeks after the rest of the team return.
This year, however, it will be different. No matter how I have felt about Christmas in the past, with the challenges of disjointed families and interrupted workflows, this year, I fully intend to embrace the whole damn month.
All year I have had this niggling feeling as I race toward the month of December. This month contains one of the most milestone birthdays for me, the dreaded 50th.
I haven’t yet encountered a woman, except, perhaps, the TV celebrity endorsing another miracle cream to an ageing, baby-boomer population, that has been ready to yell from the rooftops that she is 50 and damn well loving it!
Yet, I am sure there are many of you out there in that ‘what is age but a state of mind’ mindset, and mine is a healthy one. I have had 50 great years. No, they have not been a happy accident with a barrel of luck thrown in for good measure. They have been many years of hard work that I have loved every damn day; opportunities that I have embraced, discipline that I have applied, and a pay-it-forward attitude that grows stronger by the day.
December will not only be about me and the big birthday. It will also include a huge connection with my immediate family. My son Edward finally returns home after six weeks in Camp America, followed by three months of relatively extensive world travel, and my bank account can breathe again! My daughter Sam has completed her final year of Bcom exams.
This means that we are all together again under the one roof to celebrate Christmas and gear up for the 2010 year, when both kids will return together to Dunedin.
For many, however, the thought of Christmas is truly exhaustive, with the dysfunctional families, the expectations, the distance and the cost!
It is a time when our news media are bombarded with stories of assault and violence, often at the worst levels, and most of this is will also fly under the media radar and will simply be endured as a cost of the festive season.
It will see the tail end of this very difficult recessive year in which business has operated, although I believe we will still see casualties in this area for a while yet.
It is also a time for new beginnings, and so many will be gearing up to make 2010 the best year yet, and perhaps realise that dream of a small business, an overseas trip or a new course of study.
Our magazine, as always, is loaded with great stories and information, supporting and growing business. This month is no exception as we flavour the contents with festive feel.
So, to all of our readers: embrace this great time of year and use it to pay forward to others less fortunate, take time out to reflect on the year that has passed and look to challenge yourself in 2010.
But, most of all, have the best Christmas ever … and happy birthday to me!
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Annah's Blog 23/11/09
Working with your partner...
One of the harder challenges in business today has to be the integrating of your partner into the business that you have incepted and grown. While there are many advantages to having the support of your life-long mate or a close family member, there are also many disadvantages, should the parameters around this business relationship not be managed properly.
At present, the level of involvement that my family / partner have in the company is extensive. My partner is our general manager, my mother handles our accounts and payroll, my daughter is part of the warehouse management team this year during her Christmas and New Year’s break and my son often works with us assisting with store refits and driving our truck.
So how might you prevent the daily challenges of the business rolling over into your personal life, or more so, how do you create a life outside the company so that your every waking hour is not embroiled in the politics of the business.
Many times we have tried to divorce the company from our personal relationship when in our home environment but it has never worked. The size of the operation, right from day one, has meant that issues creep into our every waking hour. It is simply a reality of what we do, for ours is a 24/7 retail operation.
Therefore we have had to look at other means of balancing our relationship with the demands of the company. I would be happy to strategise 24/7 as I love what this beast can be but not so for Tony, he's pretty much over it all when we walk out the door at the end of the day.
So what is our secret? It's the black and white way of thinking that so many of you have heard me talk about. When an issue arises at home - and believe me some of these can get very heated - we deal with the case in point and move on, business is business, and it is never personal.
Given that it is not intrinsic for a woman to think this way, this technique takes practice but it is so worthwhile when you master it. In fact the benefits are so wide reaching for me, as I have also taught my children to deal with issues in the same way. Without the drama and the tears, we can resolve the burning family issues that so many deal with ineffectively and move on with none of the sulking, days of not talking and door slamming exists for this family.
It is all about focusing on the issue to get a result and no matter how palatable, or unpalatable, the outcome is, it is over once the final word has been said, even if that word is not always to my advantage.
The benefits of family involvement are huge. The first has to be the trust, given that 95% of a company's theft is internal, at least I know that this will not be the case where I have employed my immediate family. I am hugely comfortable that is my mother and myself who are the only ones that have access to the company's many bank accounts and cheque books.
Given my partner has the pivotal role in regards to our human resources and this is a minefield of an area that can lead to all sorts of challenges if not managed properly, this part of our operations runs all the more smoothly when I remove myself and trust in his ability to manage in the best interests of the company and our team.
Along with the black and white thinking approach, you will need to define your areas of responsibility and accountability well, these as with everyone else in your team will need to be monitored, so that you are both driving towards the same outcomes.
It's not rocket science, in fact it’s hugely beneficial to be surrounded and supported, when you are executing your vision, by those whom you love and those who love you.
At the end of the day it will simply come back to family, so if appropriate, why not have them involved, as with everything else that you do, it is simply about communicating well to achieve the outcomes you need.
I know of so many successful women that thrive on the involvement of their children and partners in the business: Peri Drysdale, of Untouched World, and her daughter Emily; Colyn Deaureux Kay of Egg Maternity and her daughter, Charlotte, and her son are both pivotal in the business; Michael Hill and his daughter Emma, who set up the Canadian arm of his operation; Paula Ryan of Simply You fame, and her daughter Bridget. For so many of these women and many others it has been a driving force for them to share something that they are so passionate about with someone they are so passionate about.
I love working with my family. Let's face it, there's always going to be drama on the home front whether you work together or not, so embrace the challenges.
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Editor's Note 21/10/09 from Paris
I suppose I should see myself as considerably spoilt as I sit in my hotel and type this editorial after a wonderful Sunday in Paris with my son, his friend Tim, and my partner, Tony.
I am over in Paris to collect on the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman award that I won earlier this year. I have detailed this wonderful trip with many photos in this month’s magazine. Given that it was such a special day, I felt it only appropriate to share the event so that some of you may look forward to winning an award of this calibre.
After two wonderful days in Reims, we are now basking in one of my favourite cities, Paris; beautifully exhausted from two days of introducing my son to the wonderful architectural heritage of this city.
Yesterday, we visited the Louvre for a hurried visit to the site of The Mona Lisa. Amongst the crowds, we took the boys’ photo, with the Leonardo masterpiece in the background. Hurried, in that their interest in the museum didn’t go much beyond the acclaimed painting, we were off to Notre Dame Cathedral. We had abandoned the Metro stations to beat the feet and were exhausted from the crowds and the huge amount of walking so I was rapt to see a familiar ‘Subway’ sandwich sign. My suggestion of a six-inch Sub for lunch was met with huge disdain. We are in Paris. Subway? No way – something more traditional. The boys wanted to try snails and frog legs. We complied with the request and ensconced ourselves outside a small traditional French café and, true to their word, they ordered snails and frogs. To see Edward suck on the backbone of a small frog, with splayed legs still attached, was more than I could stand, especially with my new vegetarian status.
The afternoon saw us below The Eiffel Tower. The view from beneath this iconic monument was enough for Tony and me, so we left the boys in a queue to ascend the tower that seemed to snake on forever. We headed back towards our hotel to complete some much-needed shopping. We later found that even our seasoned travellers had abandoned the queue to set off for the Arc de Triomphe.
The evenings with the boys were just as wonderful. It is difficult to remember when they were not the adults that they are today. Three months of travelling at the tiny age of 18 has changed my son forever but in the best of ways. Don’t they say one’s education begins outside the school gate?
I am loving the time with him so I suggest that he and Tim travel to Morocco with us. This would be wonderful for them, as they would experience a new country in a cost-effective manner, and so much better for me as, for four more days, I will get to embrace the wonderful person Edward has become – I am so proud of him!
This leads into the theme of this issue, with the focus on paying it forward. With all that I am exposed to, and the heady moments that populate my life, there is nothing better than the simple things. This time in Paris with Edward has surely been a great moment of balance for me. Such moments make it so worthwhile to be a mother.
In the words of Helen Brown, ‘Do you think that Bill Gates had ever considered laying down his life for Microsoft, or Pablo Picasso would commit murder for one of his paintings?’ As mothers, there will never be any question if a choice between our business and our children had to be made. It is the most wonderful, yet most powerful of feelings, and we need to embrace it every damn day!
Other moments that have resonated for me, far in excess of my fashion and business achievements, have been the work that I have done to support other women in business and to assist the growth and funding of the charities with which I have had the good fortune to be involved.
One of my most powerful moments is still the concert that I organised in Hamilton with the Finn brothers for the True Colours Charitable Trust. This event not only raised $70,000, but also enabled the families, with whom the trust works, to spend time with the Finns at the afternoon sound check. The St Paul’s Chapel was filled with the most deserving of people, all excited to be part of the Finns’ space. These families have endured much angst and hardship and it was wonderful to make such a difference.
I know that this is the one thing that sets women apart from men in the business world. Sure, we need to make a profit, but we also, alongside this, have to make a difference. There is so much more to life than money. It will be us women that drive the sustainable business to the next level.
So, enjoy this issue as it is full of so many women that are making a difference to the way in which we do business. I look forward to being home and getting back to the exciting world that drives me everyday.
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Editor's Note 28/09/09
I suppose I should see myself as considerably spoilt as I sit in my hotel and type this editorial after a wonderful Sunday in Paris with my son, his friend Tim, and my partner, Tony.
I am over in Paris to collect on the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman award that I won earlier this year. I have detailed this wonderful trip with many photos in this month’s magazine. Given that it was such a special day, I felt it only appropriate to share the event so that some of you may look forward to winning an award of this calibre.
After two wonderful days in Reims, we are now basking in one of my favourite cities, Paris; beautifully exhausted from two days of introducing my son to the wonderful architectural heritage of this city.
Yesterday, we visited the Louvre for a hurried visit to the site of The Mona Lisa. Amongst the crowds, we took the boys’ photo, with the Leonardo masterpiece in the background. Hurried, in that their interest in the museum didn’t go much beyond the acclaimed painting, we were off to Notre Dame Cathedral. We had abandoned the Metro stations to beat the feet and were exhausted from the crowds and the huge amount of walking so I was rapt to see a familiar ‘Subway’ sandwich sign. My suggestion of a six-inch Sub for lunch was met with huge disdain. We are in Paris. Subway? No way – something more traditional. The boys wanted to try snails and frog legs. We complied with the request and ensconced ourselves outside a small traditional French café and, true to their word, they ordered snails and frogs. To see Edward suck on the backbone of a small frog, with splayed legs still attached, was more than I could stand, especially with my new vegetarian status.
The afternoon saw us below The Eiffel Tower. The view from beneath this iconic monument was enough for Tony and me, so we left the boys in a queue to ascend the tower that seemed to snake on forever. We headed back towards our hotel to complete some much-needed shopping. We later found that even our seasoned travellers had abandoned the queue to set off for the Arc de Triomphe.
The evenings with the boys were just as wonderful. It is difficult to remember when they were not the adults that they are today. Three months of travelling at the tiny age of 18 has changed my son forever but in the best of ways. Don’t they say one’s education begins outside the school gate?
I am loving the time with him so I suggest that he and Tim travel to Morocco with us. This would be wonderful for them, as they would experience a new country in a cost-effective manner, and so much better for me as, for four more days, I will get to embrace the wonderful person Edward has become – I am so proud of him!
This leads into the theme of this issue, with the focus on paying it forward. With all that I am exposed to, and the heady moments that populate my life, there is nothing better than the simple things. This time in Paris with Edward has surely been a great moment of balance for me. Such moments make it so worthwhile to be a mother.
In the words of Helen Brown, ‘Do you think that Bill Gates had ever considered laying down his life for Microsoft, or Pablo Picasso would commit murder for one of his paintings?’ As mothers, there will never be any question if a choice between our business and our children had to be made. It is the most wonderful, yet most powerful of feelings, and we need to embrace it every damn day!
Other moments that have resonated for me, far in excess of my fashion and business achievements, have been the work that I have done to support other women in business and to assist the growth and funding of the charities with which I have had the good fortune to be involved.
One of my most powerful moments is still the concert that I organised in Hamilton with the Finn brothers for the True Colours Charitable Trust. This event not only raised $70,000, but also enabled the families, with whom the trust works, to spend time with the Finns at the afternoon sound check. The St Paul’s Chapel was filled with the most deserving of people, all excited to be part of the Finns’ space. These families have endured much angst and hardship and it was wonderful to make such a difference.
I know that this is the one thing that sets women apart from men in the business world. Sure, we need to make a profit, but we also, alongside this, have to make a difference. There is so much more to life than money. It will be us women that drive the sustainable business to the next level.
So, enjoy this issue as it is full of so many women that are making a difference to the way in which we do business. I look forward to being home and getting back to the exciting world that drives me everyday.
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Editor's Note 28/09/09
It’s fantastic that we finally get to focus this issue of Her Magazine on what is great about living and doing business in New Zealand. I have always been fiercely proud of the fact that we truly are a New Zealand company. All our beautiful frocks are made here in God’s own and the printing of our monthly publication is still handled in New Zealand.
New Zealand really has a lot to be proud of. We produce products and services of the highest quality, from our excellent wines to our world class movies, actors and directors. The list is extensive!
The ongoing drive to reduce our carbon footprint and support our local manufacturing is, in so many cases, backed up with the supply of excellent products. Any additional cost of this local supply is soon offset by the great service and guaranteed quality.
I was blown away with the organic New Zealand ice-cream that I had recently in Matakana. Yes, expensive at $5 a scoop but so incredibly tasty. It surpassed anything that I have ever had that offered more volume and a cheaper price tag!
We all need to start looking at products in terms of their quality, in that quality is remembered long after price is forgotten. Just consider that great handbag that cost the earth but is still going strong today. It was a way better investment than the cheap bag that you brought on price alone and have barely used and I’m sure there will be countless other examples that grace your wardrobe.
A friend of mine justified a very expensive shoe purchase by slowly writing off the price tag against the number of wears that they got. Given they were one of her favourite pairs of shoes, this equated to a very economic purchase, not to mention the durability and look of these shoes which still remain a firm favourite today.
To always seek excellence in services and product will begin to wipe out the average traders. This will be of benefit to us all as too many of us have experienced the disappointment that comes from average or below average product and services and businesses that rely on short term gains and obviously don’t seek return custom.
I challenge you all to extend the quality theory and look for excellent product that is New Zealand made. Please add to these purchasing criteria, where possible, that the product has also been made with a conscience. It may have taken a long time for companies to consider products in this vein but now that so many of them are starting to emerge, let’s truly support the great ones.
Ensure you apply this purchase test across your daily living. I have found some beautiful organic wines and I’ve long since coveted organic food and supported restaurants using organic and free-range produce. The coffee that I drink is fair trade, I am a big fan of natural cosmetics and I would love to change my hair dye to a natural one. The list goes on, and as I tick one off, there are ten more that appear but at least I have made a start so my consumerism now has a conscience.
Her Magazine has always been proud to showcase all that is Kiwi about New Zealand women in New Zealand business.
There are so many great stories to tell and so many great products to showcase. It is one of the best jobs to connect in this way each month!
I love what New Zealand is and, this month, Fashion Week also enables us to celebrate with the platform they provide for New Zealand fashion each year.
Enjoy this issue and keep sending us the feedback; we love to hear from you.
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Editor's Note 31/08/09
I can’t believe that we are almost at the end of August, and what a month this has been! Apart from the mandatory round of speaking engagements that always seem to be so prevalent in my diary these days, there has been so much more…
A presentation in Christchurch for fashion educators, run by Fashion Industry NZ (FINZ) saw a media write-up that was so full of errors I was embarrassed for the writer, let alone myself. When will they ever learn to listen to the answers given and can someone please spell Annah correctly?
My son has had a few challenges with his camp America residency, which took way too much of my time to solve. It was great, however, to know that technology enabled most of them to be sorted out reasonably quickly. Not that I am too happy with his recent facebook photos, very reminiscent of the American
Jackass TV programme. The latest images depict the shooting of a mate’s backside with a BB gun, which even his sister captioned as “very F***n stupid! Is this what they do for fun in the USA?”
Then my daughter’s text, saying, “…we might’ve had a small party…” – that the media blew up and reported on the second page of the Otago Daily Times. Imagine their landlord opening the paper to enjoy his morning cup of coffee, to see his precious house and all its broken windows. The paper did have a great shot of one of Sam’s flatmates negotiating with two policemen! I wonder how their request to stay on and rent the same place next year goes.
The Telethon weekend has been and gone, and what a great event to bring a community together – regardless of all the media hype that I know surrounds the dollar amount that actually makes it to the designated cause! It was so wonderful to watch communities throughout the country banding together for a common cause. Of the glimpses I snatched during the 23 hours, my favourite was the nostalgia hour. It was great to see all those veteran presenters back on air and giving their time so freely.
During the week that followed the Telethon, I heard one of our Waikato radio announcers refer to it as an extended primary school play. He had totally missed the point. I loved what it did to unite this country, even if it was only for 23 hours. The new millennium that we live in simply doesn’t have enough of this aroha!
Speaking of community, it was wonderful to be the keynote speaker at a recent business event organised by two students at Diosecan School in the Waikato. These two girls did a wonderful job. There must have been over 300 people there. It was great to be able to share some of my success theories with the budding student entrepreneurs and their families. These are the events that truly push my buttons. I see my contribution as a way that I can make a difference to the next generation.
A huge downer was the Sunday programme, mid August, on the live sheep trade, bringing back all those memories of the pigs’ inhumane treatment which they had featured previously. I certainly intend to have a voice in this area, hence the Vegan Challenge that I am taking part in for SAFE in the latter part of the year. And God forbid on the same night, the piece was preceded by a news story of a Tongan family that killed and ate a dog. When will we humans start to respect our animals? It simply gets worse not better!
The good news is that our Baby Blooms are up and running. The first is in Christchurch on the 30th of September, followed by Auckland on the 1st of October. Attending these is one of the best ways to get your business thriving. We guarantee to get you out of the average band! Log on to www.hermagazine.co.nz to get the full schedule, including keynote speakers such as Michael Hill and Julie Christie. These truly will be events not to be missed.
WOW, World of Wearable Arts, starts in the capital at the end of this month. It has been wonderful to be part of the judging panel again this year. It is a very robust and fair process for all of those involved. I do, however, look forward to entering again next year.
Enjoy your magazine. I especially love our body-painted cover, created by the talented Carmel McCormick, creator of the body art for the latest AIR NZ adverts as well. At least their safety video held my attention this time as I flew to Christchurch earlier in the month! As we rush toward summer, September heralds a new season for the rag trade, and traditionally one that encourages women to buy. Our new collection is in store and selling well. So I guess we are all well ready for the new season and warmer days …
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World of WearableArts - WOW! 13/07/09
What a great weekend I have just had judging WOW! Given I have been entering this competition for at least five years, with some moderate success, it truly was fantastic to see the robustness of the judging process that surrounds this event first hand.
Suzie and Heather are stars, in my eyes, for creating this truly unique platform for a myriad of designers both local and international to be able to showcase their talents … and thankfully there are standards that need to be acquired to gain entry to this show, as all entries that make the show are now deemed finalists.
So, no, it’s not all about fair play, a hang up from our primary school days. It’s simply about being worthy, so that only the best represent the WOW brand on the stage in Wellington in September this year. It takes a very special entry to win each section, as well as the ultimate supreme award, but so it should be, as the prize pool is substantive.
Two days of judging and I’m invigorated by the wonderful talent that exists out there and so many of the entrants have been providing WOW with wonderful pieces to showcase for so many years. And they’re all so different.
Some advice for all entrants – don’t forget the all-important judges session on the Saturday after the awards night, where so much essential feedback will be given.
Less is more; I saw so many great ideas that were almost sabotaged by the addition of the ever-increasing accessory barrage. My recommendation is, finish that piece, stand back and take something off.
A great idea is all it takes to win a competition like WOW. You do not need to throw the kitchen sink at it.
So, once again, I thank Suzie for having a vision that she dared to play out at the highest of levels. And for allowing herself to embrace the changes that were required to enable WOW’s growth. From the packing sheds of Nelson, we now have a truly international event, for which all New Zealanders should be making a bee line each year. I will see you in the Capital!
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Editor's Note 29/06/09
I have never been a fan of partnerships in the pure business sense.
All too often have I seen the ‘partnerships are sinking ships’ theory play out in the business arena. Not to mention the many budding businesses that I have mentored, which, if being pitched as a partnership, I have tried hard to get them to reconsider their organisational structure.
I do, however, firmly believe in the absolute need for business to develop strong partnerships with other businesses and key individuals to aid them in their growth.
In many cases, this exercise of combining can be relatively cost effective and extremely fruitful. It can open doors that were impenetrable and increase the customer base by which you will be able to expose your product and services.
Business is all about generating revenue. Without sales, your business will not exist. Sure there are other aspects but, first and foremost, you need to sell your product or service and there’s nothing like a recession to highlight this. For a small or start-up business, it will always be about limited budget and a huge need to get out there and get their wares known.
Key to this is the building of relationships. Relationships generate sales and people do business with people that they like and trust – so business owners must continue to build relationships, not only with their customers (vital) but also their team and their suppliers.
The next level is to look at partnerships with other businesses. Consider the fashion industry. We’re an excellent example of businesses working together to drive business. A designer can offer fashion shows, their own brand and clothing as ways for a partnering company to offer a gift which has an exclusive point of difference to their VIP customers. If the designer has a strong enough profile, then they may also be a perfect way to endorse the other partner’s brand.
These partnerships can work well at many levels and often continue for many years. I know a lot of mine have remained with me as I’m sure they have with the other designers. The key to maintaining them is the reciprocation. Both parties need to see and feel the value in each other and the brands need to be a great fit. The relationship, just like a marriage, needs to be nurtured and developed. They can’t exist in a vacuum and you must always be looking for ways that you can push it to the next level.
Another great way of introducing a product into the market quickly is to use a high profile/celebrity face to front the product or service. Expensive? Yes! But then maybe you know someone that would be happy to help at a more negotiable price. Always have a fee attached to this and establish your proposed usage upfront and communicate clearly and in writing.
The deal I struck with Telecom to front their brand (read all about the incredible time I had travelling with the camera team to make this commercial on page 22) was openly and clearly outlined in writing but it’s also important to tread carefully here as, whilst this works, you need to be sure that the integrity of your brand will always be upheld. What happens if said celebrity goes off the rails?
On a personal note, the month of June is simply going to be one of my hardest. As I farewell my baby boy, who, at 18, heads for Camp America in Maine and, with my daughter long since gone, he was all I had left to shower with my love. I know he will be back. It’s possibly just the thought of my parental duties being so diminished and so different. I can’t imagine any mother being ready for this and I never imagined that it would have arrived so quickly. I guess my life is about to change again, so all I can say is roll out those opportunities as I am sure as hell ready!
Enjoy this month’s double issue that includes our Who’s Who magazine as well. As always, producing this magazine each month is a highlight.
Bring on summer as I truly have had enough of this cold. It possibly didn’t help having had seven fabulous days in the Cook Islands at the start of this month.
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Blog from Aututaki June 2009
Well we finally get to take a holiday, and I couldn’t think of a better place than this small atoll in the south pacific, Aututaki, thinking it would be somewhat like a small Fijian island, I have been pleasantly surprised, at the size and the variety of the stuff to do… Consequently we have already hired the mandatory scooter, and doubled for as long as we can go, the numb bum being a problem.
We have checked out the local retail, restaurants and churches, brought the local beer, and enjoyed the local fruit, after that there’s not a lot left, other than to RELAX… yep with a capital R this place has the slowest pace of life imaginable, I can feel myself getter fatter as every hour passes…An exercise option fleets though my mind but is quickly replaced with the thought of the daily cocktail… the biggest thing on my agenda each day, is to plan an event , yesterday it was to take the canoe out, today, we are contemplating a visit to a local market… So would I like to live here permanently? Possibly no, hell the weather is great, the food fresh, the air clean, unfortunately that you can’t drink the local water… but then there’s plenty of bottled on hand, although I do hate to think about the resultant rubbish that is generated.
There’s a lot to be said for this simple way of life, on an island, where everyone stays in the same job, and son follows dad into employment, your house is the one you will reside in forever, the gardens are minimalist, but always tidy, the days are short , but full and happy, everyone is equal, and happy with their lot, not for them a yearning for the latest Prada bag, or Rolex watch, or a holiday in the Maldives the highlight of their week is a rugby game between the Bulls and the Chiefs.
I must consider, are these people living the life that we are all trying so desperately to reclaim in NZ , by eating local, buying local, supporting local , and reducing our excesses, how much do we really need? I reflect on our overstuffed pantry where items very rarely get used, and the many wardrobes I have at home overloaded with clothes whilst I often favour a very few garments a season. I marvel at the way I have been able to live for the last week, clothed in swimsuit and a few simple frocks, although my heavily packed suitcase tells a story of my other life …
So it’s been a week of reflection, and a wanting to make some conscious change back in NZ , but lets see what happens , as the whirlpool of my business interests often prevent me from coming up for air , let alone making major change, but I am determined this time …
So I have two more days left in this surreal environment, and then its back to my world, a world I absolutely love, so I guess that one huge consolation ….
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Editor's Note 18/05/09
Getting a helping hand … asking for help … identifying a mentor ... “Hell,” I can hear you say, “When do I find the time to do this?” My answer is you can’t afford not to.”
The demise of many businesses comes from their lack of support. There are people out there who have learnt from the school of hard knocks and are all too ready to lend an ear to your challenges. Find them and use them.
When I started in business I was very much the lone ranger and in many ways I still am today but I know there are better ways to achieve business success. Knowing what I know now, I would have changed the way that I did things and saved myself a lot of time and expense.
I would have sought someone that I admired from a business point of view and endeavoured to chew the fat with them on a regular basis.
How do you find these people and how do you approach them? Email is possibly the best way. A short, to-the-point email, outlining your business, your need and a website link to give them a feel for who and what you are. Then wait, what’s the worst that can happen here? You may get a no and if so, it’s onto the next candidate.
Don’t forget that many people who have been successful in business are only too happy to pay it forward. It’s up to you to maximise the time that you do get and don’t forget that quick follow up thank you email at the end of each session.
Don’t just stop at one mentor, get many. They are incredibly valuable and will all bring varying solutions to your problems and the best part is that they won’t cost you, but please don’t undermine their value, they can be a great asset. A mentor will work in addition to the professional people that will be involved in your business: the lawyer, the accountant, the branding strategist and the PR company etc. Mentors will also be a sounding board as to the effectiveness of these paid professionals, whose changes can run into thousands of dollars.
In business it is important that you never stop learning. You must always look for ways to grow your knowledge and expertise. Look for opportunities whether they are through tertiary institutions, forums, network meetings or conferences. Business is all about connection and relationships; never forget that people do business with people they like.
Establish networks and build on these relationships regularly. If you do attend organised network meetings, don’t be a shrinking violet; this is not the school playground, you are all there for the same purpose – to do business!
With this thought, we bring you our Bloom Forum on 24 and 25 June next month.
Get more information here.
My focus here is to get all attendees networking, making connections and doing business with each other. I want you leaving the forum knowing that you have truly advanced your business to another level.
This year, we have chosen a balanced mix of speakers who run healthy operations that are thriving in this recession. I can’t wait to hear their great advice.
I have also introduced interactive forums. These sessions will begin with experts sharing 10 essential tips on key business challenges. The balance of the forum sessions will be interactive allowing you to get answers to those challenging scenarios.
We believe the format of the Bloom forum is the best yet, and incredibly relevant to combating this tough market. This is the time to invest in your growth. It will be the strong business that thrives in a recession, so don’t miss out!
I look forward to catching up with so many of you at Bloom and if you haven’t got those business award applications in, please do. It is the perfect way to evaluate how you are doing in business.
Enjoy June’s magazine
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