What makes a great leader is a question that all CEO’s must ask themselves when gaining trust, cooperation and the buy in of their employees. There are times when being a good leader means that you must make unpopular decisions, take deliberate action and lose possible deals or business to do what is right and lends to good conscience. Jim Collins once said, “Leadership only exists when people have the freedom not to follow.”

To be able to lead in a way that others want to follow can be taken in the lessons of running a non profit organization. I think that is because non profits are about the feminine and masculine balance, in that the social (feminine) aspects are looked at as well as the order (masculine) in running it successfully. Let’s look at my favourite charity model of micro-loans for example, the leadership strength of that form of non profit, is that there is a quiet leadership where all of the nuances and conditions to make that type of large scale condition happen is because it is all carefully crafted.

From the original application of the client, the process of acquiring the funds to give out to the client, the tracking of the client, the funds, which bank it comes from, how to maintain the relationship with the client and community, ensuring the loan is repaid, tracking the payments, tracking the donations, supporting the client and community after the loan is repaid…. All takes the work of an artistic crafter at work. Taking pride in what you do, understanding the tasks at hand, recognizing the details, and having the ability to manage all the tasks is like using a painter’s brush.

Moving forward through adversity and looking at change as opportunity can be a helpful and successful way to lead as well. People who have solid relationships, operate with integrity and are authentic are the leaders that others follow. You need to understand yourself, and what you truly want in order to become a good leader. Managing yourself and what you do with your time will inevitably lead to your success or failure. When you are leading ensure that you are fitting the needs of the business and honoring yourself in the process. It is all about inspiring faith in your company, employees, and customers, and having wisdom to make the right choices.  Understanding the cause and effective of each decision, and having the wisdom to make the appropriate choice that will honor yourself and the company while keeping balanced.

Always learning, motivating, and working on yourself helps create a good leader. I love to use personal affirmations as well in the morning and remind myself of my goals for the day. When the mind is clear, creativity comes into play, and it allows you to be the best you can be. Being the best at whatever you do and nurturing yourself will help you become a person that others want to follow.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author,  Speaker, and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder.  Darcelle coaches entrepreneurs and business owners on understanding their brilliance and how to increase their profits for their companies by taking strategic steps to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through speaking engagements, tele-classes, online products, and Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com or  www.strategicbizbuilder.com or www.FengSHe.org

1. Watch the market and spot opportunities. Just be aware of what is going on, not tied to the T.V. Recessions can mean business closings however it also means those with experience and knowledge can build a strong company . People will continue to spend they are just more cautious so knowing your market and do not reduce your prices but ensure you are giving quality for what your clients are paying for and be innovative.

2. Think creatively. You must have your thinking cap on overdrive. Brainstorm with a partner or mentor like crazy! Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” People will stay home more, spend differently so tapping into that with products or services that assist people to do just that will assist the customer. Come up with solutions to detract from the negatives as everyone still loves to be pampered. An example could be, offering home delivery of products or services.

3. Diversify. Think proactively and about abundance not scarcity. Do not cut quality or costs. Competition may fold, however you have an opportunity to fill the gap, step in and be seen and assist your target market.

4.  Take Action. Taking action is key, and being quick and adaptable to change. Launch new products and innovative ideas. You will then be in a strong position when the market turns. Now do not go out and spend extra money to achieve these goals. Think rationally but do take action.

5. Get good value for your money. Look for free or cheap publicity to market your business, be creative on money saving strategies as well for your business. Feel good about your business.

6. Expand & Start new ventures. Recruit the best, expand your business, with grants or government funding. Expanding a business is a wonderful idea, but a really great way to expand without spending excessively is to instead buy client lists. Some competitors are willing to sell, however buying a client list for a competitor is possible.

Think ahead, be smart but take action toward fulfilling your goals and keep a close eye on overheads, staff, and sales. Remember customers needs are still there, and learning how to tap into them can bring golden opportunities.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author,  Speaker, and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder.  Darcelle coaches entrepreneurs and business owners on understanding their brilliance and how to increase their profits for their companies by taking strategic steps to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through speaking engagements, tele-classes, online products, and Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com or  www.strategicbizbuilder.com .

1. Stop Doing, start NOT doing.

Stop with the time wasters. Look at how you spend your time and take off some of the tasks on your list. Remember that 80/20 rule that states 20 percent of your activity produces 80 percent of your results. Once you understand what that 20 percent is that gives you your best results focus on only those.

2. Create boundaries and stick to them!

Our natural time boundaries no longer exist since we allowed computers into our homes. We now work from home, work on the computer, work or “research” while at home… we have lost the balance. Breaching this has led to constant distractions on our attention to the family, and added to our demands. Putting a filter on how we spend our day and sticking to this helps us create healthy boundaries and leads to more focus. Saying no is a big one for women. I once heard that saying “yes” to one thing means you have to say “no” to something else so choose your “yes” wisely. Create boundaries that will help you say no more often and in the end your productivity will rise.

3. Watch & learn.

Learn from the successful and what they do. Success lies in what action that you take with that knowledge that’s important. So learn, read, and understand what action you should take to move your business forward. Then go do it!

4. Focus and be consistent.

Having focus on what you want to achieve and staying on that consistent path will win the race. Consistency will help keep your business on track and you will not get distracted by the shiny coin. Lack of consistency kills progress and adds to stress, so keep taking what I call  “baby steps” towards success and focus on priorities and not lists.

5. Manage your time.

I once heard that it is not about balance but about “harmony”. Managing your time is about having harmony in your life and the best way to have harmony is to love what you do, which in turn gives you energy. Finding your brilliance that I discuss in my business, helps give you energy and allows you to manage all of the items on your priority list.

6. Delegation is Key

Ask for help! Trust and empower others and your staff to give you that support you need. All the great leaders work their brilliance and have others do the rest. It is a win/win when you hire the right people.

7. Take time off!

Valuing your time off is important and again gives us harmony in our life. Meditation gives us that connection with spirit, and allows us to have a free mind to continue on our journey. Allowing our bodies to recharge adds to our mental and physical health. Not taking breaks creates a cluttered mind and does not allow in creativity and effectiveness into our business.

8. Value your family.

Spending quality time with your family helps save those relationships that mean the most to us. Showing them that you care is important, so remember to step away from it all to recharge and show your family that they are important to you. Sometimes our kids just need quality not quantity, so giving them even a few minutes/or hours, helps to create the strength that relationship needs.

Take some time right now to quickly evaluate and examine what is presently happening in your life and business and be gentle with yourself to see what strategies you can work on to create more Harmony in your Inspired Business. The power lies in the action that you take to create that for your business and your life.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author,  Speaker, and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder.  Darcelle coaches entrepreneurs and business owners on understanding their brilliance and how to increase their profits for their companies by taking strategic steps to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through speaking engagements, tele-classes, online products, and Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com or  www.strategicbizbuilder.com .

What I didn’t know was that being an Entrepreneur and small business owner can be tough work! But I was going to find out about that very quickly! So here is the quick version…. Started with a bit of money, got investors, had a vision, had a solid system, build the company with mediocre employees, then learned how to have great employees and really build a team environment. We were the first in the areas we chose and filled a need, took action and advertised like crazy and tried new things. We showed the customer we cared, valued our staff and investors, and had TONS of ups and downs until we got it right! It took many years to build it up to what it was and the biggest hurdle and success was finally selling it and letting it all go.

Now this business after year 2 was making great money, and investors were happy, however there were times when things were tight and economics, unforeseen construction, renovations, staff turnover really caused downturns in the business. Trust me there were many struggles as well as many great opportunities for money to be made. The main problem for my partner and I was that it was something we no longer wanted. We realized that it was not our passion and that the industry had a stigma that would take many more years to change. The industry was being regulated and we were what seemed to always be proving that we were indeed a legitimate company helping people and really valued our integrity and ethics in the business. Our vision was to help people and make money however this was not the business that would complete that for us. So regardless of the financial gain we decided to sell and move on to do it again in what was our individual passions.

So what are the lessons learned that you as a small business owner can take away from all of this? Let’s look at it in a list form for easier learning;

1. I was a small business owner with BIG Thinking!

So let’s look at BIG thinking. I had a vision for what I thought a business should look like and I worked towards putting in place all the right things to make it happen. The right backing, finances, business plan because we were going for financing, and we looked at what the competition doing, who were they serving and where was the need. We had a vision of being a million dollar company right from the start and kept that vision strong in our minds.

        2. I had a Solid Systems.

Then it was onto how would we run the company? How is it to be structured? Should it be a partnership or a corporation? What systems could we use that would ensure that we did not lose our shirts. We looked at what kind of system we could run under and developed a back end database program to track and take care of our clients. We made sure we had a solid policy manual (which was also developed further over the years) that would explain how we wanted the company ran for our employees so that they understood what we were asking of them. Then we ensured we gave solid, consistent training and that each office was a replica of the next. Call it a cookie cutter method if you will.

       3. We took Smart, Deliberate, Quick Action when needed.

Being able to adapt to changing market and not wallow in problems is vital for an entrepreneur. Working smart, having good systems and taking deliberate action was an important factor to being able to keep up with the giants in the industry. We advertised and marketed like crazy and did some amazing things like huge billboards and pre-event marketing that had clients lined up at the doors on opening day.

      4. We were able to solidify great relationships.

We created communication with the competition where we shared ideas and information within limits. We created additional product sources and had great relationships with who we were working with, and those relationships helped give us credibility in the industry. We kept the philosophy of win/win ever present in our minds.

      5. We stopped trying to do it all on our own. Let go of Ego.

When we started to learn that in order to run a successful company we needed to trust, and let our employees do what they were best at doing, that is when things began to fall into place. We had to leave our egos at the door and understand that we had taught them, and that even though they needed us still, we had to loosen the strings in order for them to flourish and show how much they valued the company, and what they were doing. We used the skills of each employee and they grew better for it.

       6. We showed we cared, and added value to our customers.

We encouraged our customers, showed them we cared, gave referral bonuses, talked with our customers, advertised and made them feel like they were not alone. We heard more stories about people’s lives then I will share here, but what it did was let people from all walks of life know that they were valued as people.

        7.  We understood the numbers.

We had done our business plan and knew what we needed to grow. We had a balanced framework with our product, our marketing and our financial operations. Whenever we lost touch with that again, it showed. Understanding where you stand, and what you need to achieve your end goal is important and really the key.

        8. We were great problem solvers.

Being a great problem solver is important. Issues come up in any business and knowing what you will do and seeing your end result helps make it easier to predict how you will react and what steps you can take to rectify the situation.

       9. We were always learning and watching our industry.

We knew what was changing in the industry, we focused on what was working, and we made sure if we could that we were the first. We showed value to our customers even though our price may have been different than others.

10.  We had perseverance.

We stayed our course, and were committed to the business. Sometimes this was a difficult thing to do but in the end overall it was a success because we did have perseverance.

Now, did we always do the right thing? No absolutely not! But we did have the ability to see the mistakes and attempt to fix them. Did our employees always love us? No not always, but we did care about people and did our best to create a team environment where they felt included and valued and when we let that slip, it showed in performance from the team.  The things we learned from this business have been incredible for future success and have allowed me to now help others in their journey for fulfillment in their lives. For more on this subject, you can find it in my 10 Complete Secrets to Business Success, or my Business Blockbusters Now product coming out this Spring. For more information please visit my websites and let me know how I can help you create your million dollar business.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder.  Darcelle  mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through tele-classes, through her online products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com and sign up for her Fr*ee audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”. Also check out www.strategicbizbuilder.com

1. Watch the market and spot opportunities. Just be aware of what is going on, not tied to the T.V. Recessions can mean business closings however it also means those with experience and knowledge can build a strong company . People will continue to spend they are just more cautious so knowing your market and do not reduce your prices but ensure you are giving quality for what your clients are paying for and be innovative.

2. Think creatively. You must have your thinking cap on overdrive. Brainstorm with a partner or mentor like crazy! Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” People will stay home more, spend differently so tapping into that with products or services that assist people to do just that will assist the customer. Come up with solutions to detract from the negatives as everyone still loves to be pampered. An example could be, offering home delivery of products or services.

3. Diversify. Think proactively and about abundance not scarcity. Do not cut quality or costs. Competition may fold, however you have an opportunity to fill the gap, step in and be seen and assist your target market.

4.  Take Action. Taking action is key, and being quick and adaptable to change. Launch new products and innovative ideas. You will then be in a strong position when the market turns. Now do not go out and spend extra money to achieve these goals. Think rationally but do take action.

5. Get good value for your money. Look for free or cheap publicity to market your business, be creative on money saving strategies as well for your business. Feel good about your business.

6. Expand & Start new ventures. Recruit the best, expand your business, with grants or government funding. Expanding a business is a wonderful idea, but a really great way to expand without spending excessively is to instead buy client lists. Some competitors are willing to sell, however buying a client list for a competitor is possible.

Think ahead, be smart but take action toward fulfilling your goals and keep a close eye on overheads, staff, and sales. Remember customers needs are still there, and learning how to tap into them can bring golden opportunities.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is Author, Mentor and CEO of DarcelleRunciman.com.  Darcelle  mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through tele-classes, through her online products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com and sign up for her Fr*ee audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”.

We spoke about confidence and what he finds with people in business and how he helps people to understand where to begin the process of looking for those things that limit them. Philip talked about making change and why it can sometimes be difficult for people to do so.

Philip is also a real estate investor who has invested in 6 countries around the globe. He has a new book coming out this year on real estate called South of 49… A story about residential real estate investing across the border.

Confidence is an important part in the new book The Power of Women United which I co-wrote with 21 other wonderful, professional ladies. Within the pages confidence comes up often as something everyone wants and for some due to experiences in life, or in childhood, gain it much earlier than most. The many stories in this book can relate to every woman out there whether she is in business or not. It is a tribute to the lessons learned and the ability for everyone to reach their goals.

One of the many comments that Philip made today that made us think was “some people are achieving goals they set out in the wrong direction and they are running towards it!” It really is the truth, taking time to “be still” as I call it and quieting the mind is the only real time we can look back and assess what we really want and if we are on the right path. I believe that is where you will find your passion or brilliance, and one of Philip’s keynotes is about your Pursuit of Wealth and Happiness.

Regardless of the name assigned to it, (as all are important) finding that quiet space, and looking at blocks or limiting beliefs that hold us back is one of the first steps to finding yourself, your confidence, and the life you deserve.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is Author, Business Mentor and CEO of DarcelleRunciman.com.  Darcelle  mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through tele-classes, through her online products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com and sign up for her Fr*ee audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”. Or tune in to http://www.InspiredBusinessRadio.com for inspiring guests!

A big part of many of our decisions on whether or not to change is based on fear. There are times where it is our limited beliefs. What is holding us back can be their fear around those beliefs. For example if our fear is change then perhaps changing one thing could change our lives but just knowing that is enough to keep us from moving forward to the next level. We tell ourselves so many things to at times negate us from moving forward. Understanding if the beliefs you are having are real or imagined can lead into many insights on what the truth for you is, and possibly what your true real purpose is. So what does it take to find out your beliefs and if they are holding you back?

Focus….

The Power of Focus can be incredible and can lead to great success. So while I believe that women have a special gift of networking and relationship building, I believe that one of a man’s strength that I often see is in the gift of focus that I believe we can learn from.

So take time to focus on what is limiting your belief system. Look to experts to help you get past those blocks be it a hypnotist or a guide you can work with to look into deep rooted beliefs that may be holding you back. Once you have focused in on those items and conquer them through persistence and good habits, you will then find your own truth and path. Enjoying the process is the best part because you will learn so much about yourself along the way.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is Author, Mentor and CEO of DarcelleRunciman.com.  Darcelle mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through tele-classes, through her online products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com and sign up for her Fr*ee audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”.

"Powered By Inspiration"

I have many wonderful experiences with many learnings as well along the way. Live your life like you mean it as it’s the only one we have. Be inspired by the things around you, friends, family, business acquaintances and others. Be outside in nature or in whatever situation that brings you joy on a daily basis. This weekend’s Adventure Business Retreat was an inspiration for me. I learned as much as we taught on this beautiful sunny weekend. I thank all the ladies for their openness and laughter they brought to the table. Rose-Anne Kumpunen was great leading us into the perfect mediation to start off the weekend. I spoke on Discovering Your Brilliance. Denise Franklin spoke on ways to effectively network in business and Aprille Janes walked us through a beautiful session on exploration and leading us to our creative side. It was a blast. My personal tagline is “Live Life on Fire” and that is because once I made the “mind shift” to be more and that it was ok to discover my own personal brilliance, only then have I been living my passion. I hope to help others become as inspired as I have been by the many wonderful people in my life. Cheers.

Well, here are some quick tips on how to find out the root of the issue, deal with your business and take care of it as you need to. It is one thing to care about your staff however you must set ground rules for the business and encourage peak performance.

1.            Identify barriers to the performance. Is the employee lacking in a specific area. Can they learn a new skill that would help and encourage them to become a greater contributor to the team. Are they happy with their role in the company? Are they possibly looking for more responsibility or are they simply over stimulated and just can’t keep up. Do you have regular reviews with staff to see if they are fulfilling what are their strengths and what they do well. This is best done at the beginning, and even during the interview stage however can be done at any point.

2.            Focus on the behaviour not the person. Do your best to look at the specific performance issues and not the person. What is the behaviour, lack of interest – which could simply be due to the person not in a role that speaks to her/his skill level. Perhaps they are better suited to be in a management position and they are in reception and this is the cause of the unhappiness. Check for the underlying items that may be overshadowed by the person.

3.            Encourage behaviour change- It’s all in your words and how you address this issue. Show your stripes, and position, but with grace. One way to address a late situation for example could be this; You know you have been consistently late and this is not acceptable. Or you could address what behaviour we want by saying, “I noticed that you were not at your desk on time this morning this has been the 4^th time. This concerns me because when you are not here others have to carry your load, I need you to be here at 8 am everyday, is there something that is preventing you from doing that?”  This way it opens the communication and the employee does not feel challenged but valued while still being told they need to be there on time.

4.            Empower staff. Give your employee a role and let her do her job. When we release a project to the team once the requirements are explained, let them do their job, that is when people shine. Letting them take charge and make it work gives them a sense of responsibility and makes them accountable not only to you but themselves which in the end creates more respect all around.

5.            Recognize staff. Honor a job well done. Regardless of if we are busy, our employees need us. They need direction, communication, respect, and understanding. They also in return need to show respect and fulfill their role in the company.

In the end if all these items are tried and the behaviour of the employee does not change….well you know what to do. However more often than not, communication is the thing that is missing and once that is solved, many issues will be resolved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it:Darcelle Runciman is Author, Mentor and CEO of DarcelleRunciman.com.  Darcelle  mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through tele-classes, through her online products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.comand sign up for her Fr*ee audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”.

SWOT Analysis in business is your TEAM of choice and it stands for ; STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS. It is a tool you can use to assess those items mentioned above. It is a valuable step in assessing variables and can give you great insight to your business before trouble hits.

In terms of using this for business, it can be used to help you decided how to secure your market niche. It helps you uncover opportunities that place you in a strong position and it also lets you look at the weaknesses in your company to assess where you need to outsource or look for ways to remedy it. By looking at SWOT analysis you can have an advantage over your competitors. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself when beginning the process of SWOT Analysis;

Strengths- What areas is the company strong in? What does your company do better than anyone else? What unique resources do you have access to? What do others see as your strength?

Remember to look at it in terms of your customers and how they see you.

Weaknesses- What could you improve on? What things should you avoid? What is going to be seen as a weakness by others in your market? What factors will lose sales?

Again, consider it from your customers and competitors point of view. Do you have weaknesses that are holding you back? Best to evaluate that now and not later, be honest with yourself so you can find a resolution fast.

Opportunities- What are some of the good opportunities facing you? What are some of the interesting trends you are aware of?

There are lots of opportunities out there for example what local events could effect you and bring opportunities. Look for changes in government policy in your field. The easiest way to deal with opportunities is to look at your strengths and see if there are any hidden opportunities in them.

Treats- What obstacles do you face? What is your competition doing that you should be worried about? Is changing technology threatening your position? Do you have bad debt or cash flow issues?

Doing this analysis can be very revealing to showing you what needs to be done and putting things in perspective.

SWOT Analysis is simple but can really help you zoom onto key point that can move your business forward. Assessing your strengths, looking at weaknesses so you can understand where you need to build, looking for opportunities and minimizing your threats, can really help you take advantage in your market towards hidden potential. For more of this article where we delve deeper into the topic check out our Excellence Mastermind Network.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it:Darcelle Runciman is CEO, Author, and Business Mentor and of Darcelle Runciman.com. Darcelle mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works in groups, through tele-classes, through her products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com and sign up for her Fr*ee Audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”.