Goals – Do you know how set and to achieve your personal and business goals?
Pearl Seigel of Symbolically Speaking can show you how in 6 steps …
With the 2010 Soccer World Cup … South Africa is about to achieve many goals.
- Literal goals … the ball through the goalpost … Bafana Bafana … Just do it!!!
- Tourism goals … visitors to our country … may you return many many more times!!!
- Foreign investment … be it personal or long term business investment … we accept any currency!!!
To all South Africans’ let’s show them what we are made of!!!
Symbolically Speaking many people and businesses try to set goals. These are sometimes similar to New Year’s Resolutions … I’ll join the gym or loose 10 kg’s. Yet, as the year progresses there are more and more vacant parking spots at the gym and less and less time to wait to use your favourite equipment. Only the 10 kg’s stay firmly in place …
Setting and achieving goals is something that we all need to do in our personal, career and business lives. To achieve what’s important to us we need to know how to:
- Set goals
- Achieve goals
- Work on several goals at the same time
I, Pearl Seigel at Symbolically Speaking have developed a “Six Steps” approach to setting and achieving goals. I can tell you that it has worked for me in achieving short, medium and long term goals.
Some of my goals have been easier to achieve and some may have included inspiration plus perspiration or was it blood, sweat and tears? Or maybe it was snot and trane … Eish … but I have personally succeeded in setting and achieving those goals that were important to me and continue to set and achieve new goals …
I hold a Masters Degree in Business Leadership (MBL) from the Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa. When we meet you will see that I don’t speak MBA lingo … rather I use simple words and Symbols that Speak to make training easy to understand, remember and apply.
Book your place to attend this short “Six Step” training seminar on Goals … learn how to set and achieve your personal, career and business goals … in just “Six Steps”
- Where: To be announced
- When: After the 2010 Soccer World Cup
- How? … you need to attend … to find out …
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Imagine …
Being able to create yourself and all that you needed or wanted with a click of a mouse. If you didn’t like the results – simply delete – and restart. Too time consuming, not a problem, you can virtually outsource and pay in virtual currency!!! Or even purchase virtual goods on eBay with real $!!!
Does this sound like a band new “Brave New World”?
Well it is and it’s real!!!
Why would people want to abandon reality for a virtual world?
For several reasons:
To escape boring daily lives, bills to be paid, and achieve what is not possible in real life. This book also shows how a group of disabled men and woman inhabit one virtual body. Enabling them to do and say what they cannot individually do and say in real life.
Interestingly business brands use Second Lives as a platform to interact with consumers. They sell virtual products. Consider the similarities between this and Web 2.0 social and business networking websites. Online reputation management taken to the nth degree or call in the virtual mafia to protect your virtual life or brand? Anything is possible for a virtual price or to be paid for in real $ terms.
Ironically businesses use Second Lives as a consumer led marketing tool whereas people use it to escape reality.
All opinions expresses are my own “Virtual Interpretations”. An interesting read about all that is possible with technology …
I use to be in two minds … now I can be in several worlds …
]]>Literally Speaking, we are all confronted with decisions relating to “Pricing” on a daily basis. Whether, as a business we are setting prices while operating in a highly competitive marketplace or deciding on suppliers.
Or as individuals, we make decisions to buy or not to buy? Almost whatever we do, we are consciously or unconsciously confronted by the Big “P” or the big “Q … usetion” is, is:
1. Price Cutting is essential to take your competitors market share
2. Price = Value
Join Pearl Seigel for this breakfast presentation about “Pricing”. Pearl holds a Masters Degree in Business Leadership (MBL) from the Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa.
Date: 24 February 2010
Time: 7 for 7:30 am – 9 am
Venue: 30 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg. Just near Jan Smuts Avenue and Jellicoe. GPS: S26°08.461’, E28°02.211’
At this breakfast presentation we will look at two popular misconceptions:
1. Price Cutting is essential to take your competitors market share
2. Price = Value
Who should attend?
All businesses or people involved in price setting and all businesses or people purchasing for business or personal consumption – i.e. “Everyone” !!!
For more information or to book your place visit http://www.symbolicallyspeaking.co.za/ or email pearl@symbolicallyspeaking.co.za
This breakfast presentation needs to be booked for and prepaid by EFT.
Till next month
Pearl Seigel
Symbolically Speaking Circles, Cycles and Continuity have so much in common …
A Circle is the universal symbol of something without a beginning or an end. Circles are great, except for vicious circles, being really uncomfortable comfort zones. Stop the circle (world) - I want to get off …
Cycles also know as trends come and go. We never know … how long they will last? This can be observed in ladies fashions, petrol prices and volatile interest rates! Some stock market investors say the trend is your friend?
Continuity is show as either as ” … ” or the symbol of infinity ∞ (similar to an 8 on its side).Continuity is defined by the dictionary as the state of being continuous or consistent with uninterrupted connection. I personally use ” … ” to give you the reader, time to think and comment should you wish to?
Continuity creates sustainability which leads to peace … filled harmony …
How …
If we all work towards “sustainable continuity” … “Peace” … filled …. harmony …. is achievable…
Wishing you a peace … filled December and a sustainable prosperous 2010 …
Till next month
Pearl Seigel
]]>Netiquette is web 2.0 business social media etiquette. It is how to communicate in the virtual world. For example using CAPS is considered shouting!
•2. Why is netiquette important?
The www is a global public forum. Any person, business, bot or spider anywhere can read what you say.
Unlike, face to face meetings where others can see your body language and hear your voice - for web based communication all that is seen is your photo or symbol (logo) and your comments.
As a general guideline, anything you wouldn’t say in person … don’t say in virtual blogs!
Why? … Because what you say can virtually hang in there googilised for a long, long time …
•3. What can netiquette do for your business?
- Correctly used netiquette can enhance your business reputation and personal credibility.
- Web 2.0 is a great way of connecting with customers or clients. It enables consumer led marketing and can grow your business or personal brand.
- As a business market research tool, it provides businesses with consumers’ opinions.
- On line reputation management is important for all businesses both big and small. So comments about your business (made on your website or other websites about your business) must be considered important and answered.
Remember, just because there are no comments or only a few … it does not mean that you are not noticed - either positively or negatively!
Google is crawling you, Yahoo is slurping you, Nedbank is noting you (no pun intended) …
What are your views on Netiquette?
Speak to me …
]]>Symbolically Speaking and literally speaking I have felt comfortable speaking to total strangers. I’ve met many interesting people and learnt a lot about different values and cultures. Because of my interest in business I’ve also learnt about the entrepreneurial spirit that so many South African’s possess.
But, back to holding hands with total strangers …
Being in a wheelchair, often the helping hand comes from behind. So I don’t even see the stranger. Yet again I’ve met some really interesting people.
What about symbolically holding hands with a total stranger in a business context?
Now, we are moving in to the area of customer service and the role of branding in building credible business reputations. I recently had the most amazing customer service from Jonathan Brunton of Seeff’s Sandton branch.
With so many estate agents having well established brands, what differentiates Seeff in my mind is their level of exceptional customer service. Businesses and management often underestimate the role that agents or employees play as brand ambassadors in customers or clients’ perception of their brands.
Jonathan listened to what my specific needs were. He then found me what I needed - wheelchair access and centrally situated … in a short timeframe.
Several estate agents had marketed directly to Symbolically Speaking. Some marketed indirectly using print and radio.
When I contacted various agents:
- Some did not even return my calls
- Some were so put out by the word “wheelchair” that they did not even try
- Some were going to have strategy meetings and get back to me
- Some told me it was impossible
Then there was Jonathan who even phoned me after 7pm saying I’m standing by the entrance with the security guard. There is a slight ramp and other people in wheelchairs live in and access this building. We arranged to meet and I thought I’d reached “wheelchair heaven/haven”.
My compliments and gratitude for exceptional customer service go to Jonathan Brunton of Seeff’s Sandton branch … for going the extra mile …
Visit www.seeff.com
Till next month,
Pearl Seigel
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MyGenius is a web 2.0 business social media networking platform. The combination of virtual online blogs or private messaging and face to face meetings is what differentiates MyGenius from other similar websites.
MyGenius brand ambassadors volunteer to hold monthly meetings - which MG members can attend. I am a MyGenius brand ambassador - it’s my way of giving back into the MG community. The meetings make it possible to meet and speak to the faces behind the profiles. This builds business relationships and trust.
What many members have benefitted from is the sense of belonging to a community. Many of the members are entrepreneurs or SMME’s (small and medium size businesses). Many have grown their businesses through connections with other MG members or by referrals. It is about sharing information, building brand reputations, blogging or placing classified advertisements.
As with all businesses, big and small, web or brick based it is often the diverse group of “People” that make up and contribute to the mix.
The new and improved MG will still retain brand ambassadors that hold meetings. As for the launch of the new website, improved technology may well provide what MG members need to make their mark!
PS: Remember it will be what you and you and you ……………………. make of it ………………….
Visit http://www.mygenius.com to join the MyGenuis community
]]>“To Thine Own Self Be True and it must follow, as the night and the day, Thou cannot then be false to any man” William Shakespeare
Symbolically Speaking, I know that this sounds like school or old fashioned …
Literally Speaking, I’m asking you to look at your today’s “Values” and the values of those surrounding you each day.
Values:
- Are attitudes that are linked to beliefs
- Influence choices made and actions taken
- Are individual, community and culturally based
- Determine how you behave towards others
In business values are set by leaders or business owners, but the actual real values reflect the contribution of all the diverse people that make up an organisation. These people include employees, customers and suppliers.
The understanding and “owning” the values of an organisation by all stakeholders is important and ultimately leads to business success. Often an entrepreneur or small businesses values are also the owner’s personal values.
Values are literally “What” the business stands for. Values determine how employees and customers are treated. Values set a standard of excellence in our business and personal lives.
Symbolically Speaking’s “Values” are:
- Respect
- Integrity
- Freedom to Speak
These values are important to me as they communicate “What” my business stands for and “What” I expect from others that I do business with.
The importance of communication of values is underestimated by some. Although values may seem to be intangible words they are the building blocks for developing trusting relationships.
Till next month,
Pearl Seigel
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Rather cheesy … I always thought, while having an internal giggle!!! You see, I’ve never been particularly fond of mice, nor felt the need to “Trap” anyone.
Instead I prefer to have my “Cheese (cake)” and eat it!!!
Now you may be feeling confused and wondering whether this is about a marketing plan or a baking recipe? It’s actually about both. The recipe for a marketing plan is found in the 5 P’s of marketing. This marketing mix consisting of:
- Product or service - what your customer needs or wants
- Price - extremely important in the current global economy
- Place (distribution) - convenient and easy to find
- Promotion - using branding and innovation to get the most value for your marketing spend
Question: Can you reach your target market?
Answer: Yes, Ja, Yay as long as you use … effective communication and the …
5 th P … “People”
“People” are your strongest central ingredient of you marketing mix. Internally, you and your employees are brand ambassadors for your product or service. Externally you customers or clients can become loyal and committed to repeat purchases.
“WOMM”- Word of Mouth Marketing is your ”People” marketing your business to other “People”. “People” trust and listen to other “People”. The importance of communication and Customer Relationship Management is an essential ingredient for any successful marketing strategy plan.
Can you have your “Cheese (cake)” and eat it? Yes enjoy …
See the events page for “Basically Marketing 123 … 9″ and lean more about the 5 P’s
]]>Symbolically Speaking, I know the market is “Pink”. Literally I sit here using my LG X100 “Pink” Netbook. It’s compact weighs less than one kg and easily fits into my handbag.
Is the market “Fluffy”? Well it depends on who you ask. To some (men) it may be cloudy or confusing. Whereas, men think with grey matter, women really know what does matter!
When developing a marketing strategy plan, you need to know and understand your market. The pink market that I always call “W2W” - woman to woman is a relationship based market.
The importance of communication when marketing to women is underestimated by some marketers. You see it’s about speaking to your target market in a different way.
To know your market you need to understand that women:
- Are often responsible for buying 80% of household goods
- Ask more questions before deciding
- Are more brand loyal
- Need retail therapy
- Speak to their friends
- Buy cars
- Need more shoes …
“Is the market “Pink and Fluffy”?
Women can wear the pants but how many men can wear pink stilettos?
Till next month,
Pearl Seigel
PS: Visit the Women’s Show in Johannesburg, Coca-Cola Dome from
26-28 June 2009 http://www.thewomensshow.co.za
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