Welcome back to BOSSMENTOR® Business – our first edition for 2008. Our aim this year is to send it to you every 3 weeks, or so…., and we’ll be adding a lot of new resources to the website for your access in between BB updates.
- Feature Article: Do You Have What It Takes To Lead?
- BOSSMENTOR® Update: Millionaire Mastermind Challenge….
- BOSSMENTOR® Best Info: Take the leadership test….
“Trust is the foundation of leadership” John C. Maxwell
BOSSMENTOR® Update
We came close to realising our goal of making $1,000,000 in cash in 6 months with the BOSSMENTOR® Millionaire Mastermind Challenge! Close, but no cigar unfortunately.
We developed a product that would help utilise water more effectively and save wasted water, primarily for the residential market. We’re going to give it one last shot so all the details will have to wait until a bit later.
In essence, the product is very simple, and our production and distribution model was to use OPM (Other People’s Money) and ODN (I made that one up….Others’ Distribution Networks). That way, we designed the product and the marketing and branding concept and had samples made by the factory that we could show potential retailers. Ideally, the retailers would order on the factory, take the products into their own stores/warehouses, and we would receive a payment for our share from the factory.
This is a simple model that anyone can use, providing you have:
- product design and development skills
- marketing ideas and capabilities
- a relationship with at least one factory that could produce the product
- experience selling into national retailers
- familiarity with the production, shipment, delivery process
- understanding of how to work up recommended retail pricing, including exchange rate variations, several levels of margin, and cost plus calculations
Or, you just pull together a team that can cover all these areas off as a group, and take it from there!
We’ll give it another try with a different approach, and then reveal all!
Feature Article – Do you have what it takes to lead?
Think about the leaders you’ve had in your life – that is, the people you’ve respected and listened to, and in many cases followed. School teachers, uni lecturers, people you’ve worked with, mentors, coaches, captains of sporting teams, friends, family.
Why did you see those people as leaders? Why did you accept them as your leader at the time?
I had a discussion with a friend the other day, and we were discussing the fact that leadership is not about being the head of a company or a team, it’s about a way of being. It’s having the ability or the presence to inspire people to trust you. You can’t lead if you don’t have the trust of those around you.
I came up with my list of what leadership means to me, and what attributes a person must have to be a leader:
Talent
To me, a person needs to demonstrate talent – they need to have ability and capabilities, they need to be able to lead by example, and also be a high performer that sets them ahead of the pack. They need to be very good at what they do.
Judgement
To me, this covers many qualities and attributes. A leader has good judgement with decision-making, delegation and being able to recognise what to delegate to whom for maximum results, they need to have good judgement when it comes to understanding their impact on others, and have the right balance of empathy and objectivity.
Commitment
A good leader can give the same as they expect – they can put in and demonstrate that they’re in it for the long haul. Self discipline underpins commitment, and without it, a person will never be able to improve and grow their skills. Leaders have commitment and self discipline.
Strength
Having the strength to do what needs to be done and to support others when they need it, is a core part of leadership in my mind. Leaders need to be strong for the people who follow them, and they need to be able to weather the storms, as well as forge new pathways.
Focus
A leader needs to know which direction to lead the team – a focus on both the journey and the outcomes is important. In my mind, a good leader needs to be really clear on the game plan and the end game.
A person who consistently demonstrates strength of character, talent, commitment, judgement and focus will gain the trust of those around them.
Finally, as the quote above says, you can’t have leadership without trust. Do you have what it takes to lead?
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See the BOSSMENTOR® Article Archive: Business Articles
BOSSMENTOR® Best Info
For those of you who would like to take a more light-hearted approach to your capabilities as a leader, have a look at this site and take the leadership test:
http://similarminds.com/leader.html
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WANT TO USE THE FEATURE ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE OR YOUR OWN EZINE? No problem! But here’s what you MUST include: Jenny Stilwell is the creator of BOSSMENTOR® Business, a FREE ezine for professional, lifestyle oriented business owners wanting to confidently increase the value of their business, ultimately spending less time in it. You’ll get proven strategies, tips and resources designed to help you achieve success. To receive your free e-book information, and sign up for how-to articles on creating and managing business growth, visit www.bossgroup.com.au .
About BOSSMENTOR®
Business consultant and mentor, Jenny Stilwell, is the creator of BOSSMENTOR® Business and the Director of BOSS Management Group.
Jenny helps her clients take control of their business growth, so they can focus on what’s important in their lives. She helps her clients get really clear on strategy, structure and business growth, as well as provide proven strategies, tips and resources to help business owners achieve success. Learn more now at www.bossgroup.com.au.
BOSS Management Group, Suite 3, 8A St Andrews Street, Brighton, VIC 3186, Australia. Phone: +613 9592 3844, info@bossgroup.com.au.
