Well-Versed

Dedication Acknowledgements What readers have said Introduction - A ramble through the woods of the mind; my background and influences. Before you read this book you need to understand how I came to be who I am and know what I know. Chapter 1: Success - Background to success - my early career. What it means to achieve success; business is not a one-talent show nor is it a linear performance - Networking and relationships leading to success - Accountant, poet, coach - Time is the 'issue' - Counter influences Chapter 2: Using multiple attributes to drive business success - The prognosis is that to be successful in business, as in life, one needs a number of separate and distinct attributes. It's more than one thing that drives business success. - Results come too late - Process and patterns - The Poet - Numbers plus words plus questions - Coaching models - Balanced scorecard - Customer purpose (mission) - Cash Chapter 3: Benefitting from multiple perspectives, multiple perceptions - it's not all 'one size fits all' - Stakeholders - Black Swans and the unexpected - Rhythm in business - Clarity of presentation - Looking at things differently - Group coaching - Finding the better way Chapter 4: Learning the definitions - Accountant, poet, coach and what they mean for your business - Accountants - Poetry and poets (in business) - Time - Rhythm in business - Coach - Listening and asking questions Chapter 5: A process of continuous learning - in running and growing a business you have to keep learning - Keeping on top of one's game - The path to take - Social media helps - Training - Life learning and trust - Coaching and being coached - The power of challenge through 'not understanding' - Visibility as a leader Chapter 6: Focus on vision - sticking to the picture you have painted as the ideal future for your business - Considering the vision - Profit and cash - Being different - Business plan - Strategy to reach your vision - Milestones - How your customers see your purpose - Social media and business development Chapter 7: Focus on targets and goals - sticking to what makes up, and leads to, the future ideal - Key performance indicators (KPIs) - Critical success factors (CSFs) - Quarterly priorities manager (QPM) Chapter 8: Business relations are the key - developing and nurturing those who can help you and who, you in turn, can help - The nurturing process - Listening - Networking - Internal relationships - Delegation - Negativity - The practical aspects Chapter 9: Succession planning is essential - your thinking can't start too soon in order to drive yourself in the leadership role - Planning the time - The second in command - Family business: the dangers - All businesses - Mergers and acquisitions - Sale of the business - The board of directors - The planning process for sale Chapter 10: Recruitment: hire slow, fire fast - getting the right people on board - The recruit's perspective Chapter 11: Joining and using a mastermind group - the power of working with others in a peer group, both virtual and real, for ultimate support - The Virtual Group - Live mastermind Groups - MAGIC Chapter 12: Unlocking Creativity? - a workshop to exercise the mind, to use the whole brain to solve problems and help to drive innovation for profit. - Introduction to the concept - The rational and the irrational - The workshop - Quotations to consider - Word exercises - Present and future reality - Fierce Conversations© questions Chapter 13: Considering the combination - bringing it all together; concluding summary - Number puzzles Appendix Answers to puzzles in Chapter 13 Reading List About the Author Testimonials