suzzannelaidlaw
Suzzanne Laidlaw
Business Coach
With Suzzanne Laidlaw as your personal business coach, succeeding becomes your reality. Address: 9/49 Cedric St, Stirling WA 6021. Phone: 0414 943 823
160 posts
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Last Seen Blogs
cm-dhakar-bjp
Untitled
im-pperfect
i'm perfect okay
juggalochat
Juggalo Chat 18+
marcinwojcik
Marcin Wójcik - author, writer, photographer, journalist
reloux-gb
reloux.co
Text
The Power of Ideation
Do You Want to Become an Innovator in Your Field?
The world has become increasingly interconnected and complex. As a result, those involved in any business practice must continue to develop and refine skills to understand and address the rapid changes in users’ environments and behaviours.
Are you ready to start pushing the boundaries of innovation? Do you want to help people solve problems—perhaps problems they don’t even realize they had?
In the twenty-first century, people expect more from their products and services than they have in the past. People want innovation. They want to be happily surprised. They want to feel as though the companies and businesses they’re supporting are always thinking of ways to serve them better. They want you to be one step ahead.
How do you do that? By embracing the process of ideation.
Whether you’re an individual person contemplating their future, a company creating a new product, a non-profit looking for new avenues of expansion, or an entrepreneur thinking about their next big investment idea, ideation is an important part of the creative process that’s necessary for any business to succeed.
youtube
The post The Power of Ideation first appeared on Suzzanne Laidlaw.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/the-power-of-ideation/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
The Guide to Mind Mapping
Do you have trouble sharing your thoughts in a way that others understand? Do you long for a better way to organize projects and plan ahead? Are you looking for a new way to collaboratively problem-solve?
If so, mind mapping is a great technique for you to learn and perfect.
Mind mapping is a tool that uses words, images, numbers, and colors to group together natural associations, generate more ideas, and find deeper meaning. Thanks to its intuitive design, you can generate ideas quicker, review information faster, and explore creative pathways that would be less obvious with lists, paragraphs of writing, or a drawn-out set of notes.
youtube
The post The Guide to Mind Mapping first appeared on Suzzanne Laidlaw.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/the-guide-to-mind-mapping/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Organise your Organisation
An Organised Business Is A Productive Business
Productivity is a big deal. Search the word on Google, and you get over 766,000,000 results.
How productive are you during your workday, and what would make you MORE productive?
During my webinar, Organise Your Organisation, I’ll be helping participants explore this very question.
I’ve learned that a company’s level of organisation is directly correlated with their overall effectiveness. I’ve also learned that many companies—including those who have an active goal of being more organised—are overlooking simple strategies that could make a huge difference in their efficiency and effectiveness.
My goal of this webinar is to share tips and simple strategies that can help you turn your business into a more well-oiled machine that’s ready for anything that comes your way.
youtube
The post Organise your Organisation first appeared on Suzzanne Laidlaw.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/organise-you-organisation/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
The Power in Asking for Help
Are you a lone ranger? A perfectionist? Someone who thinks that the only way to get something done right is to do it yourself?
If so, my upcoming webinar, The Power in Asking for Help, is perfect for you.
I created The Power in Asking for Help because I know from experience, both with my clients and personally, that asking for help can oftentimes feel as though you’re expressing weakness to those around you. My goal for this event is to show participants that, in reality, asking for help can actually make you stronger.
For some people, asking for help is simple. For others, it feels like dry swallowing a pill—awkward and uncomfortable. This is partially due to the society we live in, that encourages us to be self-reliant, and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. Unfortunately, this mindset leaves us with long to-do lists, feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. Join me to explore the positive factors in asking for help and the negative outcomes from refusing to change your ways.
youtube
The post The Power in Asking for Help first appeared on Suzzanne Laidlaw.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/the-power-in-asking-for-help/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Proven Success Principles
youtube
What Does It Take To Achieve Success?
A company’s values lie at the heart of the business and serve as the foundation for its founding and working principles.
Identifying your company’s core values is a fundamental step on the road to success, as once you establish what those values are, you have the answer to a very important question: “Why do I do what I do?”
It is the ‘why’ that you lead with. It is what you stand for, and what your company, product, or service is promoting.
Once you have firmed up your core values, the next step to success is setting goals for where you want to go as a company.
Having firm, achievable goals will:
-Grow your business
-Cultivate teamwork and collaboration
-Help you and your team know where the business is headed
With clearly defined goals, your employees are able to work with a purpose towards that goal, and it is with a purpose that teamwork and collaboration are possible.
Now to put your company values and goals into play, you need to be able to execute on your strategy. One way to do that is to create an operating rhythm.
A rhythm sets a cadence for productivity by allowing you to engage with your employees on a regular basis. (It is this kind of engagement that creates a welcoming atmosphere for teamwork!)
Creating and Measuring Success
It is with purpose, strategy, team engagement, and goal-driven performance that you set yourself apart as a company by defining what makes your product or service unique and learning how to best market it for the success of your company.
Staying ahead of the curve, measuring your performance, and keeping close to the core of your company are all principles to follow that lead to employee motivation, customer satisfaction, and overall success as your business continues to grow.
This webinar, Proven Success Principles in the 21st Century, is a great opportunity for business owners looking to set their business apart from other businesses by creating goals and establishing a strategy for success.
Please join me to find out more!
The post Proven Success Principles first appeared on Suzzanne Laidlaw.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/proven-success-principles/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Defining Your Target Market
When marketing your product or service, it is essential that you know the difference between what you do and what your marketing focus should be. (People often make the mistake of marketing themselves rather than marketing to an audience!)
youtube
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/defining-your-target-market/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Balance in Business and Life
‘Life ain’t always easy and it ain’t always fair, but there’s beauty in every day. You just have to know where to look.’ – Ellery Adams
So you’ve got a business, a loving and supportive family, a roof over your head and food on the table. You’re grateful for what you have, so why don’t things ever feel in place? How do people achieve the great audacious feeling of being ‘balanced’?
If you want to soar and rise above the challenges of maintaining a well-adjusted work and personal life, the first thing you need to do is be clear on what it is you really want.
Achieving balance is not a set formula, and balance for one person is different for the next. It’s about finding a happy medium for you and transforming the way you approach your days to create a path to greater happiness and freedom. It all starts with your heart.
My Top 3 Tips for Achieving Life Balance are:
1. Identify your ‘Why’
I am a firm believer in finding your purpose in life, your ‘Why’. It should be your overarching goal in life, and the reason for doing what you do.
It may take time to define your purpose, in both business and in life. It should involve assessing your core values and what motivates you. Without overcomplicating it, ask yourself what makes you the happiest? What are you drawn to do? What are you good at? What legacy do you want to leave, and what motivates you to be the best person you can be?
Everyone is different, and there is no right or wrong. Maybe you want the ‘simple life’, to provide the best opportunities for your family and your children, run your own business doing what you love, feel healthy, be in love, be financially secure and comfortably living within your means (easy, right?!). Perhaps you want to be the next world leader or the first astronaut to orbit mars. Maybe you have a ground-breaking business idea that you’re determined to trademark and expose to the world. Or maybe, in the words of miss universe, you simply want ‘world peace’.
Whatever it is, make sure you’re very clear on what it is you want, not what others want of you or what you think it is you should want. Otherwise it doesn’t matter what you do to try and achieve balance, you’ll never reach it as your heart’s desire will always be pulling you in a different direction (cue the endless mind tension, self-arguments and parallels of happiness, disarray and yearning for something greater… sound familiar?).
2. Align your personal and business vision
Just like your business should have a vision, a guiding light for the future of what you want your company to achieve, it’s equally as important to have a personal vision. Also, the closer aligned your business and personal visions are, the less conflict you will experience and the more balanced you will feel in your heart.
If you are regularly going against your beliefs, and not living your life in line with your true essence of being, then it’s time to reflect on that and make better daily choices to live your best life possible. Otherwise, the sense of balance will be virtually impossible to achieve.
3. Assess your wheel of life
Look at your overall ‘wheel of life’ and assess where you’d rate your happiness in each area of career, fun & recreation, family & friends, romance, physical environment, money, personal growth and health.
If there is an obvious misalignment of numbers, think about what it is you can do to improve the areas that are most important to you and thus achieve a better sense of balance for you.
My goal in life is to be a millionaire of hearts. Quite simply, I don’t do what I do for the profits. Whether or not I have a million dollars in the bank, that doesn’t matter to me. I do what I do for the love of helping people, and I want to positively impact one million people on this earth before I die. This is reflected in each and everything I do, in my work life and my personal life, and brings purpose to my every day. I live the law of reciprocity, I give without the expectation of receiving, and hope that in doing so I can in some way positively influence someone’s life. My success is based on how happy I am within my heart, how much impact I am making in the world with my clients, family and friends, how happy the people are around me and the difference I make to others’ lives. So regardless of what I’m doing, I have the same overarching purpose and feel balanced by simply following my dreams and listening to my heart.
In practicing the above, igniting your heart and invigorating your motivation, you will be reminded that you have a purpose and will set yourself up to live a balanced and fulfilled life. After all, a balanced life is a happy life.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/balance-in-business-and-life/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
How your business can survive COVID-19
youtube
In these uncertain times, it’s important to remain proactive, motivated and strategic. Now is the time to be even more vigilant with your business plans to ensure you remain ahead of the economic and social instability, and lessen the impact this pandemic may have on your business.
I am confident that I can help my clients by planning ahead and considering community connections, cash resources and creative opportunities available.
To help you immediately, here are some steps you can take in your business now to prepare and protect yourself in the coming months…
Please contact me if I can help you during this uncertain time, I am currently offering a free business needs analysis.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/how-your-business-can-survive-covid-19/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
What are your business and personal goals, and are they S.M.A.R.T.?
youtube
– Specific,
– Measurable,
– Achievable,
– Realistic (or Relevant), and
– Time-based?
Having goals based around the above acronym will help you to get really clear on what it is that you wish to achieve, and how you are going to achieve them.
Setting goals and strategies, and breaking them down, is one of the key components of my 2-day Business Planning Workshop.
If you’re stuck in a rut and want to take your business to the next level, I’d love the chance to have an obligation-free chat and see if I can help. You can reach me on 0414 943 823 or email [email protected]
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/what-are-your-business-and-personal-goals-and-are-they-s-m-a-r-t/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
How visible are your organisational values?
Are your organisational values visible through your team?
In life, it is our behaviours and values that define us. It should not be any different within the workplace. On a day to day basis your shared organisational values should be clearly identifiable through their embodiment of the aligning actions and behaviours. These make up who you are and what your organisations stands for if applied effectively. Through this your team are able to deliver your brands promises to your clients.
Values
Your organisational values should be unique, truly representing what you and your product or service stand for. You want them to be powerful, motivational, authentic and simple to grasp by both your team and your clients.
These values set the tone for the companies’ culture, identifying what your team and the organisation as whole care about. Hence why it is so important that each individual feel that their values align with these. When this is the case, everyone has a common purpose and is working together for the greater good of the organisation.
When values are out of alignment, people work towards different goals, with different intentions, and with different outcomes. This is damaging to work relationships, productivity, job satisfaction, creative potential and profitability.
ACTIONABLE TIP: Involve your employees in creating your organisational values. If they already exist, get the team in a room and uncover what everyone truly thinks of the current values. If needed, give them a face lift. At the end of the day it is your employees who embody these values so there is no point of having values that they do not know, understand or agree with.
Behaviours
Your behaviours are shown through the practical application of your organisational values, evident through the team’s day to day actions. More common than not values are broad; behaviours are where you can nail the detail of exactly what you expect your people to do.
Your organisational values and linked behaviours should come together to create a clear framework that demonstrates how they are aligned. This framework can then be utilised to create clear objectives to hold your team accountable. The values, behaviours and objectives should then be aligned with your performance management system in order to reward stand-out behaviour, as well as, highlighting when actions may not reflect the companies’ ethics.
The agreed behaviours in your company give your team a clear and precise way to act, a reference when faced with a tricky situation and an easy way to identify instances that are deserving of reward and recognition. This is the simplest way to take the organisational values off the office wall and place them within your teams’ actions.
ACTIONABLE TIP: If you do not already have your organisational values aligned to behaviours, get your team (or core team) into a room and go through each value, deciding as a group what behaviour or behaviours best reflects each value. If you do not have organisational values, ask each individual in your organisation to come up with what they feel are the top five most important behaviours within your workplace, tally these up and choose your Top Five Agreed Behaviours. Put these behaviours where they are visible or come up with a creative way to memorise them.
Now it is time celebrate what sets you apart, the unique set of values and the behaviours that your organisation embodies. Through this you will create a sense of unity, which in turn will build an engaged team and positive company culture. Remember, your team want to do the right thing by the organisation, it is human nature. Utilising these values and behaviours allow them to clearly see what the ‘right thing’ is in your organisation and then applaud them when demonstrating this. More and more people will come to see what ‘good’ looks like and you will create the foundation for an authentic rewards and recognition approach.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/how-visible-are-your-organisational-values/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
How can you stand out in a crowd?
Have you ever thought about what sets your business apart from other competitors in your field?
If you have never thought about what makes you unique – and how you are better and different from what the rest of the market has to offer… you’re going to always be stuck in a battle-field, trying desperately to stand out.
youtube
I urge you to dig deep, into your own expertise, or talk to your clients, and find out what’s unique about you…
What is special about your business that none of your competitors can say? Once you’ve found it, it should be included on your website and proposals, so you can authentically and honestly articulate what your customers will get from you that’s unique that nobody else can give.
Everyone has something about them that’s unique. You may not know it yet, but you can find it if you dig deep & ask the right people, the right questions…
If you’re struggling with this and wondering, “Well, I don’t know what my unique selling point is”, the best place to find out is from your clients, from the people who love you, from the people who do business with you…
Ask them,
“Why do you do business with me?”
“What’s so special about about doing business with me?
Why am I different from competitors??
“What do I do that really sets me apart?
And without too much effort, you’ll find out what’s special about you…
I’ve done this exercise many time with people and clients – who are your raving fans – They’ll be the first ones to put their hands up and say, “You’re amazing at customer service”, or “You just know this hands down better than anybody else… You’re such a specialist in your field, we cannot get such good quality and such great knowledge from anywhere else”
So what sets you apart?…
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/how-can-you-stand-out-in-a-crowd/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
What Is Your Exit Strategy
youtube
As part of the Business Planning process, one of the questions I often ask people is, “What is your Exit Date?”
I am often faced with a blank look, as most people have never given this question much thought. Most business owners are living day-to-day, without a clear vision of where they want their business to end up and how they will exit their business.
We’re all going to exit this world one day so it’s far better for you to choose the date that you wish to exit your business, rather than somebody upstairs choosing it for you.
Sadly, my father died when he was 54, and that was his “exit date” of his business. He had no succession plan, so we were left with a business with no idea of what to do with it, who was going to run it, or where everything was at… Not ideal! We were left with a pile of mis-matched jigsaw puzzles.
If you know when you want to retire, or sell or exit the business, make sure you have a strategy for how you’ll get there and have it written down for others to know. Be it part of your Will, your Business Plan or otherwise, make your plans clear. You can’t just reach that date and say “Cya, I’m outta here” (well, you could, but those around you may not be as impressed with that plan as you are).
There are many ways to exit your business; the most common ones I see are:
Having a public offering / making your business go public
Selling to a competitor
Promoting a General Manager to run the business, and stepping out of the operations
Selling to an employee
Passing down to a family member
If you’re looking at selling, a lot of businesses look at competitors who may be looking to acquire in a different location to expand their business presence locally, across the country or globally. Some people also have employees who are keen to explore the option of buying the business.
Alternatively, discussing your options with a business broker will give you a good indication of what your business is worth and how best to go about selling it.
If you’re not wanting to sell, you can look at promoting or hiring a General Manager to run the business, while you step away from the running of the business and simply take a cut of the profits by way of residual income. You may otherwise have family who want to step-up and run the business, as I see with a lot of family-owned and operated businesses.
There are many options, but it’s important to think about and get clarity in advance what your ideal exit strategy is, and a date.
If you have never given this any thought, think about what legacy you want to leave, or speak with your family members or a broker to get some ideas circling in your head. In line with your vision of success and your long-term goals, you should become far clearer and confident in writing an exit date and strategy.
Remember, plans can change and nothing is set in stone, but a starting point is always better than no plans at all.
Good luck!
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/what-is-your-exit-strategy/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Vision Statement vs Mission Statement
youtube
As someone who works with business owners a lot, one of the things I often get asked about is,”What’s the difference between a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement?”
Simply put,
A vision is, A picture of the future of where you intend your business to be.
whereas, when we look at the mission statement,
The mission statement describes what you’re actually in business for… What product you sell, who your clients are, and how you’re actually going to deliver that service.
You might wonder what the benefit of a mission statement is? Well, it’s a really clear statement that everybody in your team should know, it should be on your website, in your proposals, and visible for your customers and all your potential customers.
It allows everyone know – what product you deliver, who you deliver it to and how you deliver it.
It helps customers to know quickly and clearly, are you the right company to deal with or do they need to keep looking?
You should also relate your strategies back to your mission statement as well, so you remain congruent in aligning your actions with your promises.
If your mission is to be servicing a particular sector or a particular target market or a client of a particular product or service, you need to make sure that your strategies actually link back to your mission. You must deliver the same standard of service that you explain in your mission statement…
Some examples of great mission statements are:
“To invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world” – Cirque du Soleil
“To grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy” – Make-A-Wish
“To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” – Google
In summary, a mission statement is basically three things…
What business you’re in…
Who you’re servicing… and
How you’re servicing that particular product.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/vision-statement-vs-mission-statement/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
End of Financial Year Tips for Business Owners
youtube
What can you do to proactively start off the new financial year strong?
As a business coach, one of the things I help my clients with is to proactively plan their business so the can effectively run their business instead of the business running them. I help them to see the path they’re on and identify what needs to happen so they can avoid putting out bush-fires along the way.
Some of the questions I ask my clients are,
“Are you on track for where you wanted to be at this point in time?”
“What worked, what didn’t?”
“How can you do things differently next financial year?”
It’s important to continually look at your business plan to see what strategies you set for the year, and see what you can do to improve things going forward. Did you follow through with all your strategies? If not, why? What has held you back, and do you need support to follow through with your strategies? Of the actions you achieved, were they successful? If not, why? What needs to change to achieve your goals?
Another vital thing to assess is your financials. So many business owners who approach me don’t have an adequate handle of their financial requirements, don’t have a cash-flow or budget in place. Before you start another financial year, you should look at what you want to achieve and align this with your budget. If you’re looking to recruit new team members, how much do you need to set aside in the budget for them? If you’re wanting to grow your business or develop your marketing or other systems, have you budgeted for these strategies? What financial capital is required to achieve your plans?
In terms of cash-flow, what revenue do you need to be turning over each week or each month to break even? What can you do to increase your revenue so that you’re not only building your revenue but actually building your profits? Take a look at your cost of sales, your fixed and variable expenses, and see what can be done to improve your bottom line.
In Summary, my Top 5 tips heading into the new Financial Year are:
1. Re-assess your business plan and your goals,
2. Identify what’s working, and what isn’t. What do you need to change?
3. Map out your strategies, clearly and concisely,
4. Delegate each strategy to someone in your team, with a deadline to achieve it by, and
5. Re-do your budget so you’re clear on your financial requirements before the new financial year begins.
These are a few simple things you can do to head into the new financial year with laser-vision focus, so you are clear and confident about what you need to do to improve your chances of success.
If you’re unsure about your financials or need some extra guidance, have a conversation with your accountant to plan your tax & make sure you’ve got the best structure for your business.
If you don’t have a business plan, I would highly recommend you develop one so you can get a full picture of your business and how to take it to where you want it to be. I run 2-day business planning workshops in my office in Stirling; you can contact me to have a conversation about this and find out more.
I also run free webinars regularly so feel free to register for my next one, or download your Free Business Assessment guide on my home page.
If you’re still unsure how to step up to the next level in your business, I’d be happy to have a conversation with you. You can contact me on (08) 9207 3069 or email [email protected].
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/end-of-financial-year-tips-for-business-owners/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
How to Make Every Employee a Profit Centre for your Business
Suzzanne Laidlaw, WA Master Licensee for Engage & Grow, is a prestigious industry expert for WA Leaders, providing valuable education and mentoring to the local business community.
As part of their Executive Leaders Series, Suzzanne recently presented her insights on how focusing on team engagement can dramatically increase growth and profit in any business. If you have considered what proven approaches are available to get your team on-board with your vision, Suzzanne explains the difference between old ‘team building’ methods and Engage & Grow’s neurological approach to igniting a powerful and positive culture.
youtube
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/how-to-make-every-employee-a-profit-centre-for-your-business/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Are you a fitness and health devotee?
I have always aimed to inspire others through my personal and sporting achievements. As a business coach, I believe that one of the keys to a happy and fulfilled business life is finding that perfect work-life balance, an integral part of this is keeping fit and healthy.
I am a well-known person in the triathlon community, having competed at the top level for over 15 years. I have completed the grueling Busselton Ironman (3.8km swim, 180km bike, and 42km run) twice and represented Australia four times. Not long after having both knees reconstructed, I completed my life-long dream of swimming the 20km Rottnest channel swim solo.
My top tips for keeping fit and healthy
Make yourself fall in love with exercise, it provides you with an incredible hit of endorphins that you can’t get anywhere else. Strategies to help me keep this up are; starting my day early, keeping an up to date fitness plan on the fridge, having walking & running buddies to hold me accountable and regularly entering charity run/walk/cycle events so that I always have a goal to work towards.
Daily meditation, I meditate both upon waking and before I go to sleep, focusing on all the things I am grateful for. I also mediate during the day when fear comes knocking on the door, and within minutes my fear runs away and my heart rates slows.
Practice yoga, no matter your age or ability. Through yoga, I have seen an improvement in both my balance and flexibility. More importantly, than this Yoga offers self-reflection, the practice allows you to connect with yourself on a deeper level, encouraging continued growth and self-awareness.
Nourish your body with fresh, healthy whole foods. I choose to follow a plant-based diet, steering away from processed foods. Eating this way ensures that I’m consuming the maximum amount of nutrients, in the correct proportions.
What a regular week of exercise looks like for me
Monday: weight training with my personal trainer and my daughter at 9.45 am
Tuesday: Hatha yoga at 6 am
Wednesday: run with my running buddy at 6 am
Thursday: morning jog at 6 am, yin yoga at 7 pm
Friday: weight training with my personal trainer and my daughter at 4.45 pm
Saturday: cycling with a cycling pack at 7 am
Sunday: run with my running buddy at 6.30 am
What motivates me?
It is hard to choose just one thing that motivates me to stay fit and healthy, I am motivated by a whole array of things. I am always striving to be the best version of myself and the main part of this is keeping my body and mind at its best. Not only for myself but for my family, as a mother of two and a grandmother of one, I am motivated by the people I love, being fit and healthy allows me to be even more present for them. I want to get the most possible out of this precious life I have been given and to do this it is integral to look after my most important asset, myself!
I hope this is what you’re looking for.
Please feel to contact me by email or by phone on 0414 943 823.
Kind regards,
Suzzanne Laidlaw
https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/are-you-a-fitness-and-health-devotee/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes
Text
Ask Me Anything Q&A
I was recently invited to participate in an online Q&A style forum, through Ask Me Anything, whereby the public had the opportunity to ask me any question in my area of expertise.
It was an interesting exercise and a lot of questions asked pertained to mindset, as well as other questions that I have been asked many times before.
I thought I would share my answers here, for anyone exploring my website who may be asking the same questions. You can see the full feed here, or see the full list of Questions and Answers below.
Q. One of the major reasons why people struggle with problems is that they are too involved and are unable to see things objectively, as strangers coaches have the advantage of objectivity. Even as a coach, do you ever feel the need of having a coach to help you figure out your problems?
A. Most definitely!
I, too, work with a coach and am always learning from others (whether directly from a coach, reading books, listening to audio books and podcasts, studying & other means of professional development, through my own coaching accreditation and learning, from accountability buddies, and much more).
I wholeheartedly agree that someone outside of a direct situation has the advantage of objectivity and I often consult with my coach and others in my team when making important decisions.
I also practice what I preach and am held accountable to my goals by others (including my coach), I plan ahead, I set targets, I test and measure my activities, and am endlessly trying to improve and better myself and my business with the help of others.
The vast majority of coaches I know (especially those who are very successful in their own right) work with their own coach, and I’m no different.
A business coach is no different to a sports coach, and I’ve yet to hear of a hugely successful sportsperson who doesn’t have a great coach working with them to help them achieve their dreams.
Q. What is a business plan and why do you need one?
A. One of my top passions as a business coach is business planning!
It’s the first step for any business owner to reach success by getting everything out of their head and onto paper. Business owners should have a comprehensive company overview, financial & marketing plan, sales strategy, product overview, industry analysis and a strong road map of strategies (and more).
It’s critical to have clarity of a starting point and end goal, to ensure the right path and direction is specified. By writing down your goals, it places you in the top 3% of people who achieve success.
I have recently written a series of blogs on my website, covering the ABC’s of Business Planning.
I suggest having a read of the above blog, then my subsequent supporting blogs on Vision and Purpose.
Q.What do you consider to be the biggest challenges to starting a business? How do you help business owners get through these challenges?
A. The biggest challenge to starting a business it that people often don’t know where to start – there are so many things running through their head and they have no idea how to prioritise or what steps to take to get their business off the ground.
I help business owners to get clear on what their long-term vision is, what it is they are going to deliver and then step them through the process of creating a really good business plan which takes them through every part of running a business and breaks it down into clear, easy to follow steps. Having a business plan puts all the jigsaw pieces together into one big puzzle, so that the client can see the big picture (and everything is out of their head and ‘onto paper’).
It’s important to assess every aspect of a business to see whether it’s viable and how to make it a profitable and successful enterprise, delivering to the customers what is promised and ultimately giving the business owner the freedom of choices and giving them the desired result of starting the business in the first place.
Q. Is there an effective way to achieve a positive, long term change in a person’s behavior?
A. Most certainly. The first thing someone needs is the awareness & desire to change. As I have answered above, I consider the steps are as follows:
1. Awareness of what change is required
The first thing someone needs, however, is awareness of what they want to change.
2. Desire / mindset / willingness to change
Secondly, once the awareness is there, they need to actually want to change and be prepared to make changes.
Sometimes people are aware they need to change (i.e. they may want to lose weight or get fit or stop smoking) – in fact, some are aware of what they want to change for many years – but it’s committing to taking the actions required to make the change, for change to happen.
My husband was aware that he needed to stop drinking for 10 years, but it took a decade for him to finally take action in line with that knowledge and awareness and desire to beat his alcoholism.
3. Actions
Acting on the awareness is the the third step, making small steps consistently to affect that change.
It’s also important to change their environment to break old habits, whatever that means for the person and the challenge they are wanting to overcome. They need to be in the right environment with the right support.
For example, an alcoholic is going to find it far harder to break their alcohol addiction, surrounding themselves with other people drinking at a pub.
By removing the temptation of breaking a habit, or reverting back to old ways, there must be choices made to make that happen the easiest way possible.
They say, you’re the sum of the 5 closest people around you; so if you want to make change then you must surround yourself with the people who are living the life you want to live.
4. Consistency / follow through / keeping the actions up (change takes time!)
The last step is following through consistently to make the changes permanent.
It is said that on average, it takes 21 days to change habits so consistency is key and reverting back to the actions whenever a hurdle gets in the way, is vital to continuing the path to making change.
Sometimes it takes far longer to make a change and stick to it, so it’s consistently reverting back to the goal and making steps towards that goal, to stay on the right path.
Q. Have you coached young students to make well-thought career decisions? Are there any success stories so far?
A. Many years ago, I used to run an employment agency and I remember a young girl coming to me straight out of school wanting to get a job as she wanted to start making money. She was highly intellegent, achieving in the top percentage of achievers in her school exam results, and I had a conversation with her about her direction and choices and where they would lead her, and she came to her own conclusion from the mentoring and questions that I asked; that she wanted to continue her learning and development by studying at university and furthering her tuition.
She realised in her own heart of hearts, that she should utilise the high academic results she received to her advantage (simply by me listening to her and asking her leading questions).
Despite my own pursuits, I was able to mentor this young girl to make the best decision for HER life.
Within a day I had a call from this girl’s Mum and Dad, thanking me from the bottom of their hearts for seeing the potential in their daughter and allowing her to realise the potential she could reach by following a different path (and coming to that decision herself). They had tried numerous times to convince their daughter to continue study and go to uni, to no avail.
I feel that I made a difference by listening to and understanding this girl’s bigger vision, and helping her to listen to her own heart.
I bumped into this girl many years later, who had gone on to study medicine at university and was now a doctor. She thanked me profusely for the conversation we had and the questions I asked that ultimately led her to believe how much impact her decision would make on the rest of her life.
Q. In what ways business people limit themselves through personal stereotyping?
A. That’s an interesting question.
A lot of small business people or tradesmen, for example, may limit their beliefs by thinking that sterotypically, in their industry, most are “one man bands” or have a small team and thus they only consider their business to be capable of that stereotypical make-up (and not greater).
I think it happens a lot that people look at the ‘norm’ and stereotype and limit their beliefs accordingly.
If people are looking at the norm, they’ll be the norm.
If they want to achieve greater than normal, then they need to look outside the box and learn from other people who have achieved success. As I’ve said many times before in my answers above, it all starts with a shift in mindset.
Q. How do you develop yourself and continue to grow as a professional and on a personal level?
A. I continue to grow by looking at which areas I need to develop and improve on, and identifying what learning I need to do professionally to icrease my learning in that area.
I look at my big vision, the goals I want to achieve from that vision, and in those goals; what are the areas of those goals that I need to work on or need to develop? I base my learning based on those.
My professional development and personal development is decided through the above process.
As an example, I love classical piano. I’m not very good at it, so I have a piano teacher who helps me learn, I practice as often as I can and it helps to challenge my brain, improve my dexterity and brings me joy.
Profesionally, I am interested in always learning more about people and their personalities. I have worked with DISC profiling for many years, and one of my goals is to be accredited in DISC profiling.
I am also currently accredited as a business coach with the International Coaching Federation, but one of my goals is to reach the highest level of coaching accreditation with ICF and thus, I work to develop my skills and learning through various webinars and resource development/learning.
Q. Can you talk about how ego can get in the way of effective coaching?
A. Some coaches may find that ego gets in the way of coaching because they want to be “right” and have all the answers.
But, I don’t feel that ego has a big part for me as I’m not a dominant person and always focus the attention outside of myself, i.e. what are the client’s hopes and dreams?
I am results driven but don’t feel that’s from ego, I think that’s from wanting to help my clients achieve good results for their own happiness and ensuring they get a good return on their investment.
Coaching should not be telling the client what to do, it should be listening to the client and asking good questions. Being right & wrong shouldn’t be part of the equation.
I would look out for this when looking to work with a coach, as coaches shouldn’t feel the need to justify themselves or be right and have all the answers. That can get in the way with the coaching process, and often the less the coach talks the better (so you will notice if a coach has a big ego because they will talk about themselves rather than listen to the client).
Hope this answers your question.
Q. It sounds like you’ve been through quite alot. I believe we grow the most from adversity. Do you feel there is a clear plan/path for rising above challenges whether personal or professional? What would you recommend as a key approach to overcoming boundaries?
A. I certainly have. You can visit my website and download a copy of my story ‘Burning Desire’ to read one example of adversity I have overcome (scroll down to the bottom to download your copy).
I do feel there is a clear path to rising above challenges.
1. Be aware of the challenge.
2. Make a decision to get through that challenge (whether you accept it or not) – Make that mindset shift to tackle the challenge head on.
3. Go forth and consciously choose one action (or one small step each day) towards overcoming the challenge.
For example, when I had endometriosis riddled throughout my body, had mutiple surgeries was given 5 years to live when I first came home from hospital, I couldn’t even walk. I set myself a small goal of walking down the stairs in my house, and then to walk across the road to the oval and back, and then to walk around the oval. So it’s about changing the mindset and breaking it up into small achievable steps, one by one, to reach that bigger goal.
4. Draw on inspiration from mentors.
My mentor at the time, was Lance Armstrong. I grew great strength from reading his book and his journey, and that helped me overcome my challenge.
Success leaves clues so it’s important to learn from others who have been through the same challenge as you, and I draw a lot of courage and inspiration from other people (either face to face or through books) who have overcome challenges before.
That’s also why I am so open about the challenges I have overcome as I believe it’s important to share my wisdom and experiences so others can draw strength from what I have overcome.
It’s about what you do with what you have.
Q. What advice do you have for other women entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business or to continue to grow their business?
A. 1. Work harder on yourself than you do on your business;
2. Network and surround yourself with people who you can learn from, particularly other female entrepreneurs; that you can also add value to (so it’s a reciprocal relationship).
3. Spend regular structured time working “on your business”, getting clear on a business plan and put time aside to proactively work on the business on a regular basis.
4. Don’t make the mistake of just learning about your profession, it’s important to develop your business accumen too. The biggest thing that prohibits people in business is their own self-limiting beliefs and their own mindset so by working on your mindset, this will allow you the biggest opportunity for growth and impacting others.
Q. What is the highlight success in your career that is significant to excellence in business?
A. I’d say that the first time I won a Global Award for Business Planning, i.e. helping the most amount of business owners in the world to create a business plan for success (out of any other business coach).
I knew I was passionate about helping owners plan their business for success but out of the thousands of business coaches in the world, I had no idea that I was the most passionate and that I had made the biggest impact in business planning in the world.
That was a huge highlight in my business accolades & coaching career (and I have since gone on to win many more business planning awards both regionally and globally).
On a personal level, I also represented Australia for the World Triathlon Championships in London and that was a pretty significant highlight for me, particularly as I had not long before been told I had a heart disease and I wouldn’t be able to compete again. So it was a huge challenge for me, making the Australian team whilst competing at a level where I was keeping my heart rate down under 80% capacity (posing its own challenges when competing in an olympic distance triathlon). Overcoming that challenge was a highlight for me, and still achieving success with that limitation put on me. It was a great example of what happens to people all the time – they are thrown challenges, but it’s what people do with those challenges that determine their success.
Q. What are the top challenges people have in an existing business?
A. The most common challenges I come across with my clients are:
1. People aren’t educated enough on how to run a business; they are generally educated in their industry but not in business operations. Thus, they are proactive about professionally developing their own business accumen or that of their team (i.e. they will promote a manager from within, who also doesn’t have managerial experience, they have just come from the shop floor).
2. A lot of businessses are running the business owner/s, not the business owner/s running the business. They are therefore making reactive decisions on a regular basis rather than proactive ones. They’re not sitting down assessing where they are now, where they want to go, and how to get there.
3. Cash flow. People don’t know the areas in their business that are triggers for declining/lumpy cash flow and how to change it. I.e., they may have too much stock, their debtors and creditors might be out, they haven’t reviewed their expenses, their wages have increased but their revenue hasn’t.
That’s a general overview of the main challenges people face, but within those categories comes a breakdown of challenges.
The number one overriding challenge in terms of the above is business owners NOT SPENDING TIME WORKING “ON” THE BUSINESS (but rather, just working “in” it).
Q. What are some of those questions that should be asked before a business crisis happens?
A. Some of the questions you should ask yourself regularly are:
What was my target this month? Did I achieve that target?
What was my gross profit this month, and was my gross profit margin in right range?
Are my expenses in line with my budget?
How is my marketing plan going?
Are we producing a good return on investement with our marketing investment?
Are my team on board with the organisations’ vision?
Are the strategies that we are proactively working on to grow the business, working?
Are we testing & measuring our activities against results?
Is my business plan up-to-date?
Is my business pro-active?
Is my business running me or am I running the business?
Do I have a clear picture of where my business is going?
Have I done a competitor analysis?
Is my business properly represented in my industry?
Q. What is the single metric you will measure your success by (not how anyone else will measure your success– how you will measure your own success). What are you doing about it?
A. My success is based on how happy I am within my heart, how much impact I am making in the world and the difference I make to others’ lives.
My goal of being a “Millionaire of Hearts” (reaching and inspiring one million people) was my choice of goal, and I have a calculation for how I measure this (how many people I reach) but more importantly, I measure my success by how happy I am in the heart, how calm I am, how happy the people are around me and how much love is in my life.
If we’re talking about how I measure the success of my clients that I work with, that’s based on how happy they are and ultimately from a business perspective, how much net profit they are making in their business.
Q. If a better competitor opened up tomorrow, what would you want them to be like?
A. I actually don’t believe there are enough business coaches available, helping people to reach their potential and creating world abundance through business re-education.
I would want everyone to have available to them, a coach that is honest, authentic, caring, personable, structured and clear with their clients (with a focus on good results) and transparent.
I work with a lot of business coaches and don’t see them as competitors, I see them as colleagues who can work together with me in our joint plight to help others.
Q. Everyone faces adversity in their lives, but why some people just prefer to complain and do nothing about it? Is the key to successfully overcome adversity or failure in each person’s approach or mindset towards how to handle these situations or are there other external factors that could be of help?
A. Some people are stuck in their own mindset, that it’s second nature to ‘complain’.
It all starts with the mind- one person decides to complain and do nothing about it, but then there are people like Stephen Hawking whose mindset drove him to make a huge impact despite his catastrophic physical limitations.
So yes, I absolutely concur that it is within each person’s mindset that will determine their ability to overcome adversity or failure. A different mindset is what make people take a different approach – i.e., do something about a problem, or just think about it/complain about it and do nothing.
Everything starts with the mind.
Of course, there are always external factors that can play a part, too. For example, if you have a great support network and people that can help you in your journey and to achieve your aspirations, then you’ll have an advantage. You can ‘borrow the belief’ of someone else, before you have that belief yourself. Great mentors can help you change your mindset but ultimately it’s something you have to want.
Childhood experiences and how people were raised, contribute greatly to one’s mindset. They can either have a mindset of growth, or a fixed mindset.
Carol Dwek’s book, Mindset – Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential is a fantastic example.
Through wanting to change mindset, with the support of mentors and learning, it is most definitely possible.
A really powerful quote that I often refer to, is “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.”
Q. You mentioned that one of the keys to success in life is a balance of mental, physical and spiritual health. How do you achieve this? Where do you start?
A. I recently wrote a blog on my website, outlining my 7 Daily Top Tips that have helped me on my journey of life.
I have also outlined them below for your reading:
1. Have a positive attitude
I choose to have a positive attitude of gratitude, every single day. Each day is the first day of the rest of my life, so I want to make it count.
2. Plan & set goals
I have created an ever evolving and morphing plan of what I want my future vision of my life to be (including long, medium and short term goals, covering all areas of my life together with immediate family members through our family’s yearly goals & vision book).
3. Exercise regularly
I made myself fall in love with exercise, even if I had to trick myself to become an early person. Strategies to help me keep this up including eating fresh healthy whole food to fuel my body, putting a fitness plan on the fridge, I have walking & running buddies to hold me accountable and I also regularly enter charity run/walk/cycle events. Exercise is my free hit of endorphins every day.
4. Follow the law of reciprocity
I work daily to keep open, positive, honest, vulnerable communication with the people in my life that matter, focusing on where I can help them and not me. I follow the law of reciprocity every day, the giver’s gain philosophy.
5. Challenge my brain
I regularly assess where I need to be focusing my learning, and what I should be researching to develop myself more. Always learning is my way of keeping my brain active and challenged.
6. Tackle challenges head on
6. I tackle challenges head on. As Gabrielle Bernstein says in her book Daring Greatly, ‘Our challenges in life are just life’s assignments and we are never given an assignment we can’t handle.’
7. Meditate daily
I make it mandatory to do daily mediation both upon waking and before I go to sleep, focusing on all the things I am grateful for. I also mediate during the day when fear comes knocking on the door, and within minutes my fear runs away and my heart rates slows.
Rememeber, these are some of the things that have helped me to live my best life, and overcome obstacles in my way.
I recommend that you too should sit down and think about your core values, and what motivates you to be the best person you can be. If you are regularly going against your beliefs and not living your life in line with your true essence of being, then it’s time to reflect on that and make better daily choices to live your best life possible.
Q. If someone asked you which of your traits would make you a great business coach for his business, what would you say?
A. I have an open heart and open mind, and am empathetic to people’s situations. I use this, together with my focus and experience, to bring the client back to what it is that they really wish to achieve.
A lot of businesses have “bright shiny object syndrome” – they get distracted by another idea, but I’m always making sure they stay true to their goals and making sure they focus on and prioritise the development of their business in accordance with their vision.
I also consider that my experience starting & running my own businesses, puts me in a position of understanding what it takes to be successful. One of the businesses I ran for 13 years was with my husband, so I understand what it’s like to work with family (so I understand the dynamic of working with family). We also successfully sold our business for a profit, so having that experience first hand puts me in a better position to be a successful business coach.
So I’d say my top 3 traits are:
1. Open mind & open heart
2. Focus
3. Experience as a business owner myself
Q. How long did it take you to really make a name for yourself as a business coach?
A. I would say it took around 5 years, to not only feel that I was recognised for my business coaching but that I had reached success with my clients and more importantly that I impacted many many people through my desire to help.
I have always had the philosophy that if I can help anyone out, regardless of whether they are a paying client or not, I will always do my best to help.
Whether it’s lending a book, referring someone to a trusted colleague, connecting like-minded people, sharing my insights, etc, I am always thinking of ways I can help others.
Many times people walk around with a jigsaw piece in their back pocket and they don’t let go of it because they’re too scared to be vulnerable and put themselves out there, but I have been brought up with the belief that if I can help a fellow human when the situation arises, then I will.
I’d like to think that who I am as a person, and my values, has contributed to me making a name for myself.
Q. How can someone make their voice heard above the masses of people online?
A. I don’t proclaim to be an expert on digital/online presence however I will say that it’s important to be genuinely yourself and post regularly.
If you post content in your own voice, with your own values and opinions, and if your content inspires others, then you will organically grow your presence as people will notice you for being authentic.
You will draw the people to you, who align with your values.
Q. Do you have remote clients? If so what’s your approach to provide the best customer experience when dealing with different locations?
A. That’s a great question. Yes, I have remote clients – I have coached people all over the world and am currently working with a client in South Africa, and another locally who does remote coaching sessions.
All of my clients have the option of coaching face-to-face, via Zoom/Skype or via phone. Most prefer face-to-face however my customer service to my remote clients differs only in that I can’t offer them a coffee or a hug when they arrive in my office
My coaching method and available services to them is exactly the same, and I have had no negative experiences with coaching clients in remote locations thus far.
Hope this helps.
Q. What are some examples of ways in which you have helped clients?
A. I recently posted a Facebook video about the success I have shared with one of my newest clients.
In the last 12 months, we increased their annual turnover by 50% and increased their net profit by around 220%.
How did we do that?
1. The first thing we did was write a business plan, identifying some of their problems,
2. One of the weak areas we identified was that some of their debtors weren’t paying on time so we decided not to teal with that target market any more,
3. We then identified their ideal target, getting really clear on the best people to deal with in their industry,
4. We created a website based on that demographic,
5. We created a budget to get a handle on finances, reduced expenses and increased gross profit margin
6. We created a cash flow projection (so the cash flow wasn’t lumpy),
7. We started to build a solid team and put some team processes in place.
Hope this helps you – This is just one case study of how I worked with one of my clients over a one year period to dramatically improve their results.
Q. What are the personality traits of a person who is capable of change?
A. I don’t believe there are particular personality traits of a person who is capable of change. I feel that ANYBODY is capable of change.
The first thing someone needs, however, is awareness of what they want to change.
Secondly, once the awareness is there, they need to actually want to change and be prepared to make changes.
Sometimes people are aware they need to change (i.e. they may want to lose weight or get fit or stop smoking) – in fact, some are aware of what they want to change for many years – but it’s committing to taking the actions required to make the change, for change to happen.
My husband was aware that he needed to stop drinking for 10 years, but it took a decade for him to finally take action in line with that knowledge and awareness and desire to beat his alcoholism.
Acting on the awareness is the the third step, and the last step is following through consistently to make the changes permanent.
To summarise,
1. Awareness
2. Desire
3. Actions
4. Consistency / follow through / keeping the actions up (change takes time!)
It is said that on average, it takes 21 days to change habits so consistency is key and reverting back to the actions whenever a hurdle gets in the way, is vital to continuing the path to making change.
Q. Do brands and individuals typically contact you for your skills and expertise, or do you reach out to brands you’d like to work with?
A. 100% of my clients contact me first and I work with a range of individuals and businesses through my various services.
I personally think that unless someone is ready to work with a coach, then there is little point in me reaching out & trying to convince them otherwise.
I will work with any individual, business or organisation that aligns with my coaching method and where I can see they will receive a return on their investment.
Q. What’s the single most useful tip you can offer with regards to increasing one’s digital presence?
A. My tip is for you to increase your digital presence and exposure by being GENUINELY YOURSELF. If you regularly post content that is in your own voice, with your own values and opinions, and if your content inspires others, then you will organically grow your presence as people will notice you for being authentic.
Good luck.
Q. What are the long-range objectives that you have developed for your work?
A. I have a long-term objective to be a “Millionaire of Hearts” before I die- meaning, I want to reach and inspire one million people to achieve their dreams (beyond what they thought they were capable of) by coaching, motivating, inspiring and sharing my experiences of my life with them.
I want to continue having a global impact and leave a legacy of my work.
Q. In your experience, are people comfortable working with coaches, or do they think they don’t need one and what techniques do you use when having to work with a somewhat sceptical client?
A. Good question!
Some people are not comfortable working with a coach (and thus don’t engage a coach), some people think they know everything and simply aren’t open to change.
Techniques I use with people that are somewhat sceptical but wanting to engage a coach, are focusing on the results and how they can achieve their goals in the shortest amount of time. Coaching is about THE CLIENT, it’s about helping them to understand what needs to be done and the client following through with the actions.
For coaching to work, a client must follow through so it’s in their control whether coaching works or not.
People sometimes think they are ready for coaching but they are in fact not prepared to do what it takes to achieve results.
A client needs to be ready for change to get results because “what got them here, won’t get them there.”
Scepticism comes from them, and it’s my job to help them understand that frame of mind.
An amazing book that explains this well (and I would recommend you read if you want to explore this question more) is Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts–Becoming the Person You Want to Be by Marshall Goldsmith (who is a top executive coach).
Q. How did you first become interested in assisting businesses with aspects such as personal growth and leadership?
A. As a young child, I was always really good at sport so I started coaching swimming at the age of 13 and loved seeing the potential in someone and them then going on to achieve beyond their own expectations.
I continued to coach through my adulthood and after starting a couple of businesses and running them for 20 years, I then decided that I wanted to join my two loves (the love of helping people in business and the love of watching people achieve beyond what they thought they were capable of) and decided to study to become a business coach.
I love seeing people step up and become better leaders. I once read in a book, “leadership is about what you do when no-one’s looking” so I believe leadership is from within, an essence of being.
It always thrills me when I see people step out of their comfort zones and achieve things beyond their wildest dreams.
Q. What makes you different? Why are your clients choosing to work with you?
A. Some of the comments I have received from my clients are that I am “genuine”, that I “sincerely care about the results of my clients”, that I “walk the walk, not just talk the talk” and that my “success is a result of who I am”. Feel free to watch many testimonials on my YouTube channel, so you can see for yourself what my clients have to say.
I consider that my own multitude of experiences and success sets me apart from my competitors, as well as the variance of products that I offer.
You can read my biography here… In summary,
– I am a multiple award-winner in my industry (on both a national and international scale),
– I am an accredited qualified coach with the International Coaching Federation (whereby I am always continuing my professional development),
– I am a small business owner myself,
– I have founded and run many businesses successfully,
– I am highly motivated with solid family values,
– I started coaching as a sports coach,
– I have achieved success in both sport and business,
– I have overcome challenging life set-backs (such as saving my husband from a house fire and watching him struggle with many years of alcoholism and depression as a result of his intensive burn recovery),
– I have overcome a life threatening illness myself,
– I am genuine and authentic, and holisically life my life,
– My passion is to help business owners to achieve their dreams, and my plight is to reach & inspire one million hearts before I leave this earth.
Of course, I always encourage prospective clients to do their research and find a coach that they align with and someone they can see themselves working with.
I offer a comprehensive range of services, as outlined on my website.
Hope this helps.
Q. How can one become an authoritative leader without being too demanding? How is the role of the leader evolving?
A. Becoming an authoritative leader without being too demanding is about understanding the area of expertise you would like to become a leader in and researching and understanding and living that area of expertise.
By not becoming too demanding, I find that you could actually be demonstrating what it is that you’re an expert in rather than telling – so, leading by example.
Leaders are evolving by leading by example and leading by having that level 5 leadership (leading greater than your own ego, making a difference, impacting beyond one person and leaving a legacy). The greater a global impact one can have, the greater a leader they are seen as.
Leading is about inspiring people to change and learn and go to the next level themselves, it’s not about the leader themselves.
Q. In what ways does the critical, self-sabotaging internal voice (the voice of self-doubt or lack of believing) limit your clients?
A. It limits them in many ways each and every day. My clients are just normal humans like everyone else, so all their limiting beliefs are different depending on the journey of life they have had so far.
To give you a few examples;
I have one client who has mainly worked on the tools so he sometimes does not belive in his abilities around business decisions as his knowlege around business is limited to just one industry.
Another client has had a bad track history with team members stealing from him before so he has trust issues around giving them access to the banking and financials.
One other client finds it very hard to delegate to people in the business, they hold on to every process so much so that they are the bottle neck of their own businesses growth. Their limiting belief is that no one will be able to do it as well as they do.
Q. How competitive is the business coaching industry? How do you set yourself apart from the competition?
A. Yes, the coaching industry is highly competitive and I consider that my own multitude of experiences and success sets me apart from my competitors, as well as the variance of products that I offer.
You can read my biography here… In summary,
– I am a multiple award-winner in my industry (on both a national and international scale),
– I am an accredited qualified coach with the International Coaching Federation (whereby I am always continuing my professional development),
– I am a small business owner myself,
– I have founded and run many businesses successfully,
– I am highly motivated with solid family values,
– I started coaching as a sports coach,
– I have achieved success in both sport and business,
– I have overcome challenging life set-backs (such as saving my husband from a house fire and watching him struggle with many years of alcoholism and depression as a result of his intensive burn recovery),
– I have overcome a life threatening illness myself,
– I am genuine and authentic, and holisically life my life,
– My passion is to help business owners to achieve their dreams, and my plight is to reach & inspire one million hearts before I leave this earth.
Of course, I always encourage prospective clients to do their research and find a coach that they align with and someone they can see themselves working with.
Q. How many clients do you normally take on? How long is a typical coaching process?
A. It depends on my other commitments at any given time (i.e. on top of my one-on-one clients, I am currently also involved in various focus groups or industry boards as an expert/leader in my industry, which takes up a considerable amount of my time).
At the most, I have 12 one on one clients at once. This allows me to ensure I support the clients I have at the highest of standards, without spreading my time too thin.
Depending on each client’s goals, will depend on how long their coaching journey with me lasts. For example, one client may be looking to sell their business and their goal may be to have it ready to sell at the most profitable price after 12 months (thus ending their coaching journey after 12 months). Another client may be a start-up and want to continue their growth beyond the start-up stage into growing a team and later franchising, which may mean our relationship extends to around 3-5 years. I work with each of my clients to find out what THEIR goal is so there is no ‘typical’ coaching process, other than to help my clients achieve exactly what they set out to achieve (in the timeframe they deem successful).
Q. What has been a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career?
A. As a business coach one would think it would be about a business, but it is actually the opposite. In 1999, my husband and I were running our own business and unfortunately were given the news that due to a disease I had eating up some of my vital organs, I only had 5 years to live. So in the essence of living life to the fullest of what we potentially had left, we promoted someone we trusted within our organisation to run our business for the year and backpacked the world in 1999 with our 5 and 7 year old children which we home schooled along the way. This is by far my biggest business achievement, because our business was working for us, instead of us working for the business like a lot of people tend to do. I hope that makes sense.
BTW, Yes I did get rid of the disease and am fine, fit and well and truly still alive beyond their expectations.
Q. What variety of training programs do you currently have available and what do you programs entail?
A. I work with businesses through a range of my programs, that collectively offer a comprehensive guide for business owners.
I currently have 4 programs available:
1. Business Planning (2-day Business Planning Workshop)
2. Entrepreneurs Unlimited Program (12 month Quarterly Coaching & Accountability Program)
3. One on One Private Coaching (Weekly or Fortnightly Coaching)
4. Engage & Grow Team Engagement (12 week team program to improve culture and engagement levels in an organisation).
For a comprehensive overview of what I offer, you can see more on the services page of my website.
from Suzzanne Laidlaw https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au/ask-me-anything-qa/
via https://www.suzzannelaidlaw.com.au
0 notes