Better Business, Better Life - Newsletter Issue 17

Here’s this week’s business tip, life hack & find of the week… And don’t forget the inspirational quote, which you can download as a wallpaper or lock screen for your phone.

As always, if you find great things that you’d like to share then feel free to email me for inclusion in one of my weekly newsletters.

BONUS – We’re running a series of events that teach the EOS Model & tools. If you’d like to attend & learn more about EOS, understand how to use the tools plus go home with a workbook & a copy of the Traction book (& a free lunch) then send me an email & I’ll send you a VIP code that will get you either a complimentary ticket or a discounted ticket to the event. See the link to the event at the bottom of the email.

Better Business

You don’t need an MBA to be a successful business owner

Back in my younger years I was a GM of a rather prominent transport & travel company. I had 220 staff in my team & although I was getting results, I honestly thought that I wasn’t capable because I didn’t have an MBA. Looking back it was classic imposter syndrome.

In reality I took that business from flatlining to a return to growth & the team & I changed the business so significantly that not only did we create sustainable profit but we also won a customer service award up against industry giants like Air New Zealand & Qantas.

But I didn’t think I was doing it right & so I went & signed myself up at Auckland University & started my MBA programme.

I don’t regret doing it – I try to never regret anything I do, but would I do it again with the knowledge I have now??

The reality is that no I wouldn’t & I also wouldn’t recommend it for any other business owner either.

There is nothing wrong with doing study – in fact I still study to this day, but an MBA, in my humble opinion, over complicates things.

The reason I fell in love with EOS was that it brought together all the things that you needed to know to run a successful business in a simple format – without the gruelling hours of study, the huge cost & the potential divorce!

This article from EOS talks about how?you can use the EOS principles to run a successful business.

BTW -it doesn’t hurt that I have done the MBA programme but it’s not what makes me a great Professional EOS Implementer ??

Better Life

Get your vaccination done – even if it’s not your time!

If you follow me on Linkedin you will have seen that I had my first vaccination done this week, even though I am not in any of the categories that are currently being vaccinated. In fact I’m fit & healthy & in the last category unfortunately ??

Now, I am not saying you should or shouldn’t get a vaccine – I have my opinions on this but I would never force these onto anyone else.

However, if you would like to know, how I got to have my vaccine done then I am happy to share.

It seems that many of the vaccination centres are very busy in the mornings but by afternoon, due to no-shows, they often have spare capacity & spare vaccines, which do get thrown away if not used.

Why? Because each vaccine station takes a certain number of vaccines out of the freezer for the day (or a period of time) & if they don’t get used up then they have to be thrown away.

I am not going to comment on the process – I feel that might get me into some trouble ??

I am extremely grateful to have been able to get a vaccination & the people in the centre were wonderful so I am not going to criticise, however that is the reality – wasted vaccines!

So. if you want to not see these vaccines go to waste, then here’s what I did to do my part & get myself vaccinated so that I can hopefully go & see my family sometime soon.

I rocked up to a local vaccination centre (which I had been tipped off has not been very busy) at around 2.30pm. At the entrance it clearly said “Booked Appointments only”, which I ignored & went inside. The gentleman asked me what time my appointment was & I said “I’m really sorry I don’t have one but I was just hopeful that you might be able to fit me in please & if not, no issues at all.” Said with a smile & with no expectation.

He said that he wasn’t strictly allowed to let walk-ins in but that they weren’t busy & that he’d be happy to help.

That was it – 10 minutes later, I was in the 20 minute waiting lounge, jabbed, certificated & ready to go.?

The key seems to be timing (later in the afternoon but not after schools close) & just being grateful for what they might be able to do for you.

If you’re in Auckland, I have heard that Birkenhead & Mt Wellington are 2 large centres that are not busy much at all. If you’re outside of Auckland, I would suggest picking a large centre.

And before I get judged for’ jumping the queue & not waiting for my turn’ - the reason I am doing this is for my Dad & my family.

Dad was in hospital for 2 months & I couldn't go & see him. Initially it was because we weren’t able to go to Australia & then when they opened up the bubble, I didn’t go because I was told that it was ‘flyer beware’ & I was worried I’d be held up in Australia or be forced to pay for MIQ. Seems the rules changed & whilst I didn't get to go & see my Dad, holidaymakers are now having their quarantine paid for.

So, I'm preparing myself for when the trans-Tasman bubble reopens & I'm going to see my family - it's been almost 18 months!

I'm back in 21 days for my 2nd one & I had heaps of choice about when I could have the 2nd jab done – again, they don’t seem to be very busy!

Find of the Week

Best audio book for a long drive or flight…

This week I had the privilege of working with a team in Whangarei. The trip there was great – only 2 hours & 20 minutes, which I spent levelling up my mastery of EOS, listening to my coaching audio from EOS worldwide.?

On the way home it was a different story as the weather was terrible & it took closer to 4 hours.?

However, it was great – I got to listen to another great book on Audible.

This week’s choice? The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni.

I loved the book but much like watching a movie several times, listening to it on audible brought out so many more things than the first time.

It’s 5 hours & 25 minutes in total so I didn’t completely finish it yet but here’s what I have got so far.

If you’ve not listened to or read any of his stuff, Patrick is the advocate for building healthy teams before smart teams. Not that smart isn’t good but he argues that a healthy team will naturally become smarter but the same cannot always be said for smart teams becoming healthier.?

So what does a healthy team look like?

“Simply put, an organization is healthy when it is whole, consistent and complete, when its management, operations and culture are unified. Healthy organizations outperform their counterparts, are free of politics and confusion and provide an environment where star performers never want to leave. Lencioni’s first non-fiction book provides leaders with a ground-breaking, approachable model for achieving organizational health - complete with stories, tips and anecdotes from his experiences consulting to some of the nation’s leading organizations.”

And what did I take from it?

A healthy leadership team exhibits the following behaviours:

?1. They are open & honest

2. They are vulnerable - you can never be to vulnerable & the leader must always go first

3. They do not avoid conflict - in fact they encourage healthy conflict

4. They are comfortable with being uncomfortable

5. They are the right size - not too large & with only the right people

6. They do not make decision by consensus - they disagree & commit

7. They make specific agreements before they leave the room & agree what they are committed to do about this agreement

?All of this creates trust & a team working together for the greater good ??

And after listening to this book, I am just a little bit more in love with Patrick. I still prefer his business fables but this book is full of tips to create a healthy team. It’s what the Healthy part of EOS is all about ??

Favourite Quote

No explanation needed for this one – shine a light on your business issues!

“Problems are like mushrooms: When it’s dark & rainy, they multiply. Under bright lights, they diminish” – Gino Wickman

If you find great things that you’d like to share then feel free to email me for inclusion in one of my weekly newsletters.?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business then book a?free Discovery Call with me.

Don't forget the EOS Event. You don't want to miss this one, trust me!?-?How to get everything you want from your Business!

Debra Chantry-Taylor

Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker?