Entries Tagged 'NLP' ↓

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Something I’ve often thought about when running my own companies is how little money I’ve spent on marketing.  In fact, the only money I’ve spent directly on marketing in the last few years has been on business cards and web hosting.

I own a web development company, so costs there are kept within the umbrella of my empire.  I also own a reseller print company, so business cards can be produced at cost.  Everything else I’ve built up has been purely on word of mouth and making the most out of every day events and interests of mine and my colleagues.

I have an interest in charitable causes, fun events, activities, and community projects.  Just in doing these things alone, I’m able to raise awareness of my own businesses and even incorporate some of the “good cause” into my business.  For example, my trip to Malawi in 2007 was funded by my web company, and whilst out there I managed to get to do some work with the Malawian schools, donate money to the Wildlife Centre through my company, and generally operate as an ambassador for my company whilst in Malawi.

I’ve been asked by a client if I would help at a charity event on 26th June (tomorrow… if you’re reading this on the post date!) for the children of Chernobyl.  Naturally I said yes, as it not only meets my core values but as a bonus it will be a boost to my company profile – I’m very much about promoting good causes, and in doing so through my business dealings also builds trust in my brand and the causes themselves.

Later this year, my Malawi trip will be funded partially by my web company as I’ll be conducting free of charge construction and IT work over at the Wildlife Centre, and partially funded by my new Sports Coaching / Personal Development company.

Whilst in Malawi, I will be working in schools and orphanages to deliver sporting activities for the children to help develop their interpersonal skills and to build confidence.  This will be operating as part of my Sports Coaching business, free of charge of course!

So as you can see, just by using a little creativity you can make excellent marketing and advertising campaigns virtually free of charge, whilst incorporating causes that really do make it all worthwhile.  There’s so much to be said for putting the expense of these trips into good causes rather than lining the pockets of a marketing agency.

If you want to do things closer to home, you might want to consider helping out at a local fair or sponsoring your local community centre.  If you feel like being more hands-on, offer to help at a local youth centre or community project.  There’s no end to the creative ways that you can get involved with real life and at the same time promote your business through ethical, cost effective channels.

If this isn’t your cup tea, there’s still a whole range of inventive ways that you can modernise your marketing techniques.  A good article to get your creative juices flowing can be found at the Creating Passionate Users blog.

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Throughout 2008 and 2009 I’ve been studying NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) in different forms.  It’s helped me greatly in adjusting my mental and physical approach to life, so I thought I’d share with you a few little pieces of information…

For those of you unaware of what NLP really is, here’s a definition from the Natural Therapies Glossary at Therapeutic Pillow International:

NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a name that encompasses three influential components involved in producing human experience: neurology, language and programming. The neurological system regulates how the body functions, language determines how individuals interface and communicate with other people and a person’s programming determines the kinds of models of the world they create. Neuro-Linguistic Programming describes the fundamental dynamics between mind (neuro) and language (linguistic) and how their interplay effects the body and behavior (programming). The basic premise of NLP is that; the words we use reflect an inner, subconscious perception of our problems. If these words and perceptions are inaccurate, as long as we continue to use them and to think of them, the underlying problem will persist. In other words, our attitudes are, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Put simply, instead of using words like “I feel like crap” or “I’m destined to fail”, it’s much more productive and inspiring to use phrases such as “I’m a little miffed” or “I’m determined to succeed”.  Also, the way you index references often comes into play.  However you remember an incident will be how you reference it for the rest of your life – unless you consciously change it in your subconscious!  You effectively need to self-publicise and create some government-style spin in your own head.  Here’s a quick example:

You trip up in the street and you’re immediately conscious of it.  You see people all around you looking and smiling and assume they’re laughing at you… so you can either remember that as the time you made a complete fool of yourself in the street… or you can just dismiss it as a minor inconvenience – hey, at least you made someone smile!  Now clearly it’s more productive to brush it off and move on and make light of it than to dwell, right?

Similarly for good things GREAT THINGS (we’re being overly positive, remember), you should index (remember/file) them as the most fantastic things in the world ever!  How about that stranger that smiled at you in the street today?  The shop asistant that smiled politely and wished you a good day?  The fun you had on holiday with friends?  Sure you’ll remember it if you think back hard enough, but these things should be the memories in the front of your mind, not tucked back behind all the feelings of negativity.

Next time someone smiles at you, remember it as “The world is a lovely place where strangers greet you and wish you well”.  Next time you experience even the slightest gesture – a friend passing you a beer, asking your opinion on something, or inviting you out to watch a game, movie, or go shopping – file it away as “I have great friends, they value my opinion and like to include me in their lives.”.

As you will notice, it’s far more productive to “self-self-publicise” (that’s my phrase – no stealing it!).  If you can convince yourself that the bad things are really just “minor asides” and that the briefest of positives are “brilliant and fantastic”, then your whole mental state and approach to life will shift considerably.

We’re creatures of habit, and we habitually dwell on the negative, whether that be through social conditioning, mass media, or any of the hundreds of other influences offered to us daily… it doesn’t really matter.  You have the power to take control of your own direction, so do it today!

Since using these techniques I’ve evolved and developed in every aspect of my life, and I encourage anyone to give them a try.  Here’s two books that I’d recommend reading that may be of interest:

Both are very good books indeed, and will help you to achieve greater personal and professional life.

If anyone is interested in learning more about NLP or want to study it further, I was trained at the NLP Centre of Excellence by Jimmy Petruzzi.  They operate out of Manchester (England), but I’m sure if you’re from elsewhere they will be able to point you towards another reputable trainer or arrange for your training in Manchester.  (I am in no way connected or affiliated with NLP Centre of Excellence – this recommendation comes from my experience of them as a training centre.)

The title of this post comes from a quote from Albert Schweitzer, which goes:

Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you’re doing, you will be successful.

I received that quote from Tony Robbins’ Twitter feed, and it made me reflect upon my own decisions and the ways in which my life has changed over the years.  I urge anybody to follow their heart, their dreams, their desires.  If at first it may not make you financially rich, it will fulfil your personal desires, and will likely guide you towards ways of transforming your personal success into a professional windfall!

What brought this on?

I’ve worked for several companies since leaving college in 2000, and in 2007 I made the decision to leave and go it alone.  As of June 2009, I’ve got four businesses and another two in the pipeline.  I’m going strong and loving every minute of it.  I don’t want it to stop – I dread the thought of not having a flourishing adventure to occupy my time.  I’m working on various community and charity projects, and I’m going out to Africa to help with wildlife protection and education in Malawi.  I’m setting up a company to improve education and sports services in the UK with a very influential sports/motivational coach.

How did it all begin?

On reflection, the single best decision I made was in leaving my most recent full time job.  There was nothing wrong with it.  I was happy there, but the desire had subsided.  I’d begun to let my mind wander and to think “Oh, how I wish I was like Tony Robbins”, or “Why can’t I have Richard Branson’s adventures?”, and other such thoughts… then I realised something I read by Tony Robbins…

The only thing keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can’t have it

I could be whover I wanted to be!

From 2003 to 2007 I worked for an Internet Provider based in Rochdale, around 20 minutes from Manchester.  I had worked my way up the food chain starting on Customer Services, working hard to get a transfer to Provisioning (speaking lots with suppliers and pulling strings to make sure things went according to plan), on to a brief stint in Product Development (getting new products developed and launched – I was working on hosting packages), and eventually moving to the Systems Development team (coding internal business systems).

My time there was great, I thoroughly enjoyed working there.  My colleagues were great, the managers were great, and the MD of the company was superb.  He actually had a key role to play in my movements within the company, and for that I owe him a lot!

A few days ago I got chatting to an ex colleague of mine who invited me to their new office for lunch and a catch up. It’s amazing to see how things have changed over the years – or not in some cases.  A few people have moved up in the company, but many are in exactly the same position as they were when I left.

I briefly spoke to the MD in the canteen today and briefly filled him in on where I’m up to – two years on and he still remembered my name.  He congratulated me and sounded genuinely pleased with my achievements, especially the opportunities I’ve taken to contribute in Africa.  All that aside, our interaction was brief – his steak was getting colder with every word I spoke!

It made me reflect on my own achievements and made me see how lucky I am to have experienced what I have since leaving their employ, and the ways in which my life has changed since making that decision.  I’ve sometimes sat back to think “Have I really done that much since leaving?”, and I can answer with confidence and pride, a big resounding “YES!”.  Some things have stayed the same, but in many ways I’ve achieved a lot!

I’m now looking at my work in Africa with even more pride and excitement than ever before – How many people can make a decision to go to another continent for several months without having to restructure their entire lives and worry about leaving their jobs?