When I started in business I knew little about enterprise but a great deal about publicity, promotion and building relationships. It was just as well. Within a year I’d appeared on national TV, spoken at a major conference and attracted useful contacts and customers.
So ‘Be your own Brand’ is a topic close to my heart. It is a a special event - specially for sole traders, small business owners, consultants who have little by the way of a PR and marketing budget. It will help you become clearer about you and your brand. It will also help you become more clear and compelling in your communications and build strong relationships to move your business forward. The session is run by myself, Rasheed and Helen Parkins from Zestworks. There are two more chances to catch this workshop in 2010. Enjoy the video and the booking details follow below.
Be Your Own Brand
“A unique one-day course to take you / your business to the next level”
Are you an entrepreneur, sole trader or small business? Is marketing, promotional and PR support beyond your budget at the moment? If so, then you must become your own brand. Leading life/business coach, PR and media specialist, Rasheed Ogunlaru, shares insights into raising awareness of your business, promoting yourself, broadening your networks and boosting your business – and your success.
He is joined by solicitor-turned-business advisor, Helen Parkins. Helen will show you how to develop powerful partnerships and when you’ll need to introduce the right legal agreements and abide by current rules and regulations to fast-track your success and avoid the pitfalls.
Benefits of attending / areas covered:
* Develop a powerful sense of purpose, personality and your product
* Become clear about your vision, values and mission
* Personify your product - and be seen as a specialist in your field
* Become clear about your market, your customers and their wants/needs
* Learn what works for you and work from your strengths
* Precise marketing: approaching the right customers directly
* Build and develop your network and learn how to network effectively
* Develop brand loyalty
* Promote yourself as an expert in your industry or locality and in the media
Who should attend? Small business owners, sole traders, freelancers, consultants.
Place: British Library Business & IP Centre, 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB (nearest stations: Kings Cross - 3mins walk. Euston - 5mins walk)
Cost: £60 (lunch not included - but available in the library’s cafe/ restaurant)
How to Book: email
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to book your place. When booking please include:
* Names of attendee(s)
* Name & type of business you run / are planning
* Email
* Phone
* If you have a British Library Reader Pass or not
* How you heard about the event
Event dates 2010
10.am-4.15pm Tue 21 Sept (registration at 9.45am)
10.am-4.15pm Thurs 25 Nov (registration at 9.45am)
Hurry folks, it’s your last chance to book onto “3 Steps to Success to Business Success in 2010″ a free one day workshop I’m running this Wed 23rd June at Central Hall, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, SW1H 9NH for Business Link London.
The event is ideal for you if your a small business owner or sole trader keen to move further ahead. The event will help:
1) Develop clarity and a sharper focus on gaining and maintaining customers
2) Boost belief, confidence, efficiency and motivation
3) Develop a crisp, clear and practical plan of action to enhance your finance, marketing and operations.
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach and motivational speaker. His clients include entertainers and entrepreneurs. He is Co-author of A Zest for Business and the Business Coach partner of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre
Successful businesses have a clear vision, belief in who they are and what they do and take focused-flexible action. Yet many do not achieve their potential by failing to know where they’re heading or how to get there.
This inspiring and practical Business Link event run by leading coach / motivational speaker, Rasheed Ogunlaru will help you clarify and achieve your goals and stay ahead of the competition in 2010.
This workshop will enable you to:
* Clarify and strengthen your vision, values and goals
* Identify the strengths, skills and resources you have as well as what you need to build on
* Identify where you want to be in 3-5 years time
* Map out the steps required to achieve your goals (long to short term)
* Achieve greater inspiration, motivation, focus, effectiveness, confidence and passion in business
* Take action, stay on track and coach yourself to success
Who should attend? Small business owners, sole traders.
Place: Central Hall, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, SW1H 9NH
Are you a small business owner, sole trader or freelancer? Is marketing and PR support beyond your budget at the moment. Then join Rasheed Ogunlaru and Helen Parkins from Zestworks on May 26 for a one day workshop to help you:
* Communicate simply and powerfully
* Boost your visibility and profile
* Attract the right business and customers to boost your profits
For details: http://www.bl.uk/bipc/workevents/ownbrand.html
To book email:
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It’s been an interesting week in which a couple of people and an organisation have asked me to coach them for public speaking.
Speaking publicly is in my bones: I left school at 18 and started my professional life in media which included training people to speak to the press and to appear on TV and radio. And before becoming a speaker / coach I was a singer and performer… so I understand what a performer, audience and the various ‘agents’ in between want.
Some people who may train you to speak and present overcomplicate matters - or worse try to get you to be someone else or bind you to rules which are at best guidelines. Speaking is an art. It is a dance between you, your audience and your message and objectives. It is, like all things, a relationship. The more rich and honest the relationship, the more engaging a effective a speaker you will become. Here my simple tips:
You & your story
• Who are you? What’s your story? What’s your style? What’s your purpose?
• Your biog, website etc need to reflect this
• Be, breathe, be rooted. Use your voice, passion, body, strengths and fears
Your audience
• Who are they? What do they want?
• What’s the brief and who is the customer? (build strong rapport with all )
• How can you win (often multiple audiences) over and be true to you?
Your message
• Clear, crisp, compelling: and relevant
• Start, middle, end (sandwich: strong start & end with a tasty / healthy filling)
• Sweet, seductive and simple… what outcome do you want?
The space
• View it, visit it, connect with it, change / re-arrange it
• Use it and own it
• Respect it and be at one with it
The tools / technology
• Which are right for you, the audience and the occasion?
• Use it, don’t, let it use you – be-friend it, learn how to use
• Have a back-up – be able to deliver without it
Tips
• Interact, invite, engage and involve
• Facts, figures, stories, examples, props, Q&A
• Plan, prepare and perform
• What works for you: some plan/prep/ rehearse/visualise endlessly, some never do
• Know when to embrace and break the rules
Above all: be you and honour, empower and entertain your audience. If you do this you will flourish.
Rasheed Ogunlaru: is a leading coach & speaker. He is author of The Gift of Inner Success and A Zest for Business. His clients include entertainers, entrepreneurs, healers and teachers. He is the business coach partner of the British Library and often appears in the media, including appearances on BBC Breakfast and ITN News. He helps people of all backgrounds find lasting fulfilment in all areas of their lives, relationships and careers.
I have 5 questions for you. Four of them came to me a couple of days ago and the last yesterday. I asked them of the professionals / entrepreneurs at my new event The Mind Spa yesterday at Molton House in central London. And I invite you to ask them of yourself.
The awareness, asking of and gently acting on what emerges may be enriching and enlightening:
1) One thing about you that’s already great: Too often we overlook the magic we already have. Too often we see the imperfections and overlook our strengths and thus miss our possibilities. So many people I coach struggle with this. They have been blinded by - and bought into - the lies that they have been told about themselves throughout their lives. If you don’t see the wonder in you, what you do and your business too … why should others?
2)One thing thing to let go of to create space: Perhaps there are physical things that are cluttering your home, work , business space and hampering your emotional space. Let them go. Perhaps there are other issues to let go of. It is clearing space that can be the most powerful and liberating thing.
3) One thing to accept and embrace: Sometimes in life there is no problem and some times the is no solution. The gift of life is simply to embrace it. Spend some time with this question gently.
4) One thing to focus on on the the coming hours and days: Too often our minds are ineffective as our attention is spit into so many areas of concern and distraction. What one thing would make the most positive impact on your life - and based on that what should your attention, earnestness and action be focused on.
5) One person who can help you along the way: No-one is an island. No one or nation is completely independent without relationship to another. We are part of one whole. The more we fight that actually re-inforces that fact. What person can help you with the personal, professional or other concerns that face you. Sit with this. It may be someone you know by name or a type of person you need to seek. Who may be able to help you find this person - where might you begin.
Go about these questions with a light heart.
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach and speaker. He is a member of small business specialists Zestworks and Business Coach partner of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre.
Each year I meet thousands of entrepreneurs, sole traders and business owners - including many at my workshop Making it as an Entrepreneur. Their challenges are usually the same and so are the success factors:
Rasheed’s 5 Top Tips:
* 1. Clarity & focus: Who are you? What do you want to achieve personally and in business? What is you business about and can you communicate this in a way that anyone can understand? What are your values? Why are you in business?
* Passion, flair & courage: Without these you are unlikely to stay the course, or survive the ups and downs. It is these qualities that will often attract customers and supporters and these strengths will also give you the creativity and flexibility to find your own space in the market place and stand out.
* 2. Knowing your business and your market: Who are you customers exactly? What are all their different needs, problems, desires and fears? What exactly do they want and how do they want it? If we do not understand and incorporate this then you won’t have a business - merely a wish list. This is an ongoing process of listening to your, your customers and others. The more you listen the more you’ll learn and be in the loop.
* 3. Support: No entrepreneur is an Island. You can not achieve it alone. The quality of your real or virtual team will be a huge factor in your success. What skills and support do you have and do you need? Who can help you? You’re unlikely to win the Premiership with a third division team. And if you are to rise from the third division to the premiership you’ll need the right leadership, team and support.
* 4. Being organised, effective and motivated: I meet and coach many business owners who struggle with this. Simplicity and clarity are the key. Simple systems, priorities and messages. Do you have the right tools, systems and support in place to help you achieve your goals? Using the right technology and psychology is important. What are you spending your time and your energy on and what would be the most effective use of it? You also need time out for yourself, your health and to keep your business and life on track.
* 5. Excellent product & customer service: Ultimately if you don’t have a good product / service nobody’s likely to buy it - or keep buying it. Having a good product is not enough. You need to really care about your customers - not just their cash. I’m amazed at how many businesses actually do not care enough about their customers. if you don’t sooner or later it will be you, not they who pay the price.
One more thing: ultimately business - like all things - is about relationships. If you have a rich relationship with you, what you do, your customers, your suppliers, your peers and your prospects… then you, your business and those you meet will blossom. This is what I call the heart of business. Many people overlook it and many experts do not speak of it, but it is what will make people fall in love and stay in love with you and what you do. Business is after all about our inter-connectedness… if you remember this you will enjoy the journey.
Making it as an Entrepreneur an inspiring workshop for new and established business run by life / business / corporate coach, Rasheed Ogunlaru at / in partnership with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre.
Next dates 10am-12noon Apr 20, June 11, July 22
Cost only £25
To book email
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I know that many of you couldn’t make the Skills Swap for Success evening with Zestworks at the British Library last week. So here are a couple of brief clips to give you a taste of what was covered.
Thanks for the 100+ of you who came along to the British Library and made the Swap Skills for Success event just that.
There’s no question that for small businesses in particular building strong relationships, referring, working together and smart skills swapping can fast-track your business. There’s also no question that we need to keep doing it in order to survive and thrive.
During the evening contacts were made, cards-a-plenty were exchanged, future skills-swaps were planned and some potential other great opportunities were planted. We’d love to hear of any successes / links you made.
For those of you running online businesses of interested in social marketing, Suzanne our websites and branding ace has prepared a great tip sheet. For your copy simply send a blank email to
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And remember to that you can register for our free newsletter here on the Zestworks website.
For more events check out the Business & IP Centre website. These include Be your own Brand …a whole day event on May 26 with Helen Parkins and Rasheed Ogunlaru from Zestworks to help you boost your promotion, profit and a limited PR/ marketing budget.
One last thing, so much potential business is ‘left on the table’ and not followed-up. So if you made a warm connection that you think could be really useful then follow-up before it goes cold.
With best wishes the Zestworks team: Rasheed, Helen, Suzanne, Heather and Mirtha.
Social Media is the buzzword for every new and growing business out there. Heck, it’s the buzzword for huge multinational corporations too. Starbucks, Burger King and Sun Microsystems are just three that spring to mind. That must mean that there is some business value in using social media as a marketing tool, otherwise the “big boys” wouldn’t be investing…
Right?
Right. Sort of. First off, big businesses like these have massive marketing budgets. If you lose £50,000 out of a budget of £5 million trying out a new marketing route, well… It’s not a tragedy, is it? They can dedicate one or two or ten people to their new media team, people who blog and write on Facebook and post on Twitter whereas the rest of us might not be able to afford such extravagances.
With that in mind, and at Rasheed’s prompting, I’ve put together some thoughts on Social Media and the “Dos and Don’ts” of “Sharing”. The whole idea behind social media is the concept of sharing information, making emotional connections and “befriending” people (or appearing to befriend - I have issues with the whole concept of being “friends” with the world), all with the aim of being as helpful as possible so that when you turn around and say “can you help me get an interview with the head of Coca Cola” or “can help me promote my product” or whatever, people leap into action and the power of social media is in full force.
Okay, I’m being a little bit tongue-in-cheek. However, many businesses start using social media, not as a way of making new contacts and friends, but as a way of raising the profile of their business, making it look a bit more cutting edge and ultimately as another marketing vehicle.
For businesses in this situation, it might be useful to download our tip sheet. It contains 10 tips or 10 things to think about, and a list of social media “tools” that you might want to consider using.
To get your copy, please send a note to
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and if you find it useful, do let us know!
Making it as an Entrepreneur:
Catch our business & life coach, Rasheed for this inspiring workshop held each month at the British Library - ideal for new and growing business. Click here for dates, times and to book.
