Moving Forward Business Coach's Newsletter
http://www.movingforwardcoaching.com.au
Email:  robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au

March 2006,  Issue #12

Welcome to our first issue for 2006! I hope you all had some time of rest and recreation over the summer, and are starting out the year on a positive note. I was lucky enough to spend a week in January down at Rosebud, on Victoria’s coast. I really love Victorian beaches. There is such a variety of different kinds of beauty. We had perfect weather and were able to enjoy swimming and time on the beach.

In this issue we have a great interview with Robert Bouquet of Bouquet Productions. Robert is a graphic designer who has been in business for many years. In this interview he talks about how he built his business on solid foundations. One of the key reasons to Robert’s success is his fabulous and unique design skills together with the high standard of training he gives his graphics staff. Not all people know how to break things down and train people step by step, but Rob does this particularly well.

In February I attended a couple of really interesting events. The first was a luncheon at which Diana Williams – the founder and chairperson of Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs – was the guest speaker. Diana also won the 2005 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the year. She was a very natural person in her presentation and in how she spoke about her work and her success. A key distinction that struck me during her talk was that she identifies herself as a leader, not a manager. Diana sees herself as someone who comes up with visions and ideas, but then needs others more skilled in management to drive those ideas into action. It is the actual management that is missing in so many businesses - the ability to drive those wonderful ideas forward and monitor the results.  It is the aim of a Moving Forward Business Coach to find out what you want to do, build foundations based on that, and then help you to create a structure that will allow those ideas to become reality.

The second event was an International Coach Federation (ICF) Credentialling Night. The aim of the ICF is to give coaches credibility around the world. It was an excellent opportunity to dispel some of the myths and confusion around credentialing. For any more information about the ICF, you can visit their website at: www.icfaustralasia.com.

People aren’t just born with confidence - but the good news is that confidence can be built. Confidence gets built when you receive constructive reinforcement and there are positive expectations from those around you. Surround yourself with positive people who will help you develop.

Confidence grows as you challenge yourself one step at a time. 

You have an inner voice and it can be positive or negative. You can listen to your negative voice (‘I can’t do it’) or you can develop a positive inner voice which recognizes that it is difficult but you will do it step by step. This is where coaching a business owner or leader is so important. Your coach will positively reinforce what you are doing and also help you achieve it. You will work together and co-create your goals step by step. Achievement then follows – bit by bit – and with each achievement along the way comes growing confidence. So staying positive and taking active steps forward leads to greater self-confidence.  

Confidence is vital to any business venture. It makes you positive about yourself and enables you to get through your action steps. Confidence also gives you a much better ability to deal with difficult situations. You are able to see them more clearly and be more objective about how to manage them. You can then develop the ability to speak out and voice truthful opinions. Confidence goes hand in hand with self-awareness – the better you know yourself, the more able you are to utilise your own talents to their best.

Important things to remember:

• don't listen to your negative voice

• challenge yourself to change your negative voice to positive

• replace messages that aren’t useful with ones that help move you forward

• put yourself in a position that reinforces your positive inner voice

• work with a Moving Forward Business Coach who will have you achieving and being confident in what you do and interacting with others positively.

Tell me a bit about what you did before starting Bouquet Productions?
I worked with many large agencies in both advertising and design roles.

What is your vision for Bouquet Productions?
My vision for Bouquet Productions is an open studio owned by Bouquet Productions with clients lining up for our services.  The environment provides a great culture, which brews creativity.  Our clients love to come and visit us in this environment where there is music and fun, which adds to the great culture.  It's a bit like making a good pasta sauce - the more you stir it - the better it gets.  We are known for our uniqueness in what we do and offer.

How did you go about creating a successful business?
Through university I worked 13 jobs part-time, which were very labour intensive.  This was excellent grounding as I worked very hard and determined that anything was achievable.  In Australia you can be anything you want.  With initiative and passion and finding that everyone really liked the work I thought 'why can't I offer it rather than working for someone else'?  I started cold calling and approaching companies and picked up small jobs, which turned into much larger jobs from companies.  Everyone liked the work and we have grown with many of our clients as they have strengthened their branding and corporate image. Click here to see examples of our designs. We also design and print many publications for councils and companies on a regular basis. 

We enjoy listening to our clients and giving them the "U" experience.  It is essential that we understand where they have been and where they are now so that we can raise the bar for them so that they can capture the markets they are after.  This all influences the design and the mediums that they need.

Our relationship with our clients is one of trust and confidence, which is quite relaxed and enjoyable.  They enjoy coming to the studio as there is a life about it.  Clients say hello to all our staff.  Clients always expect results but they are surprised with the way we think outside the square and the result that they achieve.

We are always working on ourselves and pushing ourselves for better results.

Tell me about your team building and staff empowerment initiatives
There is a team of 6 staff that make Bouquet Productions a strong business.  Empowering the staff has created the culture and whether a designer is a junior or a senior they are given a lot of trust and accountability.  Clients deal one-on-one with a designer who through a team effort will produce a result.

The studio is involved in all projects.  For example a logo design can come from three other designers who all have input into each design.  Such variety in design skills gives a lot of creativity as we challenge each other and question a solution.  It is a real team that expands the style.

Rob, can the business run without you being there now?
Yes - At the moment the business can run for a month or two without me.

Is your General Manager turning your vision into reality?

'Did you know that a general manager can make or break a business ??????'

If your General Manager is NOT achieving the results you expect then this might be the most important item you will read all day. We are taking expressions of interest for our newest innovation 'Moving Forward Business Coach General Manager School'...... a new school of thought for a new breed of General Manager.   Learning how to be an effective General Manager doesn't just happen of its own accord - no matter how much talent is present.  It takes time, practice and specialist training to become a standout general manager.  You can't afford to wait as other companies gain the competitive edge.  Later this year we will be offering our General Manager School which will comprise of 1 x 3 hour training session per month together with individual coaching for the real individual business specifics.  To register your expression of interest for our General Manager school click here and enter your details.

Take a look at our Useful Links & Resources Page.  There is a successful business checklist, reading lists and useful links.

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© Moving Forward Business Coach - March 2006
You are welcome to use the articles from the 'Tips to create a successful business' newsletter as long as you include complete attribution and a live link to the website, The attribution should read "By Robyn Pollard of Moving Forward Business Coach.  Please visit our website at http://www.movingforwardcoaching.com.au/" for extra tips on creating your successful business