Posted: August 13th, 2009 | Filed under: creativity, personal mastery | Tags: better business | No Comments »
Like many people who have moved from full-time employment to being self-employed I have been lucky enough to have had the time, as well as the need because potential clients have asked me, to do something that most people don’t do but should. And that is to answer a simple question:
- Why would you hire me?
The text below is taken from a short PowerPoint presentation, which you can download here. In marketing terms it is my value proposition, and I have found it very valuable in explaining to coaching clients and agency management just what would be the value of working with me.
Another thing I’ve learnt; nobody is going to come to you in these tough times unless you market yourself and what you offer the best way you can. Because, quite frankly, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogging and social media tools have created a level playing field where anyone can distribute themselves and their content with equal ease. If you are holding back well don’t, because there are plenty of other people who won’t be.
You hire me to create change
In your business, your personal life, or both
3 ways to change
PLANNING – communications and marketing strategies on projects and pitches.
MENTORING – working with senior management to provide clarity, expertise and resource to fix problems and grow the business.
COACHING – as a life coach working with a limited number of creative individuals to help them get clarity about their lives and create the life they want.
I create change based in INSIGHTS and expressed in CREATIVITY
INSIGHTS that provide new clarity, plus the foundation and spark that stimulates change.
CREATIVITY for business or individuals.
Creativity for business
Marketing and communications STRATEGIES & IDEAS that help create competitive advantage.
ENTREPRENEURIAL approaches to generate new revenue from current and new clients.
WAYS OF WORKING to create powerful cultures that connect people more effectively to business goals.
Creativity for individuals
People I work with have:
- Increased clarity about their life.
- Renewed energy and focus.
- A clear picture of how you can lead a balanced life and get the most out of it.
- A plan to make that happen that you can act upon every day.
Remarkable people and businesses doing remarkable things
I only work with a limited number of clients at a time.
They are all highly creative individuals and are creating amazing work and breakthroughs in their businesses and their lives.
Remarkable people
- I only coach creative people.
- I only coach face-to-face.
- I only coach a limited number of people.
- I have my own method but I coach you.
- I focus on action.
Remarkable businesses
- I only work with entrepreneurial start-ups, or global businesses.
- I help you fix your senior clients‘ business challenges.
What they say
“You get straight to the insights, and then you give me the structure and support to create the changes I want. Working with you is changing my life.” Coaching Client
“Magnus applied creative thinking to some unique challenges in leading the solutions both within the agency and within the client organisation. In all of this Magnus had a consistently positive outlook and a healthy sense of perspective balanced with a great deal of experience that proved very valuable. I’d welcome the opportunity to work with Magnus again.” Paul Collier, Dell
Are you next?
Would you like to spend an hour talking about the changes you want:
- in your life?
- in your business?
- in both?
Then please let me know – magnuswood.com/getintouch
Posted: July 30th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: personal development | 1 Comment »
If you could travel back in time and give advice to your 20-year old self; what would you say?
The first thing might be “I know you’re not going to listen to a word I say but…”
I am sure this list will be pretty organic as I make more mistakes and learn new stuff but here’s my starting-point. I’d love to hear what advice you’d give your 20-year old self.
Remember everyone you’ve ever done business with and use social networking tools to keep in touch.
Be someone people can rely upon.
Always produce the best work you can, and always strive to make it better than other people’s work.
You aren’t going to “get discovered” – you’re going to have to tell the world about yourself.
Work hard, take care of your integrity and your reputation will take care of itself.
Know the rules so you know how to break them properly.
Take more risks. But remember the difference between courage and foolhardiness is, at most, only a few minutes thought.
When the fat lady does finally sing, make sure that you can hear her.
Sleep less. Get up an hour earlier for 3 weeks and you will be amazed that you can do it easily, and delighted with this extra hour all to yourself.
If you never say no; then what is your yes worth?
You can have your cake and eat it. But not all at once.
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Save money. It may seem boring but you’ll be the one smiling when you have a new car, deposit, holiday, cushion when you lose your job.
Cause and effect are not always closely related in time and space.
The easy way out usually leads back in.
Discipline is not a bad thing – especially when it’s self-discipline. Do you want success? Do you want results? Then have the self-discipline to make it happen.
Anticipating the pain is always worse than the pain itself. Don’t waste your time worrying about how much something you are striving for is going to hurt on the way. Whatever that pain is: A) it won’t be as bad when you’re working through it, and B) it will all be worth it when you are celebrating your success.
Yes you will make mistakes but don’t beat yourself up – just don’t do it again, and learn what didn’t work that time.
Motivate yourself; don’t strive to have what others have. Be fired up by the internal motivations that drive YOU, not the external trappings of wealth, power, and success. If you’re any good – and that sort of thing is important to you – they’ll come the more brilliantly you shine at what you are doing.
No company will ever give you loyalty. Only people will.
Food doesn’t make you fat. Eating more calories than you burn up in the average day does.
Let your individuality shine out. What makes you unique gives you your particular edge. Don’t copy others – work on expressing the uniqueness of you – whatever it is.
Having fun is much more fun when you’ve done your work first.
Get it in writing. This is true for multiple cases of “it”.
If something cannot go on forever it will stop. No matter that you don’t want it to, and usually when you least want it to. Or expect it to.
Confront the brutal facts of your current reality – no matter how unpleasant they might be. Then take ownership of the position you find yourself; admit to yourself your role in making all of this happen. When you do this, and only when you do this, you can start creating the reality you want.
Life a life of purpose. Our unique talents and personality mean that we all have a unique contribution to the world – one that’s going to enrich the world and fulfil you. Work out what your purpose is – and start living it as much as you can, as soon as you can.
Rest and recharge often. Then you can go and work hard. And party.
If you are selling something for money; the sale is over only once you have gone to the bank.
Nobody ever gives you power. You take it. Don’t ask for permission to do something – if every fibre of your being thinks it’s right, and I mean really right and you’re not kidding yourself, then do it. Then do it again.
Standing out from the crowd and doing your own thing – being a leader – that’s a lonely gig. But better to be slightly lonely than ripped up by regret.
The secret of life? Be at peace with now – whatever that now is – because now is all you really only ever have.
Posted: July 28th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: food | No Comments »
Well, not quite everything. A little while back I did a Pecha Kucha at a Wunderman company jolly.
If you’d like to read about the mystical power of eating penises, or how everything is solved by a nice cup of tea, then click here to download the presentation.
Posted: July 27th, 2009 | Filed under: observations | Tags: london | No Comments »
Having snapped up a bargain Reiss suit the other day next I had to find an affordable yet quality tailor to take up the trousers.
Provided you don’t mind dropping your trousers in a workshop amongst 4 or 5 male and female tailors, then Rafaele Condilio in Dean Street is your man.
My trousers were expertly taken up and for a surprisingly low price. As I left Rafaele pointed out that they do made-to-measure and, given the quality and the price, I will take him up on that sometime soon.
His workshop can be found above Wen Tai Sun Art & Crafts (well worth a visit for Chinese cultural bits and bobs); the door is round the corner in that road that leads down to the Soho Hotel.
Rafaele Condilio, 80A Dean Street, W1D 3SN. 020 77 34 01 89
Posted: July 23rd, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: better business | 1 Comment »
I believe that there are 8 things you will find in all of the best businesses in the world.
Aim to be the best
Have a crystal-clear idea of what they strive every day to be the best in the world at.
Have a Guiding Vision
A goal that everyone believes in, and is playing their unique part in making happen.
Believe in talent
In creating an environment for people to do their best work ever.
Create strong cultures
Ones in which entrepreneurialism, creativity and team-work are encouraged and rewarded.
Never neglect delivery
Understand that delivery – both excellence and value-for-money – are basics that can never be neglected.
Commercialism runs throughout
Everyone lives the mantra of “control costs” but management spend wisely to generate business advantage.
Never stop moving
Are never satisfied with where they are, and always want to be ridiculously better and more successful than their competitors.
Download the presentation version here.
Is there anything else you would add to this list?
Posted: July 17th, 2009 | Filed under: - Usable Tools - | Tags: personal development | No Comments »
The first two steps in changing your reality to the reality you want it to be are:
- Facing up to that reality, no matter how unpleasant it may be
- Being clear about your responsibility in creating it
Do this and you will have a firm foundation to change your world.
Posted: July 15th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | | No Comments »
In a relationship that is working we should both be leaning in together equally and supporting one another. When a relationship is wrong one person is leaning in more than the other and the other person pulls back, prompting more leaning in. The relationship gets more and more imbalanced and topples over.
Some people repeat this cycle all of their lives – with the same person, and with similar types of people. Of course at times one person will need more support but, over time, the couple should lean on each other equally.
When you feel that you are doing all of the leaning in, all of the work, all of the compromising, then you have to ask yourself; am I really in this relationship for the right reasons? Am I in this relationship because I don’t want to be alone?
Posted: July 1st, 2009 | Filed under: insights | | No Comments »
…you get a reminder to open your eyes.
I saw this yesterday when walking along head down and caught up with my own thoughts. It made me smile and engage with the world.
Posted: June 18th, 2009 | Filed under: relationships | Tags: personal development | No Comments »
A reason, a season, or a lifetime. Whoever you are with in your life, they will be one of those three. Making the most of a relationship is about understanding and accepting which one you and they are.
This text appears in various places around the internet. I’ve cut out some of the “new age” elements in this version.
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty or through a time of rapid growth; to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like exactly the right person at exactly the right time – and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. Perhaps you will feel that the relationship is no longer working and it is time to end it. What you must realise is that your need has been met, your desire fulfilled, their work is done. You were in each other’s lives to fulfil some reason and, now that’s done, it is time to move on.
When people come into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. You bring to each other tremendous experiences. You may teach each other something new, or open your eyes to new experiences. you can give each other lots of happiness and contentment. It is real, it is right, but it is only for a season. There will come a time when you are no longer growing together, when both of you need to move on.
A lifetime relationship is the one that builds on the foundation of all the other relationships and it usually comes into your life when you have been enriched by reason and season relationships. There will be both joyous times and hard times, and there is still lots to learn and share: because lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons.
So, who are you and your partner being in your relationship?
Posted: May 18th, 2009 | Filed under: creativity, insights, life purpose | Tags: personal development | No Comments »
Since the dawn of the human race 106 billion people have lived on this planet. 5.8% of whom are alive today. So, the problems that face you, are they really so large given 106 billion lifetime experiences? Think of the opportunities you have – they are a thousand times greater than the ones facing most people who have ever lived. Knowing that, how are you going to make them happen?
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