Moving Forward's bi-monthly newsletter www.movingforwardcoaching.com.au Email: robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au November 2003, Issue #1 |
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| A note from Robyn |
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Welcome to the first edition of this newsletter. We hope to bring you some great tips to enjoy your business with maximum profits and less working hours. You owe it to yourself to build a business that enriches your life, so start now by growing your business on solid foundations so that you can enjoy the life that you deserve. Its been an very busy two months which started at the beginning of September with a trip to New Zealand to deliver a Train the Trainer course. I also delivered our first group Strategic Planning Workshop last month which comprised of participants from different businesses. It was a huge success and each participant now has a draft strategic plan for their business and couldn't believe how easy and how much fun it was. We will have these regularly next year. We have also just launched our first online product - our Business Startup Pack. It has all the templates that you need to get your business up and running quickly and then keep it running. Just visit our site and click the Products link or click here. Each issue we will bring you an article that will help you create a business that empowers you plus an interview with a business owner who has created a great business that is not just a job for themself. I call this a successful business. This month we have an interview with Paul Mizzi of Topform Australia. Paul has completely turned around Topform Australia since he purchased it in May 2002.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with others, but
pass it on in full and always remember that:
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ™ If you know a great small business that can operate without the owner, send us the details. We provide individual coaching, training and workshops to help you develop a successful business. |
| In this issue: |
| Create your Vision |
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So often we are so busy with today that we forget about the future. Don't forget to give yourself time to think about where you want your business to be 3-5 years down the track. Build a great vision of what YOU really want. Let's face it - if we don't know where we are going, then how can we plan to get there. Time involved in planning is time well spent and if done properly will go a long way towards ensuring success. Be creative in the visioning process. When your mind knows where it is going, then you can develop steps to get there. Just remember if you don't know where your life is going, how can you live it. To obtain information to build your vision, research other businesses and read business articles. Visit other businesses that you find appealing and talk to the owners or staff if possible. Now take a moment just for yourself. Close your eyes and have a think about the following:
Your vision will give you energy and motivate you to build the business of your dreams. You owe it to yourself to dream big. Decide where you are going and then don't let anyone take it away. Develop friendships with others with positive visions and picture your vision each day to make it real. It is from this vision that we can then decide where we want to be in one year's time and then what we need to be doing now. |
| Interview with Paul Mizzi (Topform Australia) |
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Topform Australia is now one of the largest bench top manufacturers in Australia. Over the last 12 months Topform Australia, through innovation and a clear vision have positioned themselves as an Industry leader. I met Paul at a Nietl/Northlink Business Excellence Program meeting and I was very impressed with the development of the company in the time that Paul has been a director. Congratulations Paul on the developments that you have made in this short period of time. It just shows what commitment and drive can do. Tell me a bit about the performance of Topform Australia before you took over ownership? Topform was established in 1995 and grew rapidly, but at the time we bought it, efficiency and productivity were well below acceptable standards which led to customer dissatisfaction and a downturn in sales. The new directors understood that to move forward lots of things needed to change. We knew that we had to change the culture and provide leadership with some difficult decisions. What is your vision for Topform? To offer clients a level of customer service that is unmatched with a loyal and committed workforce. How did you go about the change? We wanted a committed workforce and improved production methods. We researched other companies in similar fields. We visited a similar operation in Adelaide but their manufacturing processes were not suitable for Topform's larger volumes. We decided to look outside our industry as everyone in our industry had similar processes in place. We researched lean manufacturing on the internet and found lots of information to implement to reduce production time. Our vision came to life over Christmas 2002 when we shut down for 10 days. In this time we analysed the production cycle and made changes to the floor to match the way things are actually produced. We also organised for production to be in batches of 35-40 jobs at a time. This cut down wasted time and effort in production. We stopped overtime as staff just expected it and we looked at our administration systems. We also now have an Operations Manual with staff procedures and policies. We identified staff members who were an asset and replaced those who were not. Despite the initial rumblings, staff realised that we were serious about changing direction. We gave payrises to our valuable staff members and team leaders were appointed. We discussed the changes with each individual staff member on a one to one basis and outlined the company's goals and objectives. We placed a clear emphasis on team building. Employees were set job targets and made accountable for any shortfalls. We have also developed our website to include a Job Tracking System that enables our customers to inquire about their work over the internet. This is a first in our industry. We also have a laminated database online so customers can select their colour, size, etc., and order online. What was the result of this change? Our turnaround time was reduced from 12 days to 4. There is a culture shift within the company and staff moral has improved significantly. Staff have embraced the job targets and now view it as a challenge. There is a competitive spirit and productivity has improved. Our relationships with suppliers have strengthened and our customers are extremely satisfied and we have positioned ourselves as an industry leader. By remaining focused, committed and decisive the directors were able to do this. Now the directors are confident that Topform can deliver on time every time and the focus has shifted to customer service. Tell me about your team building and staff empowerment initiatives Topform employs 35 staff and team building is a priority. The directors are in constant communication with every employee from the Production Manager to the factory hand. Staff input is greatly appreciated. There is no distinction and all staff are treated equally. We have excellent facilities including a games room complete with billiard table and soccer machine and we encourage team building exercises. We have taken our employees on a skirmish, out to dinner and often host barbecues at the factory. Staff really are our most valuable asset. Paul, can the business run without you being there now? Yes - I can play golf or go on holidays and the business keeps on running. That is what I call a good business. You can visit Topform Australia's website at http://www.topformaus.com.au |
| Coming Events |
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For those of you living in Melbourne, take a day out to work ON your business, rather than IN it. We are running the following 1 day workshop on a regular basis (next session 28 November) Plan for the success of your business Time: 9am - 4pm Hume Global Learning Centre Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows Cost: $275 (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. (maximum of 6 people per session) Download Registration form and fax your registration now (maximum of 6 per session - so book quickly) ------------------------------------------ Create your Operations Manual
To develop a business that runs without you, an Operations Manual is a MUST, not a luxury. In this 'hands-on' workshop you will start developing your own Operations Manual. You will learn 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.
Download Registration form and fax your registration now -------------------------------------- Moving Forward (03) 9308 3844 or 0412 761 216 robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au Attention Virtual Assistants: I am planning a business building and networking teleclass for virtual assistants (people that work from their own home office). If you are a virtual assistant and would like to build your profitable business on solid foundations so that it enriches your life, contact Robyn at Moving Forward today. The time is yet to be announced and the cost is A$30 for the one hour teleclass. Moving Forward (03) 9308 3844 or 0412 761 216 robyn@movingforwardcoaching.com.au |
| Useful Sites and Products |
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Save yourself time and money by purchasing our Business Startup Pack. Only US$29.95 and available for purchase online. All the templates that you need to get your business up and running (letterhead, memo, invoice, business plan, cash flow worksheet, proposal, plus lots more). Click here for more info and to purchase via our site.
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