Watching the Ryder Cup over the weekend really brought home to me once again the power of the mind, and what it can do to you both positively and negatively. Depending on each player’s frame of mind, it had a major impact on how they approached each shot. Some of the easiest shots became almost impossible, whilst some impossible ones became easy. As always those who really believed they could do it, did, and those who started doubting themselves started miss-hitting shots.

You could tell by their body language who was confident, and who was not, and of course what they believed would be the outcome of their shot, their individual match, and ultimately the entire team result was exactly what happened. What was also incredibly noticeable was how the players started to affect the crowd and vice versa. As the doubts started to creep in, and the very real possibility that Europe could actually win, the crowd started to get nervous, feeding off the players uncertainty, and in return sapping the confidence of the players.

If you take this sort of scenario to a business, yet again you can find similarities. If the business owner starts to lose confidence in the business, or their ability to make the right decisions, the team starts to expect things to go wrong. And of course they do. The sales team no longer believe they can get new business, and naturally enough their prospects don’t feel the assurance that they are buying the right thing, and go elsewhere.

Times are without doubt still very difficult, but you have to keep on believing that you can keep ahead of the game, and not succumb to the feeling that everything is working against you. If you start to think that “bad luck” is following you, it will. So keep being positive and you will bring your own good luck. If you believe you can, you can.

Systems, don’t you just love them? For me I used to hate the idea of systems, and even more the actual necessity of writing them, but the more I have worked with businesses over the years I realise how essential they are for so many reasons.

My wife has been on a well earned holiday break this week, and before she went away she wrote down daily chores and systems, so that as each day as each day goes by, I can keep up with all the key things which need to function while she is away. How the washing machine works, when the rubbish goes out, what to feed all the different animals and when, and most importantly when to send my daughter off to school and what she needs to take etc. I’m pleased to report, so far so good. No major disasters, as the instructions have been exemplary.

To go back to business now, this is exactly what should happen when you (or indeed any of your staff) are ill or go on holiday. The systems should be so clear and complete, that anyone can cover, and make sure that when the missing person gets back, that everything is up to date and still running smoothly.

Is this the case in your business? If not what are you doing about it, and indeed when were you last able to go on holiday without constantly being in touch with your office?

Systemising your business not only ensures the smooth running of your business when you or other staff members are away, but it also means things are done consistently, and ultimately you create an eminently sellable business which can work without you.

When was the last time you went networking? It is something which I do regularly as part of my marketing strategy but recently I had noticed that my activity on this front had dropped significantly, so I decided it was time I increased this so I have set myself targets to do so.

The trouble with networking for lots of people is they don’t feel comfortable doing it, and therefore they look for any excuse to avoid it. A lot of networking is done at breakfast meetings starting around 6.45am, so that is enough to put many off. But in reality of course for most of us with children going to school, and/or those of us who have been getting up at 7.00am or earlier for most of our working lives, it isn’t really a hardship to get up half an hour to an hour earlier. Also it is effectively dead time in the working day, so it is additional time when you could be making contacts, and doing business.

The other things which put people off are the need to be sociable and mix with other business owners, and in some meetings to stand up and present their business to a room full of strangers. They say that they are no good at this side of things, and therefore don’t go. But again these are poor excuses, which allow you to let yourself off the hook. The socialising is really just talking about business, so it doesn’t require the ability to make small talk, and standing up to present yourself should be seen as a very cheap way of marketing yourself and your business to a whole load of potential new clients.

In fact the face to face contact is still the best way for people to find and do business (despite all the new technology). And getting out and meeting new business owners can be a very cost effective way of bringing in new contracts. You never know who you might meet at your next networking event.

What I do know is that if you sit in your office, or in front of your television you most certainly won’t meet the person who is going to make your fortune.

Last week I went to the launch of the Mary Portas town regeneration scheme in Braintree, (which will also help Witham and Halstead), and was delighted to find a real buzz of small business owners all trying to promote their wares, and trying to instill new enthusiasm in their town, with the general public.

Some of them had already been to a course on how to start up a business, and they were all keen to put the theory into practice. The thing that struck one most however, was although they had had the initial training, I could already tell that a number of them were floundering as to what to do next.

Being given some understanding of marketing, cash management etc. is of course better than nothing. But speaking from my own experience, even having taken copious notes at various seminars I have been to, without someone to back it up, and refresh your memory, it very soon gets forgotten, and the knowledge you thought you had is often so sketchy that it can become more of a hindrance than a help.

This of course is why coaching works. Instead of giving people a brief overview of a subject, and then leaving them to get on with it, the coach comes back time and time again, until they fully understand the tools they have been given, and can use them effectively.

Going back to the Braintree regeneration, I fear for a lot of these new businesses, if they don’t get proper support. Of course the Portas scheme should be providing that, so let’s hope it really brings what it says it will, and we see some of our local towns start to reap the benefits.

Over the last month I think we have been experiencing a collective reaction to the past couple of years of tough times, and indeed the promise of more hard times ahead. The feel good factor of the Olympics and Paralympics combined with the school summer holidays, gave everyone an excuse to put all the worries and fears to one side, and to say “no-one else is working, and I need a break from it all”, and then stick their head in the sand. A mass feeling of “if we don’t acknowledge it, it isn’t there”, has meant that many businesses have taken their eye off the ball, and hoped that when everything gets back to normal things will be better. But of course it doesn’t work like that.

Taking your hands off the steering wheel is not a viable option. It is virtually admitting that you have given up, and the recession has won. This is when as a business owner and leader, you have to stand up and be at your strongest. Yes things may be bleak, and the outlook uncertain, but all the more reason for redoubling your efforts, and planning what you need to do to stay afloat. In the immortal words of Shane Warne, the greatest Australian spin bowler, when asked what keeps him motivated, says that he tells himself “Never give up, just never give up!” You never know what might be just around the corner, or who you are going to meet to change your fortunes. If you stay on the railway line waiting for the train to hit, it most certainly will do so, but if you keep moving and keep working smarter, sooner or later the tide will turn.

So go to more networking events, try more new marketing ideas, and think about what else you could add on to your product portfolio. What has worked before, what haven’t you tried yet? Use the skills and ideas of your team, and keep taking positive actions to move your business forward.

If you have run out of ideas, don’t be afraid to admit it to yourself, and turn to others. Keep trying every avenue, and if you need some friendly advice, you could always try a business coach!

This is my 100th blog since we started doing them over 2 years ago, so a landmark has been reached. But I doubt I would have reached this stage so quickly if it hadn’t been for Alison, who always pushes me to complete them every week.

As with many things in life and in business, it is so much easier not to do something, than to do it, and particulary when it doesn’t necessarily have a huge impact on anything, it is simple to let yourself off the hook. There are plenty of excuses for justifying why you don’t do things, but if you have someone “nagging” you to get it done, then it is much harder to ignore.

As a business owner it is important to empower people around you to take responsibility for their job roles, and if they require you to do something to allow them to complete their role efficiently and effectively, then you should give them permission to chase you until it is done.

Being a business owner is a lonely place to be, even if you employ large numbers of people. When things are going well everyone wants to be part of it, but when things are bad, you suddenly find yourself making key decisions on your own. In these situations you can often wish that you had someone to talk things over with, but without a sympathetic ear it can lead to procrastination and dithering, rather than making a decision which will move things forward. Doing nothing, whilst apparently the easiest way out, is seldom the best option. In most cases we instinctively know the best way to go, so analyse your options, make a decision and live with it.

If you find it difficult to take these decisions, then either allow your team to hold you more accountable, or get a coach to ensure you do the things you know you should be doing, but keep finding excuses not to do them.

Why do the things that you don’t like doing, and are not very good at? So many business owners make the mistake of wasting time on the parts of the business which they really should leave to others. Of course when you first set up your business, the chances are that you will need to cover all the disciplines, (depending on whether you start up on your own or with one or two others), but you will quickly learn what you are good at and enjoy doing, and equally well what you don’t like doing (invariably the things you are bad at).

I recently met a couple setting up a new business. They have both worked for other people in the past, but have decided now it is the time to set up for themselves. It pretty soon became clear that they are technically excellent at what they do, but have little to no knowledge of cash flow, break-even, team set up and management, structure etc etc. The good news was that whilst talking it through they quickly saw that these gaps in their knowledge could greatly hinder their growth and ultimately could actually cause their venture to stumble and fall. On realising this they said “that’s why we need a coach”, in other words they really understood the power of getting help from others to do the things that they are not good at.

The other benefit of focusing on what you are good at, and enjoy, is that you are likely to be far more productive as well. When you are concentrating on these aspects, think of the business you bring in and complete. If you are wasting time on other chores, then you are taking out valuable money generating time.

If you don’t know how to do this, get a coach to help you.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have seen and heard of a number of things which have re-inforced my beliefs about coaching, and about what can be possible if you want things badly enough.

No doubt if you were to dig deep enough into the personal stories of many of the athletes there would be numerous tales of triumph born out of tragedy. These are the people that don’t lie down and say “OK I give up” when setback after setback hit them. Personal loss, illness, injury, lack of opportunity or lack of support could all play a part in the formation of someone or something great. To bounce back from any or all of these takes courage and character, and to keep on bouncing back can take huge determination and self belief, but that is often what it takes to be the best.

Of course there are other things which help with this. One of my “coaching heroes”, Sir Clive Woodward yet again came up with a fascinating insight into why he gets the best out of his team. Charged with being deputy chef de mission for Team GB at the Olympics, it is no surprise to me that we fared so well. One of the key parts of his mantra is looking at every facet of the team/business and seeing how he can improve it. He says “Look to do 100 things by 10% better than everyone else”, and this bound to make you a winner.

When I am coaching I too get my clients to do lots and lots of little improvements. Trying to take a quantum leap is too daunting for most people, but make little changes for the better in lots of aspects of your business will keep you ahead of the competition, and right now keep your head above water.

Keep fighting, keep bouncing back, keep looking for small improvements and in the end you will win.

I was at a networking meeting this morning, where a man stood up and started talking about all the wonderful achievements of the GB team in the Olympics over the last 10 days. What he then went on to say was that although all these individuals and teams were all highly talented and skillful in their own right, none of them would have achieved the heights they have, without a whole load of support from their trainers, coaches, and mentors.

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you will know that I often compare sport with business, and in this respect once again it is easy to see similarities.

Being on your own at the top as a business owner is very lonely. It is highly unusual for a business owner to be the equivalent of a decathlete. More often they are strong in some disciplines e.g. marketing and sales, and weaker in others e.g. team management and cash flow. The point of having a coach is that they can help you to strengthen your weaknesses, they can keep you focused and they will keep on pushing until you achieve the goals you set out to achieve.

On your own, no doubt many will still build a strong business, but to make it the best, one that will thrive and keep on building and growing, takes a lot of dedication, knowledge, skill and drive. A coach will help you in the areas where you need help, they will challenge you to go further, and become yet better, and they will be you support and confidante through good and bad times.

So if you want to be the best, get a coach!

With the Olympics dominating every news bulletin at the moment, it seems relevant to touch on an aspect of this, which I think says a lot about the individuals involved. That being who is prepared to say, “I was beaten by a better person”, or “I wasn’t good enough”, and who is quick to look for excuses and blame others for their inability to perform.

Being good at anything takes masses of dedication, learning, practice and self belief, so no-one should expect to triumph without striving to become the best at whatever it is you do. Blaming others or circumstances for not achieving what you had hoped to, is an easy way out, and means that you yourself are not prepared to take responsibility and be held accountable for the outcome of your actions.

I can’t now remember who made the quote “don’t wish that things were easier, but wish that you were better” (badly paraphrased), but it is so important to take that on board in sport, in work, or in any other walk of life. Nobody likes a bad loser, (or a bad winner for that matter), but the person who takes it on the chin, decides they didn’t like that feeling, and then bounce back to win the next time, is someone who we can all admire and want to emulate.

In business as with sport, we all have tough times, and we all make bad decisions and mistakes from time to time. The trick is to learn from these, to work smarter, and to find ways to make sure you never repeat those errors. Don’t blame the economic climate, the government, the sad weather, or anything else. Instead work out how to do it better, and then make sure you do it.