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Moving Forward's bi-monthly newsletter
www.movingforwardcoaching.com.au
Email:  robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au

March 2004, Issue #3
'Tips to create a successful business'
A note from Robyn
I'd like to welcome all my subscribers to 'Tips to create a successful business'.  You are receiving this newsletter because you or someone you know subscribed you to our mailing list. This Newsletter is 100% Opt In Only! Please pass this newsletter on to anyone who you feel might benefit from its content. Just send them a copy or have them visit our website at http://www.movingforwardcoaching.com.au. If you feel that you have received this newsletter in error and wish to be removed from our mailing list, you will find easy removal instructions at the bottom of this newsletter.

Welcome to the third edition of this newsletter and also a big welcome to all our new subscribers. I hope 2004 is progressing according to your plans.  Well February for me has been very busy - with a couple of Moving Forward workshops that MFBT P/L delivered as well as coaching.  It is great to see so many businesses making some great achievements and being so focused on their success.  It shows that when you know where you are going and have the tools to use, achieving your goals is so much easier.

In this issue we have another great interview with a  business owner who has created a great business that is not just a job for themself, but a  successful business.  This month we have an interview with Cameron Horder of Eclipse Automotive at Airport West in Victoria. Eclipse Automotive is so clean you could take your picnic lunch and eat it off the floor and you can also spend time waiting for your car to be serviced or repaired in the waiting room where there is ample tea, coffee and water together with a power point to plug your laptop in.

This year we launched our Successful Business Program which is  four stages to developing a successful business.  It comprises three workshops plus monthly meetings for an affordable and effective way to develop your business. Click here to download the flyer which outlines the Successful Business Program.  There are various packages with workshops or individual mentoring and payment plans available.  We are looking forward to developing many businesses - so contact us to take your business to the next level.

We also take great pleasure in introducing MAPP Assessment which is a profiling tool to determine motivations.  When you are designing your life, business or career it is great to have a basis to understand what you really enjoy and what you are motivated to do.  I feel that if I knew this information a lot earlier in my life - I would be doing exactly what I am doing now a lot earlier.  It just took me many years to find what I really wanted.   It is also a great tool for the basis for creating a great team.  As a special introductory offer until 30 April the cost for this great assessment is $295 which includes the online questionnaire, a 30 page report and a consultation session with MFBT Pty Limited.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with others, but pass it on in full and always remember that:

Vision + Strategy + Systems + People =
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ™

MFBT P/L provide individual coaching, training and workshops to help you develop a successful business. Moving Forward develop the training programs.

In this issue:
  1. Are you ready for more sales
  2. Interview with Cameron Horder (Eclipse Automotive)
  3. Coming Events
  4. Useful contacts and products
Are you really ready for more sales

I visit with many start up businesses and they generally all experience the same problem - obtaining leads, getting clients or making sales.  I would usually take a look at their marketing process and their sales process to identify the part of the process that is causing the problem and we discuss interventions to improve the particular area of their business.

Once my clients understand the problem and take action to improve the situation, the business starts developing and they are very happy.  They now have clients and a business that is selling a product or service.  Congratulations are in order but there is no time for complacency.  Can you imagine if the phone kept ringing and more jobs kept coming in.  This is quite often when businesses go out of business.  The owner is working very hard and can not manage all the work.  The owner starts overlooking things and the quality of the work decreases and things are forgotten.  Quite often an owner will look at their profits and determine that they need more sales to make more profit.  This is quite often not the case as they are not ready for more sales.  They need to get their systems under control and understand what is impacting their business before they are ready for more sales.

Don't fall into this trap.  Whilst you are in the initial stages of developing your business start creating systems that work.  Always look for the best way of doing things in your business.  So often I look at tasks being done by the business owner or staff and find that they are doing things very inefficiently and sometimes wasting hours of precious time.  Time is a resource which must be managed, just like any other resource.  It is interesting to note that some tasks may take three hours to complete, but if done the correct way or outsourced to an efficient operator may only take an hour or less.  Contact us for a free business needs analysis to identify your performance gaps or attend our workshop 'Create your Operations Manual' which will have you quickly identifying and writing down procedures for your business that are easy for staff to follow and easy to maintain.  You will also be given a list of 100 procedures that you should think about including in your manual.  Learn to do it right from the start and you are off to a flying start and setting the foundations for a very successful business.  We also offer individual coaching sessions as well if you would prefer an individual approach.

Interview with Cameron Horder (Eclipse Automotive)
Eclipse Automotive at Airport West is well-known for its automotive services and repairs offering quality service, reliability and clean workshop - in fact you could just about eat your lunch of the workshop floor.  When you take your car to Eclipse Automotive for any job to be completed your car is returned sparkling clean.  They also service cars under warranty at a very competitive price to the dealers.  Cameron Horder started the business from home with no customers and through vision, exceptional customer service, continuous improvement and quality automotive service is creating a successful business. The business has been in operation now for five years.  Congratulations Cameron on the business developments that you have made.

Tell me a bit about what you did before starting Eclipse Automotive?
I worked as a mechanic in another business.  My parents own their own business though.

What is your vision for Eclipse Automotive?
I love what I do and plan to keep on working.  I also enjoy spending time at home so it is essential that I can take time off.  I want the business to run really well with great systems and empowered staff.  At the moment I have one third year apprentice and at the end of the year I would like to take on another apprentice.   I want to be known for our excellent customer service and quality of work completed.  Eventually I will buy another business as well.  I also want it to be very profitable.

How did you go about creating a successful business?
I love talking to people.  I like to listen and explain to my customers or potential customers the process and answer any questions that they may have.  I enjoy looking after everyone and offering excellent customer service.

I had to examine how I spent my time to be more productive.   I found that most of my day was spent taking a lot of phone calls.  I love to personally talk to all my customers but the work has to be done as well.  Now I have all calls directed to my mobile phone with an earpiece so I can answer customer calls and do repairs at the same time.

We always examine what brings in the clients.  We offer a free car wash to all our customers.  This is what makes us unique and people keep coming back because of the excellent service we give them.  We like to keep our workshop very clean - not like a place you would expect that would do mechanical repairs.

We always monitor our selling hours per week and we look for improvement in profitability each year.  We have an excellent relationship with our clients. 

I have also had to learn a whole range of things, for example, using the computer, employing staff.

Tell me about your team building and staff empowerment initiatives
I have one apprentice working for me and Caiden is doing a great job.  I have talked to him about the culture of listening to our customers and our excellent service.  I have also talked to him about his vision for his future and I give him the responsibility to be involved.  We have a weekly meeting where we share what is going on in the workshop.  He also loves to talk to people and knows what he can and can't do.  At the end of the year I would like to employ another apprentice and I will certainly involve Caiden in the process.

Cameron, can the business run without you being there now?
Yes - At the moment the business can run for a couple of days at a time by itself.

Next time you want your car serviced or mechanical repairs carried out, why not make an appointment with Cameron.  You can find Eclipse Automotive at 5 Halsey Road, Airport West and their telephone number is 9338 8967.  Don't forget to tell Cameron that you read about Eclipse Automotive in Moving Forward's newsletter.

Coming events
For those of you living in Melbourne, take time out to participate in our Successful Business program workshops. All our workshops are very hands onYou work on your own business.  Why not book and pay now to take advantage of the cheaper prices.  All our individual workshops will be going up in price very soon.  If you get in now to book any workshop you will get in at the discounted rate.  Click here for all the workshop dates which will be delivered by MFBT Pty Limited who are licensed and accredited to deliver Moving Forward's Successful Business Programs.

Take control of your business
Plan for the success of your business

Time: 9am - 4pm
Date:  30 April 2004
Hume Global Learning Centre
Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
Cost: $330 (including GST and lunch)
 

This workshop will challenge you to think outside the square to look at the big picture and plan a great business that will enrich your life. It will empower you to create your own definition of success for the business, plan the steps to achieve your vision, then create performance measures to keep you on track. 

You will go home with your own draft Strategic Plan.
Download Registration form and fax your registration now
(maximum of 8 per session - so book quickly)
and bookings close 21 April 2004

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Create your Operations Manual
19 May 2004
Time: 9am - 4pm
Hume Global Learning Centre
Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
Cost: $330 (including GST and lunch)

To develop a business that runs without you, a Policies & Procedures Manual is a MUST, not a luxury. In this 'hands-on' workshop you will start developing your own Manual. You will learn about the different types of documents to use in your manual, how to structure the manual, identify what you need to write about and then how to write procedures and policies that are easy to follow.  Not just white folders that nobody reads - but a usable procedures manual that adds real value to your business.

Download Registration form and fax your registration now
(maximum of 8 per session so book quickly)
and bookings close 10 May 2004

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Small Business Business Planning teleclass
Date:  14 April 2004 (plus 2nd Wednesday of each month another 5 months)
Time:  10 am (for 1 hour)
Cost: $165 for 6 classes (including GST - special offer pay for 5 and get 6 classes)

If you are a small business owner, this teleclass (on the phone via conference call) is for you.  Take your business to the next level. It will be the 2nd Wednesday of each month at this time for 6 months. 

To register, email or phone
Moving Forward
(03) 9308 3844 or 0412 761 216
robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au
Bookings close 8 April 2004

 

To register your interest for these workshops or future workshops, email or phone
MFBT Pty Limited
(03) 9308 3844 or 0412 761 216
mfbt@movingforwardcoaching.com.au
 
Useful contacts and products

Is your business performing to the standard of other businesses in your industry?  Soak up the free business information at http://www.ebc.com.au Take a specific look at the business benchmarking guides and information for your industry.  SPECIAL OFFER 10% discount if you mention Moving Forward's newsletter.  Don't order online, but ring the Entrepreneurial Business Centre directly and speak to Antonio on Tel: 1300 300 586 for a 10% discount on any business guide.  (You must speak to Antonio - who can also answer any questions that you may have about the guides).  If you are from overseas Antonio's direct number is +61 2 9034 5726

Are your salespeople consistently meeting their sales targets?  Do you understand what really drives and motivates your clients and sales team so that you can achieve your desired results?  NLP can help you overcome the obstacles to your success.  To discover how you too can transform your sales performance with NLP and achieve exceptional results, call Vesna at Qt today on (03) 9653-9288 or 0411 479 256 or email her at qt@vesnacorporation.com for additional information.  Mention that you obtained the information from Moving Forward's newsletter to receive your complimentary one hour consultation.

Do customer's owe you money? Traders Collection Services P/L is a boutique debt recovery business that delivers fast payments and stronger cashflow to you whilst retaining the goodwill of your debtors clients.  The service they provide is also extremely
cost-effective
.  Why not give Alex Pantea a call at Traders Collection Services on 9670-5631 or email him at alex.pantea@tcsvic.com.au to review your ledger. 

Click here to order some cheaper professionally printed business cards from Click Business Cards.  They are great quality and so easy to order.  You just select from one of their great templates, put in your logo and details and order.  So simple - yet so effective.  Just $49.95 plus delivery for full colour. 

Have you thought about a listserver to automatically manage the subscribers to your newsletter Click here to have a look at 1Shopping Cart to manage your list.  I really recommend it.

Good business reading:  Fish Sticks by Lundin, Christensen and Paul.  This book is a great read for changing your vision and motivating your staff.  It also keeps you entertained with the management style that really worked for Taka Sushi.

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Contact details:
www.movingforwardcoaching.com.au
robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au
P O Box 302
Craigieburn  Vic  3064
AUSTRALIA
Tel:  +61 3 9308 3844


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© Moving Forward - March 2004

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