Scott Charlton | Business coach, author, consultant

Business Coach | Author | Consultant
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Publications

Partnering with Accountants
Your definitive guide to the ultimate referral destination

Partnering with Financial Planners
A guide to growth for accounting firms

Your Professional Headspace
Achieving career success and personal fulfilment as a professional in practice.

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Saturday, July 05, 2014

How to make a block of ice memorable

One of the thoughts mulling around in my mind as I left for an extended holiday was overcoming the “Sea of Sameness” in professional practices. So many websites for example that I review feature the same bullet points and the same undertakings of personal service.
With a clear mind and a chance to reflect, I saw a range of businesses which do something special. Since I’ve been back, I’ve come up with no less than 11 categories, which has given me fuel to put together a strategy document on the topic. In fact, I’m thinking about a colourful eBook, complete with photos and scanned images of examples - the creative author in me is keen to get cracking on this project!
Here’s an example of what I’ve observed, with this photo being taken on a glacier - a big block of ice. All around was ice, snow, cloud - basically there wasn’t much to see. But into the frame comes a solitary flag, which attracted the tourists like bees to a honey pot. The cost of putting the flag there for everyone to see - next to nothing. The value to people to include in their photos to take home - massive.
So, if the addition of something so simple can make a block of ice memorable, it makes one think about how a business could be made to stand up from the crowd.
Watch this space for more exploration of this issue!

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1. The most value that gets added to a professional services firm is when the owner is “In the Zone”. What a shame so little time is invested there.

2. The more days you as a major revenue earner of the firm invest with clients the more revenue the firm will earn.

3. You can't be in the sweet spot by trying to be all things to all comers. Focus on work you enjoy and are good at.

4. Don't try to be something you're not. For example, if keeping up to date with the latest tax changes is crushingly onerous or incredibly tedious then don’t masquerade as a taxation specialist.

5. Get real – do you have genuine management talent or would you be happier and more productive working with clients?

6. Let go. Jot down six tasks/professional responsibilities that you don’t enjoy. Come up with a plan to minimise your involvement with these areas and yet still get the job done. Better yet, find ways to engineer these out of your life. Do this today and repeat at regular intervals.

7. Specialise. Find a service niche which enables you to work more and more in areas that fascinate you. Aim to be the best in the world in this niche. Seek out other experts in this field. Subscribe and contribute to relevant publications focusing on this area.

8. Be passionate. It’s great to be really enthused about a subject. For some, this has proved to be a lifelong cause. Your passion will attract others and sustain you.

9. Articulate. Tell others about your talent. There are lots of great ways to do this - presentations, websites, blogs, articles, newsletters, e-mail, personal referral, business networks etc.

10. Look for opportunities to utilise your skills. Interestingly, the more you focus on developing your professional interests, the more opportunities open up to you in these areas.

11. Delegate, delegate, delegate. Work with others who have complementary talents to your own. This will enable you to focus on what you are good at.

12. Become more effective. Find ways to get more done in less time. The more you can achieve whilst you are "in the zone", the more discretionary time you will have.

13. People who are physically fit create a much better first impression. Prospects become clients, candidates become team members and audiences pay more attention when you exude the Zing! which comes from feeling terrific.

14. Periodically review your career, present role and current level of satisfaction. Are you on track or is action required?

15. Rarely are there winners in deteriorating partnership dissolutions. Cut the best deal possible under the circumstances quickly, gather up every bit of positive energy you can muster and move on.

16. It’s hard to be in the right professional headspace if your personal financial affairs are in a mess.

17. No one else has your unique combination of core purpose, skills and experiences. No one else is responsible for what you to choose to do with these. No one else is putting limitations on what you can achieve.

18. It's easier to maintain your current level of fitness than to regain it after a period of inactivity. Aim to do something active every day.

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