Your Business Quest

Words aren’t just simply words.   Think about it … each word you hear, say or write, is a combination of letters, which are skilfully jumbled together in a way that gives it a meaning.   And it’s those meanings that impacts our behaviours, mindset & performance … even more than we realise at times!   So do you really choose the words you're using & even stop to notice them,...

I know the realities of life when it comes being your own boss & growing your business.   Of course it’s got plenty of amazing parts – especially when things are flowing well. I really wouldn’t change it for the world now.   But let’s not pretend that it’s all filled with sipping fruit cocktails whilst watching a beautiful sunset in Bali (you can tell what my Facebook memories t...

Last weekend was far from ‘normal’ … but who wants ‘normal’ anyway?   Even before the alarm went off … my body & mind was awake & I had that excited Christmas morning feeling.   At 8am (which really was like 7am in ‘old time’ because the clocks also changed) , there I was dancing away with thousands of other motivated folks & looking forward to another intense day of a Dr Joe...

‘This is the final call, your flight is about to depart.’ (Cue the Home Alone 2 airport scene music in your head, as you make that frantic dash so you don’t get left behind.)   Cause I know you’re not the type of person who wants their business to be grounded, right?   Last week I saw a guy … all suited & booted running … like his life depended on it from one part of Amsterdam airpor...

Imagine you had a magic button & all you had to simply do is ‘press it’ & you’d feel instantly confident.   When & where would you want to use that boost of extra confidence?   Because in today’s super short podcast episode, I’ll share with you the simple process of how to do that … by harnessing the powerful technique of Anchoring, from the world of NL P (Neuro Linguistic Pr...

Let’s be honest, there’s things to do in growing or running your business, which you don’t really like.   I know for me … there’s a fair few that fit into that category.   But without doing them … your business can suffer.   So we just need to put on our big boy/girl pants (you can choose whichever tickles your fancy the most) & get on with it.   But is it that easy?  ...

Ever felt like you’re so busy … doing lots of ‘stuff’ but when you look at your bank balance or your results compared to your goals … you just want to cry or have a good old tantrum like my 2 year old, when he doesn’t get his way?   And then you sigh for relief when things are finally working for you … only to find that down the road, things start to unravel again or your results take a nose-...

What helps you to ‘switch off’?   Because being a business owner can be all consuming - if we let it. There’s always something to do or think about, right?   Over the years I’ve tried many things to help me relax more & get out of ‘work’ mode.   But guess what really does it for me!   LEGO   I discovered this form of escapism a few years ago, whilst sprawled across the...

When I started my business I was really naïve.   I used to believe that once I overcame some initial set up problems (or challenges), that everything would be problem free from there.   How wrong was I!   Because I’m sure that like me (& every other business owner out there) , you’ll ALWAYS have problems!   And that’s actually a good thing!   So yes, I want you to have...

How would you answer the question, ‘Am I enough?’   It’s a simple yet powerful question & one that Michelle Obama asks herself a lot, whenever faced with a new challenge or opportunity.   ‘I am’ , is the response that would help her to then get on with taking action & getting out her way.   So what’s your answer? Are you enough?   It feels a bit bizarre not having Miche...

When I worked in the corporate world, I never saw myself as being a salesperson.   That’s because I never had any goals that were directly linked to a sales target.   Sales just kinda happened all around me, whilst I focused on being a manager of people or projects.   And to be really honest, I used to be really bored in the 2 hour meeting every Monday afternoon with all the other c...

When is a problem a problem?   Or could it in fact really be an opportunity?   It's no surprise though, when you look at things in just the same way … you end up just getting the same old thinking. In fact, it can even get your head even further up your ... problem!   But life isn’t just black & white, is it? What if you added a splash of red, black, yellow, green or blue i...

‘I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place. Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.’   I’ve heard those words sung many times by the legend that was … Michael Jackson.   But on Sunday night, whilst escaping from the bitter cold air in London, by randomly get...

A few months back, it was a fairly typical morning in the Sharif household … classic Home Alone style.   Even though bags were packed & clothes were sorted the night before … something always seems to disappear over night.   On this particular morning, it was one of Aaron’s shoes. Shareen was running around downstairs hunting for it, whilst I doing my best to help look for it upstair...

Being totally exclusive or playing the field (a.k.a. multi-passionate) in business… which is better?   It really depends! On your goals. On your mindset. On your entrepreneurial superpower & personality. On whether you’re organised enough. On whether you’re stimulated by variety or if it overwhelms you.   It’s really not for everyone, that’s for sure.  That’s why I love wor...

Happy New Year to you!   How’s the year going so far? Christmas feels so last year now, right? ;)   I hope you had a great time celebrating in whatever style that took your fancy.   Ours involved letting the boys stay up for the bells, watching the London fireworks on TV & making a start on building my 6000+ pieces Harry Potter Lego Hogwarts Castle set! (Although that then led m...

Are you all ‘Christmas-ed’ out now?   I’m sure that like me & many other business owners, your mind has started to think about …. NEXT YEAR!   Before the clocks strike midnight on New Year’s Eve though, do yourself a big favour … close out 2018 properly & also choose what you want from 2019.   In this week’s short podcast episode, I share with you how to do that in an easy &...

90 days.   It’s not too long.   It’s not too short.   It’s practically perfect in every way!   And I’m super proud to have seen what a group of business owners achieved during their 90 day Rapid Transformation Mastermind , which wrapped up last week.   The focused actions they took, along with the accountability & support they had, led them to…. smash through stretchin...

Let’s talk about LOVE!   I’m a firm believer that you’ve got to love what you do in business …. otherwise what’s the point?!   But it’s also natural that your love for it may go up & down at times. When that happens, it can be tempting to reach for that tub of ice cream & drown your sorrows, whilst listening to Celine Dion singing her heart out to you on repeat.   Even thoug...

They can seem real & totally legitimate.   Especially when it’s not only you that's saying the same things or feeling that way.   But come now … we both know deep down that … an excuse is an excuse!   Will excuses help you smash your targets?   Will excuses help you make the impact you want for your customers?   Will you be able to pop into the local bank to deposit yo...

Want to know how I can quickly tell how likely you’re to achieve those goals you’ve set or not?   It all boils down to the meaning & purpose behind them!   And I’m not being all ‘woo hoo’ here – I truly mean is there a big enough reason behind them, which truly makes you committed to making them happen?   But there’s even more to it than that.   That’s why in today’s podcas...

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” , said Benjamin Franklin.   I’m pretty sure he wasn’t talking about your business or content marketing strategy with those wise words … but well if the shoe fits?!   That’s exactly why I was super excited to have been invited to speak at Janet Murray’s Content Live workshop in London. Because it was not only going to help me spent time properl...

Ever had things going super well for you & then suddenly … BANG … it’s like someone hit the break & then flipped into reverse gear, so you start going backwards?   But then after a while you start picking things up again & then out of the blue … the same things happens again & again like a yo-yo!   What’s the deal with that? It sucks, right?   Well it could be a sure...

Be different … stand out from the crowd .. focus on your USP …   Yep I’m sure you’ve heard things like that before.   By why’s it so important?   Because if you don’t, you’ll simply blend in.   You’ll make life harder for yourself when it comes to growing your business.   Plus, you’ll make it harder for your perfect customers to choose you easily & I know you don’t wan...

‘I’m sorry, you’re being made redundant.’   Would you …. panic & die inside or be thrilled because this could be your chance ?   Your chance to finally make your ‘one day’ dream come true today. Your chance to start doing something you’re more passionate about. Your chance to stop just plodding along or even worse being miserable about what you’re doing each day.   That’s what ‘...