Trent365

The very word 'Charity' carries a certain amount of weight.

It can create a feeling of being beholden to someone else.

And that can be totally disempowering.

Maybe we could just use the word 'Help' instead.

Help is a much less intimidating word with perhaps an even more powerful impact.

#charity #philanthropy #help

Self Awareness Check!

I am not a dancer. I am not a singer. And I'm not a great cook either.

But that's ok. 

I don't need to be all those things...as long as I am aware that I am not.

That doesn't mean I can't dabble in them. Of course I can.

Indeed, if you're a small business owner, you have no choice. You have to be a Jack of All Trades.

But it's important to also understand at what point you need to seek help.

There's no point kidding yourself that you can do that thing well, or even well enough, when the truth is, you can't.

You have to know what you are not.

#selfawareness #realitycheck #knowyourself

Just about every business I know claims to be super-focussed on their customer.

Yes those companies also spend a ridiculous amount of time and energy on looking at what their competition is doing.

But surely, if you truly understand your customer and are genuinely delivering for them, why would they even look at your competitors?

I see this a lot in all companies, but especially in new companies.

So, if you're starting a new venture, by all means, take a look at what your potential competitors are doing.

But just a glance.

Then, just focus all your energy on who you're doing it FOR.

#customerfocused #customerfirst #competitiveedge

I've been thinking a lot about my own purchasing behaviours.

Specifically, how that behaviour has been impacted by COVID-19 with the various restrictions imposed on us all this year.

And I've come to the realisation that the key to success for your product or service lies somewhere in the between these 3 Elements.

Offer Efficiency for your customers. 

Make it Convenient for them to buy your thing.

Become a Habit for your customer.

And it's that las one...Habit...that I reckon is the big one.

If you can become a Habit for me, I am willing to sacrifice a little Convenience and Efficiency just to get to your thing.

#customervalue #habit #convenience #efficiency

3 YEARS!Every day for 3 Years in a row.That's how long I've been doing this show.Thanks to all who have watched, listened and contributed over the journey.Special thanks to Sayeed for helping out with my website, the daily thumbnails, etc.Thanks to Kapwing for supporting the show with their awesome Subtitle Tool.And of course extra special thank to my wife for putting up with 3 years of G'DAY and SEE YA!Now...to the Give Away I promised...5 x 1 hour slots with me for an Intelligent Conversation.Anything YOU want to talk about...even Politics and Religion (if you really must?!?!)Here's the link to book an Intelligent Conversation - https://bit.ly/3lseqGK#giveback #anniversary #dailypost

We often focus on identifying a gap or a need in the market and then crafting a solution to satisfy that need.

That can work pretty well for products, but not necessarily for services. especially when the 'services' are being delivered by you as an individual.

As a result of this current crisis, many people have lost their jobs and now find themselves with only their individual skills, talents and experience to rely on for an income.

So rather than trying to force your square peg of skills and experience in that round hole of a specific market need, try this...

1. identify the specific skills & experience that you have

2. seek out companies, brands, businesses, markets who have a need for your specific skillset

That way, you don't limit yourself to a specific market.

Remember, your skills could be useful to a much broader market than you realise.

Here's a link to the book I got this idea from - Though Leaders Practice - https://bit.ly/30pr7e1

#skillset #thoughtleadership #marketneed

A race to the bottom is what happens when we try to be all things to all people.

It also happens when you continue to discount and drop your prices to gain market share, rather then try to differentiate on the merits of your product or service itself.

The problem with the race to the bottom is that you just might win!

And if you win, you might have to stay there.

Because now you own that dangerous place in the consumer's mind of being the cheaper choice, the discount option.

So...#1 be aware of when you are in a race to the bottom & #2 be prepared to pull out of that race before you win...or you might be down there forever.

PS: Thanks to Seth Godin again for the inspiration.

#differentiator #marketing #positioning

Freedom is a noble thing.

But it is not without its consequences.

For with Freedom, comes Freedom of Choice and with that freedom comes inequality.

Some will use their freedom of choice to benefit others, while some will use it purely for selfish reasons and even to harm others financially, emotionally, physically, socially - all of the above.

So, by all means strive for your freedoms, but understand that they will not be unencumbered.

#freedomofchoice #consequences #equality

Even a conversation about something as inane as the weather can be rewarding and enlightening if you're having it with an intelligent person.

At times of uncertainty like right now I find that many people actually become more open and honest to having intelligent conversations.

I guess it's because we're less worried about our own vulnerabilities when we now that everyone else is vulnerable too.

So go and seek out intelligent conversations - about any random topic you can imagine.

You'll thank me for it.

PS: Tuesday, 1st December marks the 3rd Anniversary of the Trent365! So Tune in then and I'll have a little giveaway to try to do my bit to help stimulate intelligent conversation.

#conversation #alwayslearning #expandyourmind

I've found that one of the biggest stumbling blocks stopping ordinary people from telling their story is that they don't really even know what their story is.

Not yet knowing how their story ends or even how they want it end is another big factor. But it's more than that.

We're all a work in progress...and so is our story.

The true magic or your story will only really unfold as you start to tell it. Just like you, your story is constantly developing.

So stop waiting to have the storyline all mapped out. 

Just start telling your story.

PS: Thanks to Beau Miles for the inspiration. Check out Beau's AWESOME YouTube channel here to get a taste of what great storytelling is all about... https://bit.ly/37fRbLk

#storytelling #journey #yourstory